This week’s edition is the last for the Oxford Gazette.
Thomas Nash, publisher of the Gazette said in a news story in the paper Thursday that this week’s edition would end the almost three-year-run of the weekly.
Nash said the news that would normally appear in the Oxford Gazette would get rolled into the Valley Gazette, which is published by Hersam Acorn Newspapers, LLC.
The papers, based at 1000 Bridgeport Ave., Shelton, also publishes the Huntington Herald and a number of other weekly publications.
The Oxford Gazette was published once a week and was delivered free to many households in Oxford.
The paper started on Feb. 16, 2006.
Nash said the paper is shuttering because of the economic downturn.
“The paper has improved steadily since its inception, but with the economic downturn, we could no longer sustain the Oxford Gazette’s circulation,’’ Nash said in the paper. “The prudent thing to do is discontinue publication at this time,’’ he added.
He said the paper’s editor Bettina Thiel would not be losing her job and would be an editor for the chain.
Nash and Thiel did not return calls for comment.
First Selectwoman Maryann Drayton-Rogers said she was “saddened,’’ to hear the paper will no longer be published.
“I definitely hated to see that the paper is closing,’’ Drayton-Rogers said Thursday. “You hate to see any kind of business close,’’ she said.
Selectman August Palmer said he enjoyed reading the Gazette when it came to his home every week.
“I also liked them because they have endorsed me in the past,’’ he joked.
But Palmer said the newspaper industry in general has been hit hard by the economy and many papers have had massive layoffs.
“I’m sorry to see another newspaper close. It’s just a product of the environment we live in and the economy has taken its toll and many businesses are hurting in this economy,’’ Palmer said.
Fire Chief Scott Pelletier said he too would miss the Gazette.
“The Gazette covered Oxford exclusively, something other area papers do not, so will miss that. It was nice having our own paper,’’ he said.
