After more than 100 years in the business it is time to celebrate.

Reporter Sarah Gustin visits the Emmons County Record for its 125th anniversary.

"IT'S A HISTORIC LANDMARK TO BE 125."

The Emmons County Record is the oldest business in the county.  June 10th 1884 the 1st issue hit the stands.  75 people read that first paper.  Subscriptions were a dollar.  Today the Record makes it's way into the hands of 3000 readers.

(Allan Burke / Owner) "We cover the local events in the county and kinda chart it's course through history. We try to celebrate the people and the events. We cover some bad news and sad news too but generally we celebrate the activities and the accomplishments of the people here."

Darwin Reed Streeter started the Record at the original county seatWilliamsport, Dakota Territory.  In 1899 the paper moved to Linton.  Streeter's great-grandson lives in California and reads the paper every week.

(George Whitmore / Great-Grandson) "I feel I know people in Linton, but I have never met anybody, through the paper through the eyes of the editoral. It is kinda fun to come back and see America, for a city slicker."

Burke says The Emmons County Record is the 3rd largest weekly in North Dakota.

It takes 5 full time, 5 part-time, and 10 correspondent writers in the county who send in stories to keep the paper circulating each week.

(Allan Burke / Owner) "It is hard to find writers. But we have many very dedicated people. If you are in the newspaper business you are in it becaues you like it, not because of the money."

(George Whitmore / Great-Grandson) "I have already met one gentleman with a last name I remember just from news articles and fathers, or aunts that own businesses or whatever. I have never met these people but I feel I know them and it is heart warming to get away from a large national paper that I get in LA to a home town paper that talks about the good life and real human interest stories."

(Allan Burke / Owner) "We have a niche market here that nobody else covers which is true of most weekly newspapers and I think we will continue for a long time just for that reason. National and international news there are many sources but there is only one srouce for Emmons County News."

In Linton for KX news, I am Sarah Gustin.

In the past 125 years the paper has had only 8 owners.  Allan and Leah Burke have been publishing for the past 16. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list