Dear Editor:

I was surprised at the size of last week’s Atchison County Mail, then I saw the headline above the fold about merging all three publications into one and it made sense immediately.
As an editor of three weeklies (two are 90 miles apart in Kansas and one in Colorado), I can imagine the amount of positive and negative feedback you will be receiving — and I have to admit that I’m jealous that the proximity of your publications gives you this option.
I’m sure that you did not come to this decision lightly, and this letter is more for readers of the paper.
It’s been a long time since I have lived in Rock Port, but I have continued to take the paper to keep up with happenings in the community.
The prospect of reading about the whole county in one publication is exciting to me, and is obviously a good business decision to allow continued publication.
For the readers, understand that this will give you a more comprehensive product for each of your individual towns, and maybe begin to recognize the county as a whole to be one bigger community.
I say this with a biased opinion, but to those who might be upset about this change, please be kind when/if you voice disapproval.

Jesse Murphy
Regional Publications Editor
Chase County Leader-News
St. Marys Star
Left Hand Valley Courier
620.794.9830
jesse@emporia.com