Veteran newsman announced decision Thursday

By Argus Observer staff

Steve Krehl, the publisher of the Argus Observer newspaper since 1997 has retired from the position and will assume the title of publisher emeritus effective immediately.

Krehl, 66, announced his plans yesterday to the staff of the paper. He explained the move would enable him to focus on his own health issues, and those of his wife, Rona.

As publisher emeritus, he will continue to be involved with the newspaper and its community activities yet no longer have a day-to-day role in managing its operations. The company is starting a search to select a publisher.

“With the exception of a four- year stint in the U.S. Air Force, almost all of my entire working life has been devoted to newspapers. I will miss that daily deadline challenge and seeing the newspaper on so many local doorsteps,” Krehl said.

Krehl, a western Treasure Valley resident, said local newspapers continue to be a key element to the future of the community.

“When we published the Ontario sesquicentennial section, “Ontario, 125 Years” last fall, our staff was pleased with the outpouring of community praise for our 222-page effort. Few other local organizations have the impact on the quality of life that a newspaper does through its reporting of local government, high school sports, births and deaths,” he said.

Krehl arrived in the Ontario community after filling the role as publisher of the Wick Communications newspaper in Wasilla, Alaska. Prior to working in Wasilla, Krehl was publisher of the Wick Communications newspaper in Sierra Vista, Ariz., and advertising director in Slidell, La.

He worked for Wick Communications for 34 years.

Wick Communications is a family-owned community news company with 32 newspapers and 23 specialty publications in 13 states. The Argus Observer has been part of the Wick Company since the 1960s.

While publisher at the Argus Observer, Krehl has been active in numerous civic and community organizations.

Krehl is a member of the Help Them To Hope board of directors, a local organization that provides food and clothing for area residents during the Christmas holiday season.

He is also a member of the Snake River Correctional Institution Prison Advisory Committee and the Ontario Rotary Club. Krehl also served on the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association Board of Directors from 2003 to 2004.

He served four years, from 1966 to 1970, in the U.S. Air Force.

Krehl, an avid golfer, said he is looking forward to hitting the links after he retires.

“I have three loves: my wife, Rona, the newspaper business and golfing. I will be able to spend time now with two of those loves — golfing and my wife. But I will miss the newspaper business,” he said.

Krehl said, despite the fact the newspaper business is in a state of change now, he believes there will always be a place for local papers.

“No one can match our reach in terms of local news. I’m proud that I was publisher of this newspaper, and I’m equally proud that I was a member of the Wick Communications family all these years. It was a privilege to serve with the Argus Observer family, and I will miss them very, very much,” he said.

Krehl also tipped his hat to former publisher Fran McLean.

“Fran built a really great business when he was the publisher of the Argus Observer. I was lucky enough to come to the publisher’s chair at the Argus after he retired and very grateful for his help and guidance during the past 12 years,” Krehl said.

Argus Observer Editor Pat Caldwell said Krehl’s guidance will be missed.

“Anytime an organization loses someone with more than 30 years of experience, it is a blow, especially when that person is the boss. I can only say that it was a honor to serve with Steve. I, and I know I speak for the rest of the Argus Observer family, wish him the very best,” Caldwell said.

Caldwell said there is no firm deadline on the selection of a new publisher.

“Wick Communications is actively searching for candidates,” he said.