tIt was announced this week on the front page of two Southeastern Minnesota newspapers that they will be ceasing their publications effective this week. The Byron Review released their last issue on Tuesday. Dodge Center’s Star Herald will release its last issue today.

The owners of Community News Corp., which produced the Byron Review and Star Herald of Dodge Center, made the announcement on the front page of both newspapers this week. Larry and Melanie Dobson of Dodge Center owned the newspapers for the last 15 years.

According to Fox 47 in Rochester Larry and Melanie created Community News Corp. in 2003 and at one point printed four community papers: the Bryon Review, Hayfield Herald, Dodge Center Star Record, and The Advertiser.

Larry Dobson wrote in this week’s newspapers that a “lack of profitability” was the reason for ceasing publication. “It has not been profitable for many years. We kept it going mostly out of love for journalism and the belief that having a newspaper is important to the sense of identity people have with their communities, that it helps build community spirit and promotes cooperation.”

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