Advertiser changes hands, legacy continues
Stan Melton
January 6, 2015
Charlea Mills
After over 48 years in operation, the Barry County Advertiser has switched ownership over to Senator Emory Melton’s son, Stan. According to Stan, things are going to continue on just as they have for the past nearly five decades.
Emory and his wife, Jean, started the Advertiser years ago after acquiring half-interest in the Cassville Republican before eventually selling it to the widow of their former partner, Wayne Ennis, in 1964. A few years before selling the Republican, Jean and Emory started a printing business with partner Willard Burton in 1960. Then, in 1968, they started the Barry County Advertiser.
As Jean and Emory’s sons, Stan and Russ, got older, Jean quit teaching and dedicated her time to the newspaper. Eventually, their son Russ would take the reins until his death in 2001. After Emory passed away on December 26, there has been much speculation about the future of the Advertiser from Barry County residents.
Stan said, “I’m honored to continue my mother and father’s legacy and continue the great operations of the Barry County Advertiser and Litho Printers. The Advertiser will have the same coverage and attention to the community we’ve always had.
“Litho Printers will also continue its operation, serving not only the people of Barry County and southwest Missouri, but our countless out-of-state customers, as well.”
As an added piece of news, the Advertiser will now be printing in color with new presses added and up and running since the beginning of 2016. The paper will continue to be owned, operated and distributed locally for years to come, with every member having a vested interest in the community and all of the businesses and residents in it.
“We are very pleased to have been able to upgrade our presses to allow for color printing and the latest technology at Litho Printers and for use on the Barry County Advertiser,” Stan added.
With the largest circulation in Barry County, currently around 13,200, the Advertiser reaches Barry County residents in their mailboxes every single week. On top of that, the paper has increased online presence, including posting the entire newspaper and all of the feature stories on their website http://www.4bcaonline.com each week. Adding Facebook and Twitter followers, the Advertiser reaches thousands beyond that 13,200 every single week, making it an essential advertising tool for local businesses wanting to reach their customer base.
Growing with the industry and always striving to meet the community’s needs is part of the legacy left behind after Jean and Emory passed. One time, when asked what he would have done if he hadn’t been an attorney, Emory replied, “I would have been a journalist.” Now, Stan plans to continue that on in memory of his parents, but also for the community’s news needs.
Stan was born and raised in Cassville, graduating from Cassville High School in 1969. Stan and his wife, Cindy, currently reside in Fremont Hills, outside of Springfield, where Stan is the volunteer assistant general manager of the Missouri State Ice Bears hockey team.
Stan graduated from the University of Missouri - Columbia in 1974 with a degree in Journalism and Broadcasting. He was the general manger and founder of the Missouri State University Ice Bears Hockey Club as well as helping to bring the Jordan Valley Ice Park, now the Mediacom Ice Park, to Springfield, both in 2001. Stan retired in 2004 as a manager of the Mediacom cable company after a 24-year career operating the cable television company in Springfield.January 6, 2015
Charlea Mills
After over 48 years in operation, the Barry County Advertiser has switched ownership over to Senator Emory Melton’s son, Stan. According to Stan, things are going to continue on just as they have for the past nearly five decades.
Emory and his wife, Jean, started the Advertiser years ago after acquiring half-interest in the Cassville Republican before eventually selling it to the widow of their former partner, Wayne Ennis, in 1964. A few years before selling the Republican, Jean and Emory started a printing business with partner Willard Burton in 1960. Then, in 1968, they started the Barry County Advertiser.
As Jean and Emory’s sons, Stan and Russ, got older, Jean quit teaching and dedicated her time to the newspaper. Eventually, their son Russ would take the reins until his death in 2001. After Emory passed away on December 26, there has been much speculation about the future of the Advertiser from Barry County residents.
Stan said, “I’m honored to continue my mother and father’s legacy and continue the great operations of the Barry County Advertiser and Litho Printers. The Advertiser will have the same coverage and attention to the community we’ve always had.
“Litho Printers will also continue its operation, serving not only the people of Barry County and southwest Missouri, but our countless out-of-state customers, as well.”
As an added piece of news, the Advertiser will now be printing in color with new presses added and up and running since the beginning of 2016. The paper will continue to be owned, operated and distributed locally for years to come, with every member having a vested interest in the community and all of the businesses and residents in it.
“We are very pleased to have been able to upgrade our presses to allow for color printing and the latest technology at Litho Printers and for use on the Barry County Advertiser,” Stan added.
With the largest circulation in Barry County, currently around 13,200, the Advertiser reaches Barry County residents in their mailboxes every single week. On top of that, the paper has increased online presence, including posting the entire newspaper and all of the feature stories on their website http://www.4bcaonline.com each week. Adding Facebook and Twitter followers, the Advertiser reaches thousands beyond that 13,200 every single week, making it an essential advertising tool for local businesses wanting to reach their customer base.
Growing with the industry and always striving to meet the community’s needs is part of the legacy left behind after Jean and Emory passed. One time, when asked what he would have done if he hadn’t been an attorney, Emory replied, “I would have been a journalist.” Now, Stan plans to continue that on in memory of his parents, but also for the community’s news needs.
Stan was born and raised in Cassville, graduating from Cassville High School in 1969. Stan and his wife, Cindy, currently reside in Fremont Hills, outside of Springfield, where Stan is the volunteer assistant general manager of the Missouri State Ice Bears hockey team.
Stan graduated from the University of Missouri - Columbia in 1974 with a degree in Journalism and Broadcasting. He was the general manger and founder of the Missouri State University Ice Bears Hockey Club as well as helping to bring the Jordan Valley Ice Park, now the Mediacom Ice Park, to Springfield, both in 2001. Stan retired in 2004 as a manager of the Mediacom cable company after a 24-year career operating the cable television company in Springfield.January 6, 2015