This week marks the end of an era in Estill and Powell Counties, as the Citizen Voice and Times and the Clay City Times newspapers have published their final issues, leaving a journalistic void that will loom large in both communities.
Owner/Publisher, Teresa Hatfield-Barger broke the news to staff this week, that “with a heavy heart” she is retiring. and this will be the final issue of the nearly 50-year-old Estill institution. The paper has even deeper roots in Estill County’s historical record as the paper also assumed ownership of the even older Irvine Times Herald after her late husband, Guy Hatfield, started the then upstart “Citizen Voice” in January of 1973.
In the article in this week’s final issues, Hatfield-Barger reflects on how the paper business once was, and the many challenges the internet has presented for papers sustainability in the last several years.
Hatfield-Barger also owns the iconic Clay City Times newspaper serving Powell County for over 120 years. That paper will also close down after this week’s final issue there. According to the article, all assets and equipment of both papers will be liquidated. Read more on this story in both this week’s final editions.
Teresa Hatfield-Barger is married to former Madison County Magistrate Roger Barger, who also announced his recent retirement from the Madison County Fiscal Court.
