For the sake of The Skagway News

The Skagway News is back, at least temporarily, with former owner, Gretchen Wehmhoff.

Wehmhoff had given the paper to Tommy and Pattie Wells in May 2025. Just over a year later, the Wells, struggling with family health issues, handed the paper back to Wehmhoff per a clause in their transfer contract giving Wehmhoff the ability to take the paper back should there be problems.

Okay, that’s the formal announcement. I’m back, but my hope is that it is temporary. The Skagway News is a dear and legendary part of Skagway. When I saw the troubles the Wells were having keeping the SN going, and fearing that the paper might not make it, I offered to help them out.

Because of the timing and complications of new websites, advertising uncertainty and subscription errors, just picking it up and running wasn’t going to happen. A casualty of the situation was missing the 2026 Skaguay Alaskan. However, here is the first issue from the close call with the ashes. I promise at least three or four more.

Skagway has a forever spot in my heart. I love the town, the friends I made and the multitude of stories waiting to be written. I have already moved on to other projects and will be a writer in residence this October at Storyknife, Dana Stabenow’s women’s writing retreat project in Homer. I’m working on gathering information for a historical book on Girl Scouting in Alaska and have been writing for Alaska magazines. Because I love Skagway, I took a break in my stride to help get the paper going. However, I’m not giving up the month in Homer.

The job of any local paper is to give local stories and people a place to shine. Just as important is the job of a newspaper to record and archive history. When people start to research Skagway, one of the first places they will go is the local newspaper.

The State of Alaska Library System has been integral in archiving Alaska papers, including the papers from Skagway’s Gold Rush days. They are currently working to digitize all papers and now accept PDFs and printed paper for archiving. Alaska publications send them copies. That is normal for Alaska papers. Papers in Ketchikan, Sitka, Petersberg, Wrangell, Juneau, Haines and Skagway all provide PDF papers to their audience. The same with The Anchorage Daily News, Cordova Times, Nome Nugget, Daily News Miner and more.  Without the PDF or hard copy of a newspaper, it will miss being archived for historical research. 

The Skagway News needs to become a community paper and the best bet is to create a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. This would allow the paper to apply for grants, donations to be tax deductible and the non-profit will be able to hire an editor and small staff to keep the paper whole. Currently, Kate Butler  is looking into this. 

In the near future, I had hoped to work with an apprentice, as well as volunteers to help the paper become a community paper.  

I’m not sure what will happen next. I want to pass it on, but I want to pass it on to survive. I  have learned I may not have control of that.