WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today spoke on the Senate floor to honor the legacy of his local hometown newspaper, the Plainville Times, following the paper's final edition before merging with the Stockton Sentinel to become the Sentinel-Times.

"Growing up in this small town in western Kansas, I saw firsthand how the newspaper supported the community and brought neighbors, friends and even strangers together," said Sen. Moran. "Community journalism pulls us together. National journalism has the habit of tearing us apart."

"Rural papers bring community residents together for special moments," continued Sen. Moran. "It's where we see when we have a new birth. It's where we see when we lose a fellow citizen. It's where we celebrate with others about a 50th wedding anniversary. It's the joys of graduations and holiday celebrations. It's about ribbon cuttings. It's the pain of funeral services and natural disasters, and really everything in between."

During his remarks, Sen. Moran paid tribute to the Times' editor, Candace Rachel, publisher, Frank Mercer, and staff members, Bret Greenwood and Tonia Goertz. He also congratulated the owners of the Stockton Sentinel, Bart Hamilton and Susan Hamilton Schnider, and he recognized the Plainville Times' past editors, Harlan Lill and Carol Van Dyke.

Click HERE to Watch Sen. Moran's Full Remarks

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Sen. Moran's full remarks as delivered:

"Mr. President, my hometown is Plainville, Kansas. Population, according to Google this morning, 1,746. And I rise this morning to recognize and pay tribute to my hometown newspaper, the Plainville Times.

"Several months ago, the headline of the paper - the very top story - was 'Newspaper for Sale.' Last month, the Times published its final edition as a standalone newspaper and announced it will merge with the neighboring town's newspaper, the Stockton Sentinel, to continue news coverage for local residents.

"So, I take sadness in the demise, the departure of my hometown paper. I take pleasure and pride in its continuation with news being covered by the Times-Sentinel.

"For more than a century, the Plainville Times has served the surrounding communities by providing information, education and timely reporting. The paper first began in 1800, though it changed its name several times over the years, and it became known as the Plainville Times in 1904.

"Growing up in this small town in western Kansas, I saw firsthand how the newspaper supported the community and brought neighbors, friends and even strangers together. Community journalism pulls us together. National journalism has the habit of tearing us apart.

"Over the years, the Plainville Times has kept the community informed on important local issues - like a new business coming to town, a city council meeting or the score of the high school football game.

"Rural papers bring community residents together for special moments. It's where we see when we have a new birth. It's where we see when we lose a fellow citizen. It's where we celebrate with others about a 50th wedding anniversary. It's the joys of graduations and holiday celebrations. It's about ribbon cuttings. It's the pain of funeral services and natural disasters, and really everything in between.

"Community journalism is important to the future of communities across Kansas and the nation. Today, community journalism faces growing challenges with a rapidly changing media environment, as well as workforce struggles and financial strains. Many rural newspapers have limited staffs, and it is not uncommon for one person to fill the roles of reporter, photographer and editor.

"Those who dedicate their lives to this profession - and so many instances in newspapers across Kansas, I find the person that's just doing the job because nobody else would do it. Despite these challenges, that newspaper, including the Plainville Times, leaves lasting marks on the rural towns they cover.

"As a kid growing up in Plainville, then representing my hometown as a member of Congress and now as a United States Senator, I happened to know - had the opportunity to know and speak with, get acquainted with - the Times' editors during my lifetime, including Harlan Lill, who was the editor when I was a kid, Carol Van Dyke, who then replaced him, and the current editor, Candace Rachel, who I grew up with in my hometown.

"She's a longtime native of Plainville, and Candace is deeply committed to our community and has devoted her life to providing news and information to Kansans. Whether I'm attending a Lions Club meeting or visiting the local high school, Candace is always there with her pen and pad and a camera slung over her shoulder. She's one of those editors who does it all.

"Candace is always there at everything. She loves supporting local sports, the athletes, their parents, their families. She loves to celebrate the victories and bemoan the losses. She always can be spotted on the sidelines of the local football field, the basketball courts and at baseball games.

"I appreciate her. I appreciate her love for our community, and I appreciate the way she treats every citizen of my hometown with the greatest of respect.

"I want to thank the Times' publisher, Frank Mercer of Main Street Media, as well as its staff members, Bret Greenwood and Tonia Goertz, for their commitment to local journalism.

"Over the years, the Plainville Times has been dedicated to pursuing the truth, informing the local communities and providing a critical service to rural America. The paper has gained a reputation for being informative, fair reporting and it has earned recognitions from the Kansas Press Association for its work.

"With the merging of the Plainville Times with the Stockton Sentinel, Stockton incidentally being our cross-county rival, the unified paper will continue to cover Plainville and Rooks County. That's the good news.

"And I want to congratulate the owners of the Stockton Sentinel, Bart Hamilton and Susan Hamilton Schneider. I'm grateful for their investment in local journalism and their support for Stockton, Plainville, for Palco, for Demar and Zurich, for Codell, for the communities that make up our small county.

"I look forward to staying informed on local news. I receive the Plainville Times every week and when it comes, I get home, it's in a stack of newspapers that I've yet to read, the very first one, and my wife would say my first comment, 'Oh, the Plainville Times is here.'

"I look forward every week to seeing what's going on in my hometown, and I appreciate the publication that has provided me and so many others with information. The Plainville Times, and now the Stockton Sentinel-Times, will be important to every resident who lives in the area.

"I again thank those who made this newspaper what it is, and I congratulate and wish the best for those who will make what this newspaper will become. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield back."<_o3a_p>

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