Statement of Policy, 1946

From The Chrisman Weekly Courier, November 7, 1946

Our Statement of Policy

Stanley R. Kent and Frances E. Kent have acquired control of The Chrisman Weekly Courier, and have taken possession this week. This is our first issue of the paper.

The basic policy of The Courier will be to continue to give Edgar County and our many subscribers the very best newspaper which The Courier's employees can produce, and to help promote every worth-while enterprise that is beneficial to the people of this community.

We hope to carry on the fine outstanding traditions that The Courier enjoyed tor so many years under the guidance of the late Charles R. Livingston, and which have been capably carried on more recently by Fayelle and D. E. Bradley, the retiring publishers of The Courier.

We are strangers in this community, but we •don't expect to remain strangers very long. We want to meet all of you and get acquainted with you. Until we do become acquainted and familiar with names and places, please excuse us for any errors that we may commit. They are not intentional.

And until we do become better acquainted, we will appreciate having you telephone your news to the office or bring it to the office so that we can become better acquainted with you.

To the business men and merchants, let us assure you that we will be around to see all of you soon. So far, we have been too busy, but we'll be around within the next week or two.

Deane Radabaugh and Leo Reagan are going to remain with us, and we are all here to serve you, whether it be news, advertising, job printing, or anything else.

Dedicated to a policy of common sense, common honesty, and common decency, The Courier offers friendly and constructive cooperation to the churches, the schools, the civic organizations, business institutions, farmers, and farm organizations. We will strive always to be clean, broad-minded, progressive, fair, helpful, patriotic and above all, truthful and accurate.

This is The Courier's creed. On this policy, we solicit the continued confidence, support, and good will of all of the citizens of this community, this county, and this state.

Stanley R. Kent

Frances E. Kent

Publishers.

Congratulations, 1946

From The Chrisman Weekly Courier, November 1946

Regrets and "Good Luck"

   Before leaving Lebanon. their former home. and since coming to Chrisman, the new publishers of THE COURIER have received many letters, expressing regret that they were leaving Lebanon. They have also received many letters from friends and former employers, congratulating them on the acquisition of THE COURIER and wishing them "good luck" in their new role as publishers.

These letters and messages are prized very highly by the new publishers. who are glad to know that their work and efforts in former newspaper jobs have been appreciated.

A few of the letters are being published here. not with the thought of being egotistical, but to give the people of Chrisman and you readers of THE COURIER a little more information about “these Kent people.”

Following are some of the letters:

"Dear Stanley:

"It is with a great deal of regret that I've heard of your leaving us. I've appreciaied very much our association. and your fine cooperation with our Church, and all the Churches of Lebanon.

"It so happens that I know something of the community to which you are going. My mother. Mrs. S. D. Thomas, of Hardin, Missouri, formerly Julia Tucker, was born out in the Cherry Point neighborhood, and she lived in that community and the Chrisman community until 1908. when she and my father left there to go to Missouri. She has many relatives living in the community still, one brother, Mr. Dave Tucker and his wife, and several cousins; also many old friends. I've heard about Chrisman all my life, and have visited there a number of times. I’ve always considered it a fine community, with many fine people.

"So, I'm sure that you'll make many friends in Chrisman, and that you will continue to render the fine community service there that you have given us here in Lebanon. We'll miss you here. but our loss is Chrisman's gain. Best of luck to you. Please carry my best wishes also to my relatives and friends in Chrisman.

Sincerely yours,

"Robert S. Thomas"

Minister First Presbyterian Church

Lebanon, Indiana

Mr. Stanley Kent

"Dear Stanley—It was both with regret and pleasure that announcement of your purchase of the Chrisman (Ill.) Courier was read. Regret because you and your family are to leave Lebanon, and pleasure because I know that not only you but Chrisman and community will be mutually benefitted because of your capabilities as a newspaper man.

"The Lebanon Chamber of Commerce, both as a body and as individual members, wish you well in your new business venture, and will ever hold in fond memory their association with you over the past few years.

"It was a personal privilege of mine to know personally the late Mr. and Mrs. Livingston when they edited and published the Courier, and an opportunity to visit with them in their sanctum was never missed upon a visit to Chrisman to visit relatives. the late Mr. and Mrs. William S. Linebarger.

"Again we of Lebanon—all—wish you well.

"Most respectfully yours,

"Parke Beadle, Secy."

P. S.—I have a sister, Mrs. Daniel Ryan, living at Grandview, just south of Chrisman. Otha Linebarger. of near Metcalf. is a cousin, and when opportunity presents itself, trust you will make their acquaintance.

Mr. Stanley Kent

Managing Editor

The Reporter

Lebanon, Indiana

"Dear Stanley:

"1 read with much regret of your announced departure from Indiana. I had hoped that I might be seeing you more often since I have moved away from the news side of the paper.

“I do hope that your new connection is just what you wanted and that you will continue to progress in newspaper work as you have in the past.

"Mrs. Stuart joins me in very best wishes to you and Mrs. Kent, and I hope you will find the opportunity to drop in to see us before you go.

"Cordially yours.

"James A. Stuart"

Editor

Indianapolis Star

Indianapolis, Ind. 

New Publishers, 1946

From The Chrisman Weekly Courier, October 17, 1946

Courier Will Have New Publishers After Nov. 1

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley R. Kent of Lebanon, Ind., will assume publication of the COURIER on November l, completing transactions which have been in the making for the past few weeks.

Decision to relinquish control of the plant came only after doctors advice was to "get out." The COURIER has been in the family of the late Charles R. Livingston since he assumed control in 1894, and is rated today as one of the best weekly publications in Eastern Illinois.

Mr. Kent is a native of Topeka, Ind., a graduate of Topeka High School, attended DePauw University and graduated from Butler University, Indianapolis, in 1938 with a B. S. degree in journalism.

He was employed in the editorial department of the Indianapolis Star while attending Butler, later becoming director of publicity for the AAA, U. S. Department of Agriculture for Indiana. After serving on the editorial staff of some of the better small dailies he went with the Lebanon Daily Reporter of Lebanon, Ind., as managing editor, which position he has resigned to take over the COURIER.

Mrs. Kent, who will be associated with her husband in the business, is a native of Waveland, Ind., and a graduate of Central Business College, Indianapolis. Together with their son, Rollin Michael, 17 months old, they will move to Chrisman as soon as quarters are available.

The Kents are members of the Methodist church, and Ulen Country Club of Lebanon, Mrs. Kent being a member of the Business and Professional Women's Club and Eastern Star of Lebanon, while Mr. Kent is a member of the Rotary Club. Elks, Eagles, Indianapolis Press Club, and Sigma Delta Chi, national professional journalistic fraternity.