OUR HISTORY
Tri-Community NewsPlus published its first issue in February of 1998 to serve Phelan, Pinon Hills, Wrightwood and the surrounding areas. Publisher, Susan Gates made sure each issue would bring readers news, events, people, history, "plus." Plus what? Plus anything else interesting that needed to go into the paper.
Stepping back a few years to 1985, Bobbi Holmes started a monthly paper called Mountain/Hi-Desert Guide. The "Guide" explored local history. It also provided news about local organizations, upcoming events, and community activities for residents and visitors. Bobbi continued to publish the "Guide" through 1991. Eventually selling the "Guide" to June Woodmansee and Susan Johnson(Gates). Susan and June co-published the "Guide," carrying on in the same tradition set by Bobbi. Susan was sure to put an article in every issue the explored the history of the Tri-Community. Readers looked forward to their monthly history lessons and would complain if a month was missed. In January of 1998 they decided to part ways. June continued to publish the "Guide" on her own.
Susan began publishing a new paper called Tri-Community NewsPlus. Volume 1, Issue 1 printed on January 31, 1998. Keeping the same core values from the "Guide", the paper quickly gained momentum, growing in page number and popularity.
The beginning of each month locals waited with bated breath to crack open the latest edition of the NewsPlus. Some even taking a paper out of her hands as she was trying to deliver to local businesses. Business owners with smiles on their faces, because finally, the new issue had come out and they could finally replenish their stock and appease their customers who were coming in demanding a copy.
In late 2009, Susan, now in her 70s and after almost 40 years in the business wanted to retire. In January 2010, Don Fish Jr., after having many long discussions with Susan about the "spirit" of NewsPlus, bought the paper. Since then, the success of the paper has grown, circulation has increased and paper has increased from 16 to 24 pages. In May, 2010 an events calendar was added, giving readers a
date by date listing of events and happenings and in March of 2011, the cover went through a major redesign with a new look for the "NewsPlus" mast head. Additionally in 2011, the Tri-Community entered cyberspace with the launch of a website, facebook page and e-edition of the paper.
The paper is now in its 15 year of publication and it has largely stayed the same paper it has always been. It is still free to read and solely supported by advertising from the local business and loyal readers.
OUR PUBLISHER
Don Fish Jr. is the publisher of NewsPlus. He purchased the paper from Susan Gates in 2010. Since that time he has grown the paper not only in size, but in readership. Mr. Fish is community minded, supporting community events whenever possible. Don is also dedicated to promoting local small businesses. He started a Shop Local, Think Local, Live Local campaign showcasing the many small businesses and their owners who live in the Tri-Community. In July of 2012, Mr. Fish expanded the paper to the Barstow Area. The NewsPlus Barstow paper has the same core values as the Tri-Community NewsPlus.
Mr. Fish has been a resident of the Tri-Community, specifically Phelan since 1983. Mr. Fish attended Serrano High School beginning in the 7th grade and graduating as a Senior in 1989. He went on to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Victor Valley Community College focusing on business administration, and Chaffey Community College.
Mr. Fish also owns a video production company called Valle Vista Productions. Don and Valle Vista Productions Co-Produced a children's television show, "Ahoy Captain Sid" which won an Emmy for Best Editing. Don has produced video for such companies as The Discovery Channel, ABC, Inland Empire Film Commission, the National Parks Service, BLM, County of San Bernardino, Preschool Services Deppartment, Chino Airport, The Lewis Center, JPL and NASA. Currently, he is Co-Producing a web news show called Route66PulseTV a biweekly news program that brings news and special interest stories about Route 66 to the web.
EXTRA! EXTRA!
Read All About It!
Read the NewsPlus Newspaper online. Just click the expand button to the right and begin reading.
OUR PROVEN ADVERTISING
TThank you for your interest in advertising with Tri-Community NewsPlus. We are here to help your business succeed! If you look good then we look good. We would like to take a few minutes to introduce you to our newspaper and what we can offer your business and community.
Realizing that there was a need in Tri-Community for a hometown, local source of news, the kind of news that celebrates the accomplishments of the community, Tri-Community NewsPlus was established in 1998. The NewsPlus name may be new to you, though for the last 15 years has been recognized as a highly regarded community publication. Since 1998, NewPlus has been reporting local news, local interests, local events and supporting local businesses through advertising and public awareness. Always, promoting a living local, buying local, being local lifestyle, we have become the goto paper to find out what is going on in the Community. This is what we feel the the Tri-Communtiy needs...deserves! We have taken our years of experience and developed a paper that the members of the Tri-Community will be proud to call the only source for local news and events that matters, The Tri-Communtiy NewsPlus.
The Tri-Community NewsPlus newspaper is a complimentary hometown.5 community newspaper published twelve times per year. Our main focus is to provide Phelan, Pinon Hills, Wrightwood and the surrounding areas with a mix of local news, community happenings, area history and special
interest stories while supporting and promoting local businesses through advertising and other promotional opportunities. NewsPlus is proud to say that it has been a locally owned and independently operated newspaper since its first issue was published in 1998.
We are committed to bringing the Tri-Community the news it deserves. We strive to be accurate, objective and balanced in our reporting. We look for and encourage others to express their views, tell their stories, relay their concerns and spread their good news. We believe in journalism's highest ethical standards and believe in openness and honesty.
Thank you for choosing Tri-Community NewsPlus for your advertising needs. We are here to make sure your NewsPlus advertising experience is effortless and profitable. If we can help in any way, let us know. We are here for you and look forward to contributing to the success of your business.
OUR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES
Here are a few Advertising Opportunities NewsPlus has to offer:
- Display Ads in Color & Black And White
- Coupon Corner
- Business Service Guide - COMING SOON
- Church Guide - COMING SOON
- Montlhly Incerts - COMING SOON
- Website Advertising -COMING SOON
- Social Media Advertising -COMING SOON
- NewsPlus Van Advertising - COMING SOON
- Holiday Greetings
CONTACT US
Don Fish Jr. at dfishjr@4newsplus.com
Marge Fish at mfishjr@4newsplus.com
OUR ADDRESS
Tri-Community NewsPlus
P.O. Box 290522
Phelan, CA 92329-0552
760-868-4658
Fax 888-468-8734
OUR RATE CARD
Coming Soon!OUR HOLIDAY GREETING CATALOG
Click Image to download pdf.