BY ANDRU MCCRACKEN

This newspaper will publish its last issue next week on July 24. The Robson Valley Times had been in negotiations to sell to the same organization that purchased the Valley Sentinel last week.

However, in a decision reached Friday morning, owners Rashmi Narayan and Andru McCracken chose to close the newspaper of their own accord without entering into an agreement with any buyer. The newspaper is not for sale. We found this to be the appropriate way to end the newspaper at this time. Founded as an independent, we will remain that way to the end.

After July 24, the newspaper will no longer be published.

McCracken has taken a full time position with the Valemount Entertainment Society (VCTV). Narayan will continue her work with the Valemount Historic Society and her partnership at Infinity Office and Health. Reporter Jennifer Quam will move to the Valley Sentinel (and we wish her the best). Production assistant Jody Newham will be taking some time off before deciding what to do next.

The decision to discontinue the newspaper was a difficult one. However, after five and a half years in the industry and over four and a half years in business for ourselves (two hundred and thirty eight issues), it is time to move on. We will dearly miss our relationship with our readers, contributors, staff, advertisers and local politicians.

A party to celebrate the short but eventful life of the Times will be held this Friday at the Dunster Community Hall. We invite everyone including health inspectors, politicians, readers and contributors to join us at 6:30 p.m. for a semi-potluck. Whether you can find the time to bring food or not, please come by and sample some of Rashmi’s mom’s great East Indian cooking and share your stories of the good Times. Local band Blue Syntax will provide some dancing tunes later in the evening.

Subscribers and prepaid advertisers will be reimbursed. We’ll have more information next week.