As we reported late last month on KJAN, two small weekly newspapers in southwest Iowa have ceased publication, citing factors like declining advertising and subscriptions. Both The Walnut Bureau in Walnut and the Danish Villages Voice in Elk Horn released final editions on Christmas Eve. Owners say the ending of the longtime papers was sad but unavoidable.

Marye Bierbaum, editor of both newspapers, wrote in The Walnut Bureau that the decision to close that paper was not made lightly. The Walnut Bureau had been in business for more than 130 years. Chris Mudge, executive director of the Iowa Newspaper Association, says small Iowa newspapers tend to consolidate instead of close. Both papers were managed by Cornflower LLC. The Daily Nonpareil reports  the publishing company plans to refund customers for undelivered issues.