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Origins of the newspaper can be traced back to the Urbana Union, first published in 1852. Over the next 70 years, the paper went through several name changes and mergers. The modern News-Gazette was established in 1919, when David W. Stevick, owner of the Champaign Daily News, purchased the Champaign Daily Gazette, merging the two papers. Mr. Stevi... ck was an active voice in the community. He enthusiastically promoted civic causes, and sharply criticized activities that he felt were not in the public interest. His goal was simple: Get things done. Be a Booster . . . And a Builder was one of his famous editorial slogans. Following Mr. Stevicks passing in 1935, his widow, Helen M. Stevick, served as president and publisher for more than three decades. Under her guidance, The News-Gazette continued its internal growth and progress as well as expanding its community involvement. In 1952, the paper celebrated its 100th year of service with a Centennial Progress Edition. In that issue, Mrs. Stevick said in a special message to readers: A century of service does not offer a resting point. It challenges new achievement. It commands new and even greater toil and intelligence in leading Champaign-Urbana and East Central Illinois forward. An expansion program in 1965 saw the construction of a new press building to house a high-speed rotary press, the broadening of news content to appeal to a wide variety of readers, and the introduction of a Saturday morning edition, making The News-Gazette a seven-day-a-week publication. Technology has shaped the progress of the paper. In July 1977, a new offset press made possible improved print and color reproduction. The original Downtown location was at 48 Main Street and in late 1984 The Stevick Building at 15 Main Street was completed to provide more space for the increasing number of employees. Since David Stevicks death in 1935, Mrs. Stevick and Mrs. Chinigo (Stevicks daughter) carried out his wish for the newspaper to remain locally owned and locally operated. Through many ...Read More