Cut Bank Pioneer Press
| Type | Weekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Owner | Mullen Newspaper Company |
| Founder | Dan Whetstone |
| Editor | John McGill |
| General manager | Dawn Texidor |
| Founded | 1909 |
| Language | English |
| City | Cut Bank, Montana |
| ISSN | 2378-6876 |
| OCLC number | 11982522 |
| Website | cutbankpioneerpress |
The Cut Bank Pioneer Press is an American daily newspaper founded in 1909. Based in Cut Bank, Montana, the newspaper is published alongside the Glacier Reporter, Shelby Promoter, The Valerian, and the Liberty Chronicle.[1]
History
The Cut Bank Pioneer Press was founded on July 16, 1909, by Daniel Whetstone.[2][3] He was a former part owner of the Havre Daily News and in 1955 published an autobiography titled "Frontier Editor," but it was later renamed to "I Saw the Old West Fade." He published the paper until his death in 1966.[4] The Pioneer Press was inherited by his son Frank Whetstone, who went on to be a top political advisor to Ronald Reagan during two presidential campaigns.[5]
In 1971, Frank Whetstone sold the paper to Kenneth Byerly, owner of the Lewiston Daily News.[6] In 1976, Byerly sold the paper to Riley and Roberta Johnson.[7] In 1977, the Johnsons sold the paper to Keith and Vi Haugland.[8] In 1982, the Kavanagh family acquired the Pioneer Press.[9]
In March 2022, the Mullen Newspaper Company acquired four Montana newspapers from the Kavanagh family, including Cut Bank Pioneer Press, Shelby Promoter, Browning Glacier Reporter and The Valierian.[10][11] Mullen acquired the Conrad Independent Observer in August 2024,[12] and the Havre Weekly Chronicle in January 2025.[13] Both papers were merged into the Pioneer Press in January 2026.[14] Later that year, printing was moved to Cody, Wyoming.[15]
References
- ^ "Cut Bank Pioneer Press". Golden Triangle News. December 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ "Notice". The Whitefish Pilot. July 23, 1909. p. 2.
- ^ "Cut Bank Pioneer Press (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-Current". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ "Publisher, GOP Official... Dan Whetstone Dies". Great Falls Tribune. Associated Press. February 6, 1966. p. 1.
- ^ Gilluly, Bob (August 16, 1995). "Reagan adviser, ex-publisher Whetstone dies". Great Falls Tribune. p. 1.
- ^ "Lewistown men buy Cut Bank Pioneer Press". Lewistown Daily News. October 28, 1971. p. 2.
- ^ "Cut Bank Pioneer Press is sold". The Billings Gazette. Associated Press. April 4, 1976. p. 28.
- ^ "Montana roundup". Great Falls Tribune. July 3, 1977. p. 27.
- ^ "Kavanagh family sell four Montana newspapers to Ponderosa Publications". Times-Leader. Fairfield, Montana. May 19, 2022. pp. A7.
- ^ Erickson, Kay (March 11, 2022). "A century of family ownership ends with sale of Hi-Line newspapers". Yellowstone Public Radio. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
- ^ "Kavanagh family sells four Montana newspapers to Ponderosa Publications". Fairfield Sun Times. May 24, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
- ^ "Mullen Newspaper purchasing Independent Observer". Choteau Acantha. August 28, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
- ^ "The Havre Weekly Chronicle sold". Havre Weekly Chronicle. January 23, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
- ^ Tronson, Jennifer (January 6, 2026). "Communtities across the Hi-Line can find local news in one convenient publication as newspapers merge". Cut Bank Pioneer Press. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
- ^ Tronson, Jennifer (March 17, 2026). "Change in printing location brings changes to publication". Cut Bank Pioneer Press. Retrieved March 18, 2026.