The Wise County Messenger began its third century of service to Wise County on January 1, 2000.

The newspaper was founded in Paradise although it has also called Alvord and Decatur "home." The earliest known copy of the newspaper is dated March 26, 1880.

"We look forward to the 21st century because we know it will be a great time for all of Wise County," said Messenger Publisher Roy J. Eaton who, along with his wife Jeannine, have owned the newspaper since 1973. Jeannine Eaton is the newspaper’s business manager.

"We feel like there is nothing more important than the franchise we have to be the community newspaper for all of Wise County," Eaton said. "As the new century dawns we continually search for new and better ways to make sure Wise County citizens are kept well informed."

The Messenger news products include the twice-weekly newspaper, now with a paid circulation of over 6,000 on Thursdays and Sundays, plus All Around Wise, a total market coverage product that goes to an additional 21,900 homes, and a combined total circulation to more than 27,000. In addition, we offer the Update, the newspapers’ daily news product and wcmessenger.com, the newspaper website as part of our comprehensive news coverage.

"When we created the Messenger Update more than 20 years ago, it was an effort to make sure that residents of Wise County were kept up-to-date on the latest news every day," Eaton said. "Now with wcmessenger.com on the Internet we can provide instant news and picture coverage from throughout the county."

While the Internet is very important, Eaton said the value of the printed word will never diminish. "First it was radio that was going to put newspapers out of business, then it was television, then it was cable TV and now it’s the Internet, but community newspapers throughout America are stronger than ever," Eaton said.

Indeed, the Messenger is one of the highest circulation twice-weekly newspapers in Texas. Since the Eatons purchased the newspaper in 1973, circulation has grown almost three-fold and what was once a small eight-to-ten page weekly newspaper now is a three times larger twice-weekly that has won more than 100 awards for news and advertising excellence in the last 26 years.

The Messenger has a subsidiary company, the Messenger Office Supply, which supplies county-wide service for office products and furniture from its downtown Decatur location.

"We obviously would not be able to provide the products and services without excellent people," Eaton said. "One of our employees, Ken Roselle, has been with us for 30 years and three others, Tim Terrell, Denny Deady and Mark Jordan have been with the Messenger for more than 25 years."

Roselle, who became editor of the Messenger in 1973, now handles advertising responsibilities for James Wood Motors in Decatur and Denton, Karl Klement Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep in Decatur and others.

Deady, who came to the Messenger as a general assignments reporter has worked as sports editor, managing editor and advertising manager and now handles special projects for the newspaper.

Terrell, a Decatur native, is the senior employee of Messenger Office Supply and co-ordinates sales and service for the office supply division.

Jordan began in advertising sales advanced to advertising manager and currently serves as general manager.

Donna Bean (Classifieds) has been with the Messenger for over 20 years, while Advertising Manager Lisa Davis and Assistant Business Manager Kristi Bennett have served for 18 years each.