Informing the citizens of Wise County. That is the main objective of the Wise County Messenger, Wise County’s largest newspaper and oldest business institution.

The Wise County Messenger is published twice a week on Thursday and Sunday. In-county subscriptions are $35 per year while out-of-county subscriptions are $40 per year. Out-of-state subscriptions sell for $45 per year, and individual papers can be bought throughout Wise County for 75 cents each. Online digital subscriptions are available for $20 a year.

In addition to the newspaper, the Messenger also produces the daily Update Monday through Friday, offering the latest news.

In 1997, the Messenger Update became available on the World Wide Web.

The Web site at www.wcmessenger.com also includes the Messenger’s news, sports, obituaries, classified ads and links to other news related sites. New features include breaking news alerts, video clips of breaking news or feature packages, interactive weather, up-to-the-minute election results and football scores available minutes after the games end.

Photo reprints are also available from award-winning staff photographer Joe Duty.

Established on March 26, 1880, the Messenger has undergone some major changes through the years. William Forster started the operation in a 10-by-12-foot shack in Paradise lighted by kerosene lamps and candles. At the time, the paper took great pride in its weekly columns that featured everything from love stories to listings of stray cattle. Early subscriptions to the newspaper sold for $1.25 a year.

The paper moved to Decatur in 1883, but soon after changed its location to Alvord when the business was sold. The newspaper remained in Alvord until 1885 when it moved back to Decatur to stay.

In 1933, the Messenger became the first country newspaper in the United States to offer a “Trade and Swap” column free to farmers. The move gained national recognition for the paper, and other hometown papers across the nation began to follow its lead.

After changing hands numerous times through the years, the Messenger was bought by current owner and publisher Roy Eaton on Jan. 4, 1973. Eaton, a longtime newsman and former news director and anchor at KXAS-TV Channel 5, grew up in Rhome and dreamed of owning the paper since he was a child.

Eaton quickly established the paper as one of the best in the state, a standard it still lives up to today. It has won numerous national, state and regional awards, including five consecutive sweepstakes awards from the Texas Press Association.

The Messenger office, at 115 S. Trinity St. in Decatur, across the street from the former Decatur post office, was expanded in 1995 to encompass almost 10,000 square feet. Located in that same building is Messenger Office Supply, an office supply company that offers everything from paper clips to entire office furniture and decorating.

Messenger Office Supply offers school supplies pre-packaged for individual schools and classes in the county. Products can also be ordered on-line.

For more information on news, advertising or office supply products, call (940) 627-5987.