Your Hometown News Source
Your Hometown News Source
Loyal and Charlotte Baker, and newshound Annie the Chiweenie, have been at the helm of Dayton's and Columbia County's 147-year-old community newspaper since former publisher and owner Jack Williams retired in 2014.
By Loyal and Charlotte Baker
DAYTON–This July marked the tenth anniversary of the change of ownership of Dayton's and Columbia County's weekly community newspaper, the Dayton Chronicle.
Loyal and Charlotte Baker took over publishing duties from 30-year publisher Jack Williams in early July, 2014. Williams enjoyed a few weeks of retirement before health issues arose and he passed away July 8, 2014.
The Bakers operated the 147-year-old business, which includes a full-service print shop, at the Chronicle's long-time location at 358 East Main, directly across from the Columbia County Courthouse, until 2016 when the operation, after 108 years at that location, was relocated to 163 East Main Street. One of the primary reasons was customer safety; the 358 East Main Street location had five steps to its front door.
The new location offered the advantage of street-level entry for all Chronicle patrons, plus a more-efficient floor plan for the business, which continues to offer its full line of custom printing services and paper supply in addition to publication of the Dayton Chronicle.
In 2017, the couple added another publication, the East Washingtonian, Pomeroy's community newspaper for 142 years, to its limited liability corporation, 2Over Publishing, LLC. Previous East Washingtonian publisher Michael Tom, who also had some 30 years owning the newspaper, retired and sold the business.
About a year ago, some of the content of both newspapers were merged to streamline efficiency. Content specific to each community goes to subscribers in each town, with included information common to both towns and neighboring counties.
Charlotte Baker serves as editor of both newspapers and directs reporters Jessica Ruffcorn and Melissa Gemmell in Dayton, and Naomi Scoggin in Pomeroy. Loyal Baker reports on local high-school athletics and reports on some community topics, manages the advertising and job printing, and lays out the newspaper. Lee Ann Literal distributes the newspaper to local vendors each Wednesday.
The Chronicle was printed at the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin until October, 2021, when it switched printing services to the Lewiston Tribune.
The Dayton School District selected the Dayton Chronicle and Loyal and Charlotte Baker, publishers, as the 2015-2106 recipient of the Community Leadership Award, which was presented by Johnson to the publishers at a dinner hosted by the Southeast Washington School Administrators Association June 9, 2016, in Kennewick.
During the Novel Coronavirus pandemic, the Chronicle did not seek nor accept any federal support money. Advertising was curtailed for over a year but lineage has since recovered.
The newspaper is the official newspaper of record for Columbia County and the City of Dayton.
The Bakers' stint of ownership started with a wrinkle: a five-year non-compete clause from Loyal Baker's sale of The Times in Waitsburg in 2009. Initially, Baker's parents, Tom and Anita Baker, closed the purchase transaction until the issue regarding the non-complete clause was remedied, then ownership was transferred to Loyal and Charlotte Baker.
The Bakers extend their thoughts of appreciation to the faithful subscribers in both towns, and those supportive advertisers who help keep a local community newspaper serving the residents of the area.
