By now you must realize it’s National Newspaper Week.

There is a day, week or month for celebration of just about anything.

But since it is our industry’s time to toot its own horn, I thought I would use my column to tell you a little something about your award-winning community newspaper, The Fountain Hills Times.

Our first edition was published on

June 27, 1974. We’ve had our ups and downs financially since then, but we’ve never lost sight of our role in the community.

That is to provide all of the news of our town in a fair and objective way. Traffic accidents, break-ins and other illegal activities are reported each week in the Law Enforcement Report on Page 4A. You’ll also find the obituaries and Lost & Found on that page.

We cover all of the news from the various town government departments, the council, commissions and special committees.

We are a paper covering news of the School District including board decisions, inside-the-classroom activities and student awards are all a part of our coverage.

Clubs and organizations are also covered from adding new members to publicizing any special events they may hold in town.

Also getting coverage are our Town’s award-winning Fountain Hills Theater, the Community Band, the Community Chorus, the Chamber Players, the O.K. Chorale and various other entertainment.

High school sports coverage is an important part of our paper. We also cover golf and tennis tournaments at the local clubs and courses.

The Verde Communities are regularly covered with their own page of news each week.

Business news gets more coverage in our paper than you’ll find in most community newspapers.

We think it is important to inform you about new commercial projects, business openings and closings, the local real estate market and people receiving awards.

There is a religion page where you can be informed about what local churches are doing.

Then there is the Fountain Spouts page. On this page you can tell your neighbors what trips you have been taking, new baby announcements and weddings and engagements. You can talk about guests who are visiting and special parties.

Occasionally we have special sections, such as the Pets edition in last week’s Fountain Hills Times.

We call our paper, “Your Award-Winning Hometown Weekly Newspaper” because it is just that. Throughout the 30 years we have been members of the Arizona Newspapers Association and the 27 years we’ve been members of the National Newspaper Association we have participated in their Better Newspapers contests.

We have won numerous awards over the years. This year we were judged the Best Classified Section for all non-daily newspapers in the state. The same was true for the Public Notice Section.

Nationally, we finished in the top five weeklies in the General Excellence category in each of the past three years.

Over the years, we have won numerous individual editorial and advertising awards.

Our advertising department can create a marketing plan to help jumpstart your business.

We want you to subscribe and become an informed reader about your hometown. Give us a call at 480-837-1925.