BLISSFIELD — Blissfield-area residents got some welcome news in mid-December: The community won’t be losing its local newspaper after all.

Marcia Loader, publisher of The Advance for nearly three decades, told readers early in December that she would be retiring at the end of the year. At first the 150-year-old newspaper was slated to cease publication. But in the newspaper’s Dec. 18 issue, it was announced that local business owners Rex and Linnie Crist have reached an agreement to assume ownership of The Advance and keep it publishing. 

In the announcement, the Crists stated that local businesses would suffer if they were no longer able to get the word out through The Advance, and the newspaper’s loss would have been detrimental to the entire region.

Sports writer Doug Donnelly, whose experience as a news and sports journalist includes stints at the Monroe News and the Daily Telegram among other papers, will be the editor and publisher of The Advance. Darin Wolfe will continue to run the newspaper’s printing business.

The Crists own Springbrook Commons on the west side of Blissfield, and they are also purchasing Borchardt Brothers Market, which is located in that plaza.

Owners Bill and Beth Borchardt are retiring, while their son Andy Borchardt is staying on as manager. Plans to remodel the store are in the works.

More details about both sales can be found in the December 25 issue of The Advance.