Terrie Baker has accepted the position as COO/Regional Publisher for Syndicate Publishing. She began her new job at the helm of the company on Monday, March 21.

Baker brings more than 40 years’ experience in the newspaper business, having recently joined Syndicate Publishing with responsibility for the Cozad Local, Gothenburg Leader and Callaway Courier. Previously, Baker worked as regional publisher for Lee Enterprises. Prior to that, she was publisher of the North Platte Telegraph for five years, and the Lexington Clipper-Herald for 13 years, continuing a career that began at the Clinton Daily Journal in Illinois, where she worked for more than 22 years.

“I am so excited to have the opportunity to work with Syndicate Publishing alongside owners John Bell and Colten Venteicher,” Baker said. “I look forward to the traditions of local news, marketing opportunities and the delivery of the news that our customers have come to expect.”

Along with the three papers named above, Syndicate Publishing has also recently acquired the Minden Courier. For the last 28 years, Jim Edgecombe’s steady hand has been on the wheel of the Minden Courier. In May, that ship will be handed over to Syndicate Publishing.

“My family was blessed to be welcomed into the community of Minden way back in 1994 when we purchased The Minden Courier and we wish Syndicate Publishing the best moving forward,” Edgecombe stated. “Colten, John, Terrie, Alisa and the team at Syndicate Publishing will maintain the same local presence as we have been bringing the readers, all the local news and sports of Kearney County and the surrounding area. Courier Editor Cindy Ramsey and Sportswriter/Proofreader Roger Hansen will remain on staff and will aid in the transition to the new ownership team at the end of May.”

Syndicate Publishing is owned by Colten Venteicher and John Bell of Gothenburg. The two men saw a need to develop a hyper-local, growth-minded newspaper in 2019, the Gothenburg Leader. They assembled a team to establish that first brick in the enterprise, and over the last three years expanded the business to include the Callaway Courier, Cozad Local, and now the Minden Courier.

“As a company and as individuals, we are passionate about rural development. We realize that an integral part of the growth and development of any community is a vibrant local news platform,” said co-owner Colten Venteicher. “Our mission is to provide accurate, community focused content to promote the long-term growth and sustainability of the communities we serve.”

Alisa Mullen joined the Syndicate team in 2020 as a writer, moving into her current role as General Manager in 2021. “We have spent a lot of time developing the purpose and intention for our company over the last year, and we recognize that a healthy local newspaper is truly a linchpin in rural communities,” said Mullen.