David Allen Richardson and his wife, Catherine Ann Robertson, purchased the Herald from Makinson in 1985. Richardson, originally from Canton had been a journalist in Washington DC, Florida and Ohio. His “One Man’s Meat” columns became popular with many readers.
Robertson was a Norton High graduate and retired from Society Bank as President. The two ran the Herald until 2004, when Cheryl Lyn McCracken-Vespoint, Robertson’s daughter, purchased it. Vespoint is a 1984 Barberton graduate.
Vespoint carried the The Barberton Herald into the digital age by incorporating the internet and sending pages to print electronically. In 2010, the Herald pushed its way into the social media scene being hailed by the National Newspaper Association as one of the most digitally aggressive weeklies in the state, with over 16,000 followers on Facebook. The Herald also incorporates a YouTube Page, Google Plus and Instagram.
The Herald has evolved throughout its 94-year history, but has continued to focus on local news, sports and opinion.
Today, the newspaper averages sales of more than 8,500 issues per week through printed and online subscriptions and newsstand sales, with single copies at $1 and a years subscription is $20. The online newspaper subscription is $16.
– Excerpts from Rebecca Larson-Troyer
A monument to valor
Members of Barberton VFW Post 1066 and the Woodford family unveil the new monument to Staff Sgt. Howard E. Woodford, the city’s only Medal of Honor recipient, during Memorial Day services.
Read MoreCrews battle blaze at BSI
Multiple departments helped contain and extinguish the fire.
Read MoreSanta’s Sleigh Ride
A literal mile of police and fire vehicles parade past Summa Barberton Hospital.
Read MorePeak Protest
What started as a few dozen protesters in the morning grew to around 100 by early evening, all decrying a requirement at Barberton BWXT to be vaccinated by Jan. 3.
Read MoreLike a duck takes to water
The new Abra and Cadabra are released into Lake Anna at noon on Labor Day.
Read MoreMagic hat there on the table, give me a prize if you are able
The Barberton Public Library’s smoky magic hat is rimmed with prize buttons at Magic Mayhem, the pregame party Aug. 27.
Read MoreParents’ Preview
The Barberton High School Musical Magics play “Build Me Up Buttercup” at the Parents’ Preview show Aug. 5.
Read MoreWilliams Arrest
Barberton Police released a brief body cam clip of the arrest of Tim Williams for a brutal attack in Downtown Barberton June 22.
Read MoreGoodbye to school!
Barberton seniors said goodbye in style with a parade through town May 21.
Read MoreA Magic birthday celebration
Members of the Barberton High School Marching Band wish Gerry Morgan, 90, a Happy Birthday May 6.
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