“This is something I really hate to see,” said Mount Olive Town Manager Jammie Royall. It was the reaction he had when he was told the Tribune was closing its doors, effective June 29.
“I think every town needs a hometown newspaper. I remember the Tribune when I was a little boy growing up. I really hate it is shutting down, but I do understand,” he added.
“Y’all always had someone who came here and kept on top of things that were going on with the town, and we are going to miss that,” he said.
Others, he said, might call every once in a while, but never had anyone contact the town routinely.
“It meant a lot to us to have someone who kept the people of Mount Olive up to what was going on with the town,” said Royall.
The people of Mount Olive are losing their only source that kept them up to date on a regular basis, he added.
The town manager said he hopes the media outlets in Goldsboro will assign someone to have Mount Olive on their beat, but doubts that will happen.
“I guess the only thing we can do now is send out news releases to them and put more out on our website,” Royall said.
“We really had a good relationship with the Tribune, and it will take time for us to get used to it not being here.”
The Tribune has served Mount Olive and the surrounding area since 1904.
