Earlier this week, the Prairie City News filed an appeal against the Jasper County Board of Supervisors’ designation of official newspapers for 2013.
According to Iowa Code, Jasper County may only designate three official newspapers each year. This year, Newton Daily News, Jasper County Tribune of Colfax, Hometown Press of Sully and Prairie City News all requested official newspaper status.
Following instructions spelled out by state law, the supervisors selected Newton Daily News, Jasper County Tribune and Hometown Press as official newspapers. Those papers each supplied bona fide yearly subscriber lists with more certified circulation than the Prairie City News.
The matter of circulation lists has been an ongoing dispute. The Prairie City News appealed the supervisors’ designations in 2010, successfully challenging circulation numbers supplied by the now-defunct Diamond Trail News of Sully.
Also this week, a Jasper County District Court judge handed down a ruling affirming the Board of Supervisors’ decision to award official newspaper status to Prairie City News and Hometown Press ahead of Jasper County Tribune. Jasper County Tribune was the odd paper out last year, but challenged the certified list presented by the Hometown Press.
Both papers had been publishing legal notices on behalf of the county in the hope of being compensated upon the judge’s ruling. Prairie City News is currently challenging the circulation lists submitted by both Jasper County Tribune and Hometown Press.