Mark Nichols has transitioned from making headlines to owning and eventually contributing to them. Together with his daughter and son-in-law, Emily and Justin Hawryluk, Nichols has acquired the Lake City Graphic, a longstanding local newspaper that serves Lake City, Minnesota, as well as Zumbro Falls, Old Frontenac, and Florence Township in Goodhue County. Formerly the mayor of Lake City, Nichols is entering a new chapter in his career with this venture.
The Lake City Graphic has a rich history, dating back to 1861. Since 1970, it had been in the Schumacher family until Dennis and Marian Schumacher took full ownership in 1992. Dean Schumacher and his brother Terry, the most recent owners, decided to sell the newspaper as Terry approached retirement. Despite trends of small-town newspapers shutting down, the Schumachers were pleased to keep the publication thriving during their tenure. Nichols was attracted to the Graphic due to its staff’s deep-rooted connections to the community, which bring valuable institutional knowledge to the paper.
Nichols has no intention of drastically changing the newspaper’s operations but rather aims to maintain its long-standing reputation for unbiased reporting. While there are occasional criticisms of partisanship, Nichols emphasizes the importance of truth and nonpartisan reporting in today’s media landscape. His initial reluctance to purchase the newspaper changed as he considered the vibrant and growing community he had served as mayor, along with the strong reputation of the Graphic among locals.
The newspaper, which has an average issue circulation of over 2,000, relies heavily on local contributors for content. This includes photographers and community members submitting articles on a range of topics from sports to local events. Additionally, the advertising section, the Lake City Shopper, reaches more than 8,200 households and businesses. Recent feedback from the community has been positive, with many residents expressing relief that the newspaper remains locally owned.
Nichols, who also owns hotels in the region, is committed to investing in the Lake City area, seeing its beauty and potential as a draw for tourism. He plans to enhance the Graphic with upgrades to its equipment and facilities, including an improved website and a new conference room that will double as a community meeting space equipped with modern technology. Nichols envisions the Graphic continuing to highlight the community’s strengths, focusing on areas such as education, wellness, and environmental health.
Looking ahead, Nichols intends to contribute articles on municipal subjects, drawing from his background in finance. While recognizing that such topics may not always be popular, he stresses their importance to the community’s well-being. Under his leadership, the Lake City Graphic is set to maintain its role as a vital source of local news and community engagement.
The legacy of the Lake City Graphic is marked by several key milestones:
- 1932: Larry Oberg acquires a half interest in the Lake City Graphic-Republican, partnering with Eugene Hibbard.
- 1936: The newspaper adopts the name The Lake City Graphic.
- 1956: Larry and Esther Oberg purchase Hibbard’s interest.
- 1970: Dennis and Marian Schumacher buy a half interest from the Obergs.
- 1972: Jim and Joyce Miller acquire the Obergs’ remaining interest.
- 1992: The Schumachers become sole owners by purchasing the Millers’ interest.
- 2002: Terry and Shari Schumacher, along with Dean and Mary Schumacher, move the office to its current location.
- 2025: The Lake City Graphic and Lake City Shopper are acquired by Hometown Press, owned by Justin and Emily Hawryluk and Mark Nichols.