The Zephyrhills News

The Zephyrhills News is a locally focused weekly broadsheet newspaper based in Zephyrhills, Florida, in Pasco County north of Tampa. Founded in 1911 as the Zephyrhills Colonist, it was established to support the development and promotion of a planned retirement community created by Civil War veteran H.B. Jeffries. The publication was intended in part to advertise land and attract settlers to the newly named Zephyrhills area. Jeffries recruited G.H. Gibson, a newspaper publisher from Loup City, Nebraska, to establish the paper. Gibson moved his printing operation to Florida, shipping the equipment by rail. Because the newspaper plant was not initially complete, the early issues were written, assembled, and printed in temporary conditions while workers guarded and covered the equipment overnight. About a decade after its founding, Sam Lovett assumed control and changed the name to the Zephyrhills News, creating the title that ultimately evolved into the present brand. The newspaper subsequently passed through a succession of local and regional owners. A group of Zephyrhills businessmen led by dentist Bernard A. Thomas acquired it in 1930. After Thomas's death, Walter Gall became the owner, followed by Howard Berg in 1948 and George Johnson in 1950. Johnson's death soon after the acquisition led to a sale back to the Gibson family, with Floyd Gibson, G.H. Gibson's son, taking charge. Floyd Gibson later became mayor of Zephyrhills and sold the newspaper to Illinois journalist George Wickstrom in 1955. The Wickstrom period was an important chapter in the paper's civic life. George Wickstrom's son, Bernie Wickstrom, became editor and remained in that role until his death in 1987. The paper also changed ownership several times during the late twentieth century. George Wickstrom sold it to The New York Times Company in 1978; it then moved to Asterisk Publishing Company in 1984 and Republic Newspapers in 1988. The current owners, Danny and Jan Linville, purchased the publication from Scripps Zephyrhills News LLC on June 4, 2009. Danny Linville serves as publisher and Jan Linville as editor. The paper publishes each Thursday and positions itself as a community news source, covering local affairs, civic institutions, public safety, community events, and matters affecting residents of Zephyrhills and nearby Pasco County communities. Its marketing language describes it as the local source since 1911. The newspaper operates in a market that also includes daily publications such as the Pasco Tribune, associated with the Tampa Tribune, and the Pasco Times, associated with the St. Petersburg Times. The Zephyrhills News has had a visible role in local civic life. Its reporting on the late-1970s dismissal of police chief Bill Eiland helped generate public opposition and contributed to Florida's first successful recall election. Two city council members were removed and their replacements rehired Eiland. The city's later memorialization of Eiland, as well as public commemorations honoring reporter Alice Hall and editor Bernie Wickstrom, reflects the newspaper's long-standing connection with local institutions. Despite multiple ownership changes and shifts in editorial leadership, the title remains an active weekly newspaper rooted in the identity and public affairs of Zephyrhills.

The Zephyrhills News originated in 1911 during the development of Zephyrhills as a retirement community for former Union soldiers. Civil War veteran H.B. Jeffries created the Colony Co. and promoted the sale of land in Pasco County. To support that project, he sought a newspaper capable of advertising property and reporting on the new settlement. Jeffries recruited G.H. Gibson, who had operated The Standard Gauge in Loup City, Nebraska. Gibson accepted the offer, moved to Zephyrhills, and established the Zephyrhills Colonist. The newspaper's early production was improvised. Gibson shipped his printing equipment by rail, but the newspaper plant was not yet finished when the machinery arrived. During the first months, staff members wrote, composed, and printed the paper outside the incomplete building. Equipment was covered at night and guarded until the structure could be enclosed. This beginning connected the newspaper closely with the physical creation and promotion of the city. Around 1921, Sam Lovett took over and renamed the publication the Zephyrhills News. In 1930, Lovett sold it to a group of local businessmen led by dentist Bernard A. Thomas. After Thomas died, Walter Gall acquired the paper, followed by Howard Berg in 1948. George Johnson purchased it in 1950, but his death soon after the transaction led his widow to sell the title back to the Gibson family. Floyd Gibson, G.H. Gibson's son, then assumed control. Floyd Gibson later became mayor of Zephyrhills and sold the newspaper in 1955 to George Wickstrom, a journalist from Rock Island, Illinois. Wickstrom's son, Bernie Wickstrom, served as editor-in-chief for much of the following period, remaining in the post until his death on September 10, 1987. The newspaper's editorial leadership changed repeatedly after 1987, with a series of editors serving through the transition to its current owners. George Wickstrom sold the paper to The New York Times Company on December 15, 1978. The title changed ownership again in 1984, when it was acquired by Asterisk Publishing Company, and in 1988, when it moved to Republic Newspapers. It was later held by Scripps Zephyrhills News LLC. Danny and Jan Linville purchased the publication from that company on June 4, 2009. Linville Enterprises LLC is identified as the current owner, with Danny Linville as publisher and Jan Linville as editor. The newspaper has occupied several locations in Zephyrhills. Its offices were once on Fifth Avenue, moved to Sixth Street in 1947, and returned to Fifth Avenue eight years later. On February 22, 1959, it moved into the facility identified as 38333 Fifth Avenue. The paper publishes weekly on Thursdays and serves Zephyrhills and the broader Pasco County area. Its civic influence has extended beyond routine local reporting. Coverage of police chief Bill Eiland's dismissal in the late 1970s helped produce a public outcry and contributed to Florida's first successful recall election. Two council members were removed, and the officials who replaced them rehired Eiland. The community later honored people associated with the newspaper: a recreation center bears reporter Alice Hall's name, while a nearby bandstand commemorates Bernie Wickstrom. Eiland was also honored through a city gazebo and a Pasco County boulevard. These episodes illustrate the newspaper's role as a local institution and watchdog as well as a commercial weekly publication.

1. 2009Purchased by Danny and Jan Linville

   The Linvilles acquired the publication from Scripps Zephyrhills News LLC on June 4, establishing the current ownership arrangement.

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2. 1988Transferred to Republic Newspapers

   Republic Newspapers became the newspaper's owner during another ownership transition.

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3. 1984Acquired by Asterisk Publishing Company

   The newspaper changed corporate ownership again when Asterisk Publishing Company acquired it.

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4. 1978Acquired by The New York Times Company

   George Wickstrom sold the newspaper to The New York Times Company on December 15.

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5. 1955George Wickstrom acquired the paper

   George Wickstrom purchased the publication from Floyd Gibson, beginning the Wickstrom ownership period.

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6. 1948Ownership transferred to Howard Berg

   Howard Berg purchased the newspaper from Walter Gall.

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7. 1930Sold to a local business group

   A group of Zephyrhills businessmen led by Bernard A. Thomas acquired the newspaper.

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8. 1921Renamed the Zephyrhills News

   Sam Lovett took control and changed the newspaper's name from the Zephyrhills Colonist to the Zephyrhills News.

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9. 1911Founded as the Zephyrhills Colonist

   G.H. Gibson established the newspaper in Zephyrhills at the request of H.B. Jeffries, who wanted a publication to promote the new settlement and its land.

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A locally rooted weekly newspaper emphasizing community news, civic accountability, local events, public affairs, and advertising for Zephyrhills and surrounding Pasco County.

• The Zephyrhills News weekly editionWeekly newspaper1911

  The principal product is a broadsheet newspaper published every Thursday. It focuses on local reporting and community information for Zephyrhills and nearby areas of Pasco County, combining news, civic coverage, public notices, community announcements, and advertising.

• Zephyrhills ColonistHistorical newspaper title1911

  The Zephyrhills Colonist was the newspaper's original title, used from its founding in 1911 until the publication was renamed the Zephyrhills News under Sam Lovett's ownership.

• Local source since 1911

  Zephyrhills · Pasco County

  The newspaper's marketing language presents it as the community's local source dating back to 1911, emphasizing continuity, longevity, and local identity.

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• 2009Acquisition by the LinvillesM&A

  The newspaper was held by Scripps Zephyrhills News LLC before the transaction.

  What changed. Danny and Jan Linville purchased the publication on June 4.

  Aftermath. The paper continued under Linville Enterprises LLC, with Danny Linville as publisher and Jan Linville as editor.

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• 1978Sale to The New York Times CompanyM&A

  The newspaper had been owned by George Wickstrom since 1955.

  What changed. Wickstrom sold the paper to The New York Times Company on December 15.

  Aftermath. The newspaper later changed hands again in 1984 and 1988.

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• 1921Adopted the Zephyrhills News nameStrategy

  The publication had operated since 1911 under the name Zephyrhills Colonist.

  What changed. Sam Lovett took control and renamed the newspaper the Zephyrhills News.

  Aftermath. The new title became the basis of the newspaper's continuing identity.

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• Reporter jailed during Floyd Gibson's mayoral tenureControversy

  Historical accounts cited by the newspaper's reference material state that Floyd Gibson, a former publisher who later became mayor and oversaw the police department, had a reporter arrested and held for three days without food or water after an altercation in which the reporter reportedly struck him. The episode reflects a serious conflict between local political power and the newspaper.

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• 2009The Linville family acquired The Zephyrhills News

  Danny and Jan Linville purchased the newspaper from Scripps Zephyrhills News LLC, beginning the current ownership period.

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• 1970The newspaper helped drive a successful recall election in Zephyrhills

  Intensive reporting concerning the dismissal of police chief Bill Eiland contributed to community opposition and a successful recall election in which two city council members were removed. Their replacements rehired Eiland.

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1. The Zephyrhills News