Image via Parlier Post Facebook page

The Parlier Post newspaper will cease publication later this month after nearly 35 years of covering the Fresno County town of more than 15,000 people.

The last issue of the free weekly paper will be distributed to homes on Jan. 24. Founded in 1983, The Parlier Post is one of four newspapers owned by Reedley-based Mid Valley Publishing, which also operates the Reedley Exponent, Sanger Herald and Dinuba Sentinel.

“We’re all a little poorer when we lose a community newspaper,” said Parlier Post Publisher Fred Hall.

Hall cited production costs and lack of retail advertising revenue as factors in the closure. One Parlier Post editorial position may be eliminated. He added that Mid Valley Publishing newsroom staffers would still cover Parlier city government when possible.

The closure was announced via Facebook on Tuesday. One Facebook user commented on the news, “Thank you for your many years of dedicated service. This is very sad news.”

In the Facebook post, Hall said that newspaper publishing is “an odd combination involving the dedication to serving the informational needs of small communities with the need for sufficient community support to make it economically feasible. The excellent, in-depth coverage by The Post of wide-ranging events — from government to schools and citizens — marked the very epitome of community journalism.”

The Post’s reporting was honored in 2016 with an honorable mention in the Public Service category of the annual Gruner Awards for a story by Amy Wu headlined “School district takes heat over misdeeds and misdemeanors.”

The Gruner Awards are sponsored by The Fresno Bee and the Fresno State journalism department, and are open to newspapers from Merced to Bakersfield.