Ads will also run in Oroville Gazette-Tribune

The Okanogan County commissioners reaffirmed their decision to award the contract for the official newspaper of record to the Methow Valley News and Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune after meeting with representatives from the two newspapers, who submitted a joint bid, and the Omak Chronicle.

After reviewing the bids and a challenge by the publisher of the Chronicle, who pointed out a discrepancy in circulation and printing totals in the News/Gazette-Tribune bid, all three commissioners determined on June 15 that the Chronicle’s challenge did not affect their original decision.

Following a brief discussion with representatives from the three newspapers and the Gazette-Tribune’s parent company, Sound Publishing, and some further consideration, County Commissioner Sheilah Kennedy reiterated that her decision was based on information submitted for their review by the three newspapers, according to Don Nelson, publisher and editor of the News, who attended the meeting.

The commissioners initially awarded the annual legal-advertising contract to the News and Gazette-Tribune in May, finding that publishing the legal notices in those newspapers would cost $1 less per column inch than in the Chronicle.

All official legal notices for matters such as land-use decisions, special meetings and some court proceedings will appear in both the Methow Valley News and Gazette-Tribune every Wednesday beginning July 6, the start of the one-year contract. The notices will also be posted on each newspaper’s website and on the website of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association.