{{Short description|Weekly newspaper published in Winnemucca, Nevada}} {{Infobox newspaper | name = Great Basin Sun | type = Weekly newspaper | owners = Pacific Publishing Company | founder = Cal Sunderland | publisher = Peter Bernhard | managing_editor = Jen Anderson | founded = 1972 | language = English | headquarters = 1022 S. Grass Valley Road Winnemucca, NV 89445 | ISSN = 1082-2976 | oclc = 13775980 | website = {{URL|greatbasinsun.com}} }}

The '''''Great Basin Sun''''' is a weekly newspaper in Winnemucca, Nevada.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Humboldt Sun (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1972-Current |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/sn86076254/ |access-date=2026-01-07 |website=Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA}}</ref> It was founded in 1972 and preceded by ''The Silver State'', ''Humboldt'' ''Star'' and ''Humboldt'' ''Bulletin.'' The ''Sun'' is a member of the Nevada Press Association,<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 22, 2022 |title=Three NPA-member newspapers consolidate |url=https://nevadapress.com/members/three-npa-member-newspapers-consolidate/ |access-date=2026-01-07 |website=Nevada Press Association |language=en-US}}</ref> and a newspaper of record for Humboldt, Lander and Pershing counties.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Karpel |first=Richard |date=July 30, 2019 |title=Public Notice 101 |url=https://nevadapress.com/services/public-notice-101/ |access-date=2026-01-07 |website=Nevada Press Association |language=en-US}}</ref>

== History ==

=== ''The Silver State, The Star'' and ''The Bulletin'' === In 1870, John C. Hall started the ''Silver State'' in Unionville, Nevada.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=The Silver State (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903 |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/sn84022060/ |access-date=2026-01-07 |website=Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA}}</ref> The newspaper went through a number of owners. Peter Meyers and J.J. Hill moved the paper to Winnemucca and relaunched it in September 1874.<ref name=":0" /> George S. Nixon bought the paper in 1890 and sold it to the Winnemucca Publishing Co. in 1902.<ref name=":0" /> The paper was briefly known as the ''Winnemucca Republican'' and ''Daily Silver State'' until reverting back to ''The Silver State.''<ref name=":0" />

In January 1906, the ''Humboldt Star'' was founded by R.E.L. "Leo" Windle and George M. Rose.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 18, 1906 |title=New Exchanges |work=The Central Nevadan |location=Battle Mountain, Nevada |pages=3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=February 3, 1906 |title=The Humboldt Star. |work=Yerington Times |pages=3}}</ref> A.L. Brackett was a third partner in the firm. In December 1912, Rose retired.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 3, 1912 |title=George Rose Retires From Humboldt Star |work=The Silver State |location=Winnemucca, Nevada |pages=1}}</ref> In June 1922, Rollin C. Stitser purchased Windle's half-interest,<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 8, 1922 |title=Veteran Newspaper Man Retires From Local Field |work=The Silver State |location=Winnemucca, Nevada |pages=1}}</ref> and in July 1923 bought out Brackett to become the ''Star'''s sole owner.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 21, 1923 |title=Winnemucca Notes |work=Nevada State Journal |location=Reno, Nevada |pages=3}}</ref> In June 1925, Stitser's father leased the 50-year-old ''The Silver State'' of Winnemucca from Mrs. M.E. Graham and then consolidated it into the ''Star''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 6, 1925 |title=Humboldt County Newspaper Sold |work=Reno Gazette-Journal |pages=3}}</ref> The paper soon expanded into a daily. R.C. Stitser died in January 1939 from a brain tumor at age 39.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 25, 1939 |title=R.C. Stitser Seriously Ill |work=Reno Gazette-Journal |pages=16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 31, 1939 |title=R.C. Stitser Is Honored {{!}} Winnemucca Pauses As Tribute |work=Nevada State Journal |pages=12 |agency=United Press}}</ref> His widow Avery D. Stitser then operated the paper. In October 1960, she sold it to Donrey Media Group.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 5, 1960 |title=Winnemucca Paper Sold To Reynolds |work=Nevada State Journal |location=Reno, Nevada |pages=2}}</ref>

In September 1961, Clayton Darrah founded the ''Humboldt County Bulletin'' with Pete Jenkins and Celso Cobeaga, who both were employed at the ''Star'' before it was sold.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 21, 1961 |title=New Weekly In Winnemucca |work=Nevada State Journal |location=Reno, Nevada |pages=3}}</ref> In July 1964, the paper expanded to a daily and was renamed to the ''Nevada Daily Bulletin''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 6, 1965 |title=Bulletin Completes First Year as Daily |work=Nevada State Journal |location=Reno, Nevada |pages=18}}</ref> In December 1966, it returned to a weekly under the original name.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 2, 1966 |title=High Costs Force Cutback By Newspaper |work=Reno Gazette-Journal |pages=15 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In October 1967, Darrah purchased the ''Humboldt'' ''Star'' and ''Battle Mountain Scout'' from Donrey Media Group and then absorbed them into the ''Bulletin''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 7, 1967 |title=Humboldt Star Sold To Clayton Darrah |work=Nevada State Journal |location=Reno, Nevada |pages=9}}</ref>

=== ''The Sun'' === In December 1971, Cal Sunderland and his wife Barbara moved to Winnemucca after agreeing to purchase the ''Humboldt County Bulletin'' from Clayton and Georgia Darrah.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 14, 1971 |title=Newspaper Is Sold In Nevada |work=The Sacramento Bee |pages=24}}</ref> The deal fell through. In January 1972, the couple founded a rival paper called the ''Humboldt'' ''Sun.''<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 21, 1972 |title=New Newspaper In Winnemucca |work=Nevada State Journal |location=Reno, Nevada |pages=8}}</ref> The Durrahs then sued the Sunderlands for $365,738 in response.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 10, 1972 |title=Publishers sued for $365,738 in Winnemucca |work=Reno Gazette-Journal |pages=8}}</ref>

In April 1975, the ''Sun'' expanded from a weekly to a twice-weekly.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=April 29, 1976 |title=Editor of Humboldt Sun Quitting in Favor of Sun |work=Nevada State Journal |location=Reno, Nevada |pages=13}}</ref> In August 1975, Mr. Clayton died and the ''Bulletin'' at some point ceased.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 27, 1975 |title=Ex-Nevada Newspaper Figure Dies |work=Nevada State Journal |location=Reno, Nevada |pages=2 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In May 1976, Cal Sunderland retired as editor and was succeeded by his son Michael K. Sunderland.<ref name=":1" /> In October 1977, the Sunderlands sold the ''Sun'' to Mark and June McMahon, while their son maintained a minority stake.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 11, 1977 |title=Humboldt Sun Changes Hands |work=Enterprise-Record |location=Chico, California |pages=8 |agency=United Press International}}</ref>

In 1995, the ''Sun'' expanded into a daily. In February 1998, the McMahons sold the ''Sun'' to Diversified Suburban Newspapers, a Utah-based company owned by William Dean Singleton and brothers Peter and Andy Bernhard.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 17, 1998 |title=News Capsules {{!}} Winnemucca paper |work=Elko Daily Free Press |pages=5 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In 2005, Peter Bernhard acquired the Seattle-based Pacific Publishing Company and from then on operated the ''Sun'' under that business.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 3, 2014 |title=Tom Haley announces retirement as president of Pacific Publishing Company Inc. |url=https://queenannenews.com/news/2014/mar/03/tom-haley-announces-retirement-as-president-of-pac/ |access-date=2026-01-07 |website=Queen Anne & Magnolia News}}</ref> In June, 2022, Bernhard announced the ''Winnemucca Humboldt Sun'', ''Battle Mountain Bugle'' and ''Lovelock Review-Miner'' would be merged into a single publication called the ''Great Basin Sun.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bernhard |first=Peter |date=June 15, 2022 |title=PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Changes coming to newspaper print editions, Name will change to 'Great Basin Sun' next week |url=https://nevadanewsgroup.com/PrintArticle.aspx?aid=50522&uid=6cab50f0-4713-48e9-adb4-ac8bed93771d |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=Nevada News Group}}</ref>''

== References == {{Reflist}} Category:Winnemucca, Nevada Category:Newspapers published in Nevada Category:Newspapers established in 1972 Category:1972 establishments in Nevada