The Clinton County Record Publishes Final Edition After 154 Years
CLINTON COUNTY – With this week’s issue dated December 31, 2025, the Clinton County Record, formerly The Renovo Record, publishes its final newspaper. Just days ago, on December 21, 2025, The Record marked an extraordinary milestone—154 years of continuous service to the people of Clinton County.
This closing represents a great loss to our county and its communities. For more than a century and a half, The Record was Clinton County’s only locally owned newspaper, dedicated to in-depth local journalism and unparalleled sports coverage that kept readers informed about what mattered most at home. Through generations of change, it stood as an iconic symbol of our towns, our schools, our teams, and our people.
As times have changed and the newspaper industry has dwindled, more readers have turned to the internet for information, leaving small community newspapers with increasingly few options to remain in operation. Despite these challenges, it has been a tremendous privilege to serve the residents, businesses, and communities of Clinton County for so many years.
We extend our sincere appreciation and heartfelt thanks to our loyal readers, advertisers, and supporters. Without you, this remarkable 154-year journey would not have been possible. Thank you for allowing The Record to be part of your lives, your history, and your community.
If you are a subscriber, your final edition will be delivered soon. The Final record is available in newstands across Clinton County including The Service Garage (Renovo & North Bend), Lingles, Tony’s Hardware, Scoots, Mountain View Pharmacy, North Bend Grille, Weis Store, (Lock Haven & Mill Hall), 7-Eleven, Sheetz, Bald Eagle Truck Stop, Nittany Minit Mart, and Puff -n- Snuff, (Renovo, Lock Haven & Mill Hall).
A Grateful Farewell to The Record
After 18½ years with The Record, it is incredibly difficult to put into words what this newspaper, and this job, have meant to me.
I began my career here as an office assistant, moved on to building ads, and eventually had the honor of becoming editor. At every stage, I truly loved the work and the people I worked alongside. Being part of The Record was never “just a job” — it was a privilege and a responsibility I carried with pride.
On Sunday, December 21, 2025, The Record marked its 154th year of serving our communities. For more than a century and a half — first as a daily paper and later as a weekly — it provided Clinton County with local news, sports, and events that mattered. It has been a constant presence in the lives of so many, and its loss is deeply felt.
I have been fortunate to work with so many dedicated and talented coworkers over the years. Their hard work, commitment to local journalism, and teamwork not only made the paper possible, but made my job easier and more meaningful every day. I will miss them all dearly.
To our subscribers, advertisers and readers: thank you. Your loyalty and support made this newspaper possible for generations. You are the reason The Record endured for so long, and I am grateful to have served you.
This is a real loss for Clinton County, and my heart is so heavy seeing it come to an end. While I don’t know what the future holds, and I can’t imagine not working here any more, I trust that God has a plan and that things will work out as they are meant to. I am thankful beyond words that I was able to be part of The Record’s story.
With sincere gratitude,
Lynn Gavlock
Editor
Stop the presses: the end of our story – Yesterday’s news, tomorrow’s history
By Christopher Miller
RENOVO – On December 21, 1871 Renovo Record published its first issue after a brief delay for not receiving the entire alphabet in a shipment from the type foundry in New York.
It has been 154 years and 10 days, or 56,220 days if you like math.
That is how long this locally-owned, independent news institution has provided you, our loyal readers, with local reporting.
Some of our readers are descendants of former publishers, writers, delivery-people, and advertisers. Some are 5th generation subscribers (or longer) to this treasure of local news reporting.
With a news source as old and as independent as The Record, there are bound to be several people out there who can recall “the good old days.” like when The Record was Renovo Daily Record, printing daily except for Sundays.
Some may even remember the Shaffer family, descendants of the first publisher and statesman John U. Shaffer who is buried in North Bend.
And some have spread throughout the country and internationally, with known subscribers in Oklahoma, Florida, and beyond.
The loss of this local treasure is absolutely heartbreaking to say the least.
When I was hired in July 2015, former publisher John Lipez assigned me to layout and design of the sports section and some advertising sales. Since then, my role transformed into the writing of countless local news stories, fact finding, and broadcasting.
For the past 10 and a half years I have held dozens of late-night writing marathons covering everything from the local school board, city and township government news, and local events. My wife and I have stuffed, mailed, and delivered tens of thousands of issues locally.
And recently, I dwelled on teaching my future daughter the value in local news reporting and service to subscribers.
Working with Lynn, Autumn, Emily, Michael, John, Jeannine, Butch, Bees, Lou, Erin and Scott, and Kevin has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life so far.
As for my future writing, I will keep an open eye for writing opportunities, establishing my own news source, or writing for another locally-owned and operated one. One thing is certain: it won’t be the same without The Record.
To the readers: continue to stay vigilant in seeking the truth through unbiased reporting. Fact check early and often. Do not be afraid to be vocal. You were the backbone of our newspaper and the reason I worked so hard to provide you with timely information and reporting.
To the advertisers: your faith and financial contributions to The Record helped us to produce hundreds of sports broadcasts, graduation ceremonies, parades, and tens of thousands of copies of print issues over the years.
To all of those I have spoken with or personally interviewed: thank you for trusting me with your information and for helping you tell your stories.
Thank you for letting me be a part of your weekly reading. And thank you for trusting in me and The Record for providing you with timely, up-to-the-minute reporting and broadcasting.
For the final time, this is Christopher Miller.
Christopher Miller
cmillerfortherecord@gmail.com
(c miller for the record)
Do good. Be kind.
A Farewell from Emily Wright, Community Reporter for The Record
In 2023, I was given the incredible opportunity to write for The Record. Some readers may be surprised to learn that I came into this role with no background in journalism, very little practical experience, and absolutely no relevant education in the field to speak of— In fact, I had just completed pre-law studies and earned my paralegal certification just before being offered the position with The Record, so I had plans to go in an entirely different direction. As someone once said to me, “We make plans, then God laughs,” and I believe that to be true.
I accepted my position at The Record with both gratitude and a healthy dose of caution, knowing I would need to learn how to be a reporter as I went—it truly felt like a sink or swim situation. My publisher and boss, Michael Frank, took a chance on me, and for that, I will always be grateful. Throughout my time with The Record, Michael gave me many assignments that I was hesitant to accept, and whenever I expressed doubt about whether I could handle them, he never failed to respond with unwavering confidence in my abilities. Michael’s reassurance and words of encouragement helped me to believe that I am capable; I am enough.
Michael’s belief in me was the driving force behind what motivated me to learn, to explore, to go out and make connections with community members and leaders, to dive deeply into research on subjects that were completely unfamiliar, and—most importantly—to believe in myself. Dale Carnegie once wrote that “A person who feels appreciated will always do more than what is expected,” and that is exactly what I sought to do through my writing.
What I discovered during my time with The Record was that I didn’t just fall in love with the daily work of being a community reporter—I also developed a deep appreciation for the people of Clinton County. I grew to admire our community members, local business owners, nonprofit organizations, emergency responders, and the many dedicated individuals in our local government. I found joy in covering the events that make our county unique, from annual celebrations to pivotal government meetings. I cherished the chance to share good news with our readers, but I also valued the responsibility of tackling controversial issues at the local level, analyzing them from all sides, and devising strategies to report on them from every angle.
What I’ll miss most isn’t just interacting with Clinton County’s residents and community leaders, but also the incredible team I had the privilege to work with at The Record. My editor, Lynn, has been one of the most uplifting and supportive colleagues I’ve ever had in the workplace. Whenever I doubted the quality of my work, she was always quick to provide encouragement, and her words impacted me more than I think she realizes. Although I didn’t often cross paths with our other reporters in person, we stayed connected, and everyone was always happy to help whenever I reached out. Finding another team like this will be no easy task, and I can only hope that my next opportunity will have a team that is even half as supportive, kind, and encouraging as those I’ve worked with at The Record.
To our readers, it is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye, but I also want to take this opportunity to thank you. Thank you for reading my stories, thank you for sharing our content on social media, and thank you, sincerely, for reaching out with your news and trusting me to tell your stories. Your support and trust in me—and in our entire team—has meant more than I can express. I am deeply grateful for the role you have played in making my time at The Record so meaningful.
Signing off for the last time as one of the community reporters from The Record,
Emily Wright
Community Reporter
The Final Note
Christmas morning is always loud in the best way. It starts before the coffee is even done brewing. Our girls are awake too early, the house feels brighter than usual through lack-of-sleep-filled eyes, and everything moves fast. Wrapping paper everywhere. Torn-open boxes. The constant words, “Can you open this?” You try to slow it down, but you can’t—not really. This is the moment you’ve been building toward for weeks.
And then, just like that, it’s over.
There’s that moment every parent lives for—the one where their little eyes see the gifts under the tree for the very first time. The excitement. The wonder. The belief that something magical is happening.
Then the gifts are opened. The kids scatter. The coffee finally gets poured. The room grows quieter, and you sit there for a second wondering how something you worked so hard to create could pass in a blink. That feeling always sneaks up on me.
I’ve learned through my faith that endings aren’t failures. They aren’t signs that something went wrong. They’re just part of how life moves. God shows up in the build-up, and He shows up in the letdown too—in the quiet moments when the noise fades and you’re left with what actually matters.
Parenting teaches that lesson over and over again. You plan, you prepare, you show up with everything you have—and then the moment passes. Christmas mornings. Bedtime routines. Phases you didn’t realize were phases until they were already behind you.
I’m still learning how to hold those moments without trying to keep them. How to appreciate them without wishing them back. How to trust that even when something ends, the love underneath it doesn’t disappear. It just looks different.
That’s true in families.
And it’s true here, too.
This paper has been part of my weekly rhythm over the past few months, alongside my many other duties at The Record. Writing Autumn’s Notes gave me a place to think out loud about faith, parenting, and the ordinary moments that shape our lives. I didn’t always know what I was doing—but you kept reading anyway, and that mattered more than you probably realize. I am so grateful for the time I had with you all.
And to everyone who has supported The Record over the past 154 years—readers, families, advertisers, staff, and communities—thank you. Generations came and went, stories were told and retold, and through it all, this paper showed up. That kind of legacy doesn’t disappear just because the presses stop.
Scripture reminds us that “the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” (Isaiah 40:8) Seasons change. Chapters close. But the truth, the good work, and the faithfulness poured into something meaningful are never wasted.
If this is the final note of this song, I hope it’s enough. Enough to say thank you. Enough to remind you that the story doesn’t stop just because these pages do.
So to the parents reading this: keep going. Keep opening the Word at your kitchen table. Keep leading your homes by Christ’s example, even on the days it feels messy or imperfect. Give yourself grace in the hard moments—because none of us get it right every time. But every prayer spoken, every lesson lived out, every attempt made in love is planting seeds. And those seeds grow into children who know truth, carry light, and bring hope into a world that desperately needs it.
Remember, friends, the last note is still part of the song—and sometimes it’s the one we remember most.
With gratitude, I offer this final note.
As a new year begins, may your days be filled with music, your heart forever feel God’s grace, and may you rest confidently in the truth that you are always enough.
—Autumn Gavlock
Notice to Print Subscribers
CLINTON COUNTY-After careful and very thorough review, The Record has made the difficult decision to end publication of its print edition, as continuing to produce the paper in print is no longer financially feasible. Our final printed issue will be published on December 31.
This decision was not made lightly. For 154 years, The Record has been proud to serve the community by providing local news, sports, and public information. That work has only been possible because of the loyal support of our readers.
To our print subscribers, we extend our sincere appreciation and thanks for your support over the years. Your commitment to local journalism has meant a great deal to everyone involved with the paper.
Print subscribers with time remaining on their subscription may request a refund for the unused portion. Refund requests can be submitted by visiting:
www.therecord-online.com
All requests will be processed as promptly as possible.
We are grateful for the trust our readers have placed in The Record and for the role you have played in supporting local news in this community.
As the year comes to a close, we wish our readers and their families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and we thank you again for your many years of support.
—
The Record
