About Deer Park Tribune | Local News for Deer Park, WA

About the Deer Park Tribune

The Deer Park Tribune is a community-centered newspaper serving Deer Park and the surrounding region of northeastern Washington.

Our mission is simple: to inform, connect, and represent the people of this community through accurate reporting, local storytelling, and accessible public information.

We focus on the stories that matter most at the local level—schools, city government, public safety, community events, local businesses, and the everyday lives of the people who call this area home. From breaking news to community milestones, the Tribune exists to ensure that local voices are seen, heard, and preserved.

As a rural publication, the Deer Park Tribune plays a vital role in maintaining transparency, strengthening community identity, and supporting civic engagement. Local journalism is not just about reporting—it is about connection, accountability, and continuity.

In 2024, the Deer Park Tribune returned to local ownership under Gabriel Cruden, marking a renewed commitment to strengthening coverage, rebuilding local presence, and investing in the future of community journalism.

Today, the Tribune continues its legacy as a trusted source of local news—rooted in history, focused on the present, and built for the future.

1906

Deer Park Union founded - first issue establishes Deer Park’s local newspaper.

1919–1923

Walter W. Gillies publishes the paper, continuing its role as a central source of local news.

1913-1940's

Under Karel A. Wegkamp and later George Miles, the paper documents life during the Great Depression and World War II.

1953–1990s

For decades, the paper operates under the

Tri-County Tribune name

2002-2024

The Tribune operates under Horizon Publications. Deer Park Tribune name established

1908–1919

Early ownership era

Multiple editors shape the paper’s early identity.

1923–1930s

Rev. Guy Herbert Rice and subsequent publishers maintain the paper’s focus on civic life, schools, and regional development.

1953

The Deer Park Union merges with the Spokane County News, becoming the Tri-County Tribune, expanding its regional reach.

1990s–2000s

The publication is commonly referred to as “The Tribune,” reflecting a simplified identity used in print

2024

Statesman-Examiner and the Deer Park Tribune sold to Gabriel Cruden, restoring local ownership.

Our History

A publication that reflects more than a century of evolving community identity.

The Deer Park Tribune traces its roots back to 1906, when the Deer Park Union was first published to serve a growing rural community in northeastern Washington. In its earliest years, the paper documented the foundational elements of Deer Park life—local businesses, schools, churches, agriculture, and community events—becoming an essential part of the town’s identity.

Through the early decades of the 20th century, the paper evolved alongside the community it served, changing ownership over time while maintaining a consistent focus on local reporting and civic connection.

In 1953, a major transition reshaped the publication. The Deer Park Union merged with the Spokane County News, forming the Tri-County Tribune. This new name reflected a broader regional reach, serving not only Deer Park but surrounding communities across multiple counties.

For decades, the paper operated under the Tri-County Tribune name, becoming a familiar and trusted source of local news throughout the region. During this time, it continued to cover the stories that mattered most—schools, local government, agriculture, public safety, and the everyday lives of its readers.

Over time, the publication’s identity gradually shifted. While the Tri-County Tribune name remained in use for many years, the paper was often referred to more simply as “The Tribune.” Eventually, this evolution led to the modern name, the Deer Park Tribune, which re-centered the publication’s identity around the Deer Park community it has long served.

By the early 2000s, the Deer Park Tribune name was firmly established, marking a return to a more locally focused brand while continuing its broader regional coverage.

Throughout its history, the Tribune has remained more than just a newspaper—it has served as a record of the community itself. From early 20th-century development to modern-day life, its pages preserve the stories, milestones, and voices that define Deer Park and the surrounding region.

In 2024, the Deer Park Tribune entered a new chapter under local ownership, with renewed efforts to strengthen community journalism, rebuild local presence, and carry forward a legacy more than a century in the making.

Today, the Tribune continues its mission: to inform, connect, and serve the people of Deer Park—just as it has for generations.