The first edition of The Newton Record was printed Dec. 5, 1901.
According to its Web site, that paper featured a story on a new high school that cost just $5,000 to build.

Now, The Newton Record has announced that the final edition of the paper will be printed this month.

"Well, really kind of in a state of shock. It was the furthest thing from my mind probably last Thursday, but I realize some of the changes taking place in the advertising and newspaper business now," said Ray Gibson, co-owner of Hailey's Hardware in Newton. "We're all experiencing some changing times."

The Newton Record employs four people, and the paper's closing is just another example of the impact of the struggling economy.

Robbie Robertson, the paper's publisher and editor, says that the paper has always had strong support from the community, He also says that everything that could be done to keep the paper going has been done.

After The Newton Record ends its publication, current subscribers will begin receiving the Sunday edition of The Meridian Star. Both newspapers are owned by Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc., of Birmingham, Ala.

"I would hope that maybe somebody could in the future maybe open a paper, because if you don't have a local paper and a local radio station, you just kind of lose contact with the community," Gibson said.

The Newton Record will print its final edition Jan. 14, ending a tradition that spans 107 years in Newton.