In January 2001, Carter and Sarah Newton assumed total ownership of Galena Gazette Publications Inc., the parent corporation of The Galena Gazette.

Carter began working at The Gazette in December 1979 as managing editor. In January 1982, he became a partner in the newspaper operation joining Robert and Frances Melvold and Sam and Fran Byers as stockholders in the corporation. Sarah joined the company in 1983 managing the firm's Main Street newspaper museum.

In December 1985, the Newtons assumed publisher roles when they purchased the Byers' interest in the newspaper.

Carter is a native of Muskegon, Mich., graduating from Mona Shores High School in 1973; and Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa, with a bachelor's degree in history in 1977. He then worked for newspapers based in Zearing, Iowa; West Burlington, Iowa; and Mediapolis, Iowa; where he worked in all facets of newspaper publishing.

Sarah graduated from Galena High School in 1976 and spent a year as an exchange student in Scotland before attending Illinois State University in Normal where she graduated with a degree in paralegal studies.

The Newtons sold The Gazette to Woodward Communications in April of 2023.

History of the Gazette

In November 1834, Mr. Loring and Mr. Bartlett started a publishing tradition in Galena which has spanned more than 166 years.

On Nov. 27, 1834, the first issue of the North Western Gazette and Galena Advertiser rolled off the Franklin press. The editor noted that the newspaper "gives the news of the day and sustains the Whig cause."

With handset type in that first issue of four pages, The Gazette has evolved over the years. As Galena grew, the newspaper grew. . .not only in terms of circulation but in frequency, as well. The newspaper evolved from a weekly paper to a twice-weekly paper, to a three-time-a-week paper and then to daily publication. And for many years, the paper appeared as both a weekly and a daily.

After the Civil War, Galena's economy changed. Lead mining, once a staple of the economy diminished as the price of lead dropped. The Galena River flooded more frequently wreaking havoc in the downtown. . .plus it was no longer suited to riverboat traffic.

Through most of its history, the Gazette served the community as a daily paper, but by the early 1950s, under the ownership of Clint Youle, one of the USA's early TV weathermen, the Gazette moved to twice-weekly publication and then weekly publication.

In October 1961, two Maquoketa, Iowa businessmen, Robert Melvold and Sam Byers purchased the Gazette with their spouses, Frances Melvold and Francine Byers.

The Byers moved to Galena as resident publishers. Under their care, The Gazette increased it's page count and importance in Jo Daviess County. Under their ownership, The Gazette was the first newspaper in northwest Illinois to utilize a new method of printing newspapers, offset lithography.

The Byers remained active in the business until they retired in December 1985, when Carter and Sarah Newton purchased their interest. The Melvolds sold their interest in the newspaper to the Newtons in January 2001.

In June of 2023, The Gazette was acquired by Woodward Communications.