LVN returns to its downtown roots

The Lahontan Valley News has returned to downtown Fallon with its new office located at 37 S. Maine St., just north of the Fallon Theatre.

For the last five years, the newspaper has been operating out of a business suite on the Reno Highway.

“We felt we weren’t doing a great job of serving people who wanted to come and do business with us,” said Steve Ranson, LVN general manager and editor. “Either they said we were too far out of town, or they couldn’t find us. So what we wanted to do was become part of the downtown area again.”

Originally, the LVN started on West Center Street, before the building was renovated and became home to the Mexican restaurant La Fiesta. Later it merged with the Fallon Eagle-Standard. In 1990, the publication moved into a new facility on North Maine Street. The LVN stayed there until 2011 when the current owner sold the building.

Because of various newspaper mergers, the Fallon paper has continuously served the county since 1903.

The recent move came about, Ranson explained, because the Churchill Economic Development Authority received a grant to develop a downtown food hub. He said one of the goals was to increase the number of businesses in the downtown corridor.

Ranson attended workshops on how to add more viability to the downtown area. After talking to Rachel Dahl, executive director of CEDA, they thought it might be “Kind of neat,” he said, if the LVN did return to downtown Fallon.

“Steve came to the meetings,” Dahl said. “and he totally got it. You could see the light bulb go on. It makes all the sense in the world for us to have the paper downtown.”

Last summer, Ranson said former publisher Mark Raymond asked him if he had any ideas for the paper for 2016.

“I said it would be great if the LVN could return downtown and be part of the Downtown Merchants Association — be a vital part of the downtown experience,” Ranson said. “He thought it was a good idea, so we got everything in motion, planned for it and here we are.”

The move is complete although everything is still being put in its place. Plus, the office is open for business and has already noticed an increase in foot traffic.

“We’re excited to be here,” Ranson said. “And we’re excited to be involved with downtown activities. We encourage people to stop in say ‘hi.’ Or if they have a news lead or news story they’d like to give us, we’re always accepting those.”

Natalie Parrish, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, noted that any business that moves downtown is a good thing.

“And the newspaper is the hub of information,” she said. “I think it’s a great presence down there. You need a downtown. You need centrality. You need a kind of destination.”

A ribbon cutting and meet and greet will take place sometime in the future and will be open to all. The LVN’s phone number remains the same at 775-423-6041. Hours are Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and is closed for lunch from 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Editorial can be reached on Fridays, though, by calling the main telephone number.