Controversy surrounds new Pulaski County newspaper's name

A new newspaper is being launched in Pulaski County.

"The Uranus Examiner."

That's the name Natalie Sanders, the managing editor, announced Wednesday afternoon.

"We had thought about Constitution, but most of our, the people who love us, and who were part of coming up with the name, liked the 'examiner' better," Sanders said."

The announcement was made Wednesday at a Chamber of Commerce Luncheon after the

was shut down by their parent company, GateHouse Media, on Friday.

The the man they consider the "Mayor of Uranus", Louie Keen, is backing the new weekly newspaper to fill the void left behind by the

Sanders is the former managing editor of the

She left the now-defunct paper in June, and had teamed up with the tourist attraction, Uranus, to start what she calls a "fun" paper for marketing the businesses and attractions at the tourist town.

They'll still be doing that, but they'll also be doing a regular newspaper for local news, legal notices, and other things you'd find in a normal local newspaper.

"It's a weekly. It'll come out, we're thinking Thursdays, although the production schedule isn't set yet because we just decided this and we're still working out the kinks," Sanders said.

After Sanders' announcement Wednesday afternoon, Waynesville Mayor Luge Hardman stood up and asked for the microphone.

"No. I'm sorry. But, the innuendo of that title puts my city up for public ridicule, and I will not be a part of it," Hardman said.

Hardman said she supports Sanders, who is one of her former students, and respects her work as a journalist. But, but refuses to put any of the legal notices the city of Waynesville is required to publish in The Uranus Examiner.

Right now, the city will have to publish them in the Dixon Pilot or the Laclede Record.

"I think that the Pulaski County Examiner would have been a real hit, and I don't believe it would've been a problem for the cities," Hardman said. "But if you're going to place this innuendo on your name, it's not going to fly, at least for the city of Waynesville and the City of St. Robert."

Darrell Todd Maurina, owner of the online news paper "Pulaski County Daily News," says despite being the new newspaper's competitor, he's also concerned about the name."

"If Louie Keen wants to pick up the slack and provide a media product to people in this community who want print media, I want to see that happen," Maurina said. "I want to see it succeed. That name does not indicate a serious newspaper."

Sanders said she feels it's important Uranus is represented since they are funding the new newspaper, and that it should be taken seriously.

The first issue is expected to be printed near the end of October, and it will be free and delivered right into 15,000 mailboxes, with hopes of reaching many more as they continue to grow.