Miles City Star

In August 1903, James G. Ramsey published the first edition of the Miles City Independent in Miles City, Montana.^[1] In 1905, Ramsey sold the paper to Joe Smith, who's brother was a former governor.^[2]

In 1909, Joseph D. Scanlan, former editor of the Red Lodge Picket, bought the paper.^{[3] [4]} The Independent published twice a week until Scanlan expanded it into a daily called The Daily Star. It was first published on May 24, 1911.^[5][6] Newspaper founder Ramsey died in 1920.^[7]

J.D. Scanlan was a prominent Republican leader in the state and was twice elected president of the Montana Press Association in 1911 and 1918. He died in 1939.^[8] His son Robert J. Scanlan inherited the paper. He was elected president of the state press association in 1954.^[9] R.J. Scanlan sold the The Star along with KATL (AM) to Robert W. Chandler, owner of Western Communications, in 1965.^[10] William H. Hornby, managing editor of The Denver Post, was associated with Chandler in the purchase and was named publisher of The Star.^[11]

Hornby co-founded Eastern Montana Publishing Co., which later became Yellowstone Newspapers. In 1979, he was elected president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors.^[12] In 2014, Hornby died.^[13][14] In 2022, Yellowstone Newspapers sold The Star and its other publications to Adams Publishing Group.^[15] A year later the paper decreased it's print schedule to two days a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays.^[16]