On June 26, 1958, the first edition of the weekly Tahoe-Sierra Tribune was published by Frank and Mary Chase.[1] It was a pennysaver printed in Sparks, Nevada and edited by "Basil "Ben" Benedict. About three months after launch, W.T. "Bill" and Evelyn Heseman, owners of the El Dorado Logging Company,[2] joined the enterprise and built a plant at Al Tahoe.[3][2] A Duplex flatbed press was installed and the plant opened in March 1959.[2]
The Hessemans soon bought out the Chases. Lyle L. Laughlin became published in October 1959.[2] In November 1959, the paper expanded from printing once to five days a week.[4] The expansions into a daily resulted from a $50,000 capital investment from the Hessemans.[2] Zane Miles took over as editor in November 1959.[2]
In April 1961, Heseman appointed Neal Van Sooyas, formerly of the Nevada Appeal, as editor and publisher.[5][6] Around that time the paper's name was changed to the Tahoe Daily Tribune.[2] In July 1962, W.T. "Bill" Heseman retired and hired Vern Shomshak to succeed him.[7] A month later Heseman sold the Tribune to George B. Thornhill,[8][9] who in September 1963 sold it to Scripps League Newspapers.[10][11] In 1975, Philip E. Swift exchanged his interests in the company for ownership of the Tribune and The News-Review.[12]
On April 16, 2007, the Tribune went from a paid, broadsheet newspaper to a free, tall-tab format.[1] In 2021, Swift Communications was acquired by Ogden Newspapers.[13][14]