Los Banos Enterprise

Los Banos Enterprise was founded in 1891 by P.H. Higgins.[3][4] The paper was later owned by Carlos O. Freeman.[5][6] In 1902, the paper was owned by Willard Beebe.[7] In 1902, the paper advocated for Merced County to be split and for a new county to be formed.[8]

In 1905, the Enterprise was merged with the Los Banos Advance, and the papers retained the name Los Banos Enterprise.[9] Beebe died in 1905 from erisypelas.[10] Bert A. Wilson became owner of the Enterprise at that time.[11]

In 1915, Enterprise owner Bert A. Wilson became Post Master of Los Banos.[12] Needing to commit attention to his new post, Wilson leased the Enterprise to M.P. Lewis, who had been a foreman in the mechanical department of the paper. W.S. Walker became editor of the paper at that time. Wilson later ran for the California Assembly.[13][14] Wilson retained ownership of the paper until 1944, when he sold the paper to Frank Merrick, who had worked at the paper since 1928.[11]

Frank Merrick was editor and publisher of the paper until 1963.[15] William J. Brehm Sr. of Brehm Communications Inc. purchased the paper in 1962.[16] In 1963, Joseph Knebel was named publisher. Knebel also published the Gustine Standard.[17]

In 2003, McClatchy purchased the Enterprise, along with the Merced Sun-Star and four other non-dailies, from Pacific Sierra Publishing Company.[18]