The newspaper that is known as the oldest continuously published weekly newspaper west of the Mississippi is closing its doors.

In a Facebook post Tuesday, owners Mark and Patty Cheffey announced that they will cease publication of the Palmyra Spectator with the October 31st edition.

The publication was established by Jacob Sosey who brought his family east to settle in Palmyra in 1839.

The Cheffey’s have owned the Spectator since 1994.

They site changing times and attitudes toward the value of community journalism, along with increased costs, declining ad revenue and readership as factors leading to the closing of the Palmyra Spectator.

More From KHMO-AM 1070, News-Talk-Sports