{"id":1104,"date":"2025-05-17T11:13:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-17T11:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/192.168.1.88\/?page_id=1104"},"modified":"2025-05-29T02:58:46","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T02:58:46","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ovv-stage.orovalleynews.com\/?page_id=1104","title":{"rendered":"History of Oro Valley Voice"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n Oro Valley Voice<\/strong> has connected residents with trusted local news, stories, and community resources since 1974. From its print origins to today\u2019s digital-first platform, the Voice has been the heart of independent journalism in Oro Valley. Discover how our publication evolved across decades of growth, change, and innovation.\n <\/p>\n

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History of the Oro Valley Voice<\/h2>\n
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1970s: Founding and Early Years<\/h3>\n

\"Original<\/p>\n

\n 1974:<\/strong> Shortly after the Town of Oro Valley\u2019s incorporation, Sancruval Corp. launched the Oro Valley Voice<\/em> to serve about 1,200 residents. Edited by Dennis Joyce, early editions were just a few pages, selling for 15\u00a2 or $3 per year for home delivery. Frank Lopeman worked as a runner for the combined Oro Valley Voice\/Catalina Call<\/em>, helping with newsroom production.\n <\/p>\n

\n By 1977, the paper was rebranded as \u201cThe Newspaper of Northern Pima County,\u201d expanding coverage to Catalina and nearby communities. Under editor Ted Turpin, it became a weekly. In 1979, one editorial was entered into the U.S. Congressional Record,an unusual national recognition for a small-town publication.\n <\/p>\n

\n These early years laid the foundation for community journalism in Oro Valley, giving residents a platform for local voices and building civic pride.\n <\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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1980s: Expansion, Rebranding, and Hiatus<\/h3>\n

\n 1980\u20131984:<\/strong> Still under the title Oro Valley Voice \/ The Catalina Call<\/em>, the paper covered early commercial growth in Oro Valley. It was briefly known as Oro Valley Voice\/Call<\/em> before returning to The Oro Valley Voice<\/em>.\n <\/p>\n

\n By the mid-1980s, the original publication ended. Other regional outlets and newsletters stepped in during the Voice\u2019s absence, but its legacy and impact remained through local archives and memories.\n <\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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1990s: Dormancy and Regional Coverage<\/h3>\n

\n As Oro Valley grew to nearly 30,000 people by 2000, the Voice remained inactive. Local news came from the Northwest Explorer and official town newsletters, but there was no dedicated Oro Valley Voice during this period. The idea of the Voice lived on in the community\u2019s gatherings and meetings.\n <\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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2000s: Digital Age and Community Media<\/h3>\n

\n Early 2000s:<\/strong> Residents depended on regional newspapers and newsletters. Interest in reviving the Voice grew as the town expanded.\n <\/p>\n

\n Mid-2000s:<\/strong> Entrepreneur Susan Penney, experienced in small business, planned a community newspaper and secured early advertisers. By age 20, she had already launched several ventures, building the foundation for the Voice\u2019s modern revival and showing the community\u2019s appetite for local news in the digital era.\n <\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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2010s: Revival as a Community Publication<\/h3>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

\n 2010:<\/strong> Gregory Lopeman and Susan Penney brought back the Voice as a free, monthly print paper mailed to every home and business, reaching more than 67,000 readers. It focused on positive news, local profiles, events, and opinions, with a website for digital access.\n <\/p>\n

\n Penney recalls:<\/em> \u201cI sketched layouts on napkins, printed our first issue at home, and delivered door-to-door. It turned out to be the perfect formula for real community connection!\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n The Town of Oro Valley added a regular \u201cTown Talk\u201d column, nonprofits shared their work, and local writers contributed unique stories. By the end of the decade, the Voice was an essential part of the community, supported by local advertising.\n <\/p>\n

\n The relaunch attracted over 5,000 new subscribers in the first year, showing the town\u2019s strong demand for hyperlocal news.\n <\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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2015: Contract Fallout and Leadership Change<\/h3>\n

\n 2015:<\/strong> Contract negotiations stalled and Gregory Lopeman stepped aside. Theresa Poalucci<\/a>, a veteran publisher from Seattle, became editor.\n <\/p>\n

\n Theresa modernized the editorial approach, expanded email newsletters, and strengthened social media. She led the Voice\u2019s shift toward digital-first publishing, maintaining strong engagement even as print revenues declined.\n <\/p>\n

\n Theresa now works as a visual artist, with new work on her official website<\/a> and Etsy shop<\/a>.\n <\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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2020s: Digital Transition and Multimedia Expansion<\/h3>\n

\n The pandemic disrupted print revenue, ending the independent print edition. By 2022, the Voice moved online, publishing news, newsletters, and social media updates, before pausing later that year. Even during the pause, archives remained a valuable resource and plans were set for a new digital future.\n <\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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2025: Digital Renaissance Under Gregory Lopeman<\/h3>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

\n 2025:<\/strong> Gregory Lopeman returned and relaunched the Voice with a digital-first vision. New features include:\n <\/p>\n