'We never asked to be saved': Whitehorse Star owners say doomed paper is not for sale

The Whitehorse Star is not for sale, its owners say. 

That's despite a local fundraising campaign launched this month to try to save the long-running newspaper from closing.

The Star's owners, Michelle and Melanie Pearce, announced earlier this month that they will cease publication of the 124-year-old paper on May 17. And the owners are clear that they are not looking for potential buyers. 

"It is what it is. We hung on as long as we could. And it's time," Michelle said. 

The news of the paper's demise inspired a passionate local effort to save it, including an online fundraising campaign. 

Max Fraser, who moved to Whitehorse to work at the paper 50 years ago, was involved in that campaign. He said those efforts have stopped for now. 

"Over the weekend, we kind of paused the 'Save the Star' campaign and are transitioning to plan B, which is a new paper, a fresh paper, to pick up where the Star will leave off on May the 17th," Fraser said. 

Fraser said he hasn't been able to speak with the owners directly. 

"Everything was handled through lawyers at their request," Fraser said. 

"The message we received was very clear, and we have to respect that decision and their request to be left alone." 

Donations to the campaign were around $17,000 as of Monday. Fraser said he won't receive the money until 15 days after the online campaign ends. 

"So that will begin the time when I can return funds, if we're not proceeding with plan B," Fraser said. 

Melanie Pearce said the challenges facing the paper are "immense," with very little advertising income. 

"It's just unaffordable," she said. 

"We didn't have faith in the model to be successful," Michelle said. 

Michelle also said all five shareholders are on the same page about shutting things down. 

"There was a time when we thought that closing the business was the worst thing that we could ever do," she said. "We've learned a lot since then." 

'Move on. Leave us alone'

The owners also said they have had nothing to do with the fundraising efforts. 

"We never asked to be saved," Michelle said. 

Their message for people wanting to save the paper is pretty simple. 

"Move on. Leave us alone," said Melanie. 

The two are already thinking about clearing out the building, including removing the printing press and typesetter. 

The building in downtown Whitehorse is also for sale and has to be emptied by the end of June. 

"This is final," Michelle said. 

For Fraser, there is still some hope for what might come of the whole situation. 

He said he's been speaking with potential investors for a new newspaper, but nothing is guaranteed right now.

"There's conversations," Fraser said. "It will take some time to sort that out, but I am very concerned about the community."

"So maybe they, the public, won't know what they've lost till it's gone, if I can quote Joni Mitchell," Fraser said.