The Clay Times-Journal began in 1902 as the Lineville Headlight. The name was changed to the Lineville Tribune sometime in the mid- to late thirties. The Clay Times-Journal has been located in the same building since its beginning in 1902. Lester Proctor began working at the newspaper in 1946 after serving four years in the military in the South Pacific. He bought the paper in 1947, practically running it by himself. Lester purchased the Ashland Progress in 1955. In 1990, he combined the Lineville Tribune and the Ashland Progress to establish The Clay Times-Journal. After 47 years, Lester was still the editor and publisher when he passed away in 1992. The Clay Times-Journal has gone through many cosmetic changes, the most significant being the redesign from front to back in July of 1998 and revised in 2010. It continues to grow in size and readership. To date, we believe it is the oldest trade organization in Clay County. There are approximately 3, 600 copies printed and distributed throughout the United States and Canada each Wednesday. Still home owned and operated by the Proctor family, David Proctor, editor and publisher, who states, owes much of the success of the business to his father, Lester Proctor, and the continued longevity of the paper staff, which combined, totals 91 years of experience.

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