According to CBS Sacramento, the Messenger prints about 2,400 copies a week and Russell hasn't raised advertising rates for some customers in 30 years. Owning the paper means doing just about everything. But it's worth it to Butz.
"This past year, the bank went away. The gas station has been closed. You know that the town is like dying," he said.
Now, The Mountain Messenger will live on.
"Local papers can be something to bind together a community," Butz said.