West Texas County Courier

In your community since 1973

In 1973 Lloyd and Lorretta Sapp established a monthly paper called Homesteader News Bulletin for the fledgling community of Horizon. It was printed on a copier on standard paper, collated and corner stapled for distribution in the community. Lorretta and her friend, Paula Crawford, did the majority of the work while Lloyd oversaw his handyman business.

Since that time the paper has gone through different owners and other changes. In 1984 the paper was bought by a family – that never saw the internet coming, incorporated as Homesteader News, Inc. and rebranded as the West Texas County Courier shortly thereafter. The paper went from copy paper to tabloid newsprint increasing both circulation and spreading distribution throughout El Paso County. It also went from a monthly publication to weekly.

Today the West Texas County Courier remains a free weekly newspaper of general interest with circulation throughout El Paso County, predominantly in the communities of Canutillo, Clint, East Montana, Fabens, Horizon City, San Elizario, Socorro and Vinton. The paper is still locally owned by the publisher, Rick Shrum, and uses local contractors, writers and printers for production and distribution.