Daily Bee turns 50
<p>Pete Thompson, founder and original publisher of the Daily Bee, started the publication as a one-sheet newspaper in 1965. Fifty years later, the Bee still serves as the community’s daily source of news and information. (Photo by DAVID GUNTER)</p><p style="margin-top: 5px;"> </p>
SANDPOINT — The early years of what is now the Bonner County Daily Bee read like the script to a classic cowboy movie. Lanky stranger moves to town, gets in a brawl or two and finally succeeds by sheer determination, unshakable principles and hardscrabble attitude.
Although it has multiple chapters and more than its share of colorful characters, at the heart of the Daily Bee story is the tale of Pete Thompson. Born and raised on a North Dakota farm, he came west in 1960, looking for a job in a print shop and harboring no plans whatsoever of opening a newspaper.
“I had nothing but a 1958 Chevrolet station wagon, quite a few children and all my worldly possessions,” he said.
For the rest of the story, see the print edition of the Bonner County Daily Bee or subscribe to our e-edition.