Sierra Star publisher Betty Linn retiring after 23 years at helm

Betty Linn, publisher of the Sierra Star for 23 years and an icon in the Oakhurst community, is retiring effective June 16, Fresno Bee publisher Tom Cullinan announced Monday.

The Star, which serves the Oakhurst area, is a McClatchy Company-owned newspaper and part of The Fresno Bee family. It is printed once a week and serves its readers 24/7 at www.sierrastar.com. Under Linn’s leadership, the Star won many journalism awards – 14 including four firsts in the 2016 California Newspaper Publishers Association contest.

In addition, Linn has been honored often in her community including being named Woman of the Year by the Eastern Madera County Chamber of Commerce. Linn is president of what is now known as the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce. She said she plans to continue to serve on area boards “and continue to pay it forward.”

Her husband, David Linn, is Madera County district attorney.

Betty Linn’s involvement with Oakhurst-area news dates nearly 40 years, starting as an advertising account executive with the Sierra Home Advertiser in 1978. The Advertiser and the Star were merged in 1983 when Lesher Communication Inc. bought them, and Linn was named general manager. She became publisher in 1994 and continued when McClatchy bought the paper in 2004.

“I have been very fortunate with a long career, doing what I love,” Linn said. “To put it in simple terms, I have worked with my fellow employees who have cared about a free press, keeping our readers informed as we report the day-to-day events and news of our area.”

Cullinan said, “We are grateful for Betty’s leadership and want to take this time to thank her for her uncompromising dedication to McClatchy, our employees at the Sierra Star and the Oakhurst community.”

This story was originally published May 22, 2017 at 1:43 PM with the headline "Sierra Star publisher Betty Linn retiring after 23 years at helm."