[5] Julian Byrd managed the paper for 40 years, and was considered instrumental in bringing the telephone, electricity, and movies to the rural city, as well as advocating for railroad lines.
Horace A. Dillard first published the Item in July 1885 as a four-page, six column patent-out paper printed by Washington hand press.
[10] Julian Byrd went on to buy the Harney Times and merged it with the Herald to form the Burns Times-Herald.
[9] After her husband died, Nellie R. Grace started another newspaper called the Harney County News in January 1893.
[16] His widow and Byrd, who has been bedfast at the hospital for years, sold the paper to a new cooperation formed by two local business owners.
In response, five employees, with a $35,000 grant from the Southeast Regional Alliance, formed a partnership called Survival Media and purchased the Times-Herald.