The Mountain Enterprise
A weekly community newspaper serving the mountain communities around California's Tejon Pass.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Mountain Enterprise is a weekly community newspaper based in Frazier Park, California. It serves the mountain communities on both sides of the Tejon Pass, including settlements and residential developments east and west of the Grapevine section of Interstate 5 in the San Emigdio Mountains. Its coverage territory spans approximately 600 square miles across northern Los Angeles County, eastern Ventura County, and southwestern Kern County, placing the publication in the rural and semi-rural corridor between Los Angeles and Bakersfield. The paper began publication on September 22, 1966, when Nedra Hawley Cooper produced the first issue as a small mimeographed publication. Early editions were hand-stapled and hand-drawn, and were typed on a blue Royal typewriter that was later preserved by the Ridge Route Communities Museum & Historical Society. The publication developed as a locally focused source of news, public-affairs reporting, editorials, community notices, and coverage of land-use, public-safety, environmental, and education issues. Its service area includes Gorman, Lebec, Frazier Park, Lake of the Woods, Lockwood Valley, Cuddy Valley, Pine Mountain Club, the Western Antelope Valley, and communities associated with the large Tejon Ranch property. This geographic focus has brought the paper into recurring debates over development, emergency services, infrastructure, environmental impacts, local government, and community institutions. The newspaper has also reported on matters affecting local residents that receive limited attention from larger regional media. Ownership changed several times as the publication matured. Keith and Kitty Jo Nelson purchased the business in 1985, later selling it to Bob Weisburg and Morrie Prizer in 1995. In 2000, local residents and business owners acquired The Mountain Enterprise and the then-monthly Mountain Pioneer. From late 2004, Hometown Publishing, LLC and its local publications were managed principally by publisher Gary Meyer and editor Patric Hedlund. Pam Sturdevant joined the ownership group in 2006, and Meyer and Hedlund acquired her shares in 2014. The newspaper came under new ownership in 2024, with local resident Daniel Schwartz taking on management responsibilities. The Mountain Enterprise has received recognition for investigative reporting, editorial writing, environmental journalism, public-service reporting, and online community service. Its award-recognized work has addressed paramedic and ambulance services, proposed housing development, animal welfare, emergency-response capacity, school-district staffing, and negotiations surrounding Tejon-area development. The newspaper has also faced criticism and litigation connected to its reporting. A 2006 defamation suit arising from coverage of a Pine Mountain Club property-owners association election was dropped after the paper filed an Anti-SLAPP motion. In 2010, a Kern County Grand Jury criticized the publication's reporting on heritage oak trees removed during construction of a Frazier Park library; the newspaper disputed the criticism and challenged factual assertions in the grand-jury report. The brand's identity is grounded in local ownership, community accountability, and detailed reporting on issues that directly affect residents of the Tejon Pass region. Its principal product remains the weekly newspaper, supplemented by an online presence and related community information services historically associated with Hometown Publishing.
History
The Mountain Enterprise was launched in Frazier Park, California, on September 22, 1966, by Nedra Hawley Cooper. The first issue was a modest mimeographed and hand-stapled publication, with hand-drawn elements and text produced on a blue Royal typewriter. That typewriter is now held by the Ridge Route Communities Museum & Historical Society, preserving an artifact from the paper's earliest period. The newspaper developed as a community publication for the settlements around the Tejon Pass and the Grapevine corridor of Interstate 5. Its territory covers portions of three counties: northern Los Angeles County, eastern Ventura County, and southwestern Kern County. The approximately 600-square-mile region includes Gorman, Lebec, Frazier Park, Lake of the Woods, Lockwood Valley, Cuddy Valley, Pine Mountain Club, the Western Antelope Valley, and areas associated with Tejon Ranch. The paper's role has been shaped by the region's relative distance from major metropolitan newsrooms and by local concerns involving growth, transportation, emergency response, public education, environmental protection, and land management. Fred Kiesner served as editor from 1973 through 1976. In 1985, Keith Nelson, superintendent of Ridgelite Products, and his wife Kitty Jo Nelson, a teacher, bought the business from Neil Keyzers. The Nelsons sold the paper in 1995 to Bob Weisburg and Morrie Prizer. In 2000, a coalition of local residents and business owners acquired both The Mountain Enterprise and the then-monthly Mountain Pioneer. This transaction reinforced the publication's connection to the communities it covered. From late 2004, Hometown Publishing, LLC assumed management and majority shareholdings in the newspaper and related publications, including The Mountain Pioneer and the Mountain Communities Phone Book. Gary Meyer served as publisher and Patric Hedlund as editor. In November 2006, Meyer, Hedlund, and Pam Sturdevant took ownership of all Hometown Publishing shares. Their management period coincided with recognition for investigative and public-service journalism. The paper's reporting examined paramedic and ambulance services, the proposed Frazier Park Estates housing development, animal welfare in Lockwood Valley, the effort to establish a firefighter-paramedic program in Pine Mountain Club, school-district staffing, and environmental negotiations involving Tejon development. In 2014, Meyer and Hedlund acquired Sturdevant's shares. The publication's reporting also generated disputes. In 2006, Pine Mountain resident David Seidner filed a defamation action over articles concerning the 2005 Pine Mountain Club Property Owners Association board election. The complaint alleged that the newspaper published false statements and included allegations concerning the handling of the election ballot box. The Mountain Enterprise responded with an Anti-SLAPP motion, and the case was dropped immediately. In 2010, a Kern County Grand Jury committee criticized the newspaper's coverage of the removal of heritage oak trees during construction of a new Frazier Park county library. The committee attributed part of the controversy to local residents and their newspaper, and questioned the accuracy and research behind the articles. The newspaper rejected the criticism, identifying what it regarded as false statements in the grand-jury report and stating that the committee had not contacted the paper or the county arborist it believed could have corroborated the relevant facts. The dispute illustrated the publication's willingness to challenge county officials and oversight bodies while defending its reporting. The Mountain Enterprise won three statewide awards in 2006, four national awards in 2009, and another statewide award in 2015. The recognized work covered investigative journalism, editorial writing, environmental issues, animal welfare, emergency services, and online community service. In 2024, the paper came under new ownership and local management by Daniel Schwartz. Its continuing identity is that of a weekly, locally oriented newspaper combining print publication with a website and community information services.
- 2024
New ownership
[1]The newspaper came under new ownership and local management by Daniel Schwartz.
- 2014
Meyer and Hedlund become sole owners
[1]Gary Meyer and Patric Hedlund purchased Pam Sturdevant's shares.
- 2009
Four national awards
[1]The publication received four national awards for investigative reporting, editorial writing, and environmental coverage.
- 2006
Statewide journalism awards
[1]The newspaper received three statewide awards for investigative reporting and website service.
- 2000
Local coalition acquisition
[1]Local residents and business owners purchased The Mountain Enterprise and The Mountain Pioneer.
- 1995
Weisburg and Prizer acquire the publication
[1]The Nelsons sold the business to Bob Weisburg and Morrie Prizer.
- 1985
Nelson ownership begins
[1]Keith and Kitty Jo Nelson purchased the newspaper from Neil Keyzers.
- 1973
Fred Kiesner becomes editor
[1]Fred Kiesner served as editor from 1973 to 1976.
- 1966
First edition published
[1]Nedra Hawley Cooper published the first issue of The Mountain Enterprise on September 22 as a mimeographed, hand-stapled community newspaper.
Products and positioning
A locally focused, public-service community newspaper for the mountain settlements and rural corridors around California's Tejon Pass.
Print newspaper · 1966
The Mountain Enterprise weekly newspaper
The core product is a locally focused weekly newspaper covering communities around the Tejon Pass and San Emigdio Mountains. Its editorial mix includes local government, development, public safety, education, environmental matters, community affairs, editorials, and investigative reporting.
Digital news service
The Mountain Enterprise website
The newspaper's website extends its community-news and information role beyond the print edition. It has also been recognized for online services supporting residents in the publication's geographically dispersed coverage area.
Controversies
2010
Grand Jury criticism of oak-tree coverage
A Kern County Grand Jury committee criticized the newspaper's reporting on heritage oak trees removed during construction of a Frazier Park county library. The newspaper disputed the committee's account and defended its reporting methods.
2006
Defamation lawsuit over property-owners association election coverage
David Seidner sued The Mountain Enterprise over reporting related to the 2005 Pine Mountain Club Property Owners Association board election. The newspaper filed an Anti-SLAPP motion, after which the suit was dropped.
Brand decisions
2024
Transition to new ownershipM&ABackground
The long-running Meyer and Hedlund ownership period ended.
Action taken
The newspaper came under new ownership with local resident Daniel Schwartz managing the publication.
Aftermath
The Mountain Enterprise continued as a local weekly newspaper; details of the ownership structure were not specified in the reference material.
2004
Hometown Publishing management transitionStrategyBackground
Hometown Publishing, LLC held the newspaper and related local publications.
Action taken
Gary Meyer and Patric Hedlund assumed management and majority shareholdings.
Aftermath
Meyer continued as publisher and Hedlund as editor during a period of expanded investigative and public-service reporting.
2000
Acquisition by a local coalitionM&ABackground
The newspaper and the monthly Mountain Pioneer were available for purchase from Bob Weisburg and Morrie Prizer.
Action taken
Local residents and business owners acquired both publications.
Aftermath
Ownership remained closely connected to the communities served by the newspaper.
1966
Launch as a local weekly newspaperProduct launchBackground
The mountain communities around the Tejon Pass lacked a publication dedicated to their local affairs.
Action taken
Nedra Hawley Cooper issued the first mimeographed and hand-stapled edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
Aftermath
The publication became a continuing local news source for the region.
Sources2 sources
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