Eagle Times Owner Denies Financial Problems After Staff Exodus

Screenshot of Claremont's Eagle Times

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By DAMIEN FISHER, InDepthNH.org

Claremont’s Eagle Times saw multiple staffers at the local newspaper walk out this week saying they had not been paid, but owner Jay Lucas claims there’s no problem.

“Everyone’s been paid. We’re in a strong financial position, and we’re going to continue to invest in growth,” Lucas said Wednesday. “There’s been no disruption in pay.”

But Lucas, known for his outward optimism, is trying to ignore General Manager Katlyn Solomon’s open letter to the community in which she states lack of payment and poor leadership pushed staff to quit in frustration. 

“It is with heavy heart that we inform you that the majority of the Eagle Times staff has resigned effective immediately due to ongoing issues with accounts payable, subscription and website services and our inability to provide top-notch customer service due to our leadership team,” Solomon wrote. 

Solomon did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday. Former Eagle Times Sports Editor Chris LaClair echoed many of her complaints, saying he lost money working for Lucas’ newspaper.

“Basically, I gave up my store after I was recruited to be the sports editor for this paper. I spent $16,000 out of my pocket to grab the best photo equipment that I could so that the paper had the best photos possible. I brought back a lot of the sports customer base only to be told on a Friday that that was my last day and I would get paid after,” LaClair wrote on Facebook Wednesday. “It was one of the biggest slaps in the face ever because I was essentially working for free for so long paying off all my camera equipment so that I could do the best that I could do for this paper. I’ll never forget. Several paychecks were never available in the bank for me to cash my check and instead of quitting, I dealt with it and was patient because I believed in the paper. My reward was walking papers.”

The Eagle Times website says it is a daily newspaper committed to providing important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas.

 A source said many times staffers were told not to deposit their paychecks when they were handed out on paydays. The Eagle Times website went down this week, only coming back online Wednesday afternoon. Many subscribers said on social media they were not getting the newspaper delivered for at least a week.

Lucas told InDepthNH.org he doesn’t know why any staffer or former staffer would say they had not been paid. He said Solomon decided this weekend to resign her post and pursue other opportunities. 

“She was doing a phenomenal job,” Lucas said. 

Lucas wanted to talk about the exciting new features in the Eagle Times, like The Phoenix, an arts and culture publication, and the recent Buy Local supplement. These new features show his commitment to growing the Eagle Times.

“We’re excited about growing from there,” Lucas said.

Lucas issued a statement of his own on Wednesday that did not address any of the staff concerns. Instead, he announced that reporter Bob Martin will now serve as editor. Martin could not be reached on Wednesday, as no one answered the phones at the Eagle Times. 

Lucas bought the Eagle Times in 2022 and made it part of his Sunshine Initiative. Through his Sunshine Initiative, Lucas has been dedicated to revitalizing nearby Newport, where he grew up. He takes credit for a new community center, a redeveloped Opera House, and new apartments opening in the old Ruger Mill. 

Adding the local newspaper was another opportunity to make a positive impact in the community, he said. Under the prior owners, Sample News, the Eagle had strayed from covering local news. Lucas’s goal is to have a local newspaper with a positive outlook.

“When I was growing up in Newport the Eagle Times was part of our lives,” Lucas said.

Lucas denied rumors that he is planning to sell the Eagle Times.

“We’re never going to sell,” Lucas said.

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