Fifteen years ago, on October 11, 1999, Hal and Deidre Kettunen launched a new newspaper, the Cook County Star. The Star was created in response to the purchase of the historic Cook County News-Herald by a newspaper conglomerate. Kettunens operated the Cook County Star until October 29, 2008 when they were able to again assume ownership of the paper once published by Hal’s father, Ken Kettunen. This photo, from the October 18, 1999 issue of the Star shows Kettunens with the very first issue of the paper they founded. After buying the News-Herald, the Kettunens once again began publishing under the historic News-Herald banner, carrying on a tradition that is now 123 years old.
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