(July 21, 2025) — Greetings to our readers, writers and advertisers:

After 23 years of covering local news for Clayton, Concord and Pleasant Hill, sadly we must retire the Pioneer at the end of August. My age (nearly 80) and a recent lung cancer diagnosis require that I step back and focus on recovery.

Reporting the stories and events of our three communities has been deeply satisfying, and our small but heroic staff and I appreciate the support and warmth from all of you.

I want to express my heartfelt thanks to our dedicated readers, contributors and advertisers. Your support has been invaluable in making the Pioneer a nationally recognized example of quality local journalism. I cherish the memories we’ve created, and the relationships built over the years.

As we navigate this transition, we are negotiating a potential sale and/or merger. Until this is decided, we will pause operations. The last print edition will appear in August, and while our website will remain accessible for viewing, we will not post any new content after August.

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I encourage all of you to continue supporting local journalism and each other, as the spirit of the Pioneer lives on in the community we’ve fostered together. Your commitment to our local stories and initiatives keeps our community vibrant and informed.

For any questions or comments, please reach out via email at editor@pioneerpublishers.com. We will keep you updated on the outcome of negotiations and any future developments on our Facebook page.

Thank you for being a part of this journey.

Tamara Steiner
Editor and Publisher