FAIRMONT — After going nearly a decade without its own newspaper, the town of Fairmont is welcoming a new publication — one that exists only on the Internet.

The Fairmont Bugle — found by clicking on www.fairmontbugle.com — recently went online, offering news and photos and lots more about Fairmont.

It’s brought to you by Heartland Publications, publisher of The Robesonian, Red Springs Citizen and St. Pauls Review, among other publications. Each of those three newspapers has its own Web site.

For nearly 10 years Fairmont — population 2,751 — has been without a newspaper.

Longtime Fairmont residents remember The Messenger brought news of a growing community back in the 1950s, when tobacco was king and the economy was robust. In the 1960s that little weekly newspaper changed hands, becoming The Times Messenger, and told Fairmont’s stories for nearly 40 more years.

The size of the weekly paper dwindled and eventually the small newspaper office on Thompson Street near the library went dark in 2000.

For the past several years, Fairmont Mayor Charles Kemp has longed for a newspaper that would report the town’s news. He shared his vision with Joe Craig of Heartland Publications, the publisher of The Robesonian, and with the help of sales associate Trudy McLeod, fairmontbugle.com was launched.

“It’s been a long time coming but it was worth the wait. Combining modern technology with local news spells success for Fairmont citizens,” Kemp said. “I think The Fairmont Bugle looks really great. It has an easy-to-read format, and it’s simple to find all the needed links.”

Craig said: “I think it’s a great opportunity for the community. They have a lot of pride in Fairmont, and they’ve got a lot of positive things going on.

“This is a chance for them to have their own online newspaper, and if the community gets behind it and supports it and contributes to it, I think they will be really pleased with the results.” .

Anyone can sign up for a free account. Just click “My Content” and follow the instructions. It will provide the ability to submit news and information, post events on the calendar, make reader comments to stories and postings, and more.

One of the features launched last week is a weekly report from Kemp called “From the Mayor’s Desk,” which will be posted every Monday.

“I encourage those interested in promoting events and activities to follow the calendar instructions and get their news out to everyone, as I have already started doing,” Kemp said.

The mayor sees the new online newspaper as a unifying force for the town.

“Keep reading all the Fairmont news in The Fairmont Bugle ... I believe it will bring our community and her citizens closer together,” said Kemp.

Individuals can submit their own photos of the people, places and events in Fairmont — just follow the link “Your Photos - Submit a Photo.”

Fairmont businesses can get a free business listing on the Web site. Just click the button on the top right of the home page called “LIST YOUR BUSINESS.” It can include your business address, phone number, e-mail address, hours of operation and more.

Teachers and staff at Fairmont’s schools are being asked to take advantage of the Fairmont Bugle by submitting school news and photos. To submit news and photographs to The Fairmont Bugle, e-mail the information to fairmontbugle@gmail.com.

To take advantage of online advertising opportunities on the Bugle, call McLeod at (910) 272-6143 or contact her by e-mail at tmcleod@heartlandpublications.com.