In addition to weekly coverage of people, places and events, the South County Times reported on local government news and the happenings out of the Affton and Lindbergh school districts.
“We’re very proud of this first issue. We think it’s a strong beginning with a promise of what’s to come,” wrote Editor Don Corrigan, introducing readers to the Gravois-Watson Times.
The front page article of that maiden issue posed the question: “Will This Man’s House Be Saved?” The man was Ulysses S. Grant, the home and surrounding property is today a U.S. National Historic Site.
In February of 1989, the name Gravois-Watson Times changed to South County-News Times to reflect the Times’ acquisition of the South St. Louis County News. The County News had served the Affton area since 1947, and its purchase gave the Times an even stronger foothold in the community. An additional 15,000 newspaper copies were printed each week.
The name South County News-Times would later be shortened to South County Times. Concord Village was added to the distribution area, and eventually Fenton would fall under the South County Times’ umbrella.