THE HOOD RIVER NEWS

     One of the best weekly newspapers published in Oregon and certainly the best in the section of the state through which it circulates is the Hood River News, which under the guidance of Charles P. Sonnichsen and Hugh G. Ball gives the people of the Hood River valley and adjoining sections a weekly thoroughly modern in every in every particular and one that dispenses the latest local and general news. Unlike most weekly papers the News never sacrifices its columns in order to secure advertising patronage and certain parts of its pages cannot be purchased for advertising at any price.  This is a feature of the paper that should certainly be appreciated by the business men of Hood River and the readers of the News. It was in 1908 that Messrs. Sonnichsen and Ball purchased the News, which they have since conducted, and it will be interesting in this connection to note something of the personal qualities of the owners of the paper.
     Charles Peter Sonnichsen was born in Chicago, Illinois, 1874, pursued his education in the schools of that city and early took up the printing trade, working for a time as a journeyman printer in his native city. He later made his way to Minnesota and became manager of the Tyler Journal, published at Tyler, that state. In 1900 he established the Hendricks Pioneer, which he conducted for more than seven years. In 1907 he came to Hood River and took over the News. Mr. Sonnichsen is a thirty second degree Mason and Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He has served in many political offices and is a man of broad vision and wide experience, whose activities and interest in life have given him a wide outlook, enabling him to view many public questions from every possible standpoint. He is married and has two children. His son Edwin, who is associated with him in the publication of the News, spent two years as a soldier of the World war, enlisting in the American army and spending two years in France.
     Hugh G. Ball, who is editor of the News, ranks as of one of the longest in service of the present day journalists of Oregon. He has worked for, owned and edited papers on three continents. He was born in London of Scotch parentage and acme to America when a young man. Throughout his life he has been engaged in the newspaper business, which he has followed in England, China, Japan and American. In politics he is a republican and is a man of strong opinions, absolutely fearless in expressing his views. He has never held public office and prefers to use his trenchant pen in serving the people rather than by serving as an office holder.
     Mr. Ball says he is Scottish by accident but American by choice. He came to Hood River from Coos Bay, where he was for many years editor of the Coos City Times. He is a Master Mason. Mr. Ball was married to Miss Helen Mende, a daughter of Jacob Mende, a pioneer and homesteader of North Bend, Oregon. 
     Both Mr. Sonnichsen and Mr. Ball are members of the Hood River Commercial Club and of the Business Men's Association. Both are men of marked enterprise, who have proven a dynamic force in the progress and upbuilding of this region. Mr. Sonnichsen is the president  of the Hood River News Company, with Mr. Ball as vice president and editor and Edwin Sonnichsen as the secretary. They are identified with all that makes for progress and improvement in the community, the commonwealth and the country and are justly classed with the most progressive citizens of their part of the state.

History of Oregon, Chicago: Pioneer Historical Pub. Co., 1922

©Shauna Williams