Longtime Chisholm Publisher Ponikvar Dies at 96

Former Iron Range Newspaper Publisher Dies

Longtime newspaper publisher and Minnesota Iron Range political force Veda Ponikvar has died at age 96.

Her nephew, John Nobens, says Ponikvar died Tuesday at Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Chisholm.

After serving in the Navy WAVES during World War II, Ponikvar returned to Chisholm and founded the Free Press as a counter-voice to the mining company’s newspaper.

She eventually bought the competitor and went on to own and operate the twice-weekly Free Press-Tribune Press for nearly a half-century.

The paper is now known as the Chisholm Tribune Press.

The Hibbing Daily Tribune reports Ponikvar continued to write for more than a decade as the newspaper’s publisher emeritus.

During her career, she wrote more than 4,300 editorials.

A funeral Mass is scheduled Monday in Chisholm.