Carl Butz, the new owner of The Mountain Messenger, works on the newest edition of the paper during his first week at The Mountain Messenger in Downieville, CA.

Main Street in Downieville.

Cigarette butts lie on a plate on a desk at The Mountain Messenger in Downieville.

Scott McDermid, Distribution Manager for The Mountain Messenger, puts this week’s edition of The Mountain Messenger into a vehicle outside of Feather Publishing Co., Inc., where The Mountain Messenger is printed, in Quincy, CA.

Carl Butz, the new owner of The Mountain Messenger.

Carl Butz works on the newest edition of the paper with Jill Tahija at The Mountain Messenger.

Copies of The Mountain Messenger are reflected in a car window as the newest edition of the paper is delivered throughout Sierra County, CA.

Scott McDermid, Distribution Manager for The Mountain Messenger, left, and Carl Butz, the new owner of The Mountain Messenger, take a smoking break outside of Graegle Store in Graegle, CA.

A framed picture of Mark Twain sits on the wall as Carl Butz, the new owner of The Mountain Messenger, takes a call.

Carl Butz holds a stack of this week’s edition of The Mountain Messenger in Downieville, CA.

Sierra County, California.

Carl Butz, the new owner of The Mountain Messenger, puts the newest edition of the paper in a distribution stand outside of the Golden West Saloon in Loyalton, CA.

Carl Butz, the new owner of The Mountain Messenger, joints the delivery route for the first time.