A number of longstanding community newspapers will deliver their final edition next week.

The Winkler Times, Morden Times, Altona Red River Valley Echo and Carman Valley Leader were among 15 newspapers shuttered by Post Media recently across Manitoba and Ontario, laying off 30 people. In Southern Manitoba, the four community newspapers represented nearly 200 years of history.

Journalist and Editor, Lori Penner, was among the last staffers in the final weeks and months leading up to the announcement.

"I will dearly miss this paper," she says, adding the local newspapers have been a part of many people's lives.

"It was part of our great-grandparents' history, our grandparents, parents... it's a generational thing, and that becomes very ingrained," she explains. "We're stunned... for now we need to process that."

Penner explains the news comes at a rough time when people are already disconnected because of the current health situation. "To lose another connection is something to grieve about."

However, she doesn't want to end the final edition on a sad note but looks to the future. "The writer in me is not going to stop... we need to go on and support each other and be there for each other."

"Be that sounding board for each other," she adds. "Tell each other your news, share things. There's a void here that's going to need to be filled, and I think it's people that are going to fill it."