AJordan attorney, R.H. McClelland, founded the Jordan Independent newspaper in 1884 and sold it a year later to Thomas J. Kelley, who became editor and publisher. He sold it to his former apprentice and brother-in-law John E. Casey in 1901. Casey was editor and publisher for 53 years and gained a wide reputation for his editorial writing and colorful obituaries. In 1954, Casey sold the paper to his son, Ted, who served as editor-publisher before selling it to Keith Thaves in 1958. Thaves became part of Southwest in 1979, before Southwest was purchased by Red Wing Publishing in 1982. The newspaper is mailed Thursdays to 1,600 homes and businesses. It still offices downtown, at 109 Rice Street. It is complemented by a total-market coverage piece called Southwest Saturday-Jordan/Belle Plaine that is mailed to about 7,200 households on Saturdays. Its website is www.jordannews.com.