New Eagle publisher relishes challenge, cites importance
Published 5:54 am Sunday, February 15, 2026
CATHLAMET — Brian Fleming wants the Wahkiakum County Eagle to soar.
Last month, the Longview businessman took over as owner from the Nelson family. He is excited about taking the reins.
“It’s a weightier thing than I contemplated,” he said.
The Eagle has been in Nelson family hands since 1963, starting with Bob Nelson and then his son, Rick. When Rick Nelson died in 2023, his son Jacob took over the operation.
Rick’s widow, MaryAnn, welcomed the manner in which her family’s life’s work would continue.
“Once the Eagle’s in you, it’s always there,” she said. “I am so appreciative that the staff are all there doing the work and the paper will continue to serve our community.”
Fleming sees the importance of preserving the voice of small-town newspapers amid what he describes as an onslaught of untrustworthy artificial intelligence-generated material pervading people’s computers and phone screens. “I believe that our civilization needs something that they can trust,” he said.
Fleming owns a wholesale supply company operating in Longview and Centralia and his family owns a small manufacturing business in Longview. He grew up near Stella; access to the family machine shop meant he was always tinkering with machining, blacksmithing and woodworking.
His float plane hobby was featured in the Columbia River Reader in Longview in 2022 and he has written about his flying adventures for the publication. Publisher Sue Piper has called him “a true Renaissance Man” and said his taking over the Eagle is “a match made in heaven.”
Fleming is the first to admit that he has no newspaper experience — but is eager to learn. The role is pivotal for any community, he noted. “With a newspaper publisher, you need to be an honest, relatively neutral force that both sides can trust.”
Jacob Nelson was realistic about the need for a long-term plan.
“When I took over after my father’s death, I knew it couldn’t be a forever thing,” he said. “I’ve built a wonderful life and career in Seattle, and that’s not compatible with publishing a weekly newspaper three hours away from my home.”
He welcomed Fleming’s new energy.
“Brian’s love for this community and the region is also clear,” he said. “His leadership will bring changes because it must. Change is necessary to survive. I am confident everything Brian does will all be aligned with a goal of supporting and strengthening local news in our community.”
Editor’s note: This story contains reporting by the Wahkiakum County Eagle staff.
