HOLLY, Colo. (AP) - In an Internet age when newspapers are perceived to be in decline, a publisher has picked an unlikely spot to start one, a tornado-devastated town on the thinly populated eastern plains.

J.B. Smith, 65, of Pagosa Springs, who has published two papers on the other side of the Continental Divide for more than 40 years, figures the Holly Independent can help the town recover.

"I want to try and make everyone aware of what is happening. There will be a lot of stuff going on here for a long time," he said in a telephone interview.

On Friday, he published his first edition, 5,000 copies, distributed freely here and in surrounding towns. The first newspaper in Holly in 35 years. Future weekly editions will cost 50 cents. He may also on the Web.

"We are very excited about having a newspaper again. I feel that this will spur the economy of our town and I think it will go over very well - the locals have missed having a newspaper," said Town Administrator Marsha Willhite told the Pueblo Chieftain.

About 1,000 people live in the town two miles west of the Kansas border, first populated by Hiram Holly's ranch family in 1871. It grew with the opening of a sugar beet factory in 1905 that has long since closed.

"I wanted to come down here to help people. A lot of people's lives have been torn apart and I think a newspaper will serve the community in a good way by keeping everyone informed about what is happening," Smith told the Chieftain.

"I retired a year ago and one of the things I always wanted to do was help people, so this was something that fit that idea," he added.

Smith said many lives remained disrupted more than two months after the tornado hit with virtually no warning.

"It's an ongoing process to put lives back together and it doesn't happen overnight," Smith said.

The twister claimed the lives of Rosemary Rosalie, 29, and Dolores Burns, 78, and damaged or destroyed an estimated 164 homes.

The newspaper has hired a few part-time writers from across the valley and a graphic designer in nearby Swink who will help produce the paper. The paper will be printed in Garden City, Kan.

Smith he will report on day-to-day activities in town and in surrounding areas including sports, town hall, schools, the police department and other community events. He told the Chieftain he doesn't expect to make a lot of money.

He has received a warm welcome. "I am grateful to the people that are working with me to make this happen - we are excited," Smith said.