There are stories a city tells out loud through headlines, front pages, and weekly editions stacked neatly on kitchen tables. And then there are the stories that quietly fade. Recently, a single surviving clipping surfaced dated April 17, 1985 from a publication many residents may not even remember: The La Mirada Highlander. For a moment in time, it was one of the voices of our city.
Printed at just 25 cents an issue, the Highlander carried the rhythm of everyday life in La Mirada. Its pages documented city council decisions, local appointments, school achievements, and the steady pulse of a growing community. One article from that April 1985 issue reports on the appointment of a new city treasurer routine news at the time, but now a preserved moment of civic history. The byline reads simply: “By Karen E. Weber, Staff Writer.” A name, a moment, a record. And then… silence.
What makes the Highlander especially intriguing is that it wasn’t alone. During the 1960s through the 1980s, cities like La Mirada often supported more than one local newspaper. Alongside publications like the La Mirada Lamplighter, the Highlander appears to have served as another lens through which residents could view their community. Two papers. Two perspectives. One city. Over time, one voice endured and the other faded.
The April 1985 issue identifies itself as Volume XXI, suggesting the Highlander may have been in circulation for over two decades, possibly beginning in the mid-1960s, not long after La Mirada’s incorporation. And yet today, very little trace remains. No digital archive. No widely accessible records. No clear history of when or why it disappeared.
La Mirada has always carried its share of curious stories some remembered, others half-forgotten. There are whispers of the missing Sphinx, a piece of local lore that still sparks conversation among longtime residents. And now, with the rediscovery of the La Mirada Highlander, we’re reminded that not all mysteries are grand or dramatic. Some are quieter.
A newspaper that once arrived on doorsteps. A publication that chronicled everyday life. A voice that simply stopped. Until now, the Highlander was largely unknown to newer generations, a hidden chapter in the city’s story, waiting to be found again.
Names like Karen E. Weber and Elizabeth A. Fox appear in print, individuals who contributed to the civic life of La Mirada, whether through journalism or public service.
They remind us that history is not only shaped by well-known figures, but also by those who worked quietly: reporting council meetings, managing city finances and documenting the everyday.
In an age where news travels instantly and disappears just as quickly, rediscovering a publication like the Highlander is a powerful reminder that every city has layers of memory.
Some are well-lit. Others wait quietly to be found again. And sometimes, all it takes is a single page to bring a voice back to life.
A Call to the Community. So, we ask: Do you remember the La Mirada Highlander?
- Did it arrive on your doorstep?
- Do you recall a neighbor who worked for the paper?
- Do you have copies tucked away in a drawer, garage, or scrapbook?
If so, we would love to hear from you. Send your memories, photos, or clippings to: theolivegrovenews@gmail.com
The Olive Grove News
Rooted in community. Growing through story.
