After two-and-a-half years as a Surry County publication, The Messenger has closed its doors.

Word began circulating on Monday that the newspaper located in Mount Airy was closing, and a news release issued Tuesday from Mike Milligan, publisher of The Messenger, later confirmed the report.

According to the release, Milligan announced on Monday that the paper would “officially cease publishing today.”

The release went on to say: “The decision to close was based on several factors. A downward spiraling in the economy and the declining future of newspapers in general, contributed to this decision. This has been evidenced by large and small newspaper groups, across the country ceasing publication, filing for bankruptcy or simply closing their doors.”

Online posts by Messenger employees on Tuesday reflected the closing of the newspaper.

Andy Matthews, a reporter for The Messenger, posted an article on his Web site, yadkinvalleynews.com, yesterday. In the article, he wrote, “The Messenger printed its final edition on Sunday.”

Reporter Phil Goble posted on his Facebook page Tuesday: “For anyone who has not heard, The Messenger closed down on Monday. I want to thank every one who allowed me to write stories about them or events they helped orchestrate. The end came as a shock.”

Tuesday at noon, during regular business hours, The Messenger’s door was locked and had a “Closed” sign posted.

Matthews also reported on his Web site that employees were provided with severance packages.

The closing came just a month after editor Rebel Good announced his retirement from the publication. The Messenger reported in its Dec. 4 publication that Good told his staff he was leaving because of family and personal concerns.

The Messenger originally began as a five-day publication, then discontinued its Monday publication in the fall of 2007 and instead distributed a Sunday tabloid focusing on Elkin.

The publication was created in 2007 by Mike Milligan and Rebel Good, who had been publishers of The News and The Elkin Tribune. The Messenger was published under Surry Publishing Group. A July 6, 2007, article in The News reported that articles of incorporation for Surry Publishing Group Inc. were filed three days after Milligan and Good resigned from The News and The Tribune.

The article also reported that C. Richard Vaughn was listed as the registered agent for Surry Publishing and was providing financial backing for the paper. Vaughn declined to comment on the closing of The Messenger Tuesday.

On Jan. 7, 2009, The News reported that The Messenger was reducing its publication schedule from five days a week to three days. It also changed its format from a full-size paper, or broadsheet, to a tabloid format, roughly half the size.

At the time, Milligan said the paper had reduced the publication schedule “to offer flexibility to our advertisers.”

The paper remained a free publication, and Milligan also was cited in the Jan. 7 article as saying that free publication distribution was “the only viable” long-term business plan for a paper.

At the time of the Dec. 4 article on Good, The Messenger reported that its publication was delivered to near 11,000 homes on Wednesday and Friday and near 20,000 homes on Sunday.

The news release announcing The Messenger’s closing said, “The staff of The Messenger has enjoyed providing the community with a free newspaper for the past two and a half years and has been overwhelmed with the support shown.”

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.