Jeff Noble, who created the paper in 2006, sold it to Joe Burgess also of Monticello. 

   "I didn't get rich off of it," Noble said, "(but) I did pay a few bills."

   It's a tremendous accomplishment, selling invisible property for real money.  It's been a long journey for the man that started it.

   After finishing seminary in 1995 Noble and wife Carolyn, a photographer, decided to move to Monticello.  Noble took a position at UAM as director of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry and the family, which includes children Sam (10) and Adelyn (8), soon became a familiar sight on campus and around town.   

   When he left UAM in 2003, to spread his wings, Noble started Journey Church. 

   "I wanted to create a new church that was generational friendly," he said, "a place kids can relate to."

   The church took off and Noble went full-time with his business Nobel Design.   In the meantime he fell in love with blogging, which led to the idea.

   In September of 2006, MonticelloLive hit the wires. 

   "I wasn't prepared for the community reaction," Noble said. 

   He says he saw the paper as a "great opportunity not just to report, but to meet needs and make people aware of issues and concerns."

  Some of the Christian community Noble works hard to support were some of his harshest critics. Noble continued reporting not just the news found in the print papers in town, but exploring other issues and allowing viewers to participate in the discussion.

   Noble says media is transitioning and people can find the information they want through the Web.  Blogging and the Internet provide resources for people who want to know, MonticelloLive capitalized on this.

   Noble said he "hoped the Lord would lead the way to build relationships in town."  He said he feels too many people are "bubblized in their own Christian circle," and felt the paper was a way to foster community, regardless of beliefs.

   From the beginning the paper has been self-supporting. Four consistent advertisers benefited from cheaper rates than in a print paper.

   "The longer it's up, the more it will make," Noble said.

   Noble expects the paper to continue to thrive under Burgess. 

   "Joe has shown a lot of initiative," Noble said.  "I am impressed."