Albert Walter Merrick is the proprietor of the local newspaper, the Black Hills Pioneer. Somewhat pretentious in his bearing, he prides himself as a newspaperman with a duty to print the truth, but must navigate a twisty path of remaining friends with all the major players in town and being privy to their plans and confidences. He's a large man (the unkind would call him "fat") with a kind bearing.

He's made himself scarce the last couple months, and there have been no new issues of the Pioneer since he became a recluse. It's starting to worry folk in town.