The 20,000-circulation weekly serving the San Joaquin County communities of Lathrop and Manteca has closed. The paper is owned by the Matthews family, which also owns the Tracy Press, the Scotts Valley Press Banner and the Patterson Irrigator. Here’s the note that appeared on the Sun Post’s Web site:

Dear readers,

After nearly four years of delivering the Sun Post free to your home and more than 20,000 others in Lathrop and Manteca, we need to take a publishing break.

As you know, the newspaper industry is experiencing tough times, and so is the local economy. Advertising sales are down, and the costs of publishing and delivery are up.

We don’t believe for a minute that your appetite for local news has diminished. If anything, we’re sure it has increased. You’ve shown us that you want quality reporting and local news and information more than ever.

While this severe recession has brought many businesses to their knees, including ours, we’re convinced it will pass, and when it does, our community newspaper company will rebound. We’re certain we’ll be back, in some form or another, in Lathrop and Manteca.

Meanwhile, thank you for your support over the years. It’s been a fun ride, and we hope we’ve provided not only information and breaking news that you don’t find elsewhere, but some entertainment as well.

Sincerely,

Robert Matthews, publisher