FORT COLLINS - The Coloradoan is laying off three copy editors and offering early retirement to Windsor Beacon editor and publisher David Persons.

The early retirement package that Persons accepted was one of more than 660 recently offered to employees of Gannett's U.S. publishing division. The publicly traded company owns more than 80 U.S. daily newspapers.

The Coloradoan will not rehire Persons' position; instead, Coloradoan editors will manage the Beacon, said Coloradoan president and publisher Judi Terzotis.

Persons, a news veteran who once worked for the Coloradoan and who has served as editor and publisher of the Beacon the past nine years, has helped the Beacon win dozens of awards during his tenure.

"You make a lot of good friends in the community," he said. "In a small community, you really get to know people really closely. It's going to be tough when I walk away."

Persons, 61, said he was not ready to retire and that he hopes to find another journalism job in Northern Colorado. His last day is next Friday.

He decided to accept the package because he was not sure whether another opportunity would arise, he said. The package that will pay out over the next year