Charles Schulz will retire his Peanuts strip with the Jan. 3 daily strip and the Feb.13 Sunday strip. The announcement was made Dec. 14, following Schulz's Nov. 16 operation for a blocked abdominal aorta, during which doctors discovered evidence of colon cancer. In an announcement, Schulz said, "Although I feel better following my recent surgery, I want to focus on my health and my family without the worry of a daily deadline. Thank you for your kindness and support over the years and for the outpouring of good wishes since my surgery."

The United Media syndicate will offer reprints of the strip to papers that wish to continue carrying it. According to United Media Vice President of Corporate Communication Diane Iselin, Schulz selected 1974 as the best year from which to begin drawing reprint material because those strips are "most representative of the ongoing characters." Schulz will continue to work with producer Lee Mendelson on the animated television specials, Iselin told the Journal.

See TCJ #219 for the complete story.

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