February 2008

News Briefs


3 weeklies close, 1 joins TPA

Three weeklies ceased publication in 2007 and two more merged into sister publications.

The Eden Echo, Lone Star Eagle in Marshall, and Cowboy Country News in Plains all stopped publishing last year. Weeklies in Blossom and Talco merged with two others to create the Deport Times-Blossom Times and Bogata Times-Talco Times.

The Glen Rose Newspaper joined TPA in 2007.

Graham Newspapers buys Fort Worth area Star group

GRAHAM — Graham Newspapers Inc., on Feb. 1 purchased the Burleson Star and five affiliated newspapers serving areas south of Fort Worth.

All employees of the Burleson Star, Alvarado Star, Crowley Star, Joshua Star, Keene Star and South Tarrant Star in Everman, will remain with the newspapers.

Graham Newspapers publishes The Graham Leader, Breckenridge American, Jacksboro Gazette-News, The Jack County Herald, Lake Country Sun in Graford, The Olney Enterprise and Lake Country Shopper.

Ike Massey, a former MediaNews Group Inc., publisher in California, formed Star Publishing Group Inc., to acquire the six publications in January 2005.

With the addition of the Star Group newspapers, Graham Newspapers now employs 76 people. Graham Newspapers is a wholly owned subsidiary of MediaNews Group, which publishes 61 dailies and more than 100 non-dailies.

South Plains acquires 2

MORTON — The Morton Tribune and The Eagle Press in Fritch have been acquired by South Plains Media Inc., Sherrill Sahlin, president.

The newspapers were sold by Jeff Jordan of Plains Press Inc. Jordan bought the Tribune in September 2006 and the Press in fall 2007. He also owns the Castro County News and Knox County News.

Sahlin was born in West Texas and at one time managed the Tribune.

The Plains Press was represented by Rollie Hyde of W.B. Grimes & Co.

Floresville changes owners

FLORESVILLE — The Floresville Chronicle-Journal saw a change in ownership Dec. 12 when Moser Community Media LLC, purchased the newspaper.

Moser Community Media is a media management company that owns the Cuero Record, Yorktown News-View, Jackson County Herald-Tribune and The Countywide, in Karnes City.

Joe Baker was named publisher after the change in ownership. He also is publisher of The Countywide.

Jim Moser, with Moser Community Media, said he is looking forward to what the future holds for the Chronicle-Journal.

2 dailies trim outlying deliveries

Two dailies cut back their delivery areas with the start of the new year.

The San Angelo Standard-Times stopped home delivery and single-copy sales in several communities in outlying areas of West Texas due to low readership and rising fuel costs, the newspaper reported.

The change affected about 1,000 subscribers in Colorado City, Blackwell, Sweetwater, Big Spring, Stanton, Midland, Odessa, Monahans, Kermit, Rankin, McCamey, Iraan, Crane, Fort Stockton, Marfa, Alpine, Sanderson, Big Bend, Marathon and Presidio.

The Houston Chronicle also ceased delivery to most areas 100 miles or more from Houston. Newspaper officials also blamed rising fuel costs for the cutbacks. The newspaper offered subscribers in affected areas a free one-month trial subscription to the e-edition.

Mercedes unveils historic marker

MERCEDES — The Mercedes Enterprise unveiled a state historical marker in conjunction with the newspaper’s 100th birthday this year.

The first newspaper published in Mercedes, the Enterprise is only a year younger than the town, which held its 100th anniversary last October.

The second English language newspaper published in the Rio Grande Valley outside of Brownsville, the Enterprise’s first edition was issued Oct. 8, 1908.

Unwrapping the marker were Enterprise publisher Robert Hinds, publisher’s assistant Marco Islas and managing editor Raul Garcia Jr. The paper is owned by Mid-Valley Publishers Inc., Robert and Olga Hinds.