News Briefs

New Bonham weekly merges with sister newspaper

LEONARD — The owners of the start-up Bonham News have merged the weekly into their other publication the Leonard Graphic. Bethany Russell announced that the News, which was launched Nov. 7, did not receive enough local advertising support.

Bastrop to celebrate 150th

BASTROP — The Bastrop Advertiser will mark its 150th anniversary in March with a month-long celebration.

The newspaper was founded as a weekly in 1853 and went semiweekly in 1977. Anniversary events include a special commemorative edition, open house, photo display, oldest newspaper contest, Pedal through the Pine bike ride and more. The newspaper has received a historical marker and hopes to unveil it on the anniversary day March 1.

For more information contact Keith Magee at 512-321-2557.

NY firm buys Westward interest

HUMBLE — Westward Communications announced American Securities Capital Partners, a New York private-equity investment firm, has acquired a controlling interest in the company that publishes 61 paid and free community newspapers in Texas and Colorado. The transaction was valued at approximately $100 million.

The newspaper group includes dailies The Courier in Conroe and the Pasadena Citizen. Westward has 29 newspapers in the Houston market, 19 in East Texas and 13 in the Denver/Colorado Springs area.

An ASCP official said the Westward management team will hold a stake in the company and will remain in place. The team includes Robert McMaster, chief executive officer; J. Tom Graham, chief operating officer; Steven Lencke, Colorado Group president; and Thomas Farrell, vice president, production.

Canton brightens holidays with memorial toy drive

CANTON — The 2002 Linda Brown Memorial Toy Drive ended with a bang as more than 250 toys were collected for deserving children in Van Zandt County. In its third year, the toy drive is named for the late Canton Herald editor Linda Brown who had a primary concern for the welfare of local children.

The Herald also began collecting pet food to benefit the Canton Animal Shelter and the Van Zandt County Humane Society. More than 750 pounds of dog and cat food was collected and split between the two organizations.

Newsprint mills closes

HOUSTON — A money-losing newsprint mill in Sheldon ceased operation two days before Christmas and put 357 people out of work, the Associated Press reported. Abitibi-Consolidated, which owns the plant near Houston, said idling the facility would save about $32 million in fiscal year 2003.

Orange Grove paper starts

ALICE — The Alice Echo News Journal has announced plans to launch a new weekly serving the Orange Grove area. Aubrey Morgan, a former Alice news staff writer, will handle daily operations of the Orange Grove Journal and will serve as news editor. Both newspapers are owned by American Consolidated Media.