Acquisitions

Vernon Publishing, Inc. has agreed to acquire a group of publications in the Lake of the Ozarks region of Missouri from Gannett Co., Inc. Vernon Publishing, Inc. is owned by the Vernon family: Molly, Dane, Sharene and Trevor, who also serves as mayor of the city of Eldon, Missouri.

Larry Hiatt, the owner of the Columbus (Kansas) News-report announced that he and a group of local Southeast Kansas families have agreed to acquire the Pittsburg (Kansas) Morning News from Gannett Co., Inc.

Les High and Stuart High Rogers have sold The News Reporter in Whiteville, North Carolina, to Justin Smith, current editor of the paper. High said the transaction “will allow The News Reporter to remain in local hands. And that’s critical. Columbus County will have a local paper for years to come.”

Westplex Media Group has agreed to acquire the Moberly (Missouri) Monitorindex from Gannett Co., Inc. It is the fourth community newspaper in Westplex’s portfolio. Westplex is owned by Tim Schmidt, who has nearly 20 years of experience in the newspaper industry.

Richard and Martha Cichelli are retiring and have sold Software Consulting Services, LLC, which provides software solutions to publishers and publishing groups, to Kurt Jackson, SCS’S vice president and general manager. SCS will remain headquartered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Sexton Media Group has agreed to acquire the Neosho (Missouri) Daily News and the Aurora Advertiser from Gannett Co., Inc. Sexton Media Group is owned by Jimmy and Rhonda Sexton, of Neosho. In addition to these two newspapers, Sexton Media owns two other local publications, The News-dispatch and River Hills Traveler. Since The News-dispatch and the Neosho Daily News publications serve the same area, Jimmy Sexton said he plans to merge the publications, and beginning Sept. 1 they will operate solely as Neosho Daily News.

The Daily Gazette of Schenectady, New York, has purchased The Leader-herald from Ogden Newspapers, Inc. The Daily Gazette has acquired The Leader-herald name, its subscriber and advertiser lists, and the newspaper’s website. The transaction did not include the newspaper’s real estate, production equipment or commercial printing accounts.