The Chanute Tribune and Parsons Sun, two of the oldest daily newspapers in the area, have been sold to Wesner Media of Texas.
Partners Scott Wesner and Scott Wood, both of Texas, announced the news in a press release Tuesday.
Terms of the transaction with former owner, Kansas Newspapers, were not disclosed.
Wood and Wesner, who have extensive newspaper experience, have been steadily acquiring community newspapers in recent years.
Their other Kansas property is the Indepence Reporter.
In Oklahoma, Wesner Media owns the Altus Times, the Frederick Press-Leader and the Mangum Star. The majority of their papers are in Texas, with others in New Mexico.
“It is an honor and a privilege to continue publishing these newspapers,” Wesner said in the news release. “My business partner, Scott Wood, and I look forward to working with the people of these wonderful communities.”
The Parsons and Independence newspapers are among the oldest in southeast Kansas, established in 1871 and 1881 respectively. The Chanute Tribune was founded in 1892.
Wesner Media has recently acquired six newspapers in Texas from Roberts Publishing Co.
Wesner and Wood graduated from high school together in Cordell, Okla. Wesner has been in newspaper publishing for more than 25 years, primarily in the Texas Hill Country. He and his brother, Brett, bought their first newspaper together when he was just 21 years old. Brett also remains in the newspaper business.
Wood got his start in the newspaper business in 1997 in West Texas and in 2003 moved to Muenster, Texas, acquiring newspapers in that area.
