Kentucky company purchases 9 weeklies in Western NC and North Georgia

Down Ballot Staff Reports

Kentucky-based Paxton Media Group purchased nine newspapers from Georgia-based Community Newspapers, Inc.

The weekly publications included in the sale are The Franklin Press (NC), The Highlander (NC), Mitchell News-Journal (NC), Smoky Mountain Times (NC), Clay County Progress (NC), Cherokee Scout (NC), The Graham Star (NC), The News Observer (GA), and Times-Courier (GA).

According to a news release from the North Carolina Press Association, Rachel Hoskins, longtime publisher of the Franklin Press , has been named the regional publisher over Paxton's newspapers in Bryson City, Franklin, Hayesville, Highlands, Murphy and Robbinsville in North Carolina as well as the two publications in Georgia.