Rust Communications acquires two Monett, Mo., publications

Rust Communications has acquired The Monett Times and the Monett Shopper in Monett, Mo., from Cleveland Newspapers Inc. based in Cleveland, Tenn.

The timing to sell the two publications was right, said Lee Walls Jr., president and chief executive officer of Walls Newspapers, the parent company of Cleveland Newspapers.

"The Monett Times has been in our family for a long time, more than 35 years, and I've helped see it through major technology transitions since I came on board at our corporate headquarters 20 years ago," Walls said in a press release. "The decision for a newspaper owner to sell one of its properties is never an easy one, but sometimes the time is right for such a move.

"In this case, we have a good situation where a newspaper can transition from one family-owned newspaper group to another. The Monett Times has been a strong and effective newspaper in this community for a long time, and I'm confident it will continue to be in the future."

Cassville Democrat editor Lisa Schlichtman has been named editor of The Times. Murray Bishoff will remain as managing editor and Lisa Craft will serve as office manager.

Rust Communications is a family-operated company that was founded in 1967 by Gary Rust, chairman of the company's board of directors. In addition to its two recent acquisitions, Rust Communications owns the Cassville Democrat and 49 other newspapers, including the Carroll County (Ark.) News, the Lovely County (Ark.) Citizen and the Holiday Island (Ark.) News, as well as its flagship newspaper, the Southeast Missourian.

Gary's sons, Jon K. Rust and Rex D. Rust, serve as co-presidents of the company. Wally Lage is the company's chief operating officer.

Rust Communications has full or part ownership of 19 dailies, 30 weeklies and 17 radio stations in eight states.