Tennessee newspaper joins Rust Communications

Cape Girardeau-based Rust Communications announced Friday the acquisition of the Shelbyville Times-Gazette in Shelbyville, Tenn., from David and Nina Gay Segroves. The 8,200- circulation daily newspaper is 60 miles southeast of Nashville and is the Rust family's second newspaper in Tennessee.

Hugh Jones, the new publisher of the newspaper and a Tennessee native, will be part-owner. Jones is a native of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and has been associated with Courier Printing in Smyrna, Tenn., for more than a decade.

In making the announcement to his employees, David Segroves said: "Much thought and prayer has gone into this decision and Rust Communications was picked from a dozen interested companies as the one to carry on the Times-Gazette banner. An important consideration in the final decision was the quality and integrity of the buyer. Nina Gay and I are convinced we are handing over the reins to a family that has demonstrated it cares about employees and it cares about the community the newspaper serves."

Rust Communications is a family-owned media company with 18 daily newspapers, more than 30 weekly newspapers and partial ownership in 17 radio stations in eight states, including the Southeast Missourian and Mississippi River Radio.