Ownership of Sulphur Springs News-Telegram transfers to Southern Newspapers

Southern Newspapers, Inc. officially assumed ownership Monday, May 1,  of the Sulphur Springs (Texas) News-Telegram and its associated products, naming long-time managing editor Butch Burney as publisher.

Burney, a native of Sulphur Springs, began his newspaper career in 1985 as a reporter with the News-Telegram. He became sports editor in 2003, general manager in 2008 and assumed the title of managing editor in 2013.

“I am grateful for the confidence Southern Newspapers has in the News-Telegram to join their family of community newspapers and the confidence they have in me to lead our local newspaper,” Burney said. “Their standard of excellence is a level we are already striving to achieve, and a standard I take very personally and very seriously. As publisher of the News-Telegram, I pledge a renewed commitment to better serve the readers.”

Also, Burney announced April Turner has been named the News-Telegram’s new advertising director. She began her role Monday after spending two years with the Lufkin Daily News.

“We could not be more excited to bring the News-Telegram and Sulphur Springs into the Southern family,” Southern Newspapers CEO Lissa Walls said. “Sulphur Springs is a vibrant, exciting and growing community that made an amazing first impression and continues to impress each day. I absolutely love this community. Sulphur Springs is so unique.

“Southern is deeply committed to the newspaper industry and the communities those newspapers serve. I am so happy to welcome into the SNI family, and I am looking forward to see the News-Telegram and the community grow together.”

Southern Newspapers Inc., a privately owned Texas corporation, is an association of 16 community newspapers, 12 of which are in Texas. Those newspapers include nearby Paris, along with the Galveston County Daily News, Texas’ oldest newspaper.

F.W. “Bill” Frailey took over the Sulphur Springs Daily News Telegram when Echo Publishing was formed in 1951. The company has remained in the family since that time.

The News-Telegram will continue operating at 401 Church St. in downtown Sulphur Springs.