Lancaster Management acquires Eastern Kentucky Group from Civitas Media

Appalachian Newspapers Inc., a unit of Alabama-based Lancaster Management Inc., acquired a group of newspapers in eastern Kentucky from Civitas Media. The publications include the Prestonsburg (Ky.) Floyd County Times, East Kentucky Shopper, Hazard (Ky.) Herald, Shopper Stopper and related digital platforms.

Dirks, Van Essen & Murray, a media merger and acquisition firm based in Santa Fe, N.M., represented Civitas Media in the transaction.

Appalachian Newspapers is publisher of the Appalachian News-Express, Floyd County Chronicle, Mingo Messenger and Mountain Bargain Hunter in the same region. Lancaster Management Inc. owns and manages 20 different newspaper companies that produce 29 newspapers, 16 shoppers and more than 150 niche publications.

The Floyd County Times, which is published twice weekly in Prestonsburg, is being merged with Lancaster's Floyd County Chronicle. The newly formed Floyd County Chronicle and Times will be published twice a week. The East Kentucky Shopper is published once a week in Prestonsburg as well. The Hazard Herald is published weekly along with its related weekly shopper, the Shopper Stopper.

Charles Lancaster, president and CEO of Lancaster Management, said, "We have enjoyed a long relationship with our readers in eastern Kentucky. We are excited for the opportunity to continue to provide local news, information and advertising to the area."

Lancaster has owned Appalachian Newspapers Inc. since 1978. Jeff Vanderbeck, who currently publishes Lancaster's newspapers in the region, has been named publisher of the Hazard Herald and the newly formed Floyd County Chronicle and Times.

"Our commitment is and always will be to provide the most credible and complete local news, sports and information available," said Vanderbeck. "Our newspapers' reputations have been built on telling the whole story fairly and completely and giving people the information they need and deserve. That will not change."