By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Boone Newsmedia, Inc. (BNI) has sold four Alabama newspapers –including the Atmore Advance and the Brewton Standard – to Jeff and Michelle Schumacher, former North Dakota residents who have reportedly moved to Andalusia to oversee operations of the newly acquired news group.
The transaction, which also includes the Andalusia Star-News and the Demopolis Times, was announced by John Cribb of Cribb & Associates, who represented BNI in the transaction.
BNI Senior Vice President Catherine Boone Hadaway said that after decades of ownership, the BNI family is proud the Schumachers will continue as the stewards of the community newspapers in Andalusia, Atmore, Brewton and Demopolis with local ownership and management.
The sale was finalized April 30. Terms were not disclosed.
“Steve Stewart [BNI’s Chief Executive Officer] and the Boone family see this as a good fit for Jeff and Michelle, for us and for those we have worked with in these places,” Hadaway said in an article published in the Andalusia newspaper. “The acquisition places management of the newspapers in the communities served. We have enjoyed working with excellent people in these communities over the years and will miss those associations.”
Both Schumacher have reportedly been involved in the newspaper business for several years. Jeff has been a publisher for more than 30 years, and Michelle has been in sales for more than 15 years.
“We are excited to be given the responsibility of publishing these fine newspapers and websites,” Jeff Schumacher told the Star-News. “We certainly will work to continue creating a first-class experience for our readers and advertising clients. We are equally excited to integrate ourselves into these fine communities.”