Journal Register Company Acquires Hometown Newspapers, Inc

Posted on August 13, 1999

Journal Register Company Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Robert M. Jelenic has announced the company's agreement to acquire Hometown Newspapers, Inc. in West Warwick, Rhode Island, including the Kent County Daily Times and the weekly Spectator. Michael F. O'Sullivan, publisher of the Journal Register Company-owned Southern Rhode Island Newspapers, will assume the additional responsibility of publisher of Hometown Newspapers, Inc.

Located in West Warwick, the six-day Kent County Daily Times with its 5,000 paid daily circulation has served Kent County since 1892. The Spectator, based in Wakefield, is a 25,000 free weekly distribution shopper. Also included in the acquisition are two monthly publications, the Narragansett Indian News and the Cranston Monthly, with total non-daily distribution of approximately 13,000; and Great Outdoors, a summer guide to Rhode Island activities, which is published in July and August and has a monthly distribution of approximately 10,000.

"I am extremely happy to welcome Hometown Newspapers and its talented staff to the Journal Register Company family," said Jelenic. "Journal Register Company has long been committed to better serving our Rhode Island readers and advertisers, as evidenced by the launch of several new publications over the past few years and again today with the acquisition of Hometown Newspapers."