The owners of the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald newspaper are expanding their holdings of community newspapers. Woodward Communications, which publishes Dubuque’s daily newspaper as well as weekly newspapers in Dyersville, Manchester and Cascade, is acquiring West Branch Communications, co-owned by Jake Krob of Mount Vernon and Stuart Clark of West Branch. The sale includes several publications.
“Seven weeklies, the West Branch Times, West Liberty Index, Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun, Marion Times, Solon Economist, North Liberty Leader and Linn Newsletter, along with a few Shoppers and monthly publications,” said Krob.
West Branch Communications, formed in 2001 by Krob and Clark, also publishes the Tipton Conservative and Clarence Lowden Sun-News, which are not included in the sale.
Krob says he will remain with the newspapers being sold as regional publisher for the new owners. Krob says he will be “absolutely involved”.
“I have a passion for helping our readers engage with their communities, so I’ll served as group publisher,” he said. “I told our staff, I will do everything in my power both personally, and as the leader of this group, to continue to serve our readers and our advertisers in the same capacity I have for the past 16 years.”