Western Communications selling papers

Western Communications is selling its newspapers, The Union Democrat (Sonora, California) reports. The company, based in Bend, Oregon, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year.

Western Communications also owns the Del Norte Triplicate (Crescent City, California), the Bend Bulletin, Redmond Spokesman, Baker City Herald, The Observer and the Curry Coastal Pilot (all in Oregon).

The headquarters facility in Bend is for sale, along with all property Western Communications owns, The Union Democrat reported. 

Merger and acquisition firm Dirks, Van Essen, Murray and April has been brought on to market the facilities.

The Chandler family, which owns Western Communications, wants to keep The Bend Bulletin and weekly The Redmond Spokesman, and are looking for investors, John Costa, president of Western Communications, said, the Union Democrat reported.

Western Communications sold The Union Democrat’s former printing plant in March for around $1 million.

Since the January bankruptcy filing, the company has laid off 33 people and cut the work week for 13 more, the paper said.

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