Western Communications plans to sell papers, dissolve

Western Communications, owner of the Bend Bulletin (Oregon), aims to sell the seven papers in its Pacific Northwest chain. The company also plans to dissolve, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported, citing a filing in a federal bankruptcy court. 

Western Communications owes around $30 million in debt, about two thirds of which is secured under a lone creditor through the terms of an earlier bankruptcy, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.  

Western Communications filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January. Over 20 have been laid off in 2019, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting, and other employees made the choice to leave. John Costa, ex-company president and Bulletin publisher, stepped down in the spring, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.

In Oregon, Western Communications has the Baker City Herald, the Redmond Spokesman, the La Grande Observer and Curry Coastal Pilot. In California, the company has the Union Democrat in Sonora and the Del Norte Triplicate in Crescent City. 

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