Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 2019)
6 Wednesday, August 7, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Sisters to celebrate trail system EO Media Group wins bid for two newspapers BEND (AP) 4 EO Media Group, a newspaper publish- ing company based in Oregon, bought the largest newspa- per in Central Oregon and its sister weekly, outbidding a competitive offer at an auction Monday, July 29. The winning $3.65 million bid puts The Bulletin, which had declared bankruptcy, and its sister weekly The Redmond Spokesman, into the hands of a family-owned company that has been publishing newspa- pers since 1908. <The vibrant economy of Central Oregon, coupled with a fresh start for The Bul- letin and Redmond Spokes- man, bodes well for the future of these newspapers,= Heidi Wright, EO Media Group9s chief operating officer, was quoted as saying in the East Oregonian. The newspaper, based in Pendleton, is owned by EO Media Group. The company outbid Adams Publishing Group at the auction at the offices of Tonkon Torp LLP in Portland. Adams owns more than a hun- dred small dailies, weeklies and shoppers, including the Herald & News in Klamath Falls and the Lake County Examiner in Lakeview. Michael Fletcher, attorney for The Bulletin9s parent com- pany, Western Communica- tions, said a previous bidder, Rhode Island Suburban News- papers Inc., did not participate in the auction, The Bulletin reported. U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Trish Brown approved the sale, which is expected to close at the end of August. With about $30 million in debt, Western Communi- cations filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Janu- ary. It was the company9s sec- ond trip to bankruptcy court since 2012, driven by debt from its headquarters build- ing that was built in 2000. EO Media is not acquiring the real estate, which is being marketed separately. Terms of a lease for space inside the building require the press to be relocated within 90 days of the building9s sale, Wright said. Steve Forrester, EO Media Group9s president and CEO, said the acquisition of The Bulletin carries emotional and historical meaning. <Our essential challenge is to bring new life to Bend9s storied daily newspaper,= he said. Kathryn Brown, vice presi- dent of EO Media, said the company will look at how to fold the Central Oregon papers into the organization and soon will reach out to the employees at The Bulletin and Spokesman. Robert Chandler bought The Bulletin in 1953 from Robert Sawyer with a down payment of $6,000, and was chairman of the company until his death in 1996. He was suc- ceeded by his daughter, Betsy McCool. McCool said she was rooting for EO Media to come out ahead at the auction, noting that she has known the family owners since she was a child. <They seem like compas- sionate people that care about Oregon,= she said. EO Media will be the majority owner of a new hold- ing company, Central Oregon Media Group, for The Bulletin and The Redmond Spokesman, Wright said. A group of Bend investors who contributed capital will have a minority stake. Terms of their agreement with EO Media prevent the local inves- tors from exercising editorial control, Wright said. Among those who pro- vided financial backing was The Bend Foundation, The East Oregonian reported. The Bend Foundation was estab- lished and funded by Brooks Scanlon lumber company, Brooks Resources 4 a real estate development company, and its shareholders. Bend Foundation trustee Mike Hollern said <a really important part of the whole American dream [is] to have an unbiased local press.= There’s something special about gathering around a GLOWING FIRE! We have many fire pits to choose from! The Peterson Ridge trail system (PRT), built and maintained through volun- teer effort, has been provid- ing recreational opportunity for equestrians, hikers, dog- walkers, mountain-bikers and most recently snowshoers for over 10 years. Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) is hosting a celebration of local trails on Saturday, September 21 at Village Green Park. The event features organized hikes and mountain-bike rides on the trail system, activities in the park for everyone, a little his- tory of the PRT, a free lunch and the just released <Peterson Ridge Pale Ale= crafted by Three Creeks Brewing Company. Three Creeks is now pour- ing the Peterson Ridge Pale Ale at their pub in Sisters in celebration of the PRT and to recognize the efforts of Sisters Trails Alliance. The single hop pale ale features four sep- arate additions of El Dorado hops, a <fruit-forward= hop, featuring bold notes of citrus and tropical fruit, plus a faint hint of vanilla. This is a light, easy-drinking pale ale, per- fect for capping off your trail experience. Organized hikes and mountain-bike rides at the event will feature some of the best parts of the trail and will be led by STA volun- teers knowledgeable about the trail system, design, build- ing and maintenance. It9s a great opportunity to explore some new territory or expe- rience trails you know with CCB# 87640 541-549-9280 | 207 W. Sisters Park Dr. | PonderosaForge.com a new perspective. Sign-up information for the organized activities will be available by September 1. A complimentary vegan and gluten-free lunch will be provided along with interac- tive and informative displays and activities for trail lovers, families and kids. Advance registration for lunch is required by September 10 to know how much food to pro- vide. The link to register can be found on the homepage at www.sisterstrails.org. The day will also feature a drawing for three fantastic raffle packages thanks to the generosity of our local busi- nesses and donations from members. There will be a duf- fel of items that any eques- trian would love to have, a backpack of hiking supplies and a package to appeal to any kind of cyclist. Raffle tickets will be available after August 15 at Sisters Feed & Supply (equestrian package), Hike n Peaks (hiking package), Blazin Saddles (cycling pack- age) or Your Store (all three packages). Anyone interested in providing raffle items or a donation to purchase raffle items should contact info@sisterstrails.org as soon as possible. <Special thanks to Your Store for underwriting the event and to Clay Warburton for creating and donating the beautiful trail image pro- moting this event,= said STA member Ann Richardson. For more info about STA, the PRT celebration event, to volunteer or donate, visit www.sisterstrails.org. CELEBRATING OUR 3RD ANNIVERSARY Dr. Janet Kenyon Audiologist for over 30 years Custom-built hearing aids Complete In-Canal Receiver In-Canal Behind-The-Ear In-house cleaning, repairs & service Premium hearing aids, aff ordably priced All insurance plans accepted 541-317-1265 “Your Local Welding Shop” PHOTO PROVIDED Clay Warburton created the image for the STA celebration of Peterson Ridge Trail. 1625 NE 2nd St. | Bend Open Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-5 p.m. www.kenyonaudiology.com Thank you, Si ste r s C o u n t r y , for welcoming us t o y o u r table! O p e Op Open en n 9 E Every ve e r Day 541-719-1186 | 110 S. Spruce St.