Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, December 25, 2014

Paragon Publications, Inc., parent company of the Mount Ayr Record-News, has announced they have purchased the Diagonal Progress effective January 1.

Paragon Publications is owned by Tom and Tami Hawley of Mount Ayr who purchased the company of August of 2012 from Alan Smith.

The Diagonal Progress is owned by Patty Newton of Diagonal, who has had the paper for seven years.

"We are very excited about the acquisition of the Progress," said Tom Hawley, president of Paragon Publications. "Patty has done an excellent job with the paper and we look forward to continuing serving the community going forward."

Staffing and news gathering at the Progress will be a team effort led by Record-News news editor Darrell Dodge, assisted by Angi Dodge and Tami Hawley. Other staff members from Mount Ayr also will be involved in producing the paper each week.

Initially, the Diagonal Progress office will be open Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"Six months ago it became evident that it was time to sell the Diagonal Progress," said Newton. "I knew selling the paper meant finding someone to not only continue the hometown paper but also had to be the right fit for the Diagonal community."

Newton will assist Mount Ayr staffers for the next several weeks during the transition.

Hawley said he hopes to increase local news coverage in the Progress, building on the tradition of Newton's ownership.

"Darrell Dodge is very familiar with the Diagonal community, having taught there earlier in his career," said Hawley. "This is a big plus for us."

Hawley said the purchase also gives advertisers another effective and economical way of reaching customers in the Ringgold County market, now that both papers are under common ownership.

"We will be developing advertising packages for area businesses that will offer household penetration that can't be matched anywhere else," he said.

The Progress also will be expanding services in the Diagonal office, including fax and copy services, job printing and office supplies.

"Seven years ago I embarked on a new adventure, one very exciting adventure. It has led me to many places taking classes, attending workshops and conferences to learn the newspaper business. Through the years the paper has had its ups and downs and has given me many life experiences, ones I will never forget," said Newton.

The mailing address for the Progress will be PO Box 23, Diagonal, Iowa 50845; office phone number will be 641-734-5066 or cell phone 515-290-5791.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2015