North Scott Press, Inc. acquires West Liberty Index

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ELDRIDGE – With respect for the past, an eye to the future, and a belief that newspapers can make a positive difference in communities, the publishers of The North Scott Press of Eldridge and the Wilton-Durant Advocate News announce the acquisition of the 151-year-old West Liberty Index and westlibertyindex.com from Woodward Communications, Inc. of Dubuque.

The sale closed on Oct. 18, with operations transitioning on Oct. 29. The Index will continue to operate from its current location at 219 N. Calhoun St., West Liberty, and maintain its existing publication cycle.

North Scott Press, Inc., is owned by Bill and Linda Tubbs of Eldridge. They grew up in the Maquoketa area in eastern Iowa. Tubbs is an Iowa Master Editor-Publisher and in 2015 was recognized by the National Newspaper Association (NNA) with the James O. Amos Award for distinguished service and leadership to the community press and his local community.

Derek Sawvell, a Wilton native who has been managing editor of the Advocate News and overseen its growth and expansion since 2009, will work with editor Jacob Lane, office assistant John Hawkins and contributing writers Stephanie Vallez, Ken Donnelly and Norv and Mary Coblentz of the Index to expand its already strong services to the community, both print and digital. Advertising representative Tom Burger will remain during a transition period.

Sawvell is an award-winning writer who was recognized by NNA with its Daniel M. Phillips Award as the outstanding young journalist in America in 2014.

“We value the care that editor Jacob Lane has given the Index and its readers the past six years,” said Bill Tubbs. “We want to build on that foundation. This represents our continued commitment to quality community journalism, and the important role it plays in the communities we serve.

“The communities of West Liberty, Atalissa and Nichols, which are served by the Index, expand our eastern Iowa market from the Quad Cities to Iowa City, and this acquisition provides related opportunities within Muscatine County, as well.”

Tubbs, who is a past district governor of Rotary International, said he first became acquainted with West Liberty because of Rotary. “We appreciate the way the community has embraced its diversity and succeeded,” he said. “This is a positive example, and we are pleased to be able to tell your stories.”

Steve Fisher, Group Publisher of Woodward Community Media, commented, “We are very pleased to be able to transition the West Liberty Index to North Scott Press, Inc. The Tubbses have built a great community-oriented newspaper company. We believe that Index readers are going to be happy with the new owners’ commitment to high quality products.”

Woodward, publishers of the Dubuque Telegraph Herald, purchased the West Liberty Index in September of 2017 as part of a larger acquisition of West Branch Communications, which also included Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun, Solon Economist, West Branch Times, North Liberty Leader, Marion Times and Linn News-Letter, additional shoppers, and niche publications.

Terms of the transaction were not released.

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