Rust Publishing, a family owned subsidiary of Rust Communications of Cape Girardeau, has purchased the N.E.W. Vernon County Record in Nevada, Mo.

Most of the content of the twice-weekly newspaper is being absorbed into the Nevada Daily Mail/Herald newspaper, Rust Communications officials said.

The purchase was announced by Randy Battagler, publisher of the Daily Mail.

Effective on April 20, all former subscribers of the Record will begin receiving the Nevada Daily Mail.

"Even though the Record was twice weekly and we are daily, we are taking subscribers of the Record into our family of subscribers at no charge until their subscription to the Record expires," Battagler said.

The Record was purchased from Jeff and Sandy Tweten.

Jeff Tweten said, "Rust Communication has the resources and the reputation to make the Daily Mail a great paper again. We expect that with the addition of many of our staff that process has already begun."

Much of the content of the Record is being absorbed into the Daily Mail, including the columnists.

Vicki Cassatt, the managing editor of the Record, began serving as managing editor of the Daily Mail today.

Rust Communications is a family owned newspaper group that has grown from four Missouri daily newspapers six years ago to 11 daily newspapers, 25 weekly operations and several printing companies in seven states.