USMEDIA TO SELL NINE PAPERS TO RUST COMMUNICATIONS

USMedia Group Inc. announced it plans to sell four daily newspapers and five weeklies to Rust Communications of Cape Girardeau.

USMedia said it has signed a letter of intent, but contract details are still being worked out. A change of ownership is expected by Oct. 1.

The deal would also include several shoppers and niche publications. The publications are in Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Idaho.

The daily newspapers:

-- Daily Mail and Sunday Herald in Nevada, Mo.

-- Democrat-News in Marshall, Mo.

-- Daily Sentinel in LeMars, Iowa

-- Daily Gazette in McCook, Neb.

The weeklies are the Berryville Star-Progress, Eureka Springs Times-Echo and Green Forest Tribune, all in Arkansas; and Mountain Home News and Glenns Ferry Gazette, both in Idaho.

Other niche publications and shoppers include the Ozark Mountain Trader and The Flashlight, both in Arkansas; Mountain Home AFB Pipeline, Mountain Home AFB Gunfighter and Family Line, all in Idaho; Action Shoppers Guide in Iowa; Saline County Citizen in Missouri; and Buffalo Nickel in Nebraska.

Combined paid and free circulation of the newspapers is about 64,000.

Gary Rust, president of Rust Communications, said: "This is the first time we have ventured out of our traditional areas where all of our newspapers are clustered together. This is possible only because we have built a good management team and know how to publish quality newspapers that meet the needs of their communities."

Gene O. Morris, publisher of the McCook Daily Gazette, welcomed the news. With 7,500 paid circulation, the Gazette is the largest daily newspaper involved.

"We are enthused because the Gazette is returning to family ownership," said Morris. "Gary Rust has built one of America's most exciting newspaper organizations, and we are looking forward to working in partnership with him and the new newspaper team to make the McCook Daily Gazette the best newspaper possible."

Rust Communications is one of the fastest growing family-owned newspaper companies in the United States.

In addition to its flagship newspaper -- the Southeast Missourian -- other daily newspapers totally or partially owned by Rust Communications are in Poplar Bluff, Sikeston, Dexter and Kennett in Missouri and Blytheville, Ark.

The company also owns 16 weeklies in Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee -- including five that were purchased Aug. 1. Those weeklies new to the Rust family of newspapers are in Rector, Manila and Piggott in Arkansas, and Campbell and Senath in Missouri.

Rust Communications also owns Concord Printing Services in Cape Girardeau.

USMedia Group's home office is in Crystal City, Mo. It is principally owned by private investment funds managed by affiliates of Trust Company of the West.

Eugene A. Mace, president of USMedia, said: "For many years USMedia newspapers have been excellent community newspapers. I am confident they will continue that tradition under Gary Rust's guidance."