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Hometown News, Inc.
Hometown News, Inc. is a group of 9 weekly newspapers that was formed in 1996 with the purchase of The Blacksburg Times, The Chesnee Tribune and The Cowpens-Pacolet Tribune.
On August 1, 1996 Hometown News increased its holdings with the addition of The Inman Times and The Woodruff News.
On July 17, 1997, The Middle Tyger Times was started with the objective of adding coverage to one of the fastest growing areas in Spartanburg County. This paper is mailed to every home in the Duncan, Lyman, Wellford and Moore areas of Spartanburg County.
Following the success of the Middle Tyger Times, On August 19, 1999 The Boiling Springs Sentry published its first edition to be circulated to all of the homes in the 29316 zip code. (Boiling Springs).
This brought the number of Hometown Newspapers to 7. In April of 2002 Hometown News again added to its holdings the Whitmire News. The Whitmire News had been owned by Mike Stevens.
In October 2006, Hometown News added South Carolina’s Premier Weekly when it purchased The Greer Citizen. This paper had been owned by the Burch family of Greer. This publication sits in one of the fastest growing markets in the United States, being situated between Greenville and Spartanburg. Greer is also home to the BMW manufacturing facility.
Additional History of Newspapers
The Inman Times was established on December 4, 1920 by Charles Byrd Smith.
Woodruff News was established in 1950 by Charles E. Smith. Charles E. Smith, bought the Inman paper in 1968 from the Inman Mills Corporation.
The Blacksburg Times was started by Mullen Publications of Charlotte in 1966 and The Cowpens-Pacolet Tribune were established by Gene McKown. After two years of publishing, the company sold the operation to Gene McKown who owned them until March of 1996.
The Chesnee Tribune and The Cowpens-Pacolet Tribune were also established by Gene McKown. In 2003 Hometown News changed the name of the Cowpens-Pacolet Tribune to Spartanburg County News in an effort to increase that newspapers circulation area and content.
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