Enterprise parent company buys six Kansas publications

The Holyoke Enterprise and its parent company, Mullen Newspaper Company, has acquired Nor’West Publishing/Haynes Newspapers from Steve and Cynthia Haynes as of Dec. 2. The sale ends a 42-year history to the day for the Haynes family after they purchased their first newspaper. 

Brothers Jesse and Lloyd Mullen, owners of Mullen Newspapers, worked with the Haynes family to acquire one daily newspaper, one twice-weekly newspaper, four weekly newspapers and a market shopper product. The publications are based in six Kansas locations: St. Francis, Goodland, Colby, Oberlin, Atwood and Norton. 

Jesse is the Chief Executive Officer of Mullen Newspapers and Lloyd is the Chief Operating Officer. Jesse founded the company five years ago after purchasing two community weekly newspapers in Southwest Montana. This addition brings Mullen Newspapers to 20 publications in six states: Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska and Washington. Enterprise Publisher Frank Perea, who oversees the High Plains News division of Mullen Newspapers in Nebraska and Colorado, was promoted to Vice President and will act as the group publisher of both groups.

“Lloyd and I are incredibly excited to be the new caretakers of these newspapers,” Jesse said. “Steve and Cynthia built a dynamic grouping of publications in Kansas that have served these communities well for decades. We have big shoes to fill, but I’m confident the talented newspeople working at these papers will continue producing excellent journalism and marketing materials. Together we will take these papers to new heights.”

“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” Lloyd added. “Steve and Cynthia have been the caretakers of these papers for over 30 years. We’re thrilled they put their trust in us and hope to come close to the impact they made.” 

For more information, contact frank@mullennewspapers.com.