Payson (AZ) Roundup to Be Sold to White Mountain PublishingBack to News

Payson, AZ – June 17, 2016 – The Simons family announced today that it has entered into an agreement to sell the Payson (AZ) Roundup to White Mountain Publishing LLC, a division of family-owned Kramer Publications based in Show Low. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Dirks, Van Essen & Murray, a merger and acquisition firm based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is representing the Simons family in the sale.

The Payson Roundup, published Tuesday and Friday with paid circulation of 4,450, is supplemented by a weekly entertainment tabloid, the Rim Review. The Roundup serves Gila County in central Arizona, 90 miles north of Phoenix. The newspaper has been recognized as Newspaper of the Year more than a dozen times by the Arizona Newspaper Association. The Roundup was also honored as the best non-daily newspaper at the national level by the Inland Press Association and Local Media Association.

The Roundup, founded in 1990, was acquired by the Simons family in 1994. “The Simons family has sincere admiration and appreciation for our colleagues at the Payson Roundup and we will miss this association,” said Dolph C. Simons III. “They have consistently published respected, insightful and award-winning journalism products. I envision the same occurring under the Kramers’ leadership. They will be a perfect fit for Payson and surrounding communities.”

“Our family has been active in the newspaper publishing business for four generations and to have the opportunity to add the Payson Roundup to our newspaper properties is a dream come true,” President Ruth A. Kramer said. “We plan to have an active family presence just like we do in the White Mountains and the Casa Grande Valley. We are proud of the accomplishments the Payson staff has been able to achieve as repeated Newspaper of the Year recipients, chosen by the state newspaper association. Our goal is to not disturb the many qualities the Roundup offers its readers, but add to services where we can.”

The deal is expected to close at the end of June. White Mountain Publishing is the owner of the twice-weekly White Mountain Independent in Show Low. It is a subsidiary of Kramer Publications, which owns and operates newspapers in Casa Grande, Florence, Coolidge, Eloy, Arizona City and Maricopa. Kramer Publications was started in 1962 by the late Donovan M. Kramer Sr. and his wife, Ruth Kramer. Ruth Kramer is the company’s president, and her children, Donovan Kramer Jr. and Kara K. Cooper are co-publishers. Brian Kramer, Donovan and Ruth’s grandson, is the publisher of White Mountain Publishing. Ruth Kramer, Donovan Kramer Jr., Kara K. Cooper and Diana Kramer are partners of White Mountain Publishing LLC. Gauger Media Service Inc., based in Raymond, Washington, represented the Kramer family in the purchase.

Today, the Simons family also announced that it has entered into agreements to sell its publishing operations in Kansas and Colorado. The Lawrence (KS) Journal-World is to be acquired by family-owned Ogden Newspapers, and Swift Communications will acquire Steamboat (CO) Today, the Steamboat (CO) Pilot & Today and the Craig (CO) Daily Press. 

For more information contact Dirks, Van Essen & Murray at 505-820-2700.