Wayne Printing Company of Goldsboro Purchases Roanoke BeaconBack to News

PLYMOUTH, NC, January 4, 2006 – Wayne Printing Co. Inc. of Goldsboro, North Carolina announced today that it has purchased the Roanoke Beacon, a weekly newspaper in Plymouth, North Carolina. Wayne Printing Co. also publishes the Goldsboro News-Argus. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

Dirks, Van Essen & Murray, a newspaper merger-and-acquisition firm based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, represented Gary Cunard, owner of the Roanoke Beacon, in the transaction.

Hal Tanner Jr., president of Wayne Printing Co. and publisher of the Goldsboro News-Argus, said he was delighted. "We have been impressed with the newspaper and the work Gary Cunard and his staff have done over the years." Cunard purchased the newspaper from the Doward Jones family in 1998.

"Acquisition of the Roanoke Beacon reflects the confidence of the News-Argus management in the viability of the present and future of this area. We feel the Roanoke Beacon can play a significant role in supporting the growth and prosperity of the community and its people," said Tanner.

Mary Wayt, who has been serving as general manager of The Beacon has agreed to assume the duties of editor/publisher. "We appreciate not only Mrs. Wayt’s willingness to accept the duties of publisher but her enthusiasm over the opportunity to have an even greater role as the Beacon enters a new era," said Tanner.

Cunard decided to sell the Roanoke Beacon in order to focus on his other publishing operations in North Carolina, which include the Franklin Times of Louisburg.