LITTLE ROCK — The Justice Department has closed its investigation related to failing newspapers in Northwest Arkansas, clearing the way for a joint venture to move forward, officials of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Inc. and Stephens Media LLC announced Monday.

The deal will be formalized Nov. 1, when the new limited liability company takes over publication of the Springdale Morning News, the Rogers Morning News, the Northwest Edition of the Democrat-Gazette, the Northwest Arkansas Times in Fayetteville and the Benton County Daily Record in Bentonville, and associated weekly newspapers in Washington and Benton counties and McDonald County, Mo., including the Washington County Enterprise-Leader.

Newspaper subscribers in Northwest Arkansas will get their first glimpse of the combined efforts this Sunday, said Jeff Jeffus, president for the new company — Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC.

There is no prototype for a venture between two competing newspapers, but continued financial loss by the parties over the past decade eventually brought both sides to the negotiating table, said Morning News Publisher Tom Stallbaumer, who will remain publisher with the new company.

The move was necessary to better position both companies for long-term financial viability, Stallbaumer said.

The joint venture is a 50-50 partnership between owners of Stephens Media LLC and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Inc. The two companies have contributed all of their Northwest Arkansas assets and Stephens Media’s newspapers in McDonald County, Mo., to Northwest Arkansas Newspapers.

The partnership will publish the Northwest Arkansas Edition of the Democrat-Gazette, the Springdale Morning News, the Rogers Morning News, the Northwest Arkansas Times in Fayetteville, the Benton County Daily Record in Bentonville, weekly newspapers in the two counties, plus in McDonald County, Mo., and the Razorback fan magazine, Hawgs Illustrated.

The Springdale Morning News, Rogers Morning News, Northwest Arkansas Times and Benton County Daily Record will be primarily local newspapers, as will the various weeklies.

Jeffus said hyper-local reports will be these papers’ mainstay, giving more in-depth coverage to stories that haven’t been told elsewhere.

The Northwest Edition of the Democrat-Gazette will focus on regional, state, national and international news.

All of the publications will provide varying coverage of Arkansas Razorback sports.

The pooling of resources and assets will eliminate duplicated coverage and allow for more efficient operations, streamlining office bookkeeping, circulation and production, Stallbaumer said.

“Advertisers will have increased circulation, distribution and individual market penetration,” Jeffus added.

Stallbaumer said the exact number of jobs transferring to Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC is being determined this week.

Employees of the two companies have been sent notification under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which says their jobs will be eliminated on or about Oct. 31. However, all have been given or will be given the opportunity to apply for jobs with the new company.

Stallbaumer will remain the publisher for the daily and weekly newspapers other than the Northwest Edition of the Democrat-Gazette.

Jeffus, a vice president with Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Inc., who has been running the Democrat-Gazette operations in Northwest Arkansas, will continue in that role in addition to being president of the new company.

Stephens Media will control editorial functions of all of the newspapers other than the Democrat-Gazette Northwest Edition, and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette will control business office, advertising, and production aspects.

Rusty Turner, editor of The Morning News, will continue in that role, but his duties will expand to include the Northwest Arkansas Times, the Benton County Daily Record and the weekly newspapers. Susan Scantlin will remain editor of the Northwest Edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

The Justice Department requested that The Morning News and the other Stephens Media products pursue a sale of the newspapers before a new company could be formed. The provision was followed and no offers were made.

Enterprise-Leader

FARMINGTON — Veterans, active military, spouses and family members are invited to the fifth annual veterans’ luncheon sponsored by the Farmington Area Kiwanis Club.

The free luncheon to recognize Veterans’ Day will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at Farmington Baptist Church on Main Street.

This year’s speaker is Thomas Cornwell of Farmington.

Cornwell served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. He was a Mortuary School graduate and a licensed embalmer and one of five morticians. Cornwell was assigned to Naval Support Activity in Naples, Italy. 

For more information or to sign up to attend the luncheon, please contact Ron Wright at 266-1802.

Enterprise-Leader

FARMINGTON — In the past five years, the Farmington Senior Center has had four directors and now will be looking for a new manager in the near future.

Director Michelle Everett recently tendered her resignation, effective Friday, with plans to relocate to the state of Washington with her husband. 

Everett first started as the senior center director in January. Other directors the past five years have been Trina Harrison, Mary Clayton and Margaret Addison.

The Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District in Harrison is in charge of Washington County’s seven centers and operates 15 centers in northwest Arkansas. 

Kaye Curtis, director of senior services, said Washington County Coordinator Jackie Nonan has received several applications for the position and is interviewing the candidates. 

Plans are to complete the interviews by the end of next week and have someone on site shortly after that, Curtis said.

With the new director, the district will reduce the hours of the position to six hours each day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Curtis said the new director’s work schedule will not prevent seniors from staying at the center later in the day to play cards or do other activities.

Curtis said the position will be part-time because the Farmington center does not have the revenue to fund a full-time position.

“We had hoped with a full-time position we could grow the center,” Curtis said, “but it puts a (financial) strain on the center.”

The district is in the process of expanding the Farmington center to add a new commercial kitchen and Curtis said she believes a new kitchen will bring in more seniors to the center.

Sometimes a center has to find its “niche” to grow, Curtis said.

“Every center has its own personality and each town has a different personality so the senior center reflects that community.”

Lonon will be on site after Everett resigns and will train the new director, Curtis said.