Helena World owners purchase Scott County newspapers

Chuck and I are proud to be able to play a role in making sure that Scott County doesn’t become a news desert and that its residents have access to a community newspaper that focuses on their stories and does an admirable job in writing the first draft of the history in these communities.”

Andrew Bagley, co-owner, Helena World and Monroe County Argus

The owners of the Helena World and Monroe County Argus are once again stepping up to save community journalism in a rural Arkansas county, announcing the purchase of the Waldron News and the Mansfield Citizen in Scott County, which ceased publication earlier this year.

Andrew Bagley, who co-owns the papers with retired businessman Chuck Davis and who is president of the Arkansas Press Association, said in a statement issued today, “Chuck and I are proud to be able to play a role in making sure that Scott County doesn’t become a news desert and that its residents have access to a community newspaper that focuses on their stories and does an admirable job in writing the first draft of the history in these communities.  We love rural Arkansas and the communities of Waldron and Mansfield are much like the communities of Phillips and Monroe Counties where we have newspapers.”

Bagley continued by saying he intends to publish one paper that will cover both communities.  He said, “I am respectful of the histories of each of these storied publications, but the economics, along with the logistics of managing a publication across the state from our base in The Delta, make this the best path forward.”

A final date to begin publishing has not yet been determined but the plan is for it to be as soon as possible in 2025.  Bagley said, “I look forward to meeting and serving the people of Scott County.  We have a lot left to work through, not the least of which is finding office space and employees.  We will need the help of everyone in order for this effort to be successful, but I am as excited today about this endeavour as I was when Chuck and I purchased the Helena World in our hometown.  Small towns represent the best of our state and our nation and those stories should be told.”

Chuck Davis

Ashley Kemp Wimberley, who is the executive director of the Arkansas Press Association, is excited the citizens of Scott County will once again have a community newspaper, saying: “The Arkansas Press Association is pleased that award-winning Arkansas publisher Andrew Bagley and his business partner Chuck Davis have acquired the newspaper in Waldron. We know the citizens of Scott County and surrounding counties will benefit from having a newspaper again, and that their excellent local coverage will propel community economics and increase access to trustworthy information.”

The newspaper will be printed in Mena by previous owner Jay Bunyard. Bunyard added, “We're excited to have the opportunity to work with Andrew and his team by providing the print work for the Waldron News at our shop in Mena. We believe that readers in the Scott County area will be pleased with the weekly print product that we'll help provide.”