Gold Mountain California News Media will acquire eleven newspapers from Brehm Communications Inc. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. However, Dirks, Van Essen & April, through its subsidiary CAL DVM, is representing BCI in the transaction.
The new owners have newspapers throughout the United States and Canada, including several in California. Their California mastheads include the Marysville Appeal-Democrat, Lodi News-Sentinel and Grass Valley Union.
The newspapers purchased by Gold Mountain include the following weeklies:
- Auburn Journal, which is published twice-weekly
- Folsom Telegraph
- Roseville Press-Tribune
- Placer Herald
- The Loomis News
- Lincoln News Messenger
- The Big Bear Grizzly
- Mountain News
- Hi-Desert Star
- The Desert Trail
- The Desert Mobile Home News
“We are pleased to acquire these esteemed properties from the Brehm Communications family. Our plans are to continue with the well-established fine tradition, which the family has been recognized for in their long and continuous history in the newspaper industry.”
Steven Malkowich of Gold Mountain
“This transaction is bittersweet as our family has been in the newspaper business for over 102 years; however, we felt it was time to pass these amazing publications and employees to a new home. We believe the new owners will carry on the important mission of community journalism for years to come.”
Ryan Schuyler, president and CEO of BCI
The papers have long histories serving their communities. For example, The Big Bear Grizzly began publishing in 1941. The original owners were Clinton J. and Marcella Underhill. Brehm Communications had owned the paper since October 1991. Martin Albornoz, the current Grizzly publisher is optimistic. To be clear, he believes Gold Mountain has “the expertise and resources to guide” the Grizzly into the future.
Readers of the Desert Trail weighed in on Facebook. One reader said, “Brehm was a great company, and a great family to work for.” Another commented that Brehm “matters locally and beyond.”
One paper deserves special attention. The Placer Herald is the oldest newspaper in California published under the same name. Founded in 1852, the Herald dates back to serving Gold Rush era California.
