OLD SAYBROOK, Conn. - Heartland Publications, LLC today announced

the purchase of the Richmond County Daily Journal in Rockingham,

N.C., The Cheraw Chronicle in Cheraw, S.C., and The Anson Record in

Wadesboro, N.C., from Community Newspapers Inc. of Athens, Ga.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Michael Bush, Heartland's president, said, "We are very excited to

have these fine newspapers join our expanding family of community

newspapers. Community Newspapers has been a great steward of these

newspapers. They have built a great tradition of quality journalism

and leadership in their communities. We will build upon their

accomplishments and continue to move these newspapers ahead."

Bush said Heartland plans on growing the company through a program of

strategic acquisitions.

"Rockingham is in an area of the country we know well and in which

we have already established ourselves with several newspapers," he

said.

CNI Chairman Tom Wood said, "These three newspapers have

demonstrated their commitment to the communities they serve and

earned the respect of the readers who depend on them for daily

information about the community. I am sure they will continue with

that tradition under the fine leadership of Heartland Publications."

Heartland Publications, LLC, based in Old Saybrook, Conn., owns and

operates 26 paid daily and weekly newspapers in North Carolina,

Kentucky, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Ohio and West Virginia. The company's

owners are The Wicks Group of Companies and Wachovia Capital Partners.

The Wicks Group of Companies is a New York-based private equity firm

focused on selected segments of the communications, information and

media industries. Wachovia Capital Partners, based in Charlotte,

N.C., is the principal investing arm of Wachovia Corp.

Dirks, Van Essen & Murray of Santa Fe, N.M., was the broker for the

transaction.