In a nutshell, the Smithville Review has been sold, along with its fixed assets. However, all current employees have remained the same.
Paxton Media Group has purchased the Southern Standard and the Smithville Review from Morris Multimedia. Along with these purchases comes unsurmountable journalism changes.
The new Paxton Media Group also owns the Cookeville Herald-Citizen newspaper, and the Lebanon Democrat in Lebanon. Currently family owned, the purchasing entity is located in Paducah, Kentucky and publishes daily and weekly newspapers in more than 120 communities in the Midwest and South.
“We appreciate Morris Multimedia for choosing us to be the new stewards of this important community asset,” said Jamie Paxton, president and CEO.
Throughout the many years of production, the Smithville Review has been a weekly part of the DeKalb County community. It will remain so in the forthcoming years. The above two newspapers “will join the 10 other Tennessee Paxton-owned newspapers,” which is managed by the Group Publisher, Jana Thomasson.
Historically and on June 19, 1891, the first edition of “The Smithville Review” was published. The first owner and publisher was Perry C. Wallace, the 28-year-old son of David Wallace, Sr. who owned McMinnville’s “New Era” newspaper. In 1894, Perry sold his interest in the Review to his younger brother, Frank Wallace, who was very well liked. Yearly subscription cost was $1.00.
Things changed for the better when in 1905, Wallace hired as editor, Eugene Hendon, age 34, of Shelbyville, Tennessee. Little did Hendon know that he would be the Review editor for the next 41 years. In 1907, Hendon bought the newspaper from Frank Wallace, who died at age 37 in 1908.
During World War II, Brown Davis was editor of the newspaper for three years. Sam Colvert took over in 1931 until 1946. In 1947, Bill Dyer became editor of The Review until 1965, later becoming an attorney-at-law.
The newspaper was then purchased by the James White family of McMinnville, Tennessee. It was during this time that Dorothy Isabell Walker became the editor and my mentor. It was an important time in my life, as she introduced me to the preparation and formation of newspapers.
Walker remained there until 1991, when Dennis Stanley became editor, followed by Tom Duggin. In 1978, the newspaper was sold to the owner, Morris Newspaper Corporation of Savannah, Georgia. Following Duggin’s respite, Angie Meadows became the managing editor in 1999 – 26 years.
With today’s purchase, Meadows becomes the Advertising Manager, while Chris Tramel will become the Managing Editor. He hails from the former Middle Tennessee Times newspaper, as do I.
Since 1975, I have been employed at The Review from various dates and times. Nothing compares to seeing your personal by-line scratched on the newspaper’s white surface. Some persons say that “getting newspaper ink under your fingernails” lasts a lifetime. And for me, it has – for 60 years.
Please continue to keep The Smithville Review alive and well. In today’s society, newspaper ink is being replaced by online computer ink in many corporate and private entities.
There’s no comparison between reading a full-service newspaper and a temporary news website. Remember this.
NEW CONTACT INFORMATION:
Location: 315 North Public Square (inside Hannah Law Office next to DeKalb Florist)
Operating Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mon., Tues., Thur., Fri; Wednesdays, 8 a.m. – Noon; Closed Weekends.
Landline telephone: 615-597-5485
Deadline for submitted news: Every Friday at 4 p.m.
Contact us: www.smithvillereview.com or on Facebook.
