Ownership of the Jefferson Jimplecute shifted this week.
In deal announced late Friday, V. Hugh Lewis, publisher of the online Marion County Herald, and Austin Lewter, a veteran community newspaper publisher acquired the Jefferson Jimplecute from Strube-Palmer Media, LLC.
They will serve as co-publishers of the newly formed Marion County Media which will oversee both the Jimplecute and the Herald.
Both Lewis and Lewter are former editors of the Jimplecute, which is the fifth oldest newspaper in Texas.
“The history of this newspaper is not lost on us,” Lewis said. “It began publishing in 1848. It ushered Marion County through the Civil War, two World Wars, the Great Depression and a few pandemics along the way. We are dedicated to it’s success in the decades to come.”
“I came to Jefferson 10 years ago as managing editor of the Jimplecute,” Lewter said. “My wife and I fell in love with the community then and have since longed to be involved here again. We are excited about the opportunity at hand.”
Lewis, a fellow newspaper veteran, began his career at the Texarkana Gazette. He and Lewter worked together at the Jimp a decade ago.
“Hugh was the first person I met in Jefferson,” Lewter said. “Pretty soon, we were woking together. The Jefferson Jimplecute was my first general management position at a newspaper. I have grown in my career and, a decade later, we have come full circle.”
The pair worked together again a few years later at the Altanta Citizen’s Journal.
Shortly thereafter, Lewis did a stint as the general manager and managing editor at the Jimplecute.
In the year’s since, he launched the online Marion County Herald.
“Our goal is to marry the historic print presence of the Jimplecute with the incredible online presence of the Herald,” Lewis said. “Our mission is to promote and serve Jefferson, and all of Marion County, like never before.”
“I can think of no one else I’d rather do this with than Hugh,” Lewter said. “He has his finger on the pulse of the community and cares deeply about the future of Marion County.”
“Austin is an experienced newspaper professional who brings so much to the table. He is passionate about community journalism,” Lewis said. “We have always worked well together and I am excited our future at the Jimp.”
Lewis is a native of Texarkana and has lived in Jefferson for 18 years.
He holds a BA in Communications from Trinity University and has more than 30 years experience in the communications industry.
Lewter is a native of Collinsville, Texas. He and his wife Jennifer have four children.
He holds a Bachelors Degree in Journalism from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and a Masters Degree in Mass Communication from Stephen F. Austin State University.
The pair assumed operations of the Jimp earlier this week through their parent company Marion County Media.
Lewter is also the publisher of three newspapers in North Texas not owned by Marion County.
The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
For more information, to share a story idea or renew your subscription to the Jimp, contact the newspaper office at 903.665.2462 or via email at JeffersonJimplecute@gmail.com.
Both publications can be found online at https://www.marioncoherald.com. New branding and mergers of the sites will happen over the next several weeks.