• by Ray Schultz , September 1, 2022

Three Northeastern Iowa newspapers have changed hands. The North Scott Press, the Wilton-Durant Advocate and West Liberty Enterprise were acquired this week by Louis Mullen of Wyoming from the Tubbs family, long-time owners.  

Mullen, who owns several other newspapers in Iowa and elsewhere, was deemed the right buyer. 

"It was important for us to have an owner who has a strong passion for community journalism, for local news, and independent voices, that we believe would hopefully carry on the commitment to the community that we have had for all these years," said Bill Tubbs, owner and publisher, who first went to work for the North Scott Press when he was 22 and ran it with his now-retired wife Linda.  

The Wilton-Durant Advocate was founded in 1894 and the West Liberty Index in 1868. The North Scott Press was launched exactly a century later. 

"It is our fundamental belief that newspapers play a pivotal role in the community, in sharing information and bringing people together,” Tubbs continued. “It's important to the community's success and progress, and we've been doing that for 51 years and we want it to continue."