For the Star Journal

CENTRAL WISCONSIN – Multi Media Channels, which owns the Northwoods Star Journal, has purchased The Sentinel & Rural News in Clark County. The purchase brings to 17 the number of weekly publications printed by MMC.

Nicole and Travis Rogers started the Sentinel & Rural News in March 2014. The Rogers wanted to create a newspaper that “told good news and highlighted the people and businesses of central Wisconsin,” including Owen-Withee, Curtiss, Thorp, Greenwood, Gilman, Abbotsford, Colby and Spencer.

“MMC is the company that can use its greater resources and vast experience to move the Sentinel to the outreach and impact that we had envisioned from the beginning,” Travis said. “MMC is not the kind of company that creates cookie-cutter publications that all look and feel the same. They are adept at meeting the particular needs of each unique community that they serve. That makes Nicole and me very happy.”

Patrick Wood, CEO, explained that MMC has a history of putting the local community first and committed to continuing this tradition with The Sentinel & Rural News.

“Our stewardship will be to continue the Rogers approach of reporting hyper-local news to the community,” said Wood.

MMC began its work in community newspaper publishing in Denmark, Wisc., in 1953. Under the leadership of its founder, Frank Wood, the business expanded into other markets. Today, the company remains in the Wood family, publishing more than 30 print publications, including 22 weeklies and 17 digital channels that serve the central, northern and eastern regions of Wisconsin.

The sale was finalized Dec. 22.

Nicole will stay on to aid in the transition. Nicole and Travis will both continue to contribute articles to the publication.