Parker buys Chapman & Enterprise News-Times

The Chapman & Enterprise News-Times, a weekly newspaper based in Chapman, Kan., has been sold to David Parker of Enid, Okla. The sale is effective Jan. 1, 2018.

The publication was owned and operated for the past 14 years by Sixteen 60 Publishing Co., publishers of the Lincoln Sentinel-Republican and Kansas Pregame Football Magazine.

Sixteen 60 owners John and Bree Baetz purchased the News-Times from the Kansas Newspaper Foundation in 2004.

Parker, who has been in the printing and publishing industry for more than 40 years, also recently purchased the Council Grove Republican.

"I am excited about owning the Chapman newspaper and continuing on with its fine tradition of providing news to the communities," Parker said.

Baetz said he plans to continue publishing the Lincoln Sentinel, in Lincoln, Kan., and hopes to expand his Kansas Pregame publication, the only statewide high school football preview for Kansas.

"My wife and I have enjoyed the time we owned the Chapman & Enterprise News-Times," Baetz said. "Chapman and Enterprise are wonderful communities with great people. USD 473 is truly one of the best school districts in the state. We'll miss the connection to Chapman and Enterprise area but we're certain the paper is in good hands with Mr. Parker, a community minded newspaper owner."