Black Press, British Columbia's largest publisher of community newspapers and websites, has announced the purchase of the Cranbrook Daily Townsman and the Kimberley Daily Bulletin from Don Kendall.

The two dailies, published Monday to Friday, have a combined circulation of 5,000 and are the only dailies serving the East Kootenay region of B.C. The deal will close at the end of August.

"Don has done an excellent job of improving both publications during the past year and we are really pleased with being able to acquire these titles," said Rick O'Connor, Chief Operating Officer of Black Press.

"They will continue to run under their current business plan and we anticipate few changes."

Black Press also owns the regional weekly publication, The Kootenay Advertiser, also based in Cranbrook.

"We will also continue to operate our existing title under its current business plan as the two main publications serve different markets and audiences, O'Connor said.

"They will continue to compete for media advertising in the East Kootenay marketplace," he added.

Black Press will invest in improving the press operations at the Daily Townsman over the next year and is also investing in additional bindery equipment at the Kootenay Advertiser.

Company C.E.O. David Black said "We are very bullish on the future economic prospects of the Kootenay region."

"We feel there will be substantial economic growth in that area in the next decade and we are pleased to be taking a stronger media position in the Cranbrook region."

Black Press also has a strong presence in the West Kootenay marketplace, publishing the Nelson Star, the Trail Daily Times and the Castlegar News.

Black Press owns and operates over 150 newspapers, several printing plants and hundreds of websites in BC, Alberta, Washington State, Hawaii and Ohio. It is Canada's largest independent newspaper publishing company.