About
1970s
Combining efforts through the years, the McNaughtons and Soldwedels purchased or started additional newspaper properties. In the 1960s the Prescott Courier, Casa Grande Dispatch, Lake Havasu City Herald and partial interests in the Mohave (Kingman) Miner were purchased.
In the 1970s, the Mohave Valley News in Bullhead City, the Verde Independent in Cottonwood and the Camp Verde Bugle also were purchased.
1980s
The Soldwedels also were involved in commercial printing and television operations in conjunction with newspaper publishing during this time period.
In 1984, the Soldwedels sold all of their Yuma interests in the Yuma Daily Sun, Foothills News and Sun Television to Cox Newspapers. Since 1985, Western News&Info, Inc.® has entered the outdoor advertising and sign business. The company also added the Golden Valley Enterprise, the Weekender, the Chino Valley Review and the Prescott Valley Tribune to its list of newspaper properties since 1985.
1990s
As of the end of 1995, Western News & Info, Inc.® boasted 15 newspapers, a sign advertising company, a variety of shoppers and real estate guides, and three commercial printing businesses with more than 300 employees.
In January of 1997 Western News&Info Inc.® invested in a 50% ownership of radio stations Outlaw Country 1400 AM and Z-93. MonsterMedia, LLC was our partner in this radio venture. In May 2014, Western sold it’s 50% ownership to the MonsterMedia partner, Keith Lewis. The KCYK (frequency: AM 1400) and KLJZ Z-93 (frequency: FM 93.1) radio stations are located in Yuma, Arizona.
In 1998, Western News&Info, Inc.® expanded its print media business throughout Northern Arizona with the addition of Community Directory phone books covering Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Cottonwood, and Sedona.
2000s
In August of 2010, Western News&info, Inc.® acquired Pop Rocket, an alternative publication showcasing arts & entertainment in the Prescott area. In December 2013 Pop Rocket was suspended.
In 2011, Prescott Newspapers, Inc. (PNI) bought the franchise for the Grand Canyon Map operated out of the Williams/Grand Canyon News operations. In 2012 the company bought the franchise for the Sedona Map which is operated out of Verde Valley Newspapers. The same year Prescott Newspapers, Inc. started Prescott map franchise.
Western News&info, Inc.’s® corporate offices are located in Prescott Valley, Arizona.