The Clermont Sun Publishing Company has purchased the News Democrat and Ripley Bee in Brown County and the People’s Defender in Adams County from Civitas Media. The sale was effective March 5.

The Sunday News Democrat and Brown County Press will merge into one newspaper, while the other newspapers will continue to publish as before. The sale will bring six newspapers together who will serve Clermont, Brown and Adams counties.

Readers will now have nine reporters bringing them the best local and regional news and sports in southwest Ohio. Advertisers can now reach almost 300,000 people across the three counties with one phone call.

Clermont Sun Publishing Company Owner Scott Champion said “We are proud to be the leading local news source in our three county area. Readers can count on us to continue to bring them the news that’s important to them.”

West Union People’s Defender included in purchase