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Bliss Communications sells Daily Globe newspaper

JANESVILLE — Bliss Communications, publisher of The Janesville Gazette and parent company of Globe Publishing, has sold the Daily Globe of Ironwood, Mich., to a newspaper group based in Sheridan, Wyo.

Sidney H. Bliss, president of Bliss Communications, and the new owners made the announcement Wednesday to Globe employees.

Gary Stevenson, president of the new ownership group, announced that Joe Karius, former general manager of Globe Publishing, has been named publisher and general manager of the new operating company, which will be known as Daily Globe Inc.

"The Globe has been an important part of Bliss Communications for 28 years, and we have enjoyed our relationship with the community and terrific employees of the newspaper," Bliss said. "However, this was an opportunity for Bliss Communications to pass ownership of the Globe to another company that truly cares about publishing a quality newspaper."

"The future of newspapers is small community newspapers," Stevenson said. "Community newspapers are strong because they have commitment and service to the communities they cover and integrity—something you will not find on national news channels or on the Internet.

"We are really excited to be in Ironwood and to work with this talented staff," Stevenson said.

The other owners are Stevenson's wife, Sue, and Garry Ellis, a retired vice president for Peter Kiewit and Sons, a worldwide construction company where Ellis worked for 31 years.

Gary and Sue Stevenson have been in the newspaper business for more than 20 years. They own or co-own 18 publications, including four daily newspapers. The other papers are in Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota and Nebraska.

Besides the Gazette, Bliss Communications owns the Monroe Times, the Marinette Eagle Herald and Community Shoppers Inc. and radio stations WCLO/WJVL in Janesville, WBKV/WBWI in West Bend and WRJN/WEZY in Racine.