The Marshall Mountain Wave and the Mountaineer Echo of Flippin in the north Arkansas Ozarks are for sale for $285,000, Whispers has learned from surfing the internet.
That was the asking price for the two weekly publications listed last week on BizBuySell.com, which offered “two profitable AR newspapers” for sale and noted gross revenue of $303,000. Before it was changed Thursday to remove the newspapers’ specific names, the ad described the Mountaineer Echo, established in 1886, as the “oldest business in Marion County.” The Mountain Wave, established in 1892, was called a “highly respected newspaper with a dedicated readership” and “the only print media based in Searcy County.”
The papers are owned by Jade Media Inc. of Flippin and their co-publishers are Dale Estes and Jane Estes, according to the 2018 Arkansas Press Association media directory. Dale Estes registered Jade Media Inc. with the Arkansas Secretary of State’s Office in November 2004, according to state filings, where he is listed as incorporator/organizer.
Estes had no comment for the record when reached by telephone last week, but he said he thought reporting about the internet ad would be unethical. When asked what would be unethical about taking note of something that’s been up on the World Wide Web for weeks, he abruptly hung up.
Lewis Floyd, who listed the business on BizBuySell, according to the website, said he could talk only to those willing to sign a nondisclosure agreement.
The ad lists “retirement” as the owners’ reason for selling.
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