After over 16 years of ownership, Tim Franklin has sold his northern Pine County and Carlton County newspapers to the Johnson family.
The sale was announced by the Kanabec County Times earlier this week.
Northstar Media, Inc., who owns the Pine City Pioneer as well as papers in Kanabec and Chisago County, will be taking over the Pine County Courier, Hinckley News, and Askov American, Star Gazette in Moose Lake, the Evergreen shopper, and Minnesota Flyer.
Franklin first purchased the Pine County Courier in 2002 before buying the Hinckley News in 2004, Askov American in 2010, and Moose Lake Star Gazette in 2012.
In a release published by the Pine County Courier, Franklin says that he plans to stay on for a couple of months while the transition takes place.
The above photo is courtesy of the Pine County Courier Facebook page.