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Independent Begins 146th Year of Community Service
Established in 1865, the Chester County Independent is embarking on its 146th year of community service in Chester County, Tennessee, making it the oldest continually run business in the county.
Known first as the Madison County Herald, the newspaper transformed quickly when Chester County was formed from portions of Madison, Henderson, McNairy and Hardeman counties in 1875, making it the last of the state's 95 counties to be established.
During the next 41 years, the publication took on several name changes before becoming known as the Chester County Independent in 1916.
The Independent has had several different owners since its birth, and has been located in four different areas of Henderson, the county seat. However, the longest tenure of ownership in the newspaper has been by the Whaley family.
Purchasing the newspaper in 1965 from the T.D. Pace family, H.F. "Woodie" Whaley had a vision for the small newspaper. He wanted to make it "the best it could be with what he had to work with."
Whaley served as General Manager of the Weakley County Press in Martin before purchasing the Henderson newspaper. Under his leadership, the Independent transformed from hot type to cold type in 1972, greatly improving the look of the newspaper.
Whaley continued to make many technological advances with the publication until he suffered a massive heart attack in 1975 and died at the age of 48. From that time until 1989, Whaley's wife, Carolyn, assumed the leadership duties at the paper while raising two children in the process. It was at this time, her son, Scott, who had worked odd jobs since age 6, took an interest in the publication and continued working part time and on weekends. In 1989 Scott Whaley purchased his mother's interest and became publisher of the growing weekly. He continues today as the publisher, and, like his father, has a vision for the future.
The Independent continues to be one of the state's most awarded newspapers. The Tennessee Press Association has presented the Sweepstakes Award to the publication for three consecutive years.
Installation of a 7 unit Web Leader press in 1995 has made Henderson one of the state's largest printing hubs. Presently, the Independent prints over 30 publications including over a dozen weekly newspapers, monthly tabloids and offers custom printing services.
"We want to be in the forefront of technology," Whaley said. "If a newspaper, or any other business for that matter, doesn't change with technology, then their place in our society will diminish. We want to be around for another couple of hundred years at least."
Today the Independent remains the only newspaper in the county of 15,000+ and continues the newspaper's philosophy of providing fair and accurate news coverage to the entire Chester County area.
American Hometown Publishing (AHP), a Franklin based holding company started in 2003, has acquired Chester County Independent on Oct. 5, 2006.
Dan Hammond, chairman and CEO of AHP, told employees they would see no immediate changes. All personnel are expected to stay the same, including publisher and former owner Scott Whaley.
"We understand that local stories and local relationships are what make a community newspaper successful and what keeps the newspaper growing with the community it serves," said Hammond. "We believe local newspapers are a community treasure and we will focus on preserving the integrity and autonomy of your newspaper."
Hammond founded American Profile magazine, which is inserted weekly in the Independent, in the 1990s. It was that successful venture which led him to his love for community newspapers. According to Hammond, AHP is the "antithesis" of many larger newspaper-holding groups, retaining the strong values of the traditional small-town newspaper while providing more resources to enhance the company.
"This is what I'm most excited about," said former Independent principal owner Jay Albrecht. “AHP is committed to our continuing the quality journalism our readers have come to expect and this newspaper will remain just as committed to the community under their ownership."
"The ownership change of the Independent should be seamless," Whaley said. "Readers and advertisers shouldn't see any immediate difference. Our commitment to Chester County has not, and will not change."
The newspaper was sold to Albrecht Newspapers, Inc. of Cookeville in 2000.
The Albrecht group managed the newspaper until 2006 when they sold it to it’s present owner, American Hometown Publishing, Inc. of Franklin.
American Hometown Publishing (AHP), a Franklin based holding company started in 2003, acquired States-Graphic on Oct. 5, 2006.
"We understand that local stories and local relationships are what make a community newspaper successful and what keeps the newspaper growing with the community it serves," said Hammond. "We believe local newspapers are a community treasure and we will focus on preserving the integrity and autonomy of your newspaper."
Hammond founded American Profile magazine, which is inserted weekly in the Independent, in the 1990s. It was that successful venture which led him to his love for community newspapers. According to Hammond, AHP is the "antithesis" of many larger newspaper-holding groups, retaining the strong values of the traditional small-town newspaper while providing more resources to enhance the company.
The newspaper was sold to Albrecht Newspapers, Inc. of Cookeville in 2000.
The Albrecht group managed the newspaper until 2006 when they sold it to it’s present owner, American Hometown Publishing, Inc. of Franklin.
American Hometown Publishing (AHP), a Franklin based holding company started in 2003, acquired States-Graphic on Oct. 5, 2006.
"We understand that local stories and local relationships are what make a community newspaper successful and what keeps the newspaper growing with the community it serves," said Hammond. "We believe local newspapers are a community treasure and we will focus on preserving the integrity and autonomy of your newspaper."
Hammond founded American Profile magazine, which is inserted weekly in the Independent, in the 1990s. It was that successful venture which led him to his love for community newspapers. According to Hammond, AHP is the "antithesis" of many larger newspaper-holding groups, retaining the strong values of the traditional small-town newspaper while providing more resources to enhance the company.
AHP also acquired sister properties in the transaction, including The Leader (Covington), the Chester County Independent (Henderson), The Collierville Herald, Humboldt Chronicle, Tri-City Reporter (Dyer), The Shopper News (Humboldt) as well as two publications in Oklahoma and three in Virginia.
When the publication was established 146 years ago, it dedicated itself to the welfare of Henderson and Chester County. That stands true today.
Established in 1865, the Chester County Independent is embarking on its 146th year of community service in Chester County, Tennessee, making it the oldest continually run business in the county.
Known first as the Madison County Herald, the newspaper transformed quickly when Chester County was formed from portions of Madison, Henderson, McNairy and Hardeman counties in 1875, making it the last of the state's 95 counties to be established.
During the next 41 years, the publication took on several name changes before becoming known as the Chester County Independent in 1916.
The Independent has had several different owners since its birth, and has been located in four different areas of Henderson, the county seat. However, the longest tenure of ownership in the newspaper has been by the Whaley family.
Purchasing the newspaper in 1965 from the T.D. Pace family, H.F. "Woodie" Whaley had a vision for the small newspaper. He wanted to make it "the best it could be with what he had to work with."
Whaley served as General Manager of the Weakley County Press in Martin before purchasing the Henderson newspaper. Under his leadership, the Independent transformed from hot type to cold type in 1972, greatly improving the look of the newspaper.
Whaley continued to make many technological advances with the publication until he suffered a massive heart attack in 1975 and died at the age of 48. From that time until 1989, Whaley's wife, Carolyn, assumed the leadership duties at the paper while raising two children in the process. It was at this time, her son, Scott, who had worked odd jobs since age 6, took an interest in the publication and continued working part time and on weekends. In 1989 Scott Whaley purchased his mother's interest and became publisher of the growing weekly. He continues today as the publisher, and, like his father, has a vision for the future.
The Independent continues to be one of the state's most awarded newspapers. The Tennessee Press Association has presented the Sweepstakes Award to the publication for three consecutive years.
Installation of a 7 unit Web Leader press in 1995 has made Henderson one of the state's largest printing hubs. Presently, the Independent prints over 30 publications including over a dozen weekly newspapers, monthly tabloids and offers custom printing services.
"We want to be in the forefront of technology," Whaley said. "If a newspaper, or any other business for that matter, doesn't change with technology, then their place in our society will diminish. We want to be around for another couple of hundred years at least."
Today the Independent remains the only newspaper in the county of 15,000+ and continues the newspaper's philosophy of providing fair and accurate news coverage to the entire Chester County area.
American Hometown Publishing (AHP), a Franklin based holding company started in 2003, has acquired Chester County Independent on Oct. 5, 2006.
Dan Hammond, chairman and CEO of AHP, told employees they would see no immediate changes. All personnel are expected to stay the same, including publisher and former owner Scott Whaley.
"We understand that local stories and local relationships are what make a community newspaper successful and what keeps the newspaper growing with the community it serves," said Hammond. "We believe local newspapers are a community treasure and we will focus on preserving the integrity and autonomy of your newspaper."
Hammond founded American Profile magazine, which is inserted weekly in the Independent, in the 1990s. It was that successful venture which led him to his love for community newspapers. According to Hammond, AHP is the "antithesis" of many larger newspaper-holding groups, retaining the strong values of the traditional small-town newspaper while providing more resources to enhance the company.
"This is what I'm most excited about," said former Independent principal owner Jay Albrecht. “AHP is committed to our continuing the quality journalism our readers have come to expect and this newspaper will remain just as committed to the community under their ownership."
"The ownership change of the Independent should be seamless," Whaley said. "Readers and advertisers shouldn't see any immediate difference. Our commitment to Chester County has not, and will not change."
The newspaper was sold to Albrecht Newspapers, Inc. of Cookeville in 2000.
The Albrecht group managed the newspaper until 2006 when they sold it to it’s present owner, American Hometown Publishing, Inc. of Franklin.
American Hometown Publishing (AHP), a Franklin based holding company started in 2003, acquired States-Graphic on Oct. 5, 2006.
"We understand that local stories and local relationships are what make a community newspaper successful and what keeps the newspaper growing with the community it serves," said Hammond. "We believe local newspapers are a community treasure and we will focus on preserving the integrity and autonomy of your newspaper."
Hammond founded American Profile magazine, which is inserted weekly in the Independent, in the 1990s. It was that successful venture which led him to his love for community newspapers. According to Hammond, AHP is the "antithesis" of many larger newspaper-holding groups, retaining the strong values of the traditional small-town newspaper while providing more resources to enhance the company.
The newspaper was sold to Albrecht Newspapers, Inc. of Cookeville in 2000.
The Albrecht group managed the newspaper until 2006 when they sold it to it’s present owner, American Hometown Publishing, Inc. of Franklin.
American Hometown Publishing (AHP), a Franklin based holding company started in 2003, acquired States-Graphic on Oct. 5, 2006.
"We understand that local stories and local relationships are what make a community newspaper successful and what keeps the newspaper growing with the community it serves," said Hammond. "We believe local newspapers are a community treasure and we will focus on preserving the integrity and autonomy of your newspaper."
Hammond founded American Profile magazine, which is inserted weekly in the Independent, in the 1990s. It was that successful venture which led him to his love for community newspapers. According to Hammond, AHP is the "antithesis" of many larger newspaper-holding groups, retaining the strong values of the traditional small-town newspaper while providing more resources to enhance the company.
AHP also acquired sister properties in the transaction, including The Leader (Covington), the Chester County Independent (Henderson), The Collierville Herald, Humboldt Chronicle, Tri-City Reporter (Dyer), The Shopper News (Humboldt) as well as two publications in Oklahoma and three in Virginia.
When the publication was established 146 years ago, it dedicated itself to the welfare of Henderson and Chester County. That stands true today.