The Americus Times-Recorder and the Cordele Dispatch became affiliates of the Post-Searchlight Monday.

Former Post-Searchlight advertising director William Hand will serve as publisher at the Times-Recorder.

“I am excited to begin a new chapter in my life as publisher in Americus,” Hand said. “Though I am sad to leave Bainbridge and all of my friends there, I look forward to joining the vibrant community in Americus and delivering a first-rate newspaper to its residents.”

Post-Searchlight publisher Jeff Findley said Hand was ready to take on the job as publisher at the Times-Recorder.

“I am very happy for William to have earned the opportunity to publish the Times-Recorder in such a great community like Americus,” Jeff Findley said. “While we will certainly miss him in Bainbridge, he will do a great job in Americus and I look forward to watching him serve that community.”

Chris Lewis will remain as publisher at the Cordele Dispatch.

“My staff and I are excited about this new transition with Boone Newspapers,” Lewis said. “This is a new day with new beginnings for the Cordele Dispatch and the Sunbelt Shopper. We will continue to be the same newspaper and shopper that is welcomed into your homes.”

Both the Times-Recorder and the Dispatch will be printed at the Post-Searchlight.

“We are happy that both the Americus and Cordele newspapers have joined our company family,” Findley said. “Both newspapers will have strong leaders in William Hand and Chris Lewis and I look forward to working with both.”

Carpenter Newsmedia, LLC, purchased the newspapers from Community Newspapers Holdings, Inc.

CNL, owned by Boone Newspapers, Inc., president and CEO Todd Carpenter, wholly owns the newly formed Americus Newsmedia, LLC, and Cordele Newsmedia, LLC.

BNI and CNL own and BNI manage 69 newspapers in similar-sized communities in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, Michigan, and Minnesota.