By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
LINCOLNTON – A group that includes former West Lincoln High star football player Lanny Ford — an avid supporter of coverage of high school athletics for many years – has purchased the Lincoln Times-News.
A story published in the LTN said the newspaper, owned and managed by the Leedy family since 1961, has been purchased by HRN Broadcasting, Inc.
The new group, including Ford as publisher, began operating the newspaper last Thursday.
The Lincoln Times-News currently prints twice a week but plans to return to three days a week soon. It has returned to being mailed to customers.
The new office for the newspaper will soon be opening with a staff at 2426 East Main Street in Lincolnton and staff can be reached at (704) 240-9393. Visit the newspaper’s website at www.lincolntimesnews.com.
FORD
After teaching and coaching, Ford moved into working in private business and has remained involved in high school sports throughout his adult life. He played college football at Clemson after starring at West Lincoln but his Tigers playing days were cut short by an injury.
He is an engaging radio and podcast personality on WLON, which his group also recently purchased, and well-known for his Sports Talk Guys radio and podcast show and his business that produces customized t-shirts and other memorabilia.
When Ford took over WLON, it became a media partner with HobbsDailyReport.com. The station has a waiver to use any and all content from HobbsDailyReport.com.
HobbsDailyReport.com editor and content coordinator Chris Hobbs, who covered Ford as high school athlete, will also be reaching out to Ford about an additional working agreement with the LTN.
For many years, the Lincolnton newspaper has worked with other regional media on coverage of the Lincoln County Schools as they played (some currently continue to do so) in conferences in the area.