INI acquires Upper Westsider, Scottsdale North News, North Tatum Times, Paradise Valley View
Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, continues to expand its footprint in the Phoenix Metro market.
The Arizona group, home of the Phoenix Daily Independent at YourValley.net, and the Fountain Hills Times Independent at FHTimes.com acquired EG Publishings’ four community newspapers The Upper Westsider, Scottsdale North News, North Tatum Times and Paradise Valley View.
INI President & CEO Charlene Bisson, who grew up in Arizona, believes the business and community news publications are a good fit for INI because they are in ZIP Codes that the company has not served yet. Also, she continues to have a strong business relationship with former owners Natasha and Brian Beal.
“The Beals are well-known in the North Phoenix market,” Bisson said. “They have been excellent business associates and we look forward to a working relationship in years to come with them.”
The Beals will continue to publish Epic Kids as well as the Good Deeds Guide, a nonprofit guide that EG Publishing distributes each March and November.
Multimedia Advertising Consultants Kris Marler and Jim Bounds joined the INI family as well as graphic designers Erica Odello and Shannon Carrillo.
“I believe this is an excellent opportunity for my past, present, and future clients and am excited to be a part of their growth. I look forward to joining forces with Independent Newsmedia,” Marler said.
Bisson noted the Independent is committed to expanding throughout the Phoenix market, so there are no news deserts in our Arizona cities and towns.
“We have ambitious plans in 2025, and we’re blessed to have great people at INI to excute the plans,” she added.
Independent Newsmedia has been publishing in Arizona since 1970.
The company opened two newspapers during the pandemic – Florence and Mesa – and expanded its Scottsdale circulation October 2022. The Arizona group launched the Tempe Independent in April 2022, then acquired JG Media National’s Phoenix operations, which included Community Impact of Chandler, Gilbert and Tempe in July 2022. In October 2024, it acquired Tempe’s longest circulating newspaper the Wrangler News.
Independent Newsmedia owns Valley Newspapers, a state-of-the-art commercial printing plant that is located near Deer Valley Airport. The company also publishes community newspapers in Delaware, the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Florida and owns a press in Delaware.
Three Scottsdale people recognized as diversity champions
Scottsdale nonprofit Community Celebrating Diversity (CCD) has named Roger Lurie, Dr. Joel Martin and Dr. Priya Radhakrishnan as its 2025 Diversity Champions. These honorees will be recognized at the Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Dinner Celebration which takes place 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at the Fieldhouse at Scottsdale Stadium.
Diversity Champions are individuals who exemplify the philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and who have enriched the community by empowering others. Individuals can be nominated by anyone in the community. Eligible nominees must work, live or volunteer in Scottsdale.
Lurie has 38 years’ service at Arizona State University, including several years as an executive director and most recently consultant for information technology.
Dr. Martin is the President of Triad West, Inc., a global consulting, training, and leadership development firm headquartered in Scottsdale.
Dr. Priya Radhakrishnan is the chief academic officer vice president at HonorHealth. She also serves as the vice dean for clinical affairs and graduate medical education for the new ASU School of Medicine and advanced medical engineering.
For more information, visit CCDArizona.org.
Disc golf tournament returns to Fountain Hills, Scottsdale
The Memorial Championship kicks off the new year of disc golf competition when the tournament returns to Fountain Hills and Scottsdale Thursday, Jan.16, through Sunday, Jan. 19.
The Memorial Championship will be held at both Fountain Park in Fountain Hills and Vista Del Camino Park in Scottsdale. Visitors to both parks during the tournament are asked to be mindful of play and on the lookout for flying discs.
Nate Heinold and Steve Dodge launched the Disc Golf Pro Tour in 2016 and has been a draw for disc golfers near and far ever since. With both men’s and women’s professional categories, competitors can win spots in the Tour Championship, the season’s final event, by earning points from their performance at DGPT tournaments, including the Memorial Championship.
Two-time Memorial Champion Gannon Buhr is having a record-setting season so far, with organizers saying spectators have a chance to watch history as he goes for the three-peat in Arizona.
Hundreds of professional and ameature players will take part in this event, alongside special events for visitors and a chance to check out vendor booths.
For a full schedule, additional information or to register, visit discgolfscene.com/tournaments/Memorial_Championship_presented_by_Discraft_2025.
