Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Siftings Purchases Gurdon Times From Ragsdales

The Gurdon Times has been sold to Arkadelphia Newspapers, owner of the Daily Siftings Herald, according to Times owners John and Betty Ragsdale.

The sale is effective May 31, 2001.

The Ragsdales bought the Times from Clay and Melissa Franklin in March 1995.

John Ragsdale has been in the newspaper business since 1956. His wife, Betty, began her newspaper career in 1970 at the Siftings Herald, and then working with John until she was forced to retire in 1998 due to health reasons.

Their children, Ricky of Prescott and Phyllis Jackson of Malvern, have also been involved in the newspaper business. Ricky was named publisher of The Gurdon Times and Nevada County Picayune in 1999. Jackson is a teacher in the Magnet Cove School District.

In addition to the Times sale, the Ragsdales are selling the Nevada County Picayune to Star Publishing Co., owner of the Hope Star. Both Hope and Arkadelphia newspapers are part of the Better Built Media group.

"I believe the people in this area will like the new management of the Hope Star and the Daily Siftings Herald," Ragsdale said. "This group will have many advantages to offer that we as a family could not, such as color photographs and advertisements. The Better Built group is an asset to this area."

According to George Jinks, publisher of the Siftings Herald, the new owners plan to "build on the foundation John, Betty and their children have built.

"The Ragsdales are to be commended for serving Gurdon and the surrounding area," Jinks said. "We believe in community journalism and look forward to serving the Gurdon area. Adding the Gurdon newspaper is a natural mix for us and we believe readers of both papers will benefit from the association."