Carpenter Newsmedia, an affiliate of Boone Newspapers and the owner of the American Press, has announced the purchase of the Leesville Leader and Beauregard Daily News newspapers.

“We are pleased and proud to succeed Gannett in Vernon and Beauregard parishes,” said Todd Carpenter, president and CEO of BNI and owner of CNL. “Our focus is community journalism and marketing for local businesses. We will apply that focus to our work to serve this community and look forward to a bright future here serving readers, businesses and the greater good of our community.”

BNI and CNL own and/or manage 75 related newspapers along with websites, shopping guides and magazines in communities in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas.

Louisiana newspapers include Southwest Daily News, Bogalusa Daily News and L’Observateur in LaPlace. They also publish the Orange Leader and the Port Arthur News, which are printed in Lake Charles.

Dan Phelan, publisher of the American Press in Lake Charles, will oversee both publications.