Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Pierre Little, publisher of The Calais Advertiser and Machias Valley News Observer, has purchased the Union Springs Herald, one of Alabama’s oldest newspapers, and says he’s looking forward to working with the community in Bullock County, where the newspaper was founded in 1866. Little also publishes Alabama’s Southern Star, founded in 1867.

“I am extremely optimistic we will be able to build upon its success as we have with the Southern Star through the support of community members who subscribe and the business community who advertise in the pages of Union Springs Herald,” said Little. “We need both.”

Since 2011, siblings Johnny and Kim Adams have owned the newspaper, and, in that time, the paper has covered an array of stories ranging from the destruction of moonshine stills to photographing an unusually large turtle. 

“We’ve covered uplifting events in which people volunteer to help others and sad events in which individuals have lost their lives in senseless shootings,” said Johnny. “Good and bad people can be found everywhere, but it’s great to know that Union Springs has many wonderful people who are always volunteering their time to improve our town and help others in need.”

After learning of his success with the Southern Star, the Adamses reached out to Little in December and asked if he would be interested in buying the Union Springs Herald.

“And I most certainly was,” Little recalled. “After meeting with Johnny, his daughter Leslie and sister Kim with a few visits to the famous quail hunting grounds of Union Springs. I was convinced the community was behind this venerable newspaper.”

The sale closed on Jan. 30.

In all the newspapers he publishes, Little offers free subscriptions for veterans, military members, and first responders such as police, ambulance, and dispatch workers. He plans to bring that tradition to the Union Springs Herald. 

“I hope many more residents will support us by joining as paid subscribers to the newspaper,” said Little. 

With the newspaper’s sale now complete, Johnny says he plans to focus his time on his growing law practice, founded in 2018 and says he and Kim are grateful for their time at the Herald. 

“We thank everyone who’s supported the Union Springs Herald during our ownership, including many wonderful employees, advertisers, and the readers,” said Johnny. “The Union Springs Herald is over 150 years old and continues to be the most comprehensive and trusted news source in Bullock County.

“I wish the new owner the greatest success as the Herald continues to keep the citizens of Bullock County informed of what’s happening in their communities,” said Johnny.