Chionsini family buys Center newspaper

It’s been more than 35 years since Jim Chionsini bought The East Texas Light in Center, and 33 years since it merged with The Champion, but ownership in the newspaper has now come full circle.

PTS, Inc. of Fort Payne, Ala., sold its interest in The Light & Champion, November 1, to Chionsini Children Interests, owned by James A. Chionsini, Jr., Brandi Chionsini Guy and Jennifer Chionsini-Cortez.  Chionsini Children Interests is managed by Granite Publications of Taylor.

“Being part of this acquisition is like coming home for me,” said Granite Founder Jim Chionsini. “What Granite has become today all started with The East Texas Light. It was a lot of hard work and couldn’t have been accomplished without some great people, many of whom I met right here in Center, Texas.”

“One of the few companies we would consider turning over our business to is Granite Publications,” said PTS, Inc., owner Philip Smith. “They have a proven track record in community journalism and will publish quality newspapers for the people of Shelby County.”

“My brother, sister and I are very excited about this opportunity to get back in touch with our roots,” said Chionsini Children Interests President Brandi Chionsini-Guy. “We all grew up at the newspaper, watching our parents cover this community, and Center will always be a part of our childhood. It’s wonderful that as adults, we can rejoin the community in a similar way our parents did back in 1978.”

Both James, class of 1983, and Jennifer, class of 1995, are Center High School graduates. Brandi attended school in Center until her sophomore year.

“We are very excited about the opportunity to serve the Center community. The Light & Champion has a rich history of service to this community and we look forward to building on the solid foundation set forth by PTS, Inc., and those before them,” Granite President Dennis Wade said.

Chionsini Children Interests own seven other newspapers in Texas – The Sealy News, The Madisonville Meteor, The Marlin Democrat, The Rosebud News, The Gonzales Inquirer, The Fort Stockton Pioneer and the Alpine Avalanche. All are part of Granite Publications, a family of community newspapers that with the addition of the Light & Champion, now has 22 publications in Texas.