LEESBURG
The Daily Commercial announced Thursday it had inked a deal to purchase of The South Lake Press, a weekly newspaper serving Clermont and south Lake County. Jim Perry, Daily Commercial publisher, said the acquisition gives his newspaper a stronger presence in the rapidly-growing Clermont area.

“I want to express our commitment to the readers of the South Lake Press,” said Perry. “Since 1913, it’s been the community newspaper for Clermont. Now, with The Daily Commercial’s acquisition of The South Lake Press, we will work to provide the very best community news possible for Clermont and the surrounding communities.”

The South Lake Press was purchased from Jeff Biddle, a former Clermont City Council member, who had purchased it last year. The newspaper is a direct descendent of the Clermont Clarion, first issued on Dec. 18, 1913. Since then, the paper has been a consistent source of information in the communities of Clermont, Minneola, Groveland, Mascotte and Montverde, as well as unincorporated south Lake County.

The newspaper reports on local city governments, county government, the school system, local business, school activities, sports and environmental issues. The editorial page includes letters and commentary. The South Lake Press is published once each week on Friday.

The Daily Commercial, a subsidiary of Better Built Media Group, will also use the South Lake Press offices as a Clermont bureau. “This will give The Daily Commercial a home base from which to increase our own coverage of Clermont and southern Lake County,” said Perry.

Serving Lake and Sumter counties since 1875, The Daily Commercial also owns the News Sun, a three-day-a-week newspaper that has served Sebring and Highlands County since 1927.

On the Net:
www.dailycommercial.com
www.southlakepress.com
www.newssun.com

Photo: Jim Perry, left, and Jeff Biddle.