Sequim based Olympic View Publishing Company today announced the sale of the company to Sound Publishing, headquartered in Poulsbo.

OVP has been owned and operated by local resident Brown M. Maloney for more that 23 years. The company prints two Clallam County newspapers, the Sequim Gazelle and the Forks Forum. In addition, they also produce two real estate magazines, Olympic Peninsula Homes-Land Magazines based on the North Olympic Peninsula and Islander Homes-Land Magazin with distribution on Island and San Juan Counties.

Sound Publishing is owned by Victoria B.C. Based Black Press. They are the largest community newspaper group in Washington state with 46 titles and 732,700 circulation. In Kitsap County, Sound Publishing owns the Bainbridge Island Review, Central Kitsap Reporter, Kitsap Navy News, Bremerton Patriot, North Kitsap Herald and the Port Orchard Independent.

“We are thrilled with the purchase of the Sequim Gazette,” said Black PRess CEO David Black. “We have been publishing community newspapers for 22 years in Washington state and see this as a good opportunity to expand our operations to the North Olympic Peninsula which is a good geographic fit with our other newspapers and web titles. The Gazette is one of the best newspapers in the state in terms of quality. We are proud to be the new stewards of the business.”

“It is with mixed emotions that I reflect upon selling my company, but there is a sense of pride in what my staff has achieved over the past two decades. I am pleased to see Olympic View Publishing pass into the hands of Sound Publishing who are as passionate about newspapers and as committed to community journalism as I have been since 1988.”

The new owners announced that publisher Sue Ellen Riesau will remain in her role overseeing the operation of the company.

“I have been with Brown for almost his entire 23 years here, and of course, I am sad to see the end of an era,” said Riesau. “At the same time however, I have known and worked with Sound Publishing almost as long. They are a solid newspaper company with a great track record and passion for community newspapers. I look forward to the future.”

Maloney also owns ABC affiliate KNOP an dAM/FM Radio station in Port Angeles. KNOP Radio is a separate company and is not part of the transaction.