Rust Communications

Rust Communications is an American privately owned media company based in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The Southeast Missourian is its flagship publication.

History
The company has its origins in 1967, when Gary Rust and his wife Wendy purchased the small Cape Girardeau Weekly Bulletin. In 1982, he purchased his first daily paper, the Dexter Statesman. In 1986, he purchased the Southeast Missourian, the daily paper in town, from Thomson Newspapers.

By 1993, the company owned part or all of four newspapers. As of 2009, the family-owned company had full or part ownership of 18 daily papers, 30 weekly papers, and 17 radio stations in eight states.

In 2001, Gary Rust retired from daily management of the company, and turned over the reins to sons Jon, who is on the Board Of Directors for the Associated Press, and Rex Rust, as well as COO Walter Lage. In 2003, Rust was inducted into the Missouri Press Association's Newspaper Hall of Fame.

In January 2022, the company's co-president Rex Rust died. He was 52. At that time Rust Communications owned 40 newspapers in eight states, numerous magazines and websites, and had minority ownership of 17 radio stations.

In February 2022, Rust Communications sold nine newspapers CherryRoad Media. The sale included four newspapers in Missouri: Marshall Democrat-News (purchased 1997 ), Monett Times (acquired 2009 ), Cassville Democrat and South Missourian News in Thayer. Also sold were five newspapers in Arkansas: Carroll County News in Berryville, Lovely County Citizen in Eureka Springs, The News in Salem, Villager Journal in Cherokee Village and Clay County Times-Democrat in Piggott.

In April 2022, Rust Communications sold the Le Mars Daily Sentinel (acquired 1997), Cherokee Chronicle Times, Spencer Daily Reporter and Iowa newspapers to Gene Hall and his son Chris.

In June 2024, Rust Communications sold its Indiana newspapers to Paxton Media Group. The sale included The Brazil Times (acquired 2001 ), Greencastle Banner-Graphic (acquired 1999 ) and Greene County Daily World (formed 2007 ). The Dyersburg State Gazette in Tennessee (acquired 2000 ) was also sold to Paxton.

Newspapers
Holdings of Rust Communications include the following newspapers:

Arkansas

 * Blytheville Courier News (acquired 1994)

Idaho

 * Mountain Home News (acquired 1997)
 * Glenns Ferry Gazette
 * The Patriot

Kansas

 * Fort Scott Tribune (acquired 2004)

Missouri

 * Daily American Republic
 * Delata Dunkin Democrat
 * Dexter Statesman (Dexter, Missouri) (acquired 1982)
 * Southeast Missourian (purchased 1986)
 * Marble Hill Banner Press
 * Nevada Daily Mail (purchased 1997)
 * Pemiscot Press
 * Prospect News
 * Sikeston Standard-Democrat

Nebraska

 * McCook Daily Gazette (acquired 1997)