Ross and sons were sole owners until 1889, when Col. W. L. Lyles of Salem purchased it. His son, E. K. Lyles became the editor. He sold to Lane and Frances Davis in 1946. Their son Robert L. Davis, joined them in 1960. Today the newspaper's publishers are Robert L. Davis and Bradley G. Gentry.
Gentry is the newspaper's managing editor.
It also publishes The Messenger, which is a section of the newspaper, and is also distributed to households in the county that don't subscribe to the newspaper. From the downtown business district, the newspaper's offices handle news and advertising production. About 4,000 subscribers receive the newspaper weekly. The Messenger has a circulation of about 9,700 households. From its newpaper plant, it operates an offset printing operation that began in 1960 and was one of the first in Missouri.