SALEM East Oregonian Publishing Co. has purchased the weekly newspaper Oregon Coast Today from OreAd Media Inc. The sale was completed Monday.

Oregon Coast Today provides residents and visitors in Lincoln and Tillamook counties with news and information about arts, entertainment and activities on the central Oregon Coast.

It is published Fridays and is distributed free in stores and newspaper racks. Circulation exceeds 17,000 in the summer. Oregon Coast Today also is available via mobile communication devices and its website, OregonCoastToday.com.

Oregon Coast Today was first published in 2005 by Dave and Niki Price. The couple grew the publication in pages and distribution since its initial printing of 5,000 copies. The growth the Today has seen in these challenging economic times says a lot about our readers, Dave Price said.

Theyre eager to get out and explore this remarkable area, and with the support of our advertising partners, were able to introduce even longtime residents to new destinations and attractions each week.

Niki Price said shes excited that her family enterprise has become a part of another family business with deep Oregon roots.

East Oregonian Publishing Co., which has been under the same family ownership since 1908, operates seven newspapers and 14 websites in Oregon and Washington, including The Daily Astorian and Chinook Observer in Long Beach, Wash.

Steve Forrester, president and chief executive officer of East Oregonian Publishing Co., said: Oregon Coast Today is a perfect companion to our weekly Coast Weekend publication and our annual magazine, Our Coast. Our company is pleased to have this opportunity to serve visitors to the central coast of Oregon. We are grateful to Dave and Niki Price for their considerable talent in creating Oregon Coast Today.

The first issue of Oregon Coast Today under new ownership will appear Oct. 19.

John S. Perry, EOPC’s chief operating officer, said: Oregon Coast Today is a powerful brand that will allow our company to expand its advertising services in Lincoln City, Newport and Tillamook.

Perry said Oregon Coast Today would operate independently with its own news staff and advertising representatives.

In addition to The Daily Astorian and Chinook Observer, the Salem-based East Oregonian Publishing Co. owns and operates other publications and websites: the East Oregonian in Pendleton; the Wallowa County Chieftain in Enterprise; the Blue Mountain Eagle in John Day; the Hermiston Herald; Eastern Oregon Real Estate Guide; Eastern Oregon Marketplace; Our Coast magazine and its website, DiscoverOurCoast.com; CoastWeekend.com; Coast Marketplace; OnlyAg.com; Farmseller.com; Seaside-Sun.com; NorthwestOpinions.com and the Capital Press, a four-state agricultural weekly newspaper and website based in Salem.