Spallumcheen’s mayor is getting more involved in the newspaper industry.

Will Hansma and his family will take over ownership of the North Valley Echo in Enderby Sunday.

“We thought it would increase the overall capacity for our company,” he said.

It was just in April that Hansma purchased the 107-year-old Armstrong Advertiser.

While both papers are within a short distance of each other, Hansma denies there are immediate plans to merge.

“Right now they will operate separately but we’re not sure how things will unfold in the future,” he said.

“Having one or two is a decision we will make once we become more familiar with Enderby.”

However, he says joint ownership will allow both businesses to increase their capacity for commercial printing.

Hansma doesn’t expect major changes in staff at the Echo although he says some employees may shift between Enderby and Armstrong.

Issues about a potential conflict of interest arose when Hansma acquired the Advertiser because that paper covers Spallumcheen council and accepts advertising from the township.

A similar situation may also arise in Enderby because Hansma is a director with the North Okanagan Regional District, which has the City of Enderby and the rural Enderby electoral area as members. NORD pays for advertising in the Echo.

But Hansma denies his business activities create a conflict for him politically.

“I’m the publisher, I’m not the person who writes the stories. I stay away from that,” he said.

The North Valley Echo was launched by Maureen and Duncan Walker Oct. 9, 2001.

Maureen Walker, who served as publisher, says it was time to sell the paper and pursue other opportunities.

“We set out to create a great newspaper and we did,” she said.

“My appreciation is to the community. The paper wouldn’t be what it is without the community.”

Walker, who plans to remain in Enderby, believes the Echo is being left in capable hands.

“I’m confident they will do a good job,” she said of the Hansmas.