More local color

Remember last week's post on the two local papers here? It has gotten better.

In a ruling made Friday, Chancellor Jeffery Stewart of Franklin County Chancery Court granted summary judgment in favor of The Saturday Independent against Lakeway Publishers, Inc., who sought to prevent Ramsey from starting a competing newspaper after being fired from The Manchester Times in 2004. Ramsey was removed as editor in chief when The Manchester Times, under his editorial direction, published a story critical of a county industrial board on which Jeff Fishman, publisher and regional vice president of The Tullahoma News, served.
“We feel vindicated in our efforts to bring to Coffee County a competative and high-quality newspaper that truly serves and informs its readers,” said TSI publisher and co-owner Chip Ramsey. Ramsey and his wife, Beth, own The Saturday Independent. “Obviously the judge in this case felt the same way. We’re glad we can focus on our product without distraction.”

Read the whole thing.