FROM STAFF REPORTS

Ashley Vansant, 29, has been named publisher of The Greenville Advocate, The Luverne Journal, The Butler County News, The Lowndes Signal and president of Greenville Newspapers, LLC. Vansant replaces Ed Darling who has left the company to pursue other opportunities.

Originally from Hoover, Vansant graduated from Auburn University in 2002 with a degree in Journalism. He began his newspaper career with the Shelby County Reporter, serving first as a reporter before transitioning to other editorial roles including sports editor, special assignments editor and managing editor.

Under his leadership The Shelby County Reporter has won numerous awards for editorial excellence, including being selected the best large weekly newspaper in the state by the Alabama Press Association in 2007.

The Greenville Newspapers’ publications and The Shelby County Reporter are all part of the Boone organization of Tuscaloosa.

Vansant is a member of the National Press Photographers Association and was selected to participate in the 2008 class of Leadership Shelby County.

“We are tremendously excited for Ashley, his family as they make this move to Greenville. We will certainly miss working along side Ashley here in Shelby County but will be watching his career as a newspaper publisher develop with a great deal of pride and interest.”

Vansant and his wife, Kristin, have three sons: Sam, 5; Gus, 2; and Max, 11 months.

He started work in Greenville on Wednesday