The circumstances of the sale fed local suspicions that Dean Singleton, the head of MediaNews, was a stalking horse for church interests.

The local newspaper in Ontario is owned by the MediaNews Group, whose chief executive, Dean Singleton, owns several newspapers that compete with The Times.

The 2002 Tribune acquisition by Dean Singleton, owner of the nation's 7th largest newspaper chain, prompted an exposé.

They are now owned by Dean Singleton's MediaNews Corp.

Question: Who Is MediaNews's Dean Singleton?

"The industry needs Dean Singleton," said Peter Appert, a media analyst with Goldman Sachs.

Gannett is highly regarded on Wall Street, as is Dean Singleton, the chief executive of MediaNews.

Mr. Heath replaces Dean Singleton as president of the companies.

They found Dean Singleton to front for them.

The chief executive of MediaNews, Dean Singleton, told employees of the sale on Friday and said the company would take over publication on Saturday.