Bobby Rice leaves The Tuscaloosa News to take over Boone-owned papers in Alabama and Georgia

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Bobby Rice, who has served as general manager of The Tuscaloosa (Alabama) News  since December 2018, is returning to his hometown to take over as publisher of The Troy (Alabama) Messenger, which is owned by Tuscaloosa-based Boone Newspapers.

He also has been named president and director of Troy Publications Inc. and will serve as regional publisher of Boone’s newspaper in Bainbridge, Georgia, and group manager for Boone-managed Alabama newspapers in Andalusia, Atmore and Brewton, as well as those in the Georgia cities of Cordele and Americus.

In Troy, Rice will succeed Stacy Graning, who has served as publisher of The Messenger for more than 20 years and has been named Mississippi regional editor and general manager of BNI’s newspapers in Brookhaven and Prentiss, Mississippi.

Graning will be working with newspapers in Natchez, Vicksburg, Oxford, Batesville, Brookhaven and Prentiss. “I look forward to the opportunity to lead development of the editorial content in our Mississippi newspapers and websites, as well as lead growth at our Brookhaven and Prentiss papers,” she said. The move puts Graning closer to family in Natchez, Vicksburg and Oxford.

Rice's last day with The Tuscaloosa News is Dec. 23 and he will begin work in Troy Dec. 28.  Graning will stay in Troy for a short period to aid Rice as needed in the transition.

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Bobby Rice, Stacy Graning, Boone Newspapers, The Tuscaloosa News, Troy Messenger