Staff Writer

gjohnson@theeasleyprogress.com

EASLEY - Heartland Publications, the parent company of The Easley Progress, The Pickens Sentinel and Powdersville Post, this week announced changes to the management structure of their South Carolina newspapers.

Todd Rainwater - former publisher of Heartland's The Herald Independent for five years running - will oversee the regional publishing duties for the three local newspapers as Group Publisher.

"For too long we have tried to bring first-time publishers in here and train them on the job," said COO Gary Lawrence. "So now we're bringing in experienced publishers (and) we will have general managers that we hope to train to be publishers someday."

With that in mind, leadership of the company's Palmetto State operations is now clustering responsibilities and duties among seasoned vets of business to foster greater cooperation among its papers.

"What we want is people at the helm who have had experience with this concept to start leading Easley and Pickens in the way that (they) need to go," Lawrence said.

Rainwater grew up in central Virginia and hails most recently from Fairfield County, where he just finished his term as chairman of the county's Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

Brian Garner, editor of The Herald Independent will take on the additional role of general manager in Rainwater's stead.

"I want to wish Todd well," Garner said, "I've learned a lot from him in the years we've worked together."

Rainwater said he leaves the Fairfield County area with a mix of sadness and an anticipation of the challenges ahead.

"I'm also looking forward to working with the three newspaper staffs to continue to provide the great coverage of their communities that they have always been known for," Rainwater said. "There's a lot of history in Pickens and Anderson counties, and I can't wait to find out about it."

Something Rainwater said he brings to the table is stability, something the Easley and Pickens papers need after a steady stream of publishers over the past six years.

Rainwater is a second-generation publisher and has been in the newspaper business for 30 years.

"I'd be hard pressed to think of a situation that you might put in front of him where he would say 'Gee, that's the first time I've heard that one,'" Lawrence said.

For more reasons than one, Rainwater plans to stick around.

"Garner always talked about the beauties of the Upstate communities of Pickens County," Rainwater said. "I'm looking forward to getting involved with those communities myself."

Quality of life is a large draw, he said.

"There's so much to do around here," he said. "I've heard a lot about the mountains ... state parks (and) the people. There are definitely quality of life issues attracting people."

As for work, what you see is what you get, he said.

"I like to work hard, but I also like to have fun," Rainwater said, adding that 'quiet' doesn't necessarily mean 'productive.' "I like people to interact. If you're having fun with what you're doing, you're going to be more productive."

The thing that keeps Rainwater coming back for more at community papers is the ability like no other outlet, to bring local news to the readers.

"Everyone thought newspapers were going to go away when radio came around, and we didn't. Then they thought when TV came around that we would go away, and that didn't happen," Rainwater said, "and now the same thing with the Internet."

Nationally, newspapers are losing circulation, he said, but that's not so at the local level.

"Community newspapers, such as these three - their communities are turning to them more and more for local news and advertising," Rainwater said.

Rainwater and his wife Anita have been married for 20 years. Their son is entering his sophomore year at the University of South Carolina. Rainwater said he enjoys golf on occasion, spending time outdoors and working in the yard.

Other Heartland changes include naming Sandy Foster as general manager of the Sentinel and sister publications, and Ty Ransdell as regional publisher for The Herald Independent, The Newberry Observer and The Union Daily Times.

Ransdell will also serve as the group coordinator for The Easley Progress, The Pickens Sentinel, and Powdersville Post.