The Tribune-Phonograph and The Record Review were purchased by J.A. and Carol O'Leary in 1971. In 1981 they started The Central Wisconsin Shopper, covering western Marathon and northeastern Clark Counties. In 1986 the O'Learys purchased The Star News and The Shopper in Medford. The purchase also included The Shopper and The Star News interest in Tristar Printing Co., the central printing plant in Abbotsford.

J.A. O'Leary was an expert in computer knowledge and was responsible for the papers being two of the first weekly newspapers in the state to use computer typesetting and billing. With the purchase of The Star News, all the papers forged ahead and were pioneers in electronic classified ads, pagination and photo scanning.

Upon the unexpected death of J.A. in 1997, his widow, Carol, and daughter, Kris, took over the helm of the newspaper and printing operations. Carol has been working in the newspaper business since 1964, filling in for almost every position, including the pressroom. Today, she is the publisher of all three papers and is looking forward to turning the operation over to the next generation.

Kris O'Leary graduated from UW-Eau Claire with a BSW in social work. She was employed as a social worker for Taylor County for five years prior to joining The Star News staff as the General Manager and the Human Resource Manager for the Medford and Abbotsford newspaper offices. Her husband, Kevin Flink, is the Pressroom Supervisor at TP Printing. They are the parents of five children, John, Lucinda, Conrad, Warren and Hazel.