SAVOY – The Savoy Star will merge with The County Star, effective with the Jan. 7 edition.

The Savoy Star weekly newspaper has been covering events in the Savoy area since June 2004. But with the merger, coverage of Savoy will return to The County Star, which also covers the southern Champaign County communities of Tolono, Philo, Sidney, Sadorus, Pesotum and Ivesdale as well as the Unit 7 school district.

Tim Evans, general manager of News-Gazette Community Newspapers, which publishes both papers, said it no longer made economic sense to continue The Savoy Star as a free community newspaper.

The Savoy Star had a free circulation of 3,300, and more than 600 households are expected to join The County Star circulation list with the merger.

Christine Walsh will remain editor of The County Star, and Crystal Ligon, editor of The Savoy Star, will work with Walsh as an assistant editor providing coverage of the Savoy area at least through January. Correspondents will help fill the role later, Evans said.

Readers of The County Star can expect to see at least one page devoted to Savoy news, as well as front-page stories about Savoy, he said. Savoy readers are encouraged to submit weddings, engagements and other social news to the paper, he added.

Annual subscriptions to The County Star are $25. But during December, a discounted subscription for $12 has been offered to new subscribers.

The Savoy Star sought voluntary pay subscriptions this year, and those who signed up for voluntary-pay subscriptions will receive The County Star through 2010, Evans said.