You may have noticed a new newspaper in businesses in and around Lynchburg lately. The Lynchburg Times is making its weekly debut Sept. 9th and a launch issue is on stands now in all area Krogers, Food Lions, McDonalds and about 250 other stores.

The newspaper is a free community weekly, a local format popular in many US cities. It features coverage of local government and politics, businesses and feature stories on local personalities.

The Lynchburg Times is published by Dan McDermott, who got his start in the news business in the Hill City, working as News Director at WLVA radio in the late 1980s. He also spent a year at WGOL-WLLL radio as an afternoon DJ and newscaster.

“I’ve had friends encouraging me for years to start a newspaper here in Lynchburg and while there are several popular and well-done publications in the area, we think that the kind of free local newspaper we put out will add to the mix,” McDermott said.

McDermott owns two other newspapers in Northern Virginia, Warren County Report and The Sherando Times.

In addition to its in-depth coverage of the local political scene, Warren County Report is best known for its acclaimed coverage of the alleged White House Gate-crashers Tareq and Michaele Salahi, who live in Warren County.

McDermott has appeared on Good Morning America and on network and local TV newscasts around the country and his work has been referenced in newspapers around the world.

McDermott appeared in the latest episode of Real Housewives of Washington, DC which aired Aug. 26. The appearance was discussed in The Washington Post here.