Maddox Industrial co-owners acquire Battle Ground newspaper The Reflector
Maddox Industrial co-owners Camden and Mac Spiller announced Wednesday they have acquired The Reflector newspaper.
The Battle Ground-based newspaper hasn't been locally owned since 2010. It was most recently owned by Chad and Coralee Taylor. The Taylors' company, CT Publishing, owns two other newspapers in Western Washington.
A news release Wednesday announcing the sale didn't disclose the purchase price.
"When I heard that the Taylor family was interested in selling The Reflector, I welcomed the conversation because we believe our community deserves local institutions owned by local people," Camden Spiller wrote in an editorial Wednesday for The Reflector. "Our community has many things worth preserving; our local newspaper is one of those things."
The brothers opened Maddox Industrial's electrical manufacturing and reconditioning plant in Battle Ground in 2018. It's one of a handful of locations the rapidly growing company has around the United States. The Spillers have since acquired close to 30 properties in the north Clark County city, home to some 23,000 people.
Their retail operations in Battle Ground's Old Town area and their political connections to the Battle Ground City Council and Battle Ground Public Schools board have made some locals nervous. Battle Ground Mayor Eric Overholser - whose recent proclamations related to a National Day of Prayer, condemning antifa and supporting Immigration and Customs Enforcement prompted backlash - is a Maddox employee. Deputy Mayor Aimee Vaile's husband also works for Maddox, as does school board vice president Chris Grewell.
"The fear is that they are using their money to control the outlook and politics," Missy Fant, who has raised these concerns at Battle Ground City Council meetings, told The Columbian in May.
The Reflector dates back to 1909 and was locally owned until 2010, when Marvin and Anne Case sold it to Lafromboise Communications Inc. It was then sold to CT Publishing LLC, which also owns The Chronicle in Centralia and the Nisqually Valley News.
The paper serves 30,000 households and businesses throughout north Clark County.
"We are fortunate to have found a family so passionate about investing in the community and who appreciate the value of a strong local newspaper," CT Publishing's Chad Taylor said in Wednesday's news release.
Comments were mixed on a social media post The Reflector made announcing the Spillers' new acquisition. Some expressed fear the brothers are trying to control the narrative about their other land acquisitions in Battle Ground. Others defended the Spillers and said they were excited for the new ownership.
"My intent is for The Reflector to celebrate what is good without pretending everything is perfect," Camden Spiller said in the editorial. "It should raise questions without tearing people down and give residents reliable information instead of leaving them with the kind of rumor-filled stories we see passed around social media."
Camden Spiller said he and his brother want to see the newspaper be more connected to Clark County life.
The newspaper will continue to cover issues relating to the Spillers' family, businesses and projects in the community.
"But I want to be clear that when that happens, it won't be puff pieces or pulled punches," Camden Spiller said.
The news coverage will disclose potential conflicts and will not give the family special treatment, he added.
"North Clark County does not need a newspaper that belongs to our family," Camden Spiller said. "It needs a newspaper that belongs to north Clark County."
The Spillers said they will coordinate with CT Publishing to ensure a smooth transition. CT Publishing's current regional executive editor, Eric Schwartz, will continue to serve as editor-in-chief during the transition.
Camden Spiller said in his editorial that the brothers plan to take the next six months to "assess how we can ensure that The Reflector can serve the north Clark County community for generations to come."
The news release said the paper's current seven-person staff will have to apply for positions under the new ownership.
The weekly newspaper currently has an office at 209 E. Main St. in Battle Ground.
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This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 6:01 PM.