The Free Press in Grand Junction has joined the newspaper group that owns the Glenwood Springs Post Independent.The Free Press became a partner with Colorado Mountain News Media Monday.CMNM publishes daily newspapers in Glenwood Springs, Aspen, Vail, Summit County and Glenwood Springs, as well as weekly newspapers in Carbondale, Rifle, Snowmass Village, Eagle and Leadville. CMNM will manage the Free Press.Robert Brown, chief operating officer of CMNM, said he is delighted the Free Press is joining the group.”Bringing the Free Press into our family of papers reflects our commitment to community journalism,” Brown said. “Our intention is to preserve and strengthen a valuable community asset that has rapidly become a vital part of the community of Grand Junction.”We intend to maintain – and strengthen – the unique editorial voice of the Free Press. We know that the Grand Junction community has welcomed this brand-new newspaper and we want to continue to earn that welcome – every day.”Bob Lombardi has been named publisher of the Free Press. Lombardi has a long career in Colorado journalism, working with community papers on the Eastern and Western Slope and serving a term as the president of the Colorado Press Association.For the past two years, Lombardi has been working with CMNM, publishing the Bargain Hunter.Swift Newspapers of Reno, Nev., owns CMNM.