Freedom Communcations, parent company of The Gazette newspaper in Colorado Springs, will shut down its East Valley Tribune newspaper and website in Arizona by Dec. 31, Freedom said today.

Freedom, based in Irvine, Calif., is operating under Chapter 11 reorganization and had been attempting to sell the Tribune, but no acceptable offers have come forward, said Interim Chief Executive Burl Osborne in a story posted on eastvallleytribune.com.

“We have received a number of inquiries, but none at a level we would remotely consider,” he said in the story, adding that “This is a terrible day for the company, a terrible day for the Tribune.”

Two other Freedom newspapers in the Valley, the Sun City Daily News-Sun and the Ahwatukee Foothills News, will continue to publish, as will Freedom Interactive in Chandler, which publishes the Clipper coupon book, the story said.

About 140 employees work at the Tribune. Most are located at the company’s main plant at 120 W.