PORTLAND (AP) – Twenty-two nonunion employees of Blethen Maine Newspapers, including top executives, have been notified that they will lose their jobs when the Seattle Times Co. completes its sale of the media company.

Richard Connor, who heads the investment group MaineToday Media Inc., confirmed Monday that letters were sent to employees who will be retained.

Connor has said the sale of Blethen Maine, which includes the Portland Press Herald, Kennebec Journal in Augusta and Morning Sentinel in Waterville could close next week.

The Press Herald reported that those who will depart on the day of the sale include Robert Bickler, its publisher, Jeannine Guttman, its editor, and KJ and Sentinel publisher John Christie and executive editor Eric Conrad.

Connor is editor and publisher of The Times Leader in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.