LEWISTON – Current Publishing, a weekly newspaper group in southern Maine, is merging with the Lewiston-based parent company of the Sun Journal newspaper. Sun Media Group publishes the Sun Journal in Lewiston, the Forecaster weekly newspapers in southern and coastal Maine, and seven other weekly publications in western Maine. Current Publishing, founded in 2001 by Lee Hews, operates the Current in Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth and South Portland, the American Journal in Westbrook, Tri-Town Weekly in Freeport, Durham and Pownal, and the Lakes Region Weekly. Hews and her business partner, Chris Harte, told the Sun Journal that they believe that joining forces helps the publishers to better serve readers and advertisers.