PORTLAND – The Central Maine Newspapers have announced the layoffs of five full-time and four part-time employees, citing rising costs and declines in revenue.

In a memo to employees, Publisher John Christie said Friday the layoffs at the Kennebec Journal in Augusta and the Morning Sentinel in Waterville were not connected to the decision by their owner, the Seattle Times, to sell its Maine properties.

The two newspapers have a combined work force of 171 full-timers and 62 part-timers.