APG Newsletter August 2020

ASSOCIATE NEWSLETTER

Gray Tree Frog Jeff Rowton, Safety Manager

AUGUST 2020

CONTENTS

SHARE YOUR AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS! Did you take a photo that you love for an article, a project you are working on, or from your last adventure? Send your image with a description to AskHR@adamspg.com and it may be featured in the next newsletter.

Castillo de San Marcos, St Augustine, FL Photo by Kyle Wirick, The High Road Agency 2

AUGUST 2020 NEWSLETTER

Human Resources

APG East

APG Central

APG West

PTO, STAYCATION, CALL FOR TEAM PHOTOS

AWARD WINNERS, NEW EDITORS, CUSTOM MASKS

AWARD WINNERS, MEMORIUM, SUPPORT FOR JOURNALISM

NEW TEAM MEMBER, CONTEST WINNER, NEW EDITOR

PAGE 04

PAGE 07

PAGE 11

PAGE 16

PRESIDENT’S CORNER Hello, APG Associates …

As we all continue to cycle though the Coronavirus pandemic, APG is continuing to look for all ways to maintain the safety and security of our Associates, and to mitigate the negative effect on our economic consequences that we, and companies like ours, continue to suffer. As you all know, we initiated mandatary face coverings for all APG Associates company-wide on June 25th. As uncomfortable as they are (I don’t like wearing them at all, but I do), they provide for a higher level of transmission safety for you and your fellow co-workers.

We’re also looking at ways to ease the financial burden the pandemic has placed on APG Associates. Your dedication and hard work during this crisis are greatly appreciated and is a continuing source of pride for your management teams.

We’re finalizing plans to move the APG workweek from 30 hour to 35 hours for most Associates, subject to continuing improvement of our financial trends. These plans will be announced sometime in August when they’re final. We’ve had feedback from

a number of Associates who wish to stay at 30 hours for a variety of reasons. If you wish to stay at 30 hours, please let you supervisor know so we can address this on a case-bycase basis. Not all, but most, positions will be eligible.

If you are currently working a 30 hour work week and choose to remain at 30 hours, the following guidelines apply:

• You must be currently working a 30 hour work week that was reduced from 37.5 or 40 hours.

• Your position will be permanently fixed at 30 hours. In other words, once done you won’t be able to change your mind so please think through it carefully.

• Those eligible Associates who choose to stay at 30 hours will receive a one-time grant from the company of $1500, paid through payroll and subject to normal state and federal withholdings.

• A final decision must be made and an Acceptance Form must be filled out and submitted to your Publisher and JoAnn Hopson by Friday August 14, 2020.

Benefits Update Jo Ann Hopson and I are looking at ways we can mitigate the increasing cost of health

benefits for APG Associates in 2021. More to come on that as we negotiate with all of our carriers.

PTO Scheduling We are encouraging all Associates to use their PTO. Many have built up their PTO and we will be selectively approving PTO over the holiday season to ensure we have a full staff to operate our newspapers at all sites.

Consider a long weekend with a Friday/ Monday combination. You are allowed to carry over 80 hours into the new year so please schedule your PTO soon so you can receive the time off you ask for now as later it may be restricted depending on how many Associates ask for the same days off.

A big thank you!

I’d like to give a shout-out to the Easton team who successfully mitigated the consequences of a fire at our Chesapeake production facility. Thankfully no-one was injured, and the damage was manageable.

I hope you enjoy this newsletter. Thanks to the HR team for putting yet another one together when I know they’re very busy.

Sincerely, Mark.

3

HUMAN RESOURCES WE ARE ENCOURAGING

ALL ASSOCIATES TO USE THEIR PTO

TAKE THE BREAK WITH A STAYCATION

Many have built up their PTO and we will be selectively approving PTO over the holiday season to ensure we have a full staff to operate our newspapers at all sites.

Consider a long weekend with a Friday/Monday combination. You are allowed to carry over 80 hours into the new year so please schedule your PTO soon so you can receive the time off you ask for now as later it may be restricted depending on how many Associates ask for the same days off.

(COVERS VACATION/SICK LEAVE)

We know how hard you work and recognize the importance of providing you with time for rest and relaxation.

View PTO Policies online at: hr.adamspg.com/handbook

It’s that time of the year when everybody starts thinking about taking some time off and hitting the road for a vacation. While COVID-19 continues to put a damper on travel plans for most folks, we don’t have to let the virus stop us from taking a break from work. In fact, we shouldn’t…which is why a Staycation might be a great option.

Plenty of people have gone the Staycation route in recent years and why not? It certainly saves money and you can still do plenty of fun things on your own or with your family. And one of the best things about a Staycation is that you can support local attractions and locally owned small businesses that really need us right now in order to keep their doors open.

HERE ARE SOME IDEAS TO MAKE YOUR UPCOMING STAYCATION EVEN MORE ENJOYABLE: • Order dinner from your favorite local spot, have it delivered or pick it up and enjoy a great meal that you didn’t have to cook • Head to the drive-in for a movie under the stars • Plant a garden. If you have children, this would not only be educational for them but fun too • Talk walks in your neighborhood or load everyone up and take a road trip and enjoy some of the local scenery • Begin a new exercise regime and take it outside. Work out in your yard, head to the nearest park or map out a new route for a run • Go camping in your backyard • Work on home improvement projects you’ve been putting off

• Take up a new hobby. Learn to cook, paint, build a piece of furniture or play an instrument • Take an online art class or watch Broadway plays online – many are available at no cost right now • Learn a second language • Go fishing or boating at a local lake or river • Catch up on your favorite shows on Netflix • Visit a zoo or aquarium virtually • Build a treehouse • Read a book – or three • Take a virtual field trip through the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History • Start a journal

There are lots of ways to de-stress and enjoy your time off – and you don’t have to break the bank to do it. So don’t let COVID-19 keep you from taking a well-deserved break from work – a little bit of downtime is never a bad idea!

IMPORTANT NOTICE 4

HAS YOUR MAILING ADDRESS CHANGED THIS YEAR? If it has, please login to ADP and update your address in advance for end of year W-2 and 1095-C paperwork.

SAFETY

TAKE STEPS TO AVOID INJURY WHILE WALKING

WE WANT TO SEE YOUR TEAM!

We rarely are more vulnerable than when walking, crossing busy streets and negotiating traffic. And we all are pedestrians from time to time, so it’s important to pay attention to what is going on around us. Nearly 6,000 pedestrians were struck and killed by motor vehicles in 2017, with an estimated 7,450 pedestrian deaths (traffic and non-traffic) according to Injury Facts.

PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY When driving, help keep pedestrians of all ages safe:

HEAD UP, PHONE DOWN Distracted walking incidents are on the rise, and everyone with a cell phone is at risk. We are losing focus on our surroundings and putting our safety at risk. The solution: Stop using phones while walking, and not just in crosswalks and intersections. Over half of distracted walking injuries occur in our own homes, proving that we need to stay aware of our surroundings whether indoors and out.

Associates Contribute To the APG Newsletter We want to hear what is going on in your neck of the woods. submitnews.adamspg.com

• Obey all traffic laws, especially posted speed limits in school zones • Watch for pedestrians at all times and be extra cautious when backing up • Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, making eye contact to indicate that you see them • Never pass vehicles stopped at crosswalks • Stay alert – avoid distracted driving • Do not drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs

APG Digital Ambassadors: As we look to add more Associates to our team, we ask each of you to submit a photo pertaining to your market. A short description of the market should accompany the picture along with information for the photo cutline.

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE APG TEXT BREAKING NEWS TEXT ADAMSPG TO 41411 5

APG EAST THE NEWS HIRES NEW

ASSOCIATE EDITOR, BEN PETERS ATHENS NEWS By: Ben Peters

I curled into my girlfriend’s arms and sobbed the night before prematurely moving out of my West Union Street apartment a few months ago.

My final semester at Ohio University was unfortunately upended by the coronavirus pandemic. And I just wasn’t ready to leave behind Athens, the town that helped shape me as both a reporter and an individual during my formative college years.

I unceremoniously returned home to Cleveland to finish up what was left of the semester online and to earn my journalism degree, not knowing when I would return to Athens or see any of my friends again.

Above all though, an overwhelming sense of loss weighed me down after having to abruptly leave behind The New Political, an OU student news organization where I previously served as managing editor.

Overseeing a staff of incredibly talented reporters and covering political news in Athens is what got me out of bed each morning and kept me awake late into the night.

BUT NOW, AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS AWAY AND DOZENS OF JOB APPLICATIONS LATER, I’M BACK IN TOWN WORKING FOR THE ATHENS NEWS AS ASSOCIATE EDITOR. And I couldn’t be more thrilled to continue

producing the invaluable watchdog reporting that my predecessor Conor Morris so expertly provided.

To put it lightly, I have enormous shoes to fill.

Expect to see continued coverage in the paper of OU’s budgetary woes, the coronavirus’ impact on the region, and city and county government.

Previously, I worked as an intern at Cleveland.com, the sister website of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, where I primarily covered police, crime and courts.

I also interned in Washington D.C. at CQ/ Roll Call, a publication that covers the inner workings of Congress and the people who roam the Capitol’s hallways.

My favorite project at CQ/Roll Call detailed the growing popularity of podcasts and how then-Democratic Presidential hopefuls such as Pete Buttigieg, Andrew Yang, Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard used the medium to intimately connect with voters and explain in-depth policy proposals.

I also published a piece that I’m really proud of that examined whether Ohio is shedding its long-time status as an important swing state in presidential elections.

A litter more about me: I’m originally from Highland Heights, a suburb on the east side of Cleveland.

I spend much of my free time reading news,

playing video games, and spinning vinyl records. I also enjoy long hikes through the woods and sipping craft beers.

I’ve gleaned quite a bit about news gathering and writing through my two internship experiences and the years I spent as an editor at The New Political.

Dedicated Athens NEWS readers may also recognize my byline since I’ve written a few freelance stories for newspaper in the past, but I still have so much to learn.

I’m excited for whatever challenges come my way in the coming weeks and months, and I’d love to hear from you about any news tips you may have, or if you just want chat.

I can be reached by email at bpeters@ athensnews.com, or you can follow me on social media @BenPeters2. I always leave my DMs open, so feel free to show me a message whenever!

CUSTOM MADE MASKS Mountain Times (Boone, NC) reporter Abby Whitt, left, receives a custommade mask from layout intern Juliet Lambert, a senior Mass Communications student at Appalachian State University. Lambert’s mother, Lori Lambert, is a high school English teacher who took time during the forced school break to learn how to sew masks and she donates them to the community — including to most of the staff at Mountain Times Publications. Both Whitt and Lambert are wearing Lori Lambert’s creations — and both women promise they are smiling beneath their mask.

Photo: Tom Mayer 6

APG EAST

GREETINGS FROM NEW NEWS EDITOR ATHENS NEWS

By: Sydney Dawes

My Athens story began years back as a college freshman working toward her journalism degree. Like many other Ohio University students, I fell in love with the area. I liked it so much , in fact, that I wanted to stay in the area after graduation. I was hatching plans to swing a commute to Columbus for work if I had to.

As luck would have it, a position at a nearby publication opened up as I was preparing for Commencement. I came on board with the Vinton-Jackson Courier in 2018, back when the publication was still called the Vinton County Courier.

At that time, I was fresh out of college and the most rookie of rookie reporters. I was the kind of rookie who wore office attire and nice dress shoes to my first ever Wild Turkey Festival in McArthur, and I quickly learned that when it rains at the Wild Turkey Festival, it pours.

Since then, I’ve seen a lot of change and had a lot of growth. We saw the adoption of Jackson County news coverage and the change of our own name , for example. Personally , I saw growth in my love for health reporting, and that’s a passion I hope to bring to the table at The Athens NEWS. My favorite project at the Courier dealt with following the story of a local group of citizens seeking clarity behind the area’s rising cancer incidence rates. You can find a link to that story with this column online.

In addition, I hope to carry on The Athens NEWS’ tradition of casting light on other issues that matter : food insecurity, holding public officials and government accountable, the ongoing budget struggles at Ohio University, and of course, the ongoing pandemic . I also love a good profile , so you may see some in print in editions to come.

It’s been a learning experience the entirety of my time in the Courier editor role, packed with hard lessons and many rewards. My decision to accept the position at The Athens NEWS came with both excitement and sadness. I look forward to the opportunities to come, but I will absolutely miss the onestoplightcounty next door.

Granted, it’s not far away: I’ll likely still be spotted hiking on the trails in the area with my dog Arrow or having lunch at Mama Renie’s in McArthur. And to clarify, I’m not saying goodbye to Vinton County just yet. You all will have to bear with me in the coming weeks as I juggle my responsibilities of managing two publications; I’ll be maintaining my role with the Vinton -Jackson Cour ier until I find a replacement. Athens NEWS Associate Editor Conor Morris is assisting me in my transition before he moves on to his next chapter, and I’ve already gotten a lot of help from Terry Smith.

We’re in the process of selecting a new associate editor to pick up where Conor leaves off, and we’ve narrowed the long list of applicants to a few stellar candidates . That person will likely introduce herself or himself to you in an upcoming edition.

A MINUTE WITH MARK ADAMS: Why Is Re-Investing Important?

Watch this month’s video: hr.adamspg.com/minute Submit your question: AskMark@adamspg.com

Why is Re-Investing Important?

A little about me: I’m originally from Cedarville, Ohio. You might catch me at Casa Nueva on a weekday evening, or maybe we’ll cross paths on a hiking trail in the county. I’d love to gather recommendations on where to explore next. When I was studying at Ohio University, I wrote for a student publica tion called PANGLE Magazine; it sadly no longer exists.

One of our claims to fame (for lack of a better phrase - we had a tiny staff and held meetings in Alden Library) was our annual concert held on Dad’s Weekend at OU. That’s another one of my hobbies : attending concerts. I think I’m at my happiest when I’m listening to local talent performing at The Union or Casa.

Moving forward, my plan is to keep the “What’s Happening” community arts calendar, “The Athens Voice” and our robust op-ed section rolling. I’m brainstorming the introduction of some other fun columns and series to add to the mix. Stay tuned.

I’m incredibly excited for what’s to come, and I’d love to hear from you. I can be reached at my new email address: sdawes@athensnews. com. Emails to Terry ‘s old email, news@ athensnews.com, will be forwarded to my account.

Visit the HR Portal to subscribe and to receive the monthly newsletter in your inbox.

7

APG EAST

SUN WINS 13 AP AWARDS! GREENEVILLE SUN

The Greeneville Sun won 13 awards in the annual Tennessee Associated Press Broadcasters and Media Editors competition for work produced in 2019, AP announced in April 2020.

The Sun’s entries in categories spanning writing, reporting, photography, videography and multimedia use competed with those submitted by newspapers with circulations up to 15,000.

‘Battling The Cold,’ second place in feature photography for ‘Rockin’ Into The Night’ and third place in videos for ‘Emotional ëLast’ Meeting After 1949 Murder.’

Cutshall and reporter Ken Little teamed up to win first place in the multimedia category for ‘Rains, Floods Batter Greene County.’

The Sun’s awards include five first-place recognitions and a sweep of the multimedia category.

Former editor Michael Reneau won second place in the multimedia category for ‘Company Asks To Renew Water Permit’ and third place in multimedia for ‘No Jail Time, But Bryant, Courts Have Tussled Over Debt.’

Director of Online Operations Brian Cutshall won first place in spot news photography for

Little also won second place in daily deadline reporting for ‘Resident Recalls Arson At

Brian Cutshall

Ken Little

Lorelei Goff

Michael Reneau

Home’ and third place in daily deadline reporting for ‘Firefighters Surrounded By Flames.’

Editor Scott Jenkins won first place in editorial writing and first place in feature photography for ‘Fall Flurries.’

Assistant Sports Editor Tate Russell won first place in sports photography for ‘Go Team Go!’ Lifestyles Editor Lorelei Goff won second place in business writing for ‘Hemp Growers Optimistic, Uncertain.’

Sports Editor Sam Bundy won third place in sports-outdoors for ‘Bundyís Best!’

Sam Bundy

Scott Jenkins

Tate Russell

OHIO PREP SPORTSWRITERS ASSOCIATION

ANNOUNCES 2019 AWARD WINNERS ATHENS MESSENGER

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association annual writing and photography contest results were announced Monday, with writing awards given in five categories in each of four divisions based on circulation size, as well as photography award winners in two categories.

The contest, which was delayed this spring due to many offices being closed from the coronavirus pandemic, received 190 submissions and was judged by 33 OPSWA members from around the state. Entries were

8

accepted from the 2019 calendar year.

Earning Writer of the Year honors were Jon Spencer from the Mansfield News Journal in Division 1, Tom Nader from the Kent RecordCourier in Division 2, Rob McCurdy from the Marion Star in Division 3, and Jarrod Ulrey from Columbus ThisWeek Newspapers in Division 4.

New this year, writers and photographers were judged on a body of work that included up to three submissions per category, rather

than each article or photograph receiving an individual score.

OPSWA judges included Jon Behm, Julie Billings, Steve Blackledge, Curt Conrad, John Cummings, Jeff Gilbert, Aaron Gross, Scott Halasz, Dave Hanneman, Mark Hazelwood, Bruce Hefflinger, Scott Hennen, Don Hohler, Matt Horn, Mark Huber, David Jablonski, John Kampf, Bev Keller, Michael Kelly, Melanie Laughman, Chris Lillstrung, Jim Naveau, Barb Perenic, Tim Rogers, Richard Russell, Joe Scalzo, Keith Spare, Jon Spencer,

APG EAST Rick Thorp, Jarrod Ulrey, Kevin Wannemacher, Skip Weaver, Tom Wilson The OPSWA membership roster now stands at 182 writers and photographers around the state, which marks the most in its 48-year history. The OPSWA annual luncheon in April was cancelled.

Founded in 1972, the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association works to support and enhance the coverage of high school sports in Ohio and to recognize superior writing among sports journalists. In 2010, the OPSWA partnered with the Ohio High School Athletic Association to create a website, establish electronic communications and increase its membership and recognition.

3. Steve Blackledge, Columbus Dispatch DIVISION 1 WRITER OF THE YEAR: JON SPENCER, MANSFIELD NEWS JOURNAL Runners-up: John

Kampf, Willoughby News-Herald and Joe Scalzo, Canton Repository, both with 10 points

1. Rob McCurdy, Marion Star 2. Matt Horn, Fremont News-Messenger

DIVISION 2 – DAILY CIRCULATION BETWEEN 10,000 AND 25,000

Runner-up: Mark Hazelwood, Norwalk Reflector, 14 points

D2, GAME STORIES

1. Ted Radick, Findlay Courier 2. Tom Nader, Kent Record-Courier Tie-3. Jeff Gilbert, Springfield News-Sun Tie-3. Kurt Snyder, Newark Advocate D2, NEWS STORIES

1. Dave Hanneman, Findlay Courier 2. Tom Nader, Kent Record-Courier 3. Jeff Gilbert, Springfield News-Sun

2019 OPSWA SPORTSWRITERS OF THE YEAR

1. Tom Nader, Kent Record-Courier 2. Mike Vernot, Defiance Crescent-News 3. Andy Wolf, Findlay Courier

DIVISION 1

Jon Spencer, Mansfield News

DIVISION 2 Tom Nader, Kent Record-Courier DIVISION 3 Rob McCurdy, Marion Star DIVISION 4 Jarrod Ulrey, Columbus ThisWeek

Newspapers

2019 OPSWA WRITING CONTEST, DIVISION AND CATEGORY RESULTS DIVISION 1 – DAILY CIRCULATION OVER 25,000 AND WEBSITES DIVISION 1, GAME STORIES

1. Jon Spencer, Mansfield News Journal Tie-2. Eric Frantz, Dayton Daily News and MaxPreps.com Tie-2. Grant Pepper, KnoxPages.com 4. Curt Conrad, RichlandSource.com D1, NEWS STORIES

1. Jon Spencer, Mansfield News Journal 2. Jake Furr, Mansfield News Journal 3. Curt Conrad, RichlandSource.com D1, FEATURE STORIES

1. Joe Scalzo, Canton Repository 2. John Kampf, Willoughby News-Herald 3. Steve Blackledge, Columbus Dispatch D1, COLUMNS

1. John Kampf, Willoughby News-Herald 2. Joe Scalzo, Canton Repository 3. Jon Spencer, Mansfield News Journal D1, INVESTIGATIVE/ENTERPRISE STORIES

1. Larry Phillips, RichlandSource.com 2. Jon Spencer, Mansfield News Journal

D3, INVESTIGATIVE/ENTERPRISE STORIES

D3 WRITER OF THE YEAR: ROB MCCURDY

The OPSWA website is located at http://www. ohsaa.org/news/OPSWA and includes the membership directory, officers information, hall of fame inductees and other updates.

Journal

judges) 2. Rob McCurdy, Marion Star 3. Pat Magers, Tiffin Advertiser-Tribune

D2, FEATURE STORIES

D2, COLUMNS

1. Tom Nader, Kent Record-Courier 2. Aaron Gross, Defiance Crescent-News D2, INVESTIGATIVE/ENTERPRISE STORIES

1. Dave Hanneman, Findlay Courier 2. Kurt Snyder, Newark Advocate

D2 WRITER OF THE YEAR: TOM NADER, KENT RECORD-COURIER

Runner-up: Dave Hanneman, Findlay Courier, 12 points

DIVISION 4 – NON-DAILY NEWSPAPERS AND SPECIALTY PUBLICATIONS D4, GAME STORIES

1. Jarrod Ulrey, Columbus ThisWeek Newspapers 2. John Cummings, Miami Valley Newspapers 3. Scott Hennen, Columbus ThisWeek Newspapers D4 – NEWS STORIES

1. Julie Billings, Pike County News Watchman 2. Jarrod Ulrey, Columbus ThisWeek Newspapers Tie-3. Frank DiRenna, Columbus ThisWeek Newspapers Tie-3. Dave Purpura, Columbus ThisWeek Newspapers D4 – FEATURE STORIES

1. Scott Hennen, Columbus ThisWeek Newspapers 2. Frank DiRenna, Columbus ThisWeek Newspapers 3. John Cummings, Miami Valley Newspapers D4 – COLUMNS

DIVISION 3 – ALL OTHER DAILY NEWSPAPERS (4+ EDITIONS PER WEEK) D3, GAME STORIES

1. Mark Hazelwood, Norwalk Reflector 2. Pat Magers, Tiffin Advertiser-Tribune 3. Rick Thorp, Martins Ferry Times Leader D3, NEWS STORIES

1. Rob McCurdy, Marion Star 2. Mark Hazelwood, Norwalk Reflector 3. Matt Horn, Fremont News-Messenger D3, FEATURE STORIES

1. Rob McCurdy, Marion Star 2. Mark Hazelwood, Norwalk Reflector Tie-3. Zachary Holden, Bucyrus TelegraphForum Tie-3. Matt Horn, Fremont News-Messenger D3, COLUMNS

1. Tom Wilson, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette (only category to receive a perfect score from both

1. John Cummings, Miami Valley Newspapers Tie-2. Dave Purpura, Columbus ThisWeek Newspapers Tie-2. Jarrod Ulrey, Columbus ThisWeek Newspapers D4 – INVESTIGATIVE/ENTERPRISE STORIES

1. Jarrod Ulrey, Columbus ThisWeek Newspapers 2. Julie Billings, Pike County News Watchman D4 WRITER OF THE YEAR: JARROD ULREY, COLUMBUS THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Runner-up: John Cummings, Miami Valley Newspapers GAME ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY DIVISION

1. Erin Caldwell, Sandusky Register 2. Joe Negrich, Maumee Mirror 3. Robert McGraw, Chillicothe Gazette PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY DIVISION

1. Robert McGraw, Chillicothe Gazette

9

APG EAST

COURIER RECIPIENT OF FIVE HOOPER AWARDS VINTON-JACKSON COURIER The Vinton-Jackson Courier won five Osman C. Hooper Awards on Thursday, Feb. 6 as part of the annual Ohio News Media Association convention held in Columbus.

The Hooper Awards are bestowed to nondaily newspapers around the state of Ohio.

The Courier competed in Division B for circulations of 2,501 to 4,299. This is the first year The Courier has competed in this circulation division.

The Courier received third place in its circulation division for overall News Coverage.

Courier news staff Tyler Buchanan, Sydney Dawes and Jeremiah Shaver were recognized by the judges for this category. In addition, The Courier received first place in its division for Sports Coverage.

Judges stated The Courier’s sports coverage contained “captivating leads without scoredata dumps.”

Also in its circulation division, The Courier received third place for Best News Photo, credited to Sydney Dawes.

“I thought the ability to capture the tilt of the girl’s head showing the joy of riding in the wagon was a perfect encapsulation of this

event,” judges commented.

The Courier placed second out of all divisions for the Community Awareness category, which highlights how a newspaper addresses a community issue. This award was credited to Dawes, Buchanan and Andrew Hudnall.

The Courier submitted several articles about cancer rates in Vinton County for this category.

“Excellent work outlining a problem critical to county residents,” judges commented.

Finally, The Courier received first place out of all divisions for Best Website. Judges stated that the design of the website is “clean” and “easy to navigate.”

OTHER COURIER ‘SISTER PAPERS’ EARN AWARDS

The Pike County News-Watchman, edited by Matt Lucas, earned seven awards on Thursday.

This included second place in news coverage, second place in sports coverage, second place in newspaper design and second place in advertising. In addition, Julie Billings was credited with two awards: third place for Best Sports Feature, which nodded to her twoparts series entitled “Five Thompson brothers — A legacy in basketball and education,” and first place for Best Sports Photo.

“You can definitely see the intensity and determination of the player trying to get every inch possible against his rivals,” judges stated.

Finally, the News-Watchman placed third in Community Awareness for their reporting about radioactive materials at Piketon Plant.

This award was credited to Matt Lucas and Sherry Stanley.

THE ATHENS NEWS, EDITED BY TERRY SMITH, EARNED 13 SEPARATE AWARDS IN A VARIETY OF CATEGORIES.

The NEWS staff was awarded first place in its division for the Best News Story category.

Their submission was their story about efforts to find out who funded and organized a “vote no” campaign against a school building levy.

The award was credited to Conor Morris and Kayla Beard.

The NEWS also received third place in the InDepth Reporting category, credited to Morris; second place for Best Local Profile, credited to Dennis Powell; first place for Original Columns, credited to Smith; first and second place for Best Editorial, credited to Smith; first place for newspaper design, credited to Smith; third place for best page design, credited to Laura Zielinski with a contributing image from Smith; first place for advertising and first place for Best News Photo, credited to Jordan Kelley.

The NEWS also placed for third best website, third for News Coverage and first place for Best Special Section/Edition.

The NEWS competed in Hooper Awards Division A for newspapers with a circulation rate above 4,300, and the News-Watchman competed in Division B along with The Courier.

This photo shows that visitors to the last year’s Christmas in Downtown celebration were treated to a wagon ride around McArthur.

Courier photo by Sydney Dawes

10

APG EAST

ATHENS NEWS EDITOR PENS GOODBYE TO READERS ATHENS NEWS By: Terry Smith Man, I didn’t realize that writing my final “Wearing Thin” column would be so difficult.

What a time to get writer’s block!

So I’d better just keep it simple. Today (Friday) is my last day as editor of The Athens NEWS, and finishing this column is my main task. I’m leaving The NEWS and its owner, APG Media of Ohio, on good terms. That’s also the case with the newspaper’s associate editor, Conor Morris, who has accepted a newspaper job in Cleveland as part of the Report for America program. (He’ll be here till later this month, and I’m betting he’ll write a goodbye column then.)

That’s some kind of change when a two-person editorial staff loses two people, both within three weeks of each other. It’s potentially devastating when you consider what a great team Conor and I have been since he joined the paper six years ago upon graduating from Ohio University.

But I have good news for you. We’re leaving The Athens NEWS in very capable hands. Sydney Dawes, until now editor of The Vinton-Jackson Courier and a staff journalist at The Athens Messenger, takes over as editor of The Athens NEWS. As of Friday, Sydney had an impressive pool of associate editor candidates from which to choose. By the time you read this, she likely will have selected someone to succeed Conor.

If there’s one thing you learn working for newspapers, big and small, it’s that nobody is irreplaceable. Another thing you learn is that it’s not a bad thing for a newspaper to undergo change. The Athens NEWS will be different under Sydney Dawes’s new team, but I expect it will continue as a vital news source for Athens and the Ohio University community, while taking on the personality of its young and energetic new staff.

IN THE SPRING OF 1986, my young family moved to Athens so I could take a job as associate editor of The Athens NEWS, which I remembered as an unruly, muckraking underground newspaper (The Athens “A” News, “the ‘A’ is for Alternative”) that began publishing in spring 1977, during my final academic quarter at Ohio University.

Coming

from

a

mainstream

newspaper

background, working for a string of small dailies and weeklies in the Ohio Valley and Rocky Mountain West, I was skeptical about the whole “alternative” newspaper schtick. And many Athens NEWS readers returned that skepticism with gusto. For years – for decades! – I’d hear the annoying refrain, “The A-News isn’t alternative like it used to be.” Conor says he saw somebody post a comment to that effect a few weeks ago!

That sort of empty nostalgia used to drive the paper’s founder and longtime publisher and owner, Bruce Mitchell, crazy. He’d respond by sarcastically recalling the early days of the paper, when hardly anybody sold or bought ads, and the young, poorly paid staffers lived in grungy student hovels starving on ramen noodles and store-brand instant mac and cheese. He knew that wasn’t sustainable and did what was necessary to usher the newspaper into financial prosperity, even if it meant jettisoning some of that underground vibe.

The A-News has continued over the years, with an ever-changing roster of editorial staffers, to publish in-depth and balanced community journalism, interesting and provocative opinion writing, top-flight photojournalism, and a constant finger on the pulse of our town’s uptown entertainment scene.

Since we became eligible to compete in the Ohio News Media Association’s annual weekly newspaper awards in 2015, The NEWS has cleaned up every year, winning Newspaper of the Year twice. We came within a few votes of winning it again this year.

Watch the paper as it takes on the personalities and sensibilities of its new editorial staff, and I think you’ll be happily surprised. At the same time, from what I understand, Sydney Dawes intends to retain popular features such as the weekly “What’s Happening” calendar and “The Athens Voice,” our regular cartoons, among other attractions. Sydney now has the paper’s main email addresss, news@athensnews.com, and will forward any email meant for me to my private address.

AS FOR ME, I’VE been thinking about moving

on for a while now, and am excited at the prospect of taking on new career challenges while enjoying partial retirement. By the time you read this, I’ll have traversed nearly a week without having to worry about news content. I haven’t had that sensation since around 1981, and am not sure how that will feel. I sure hope it feels good or else I’m in big trouble!

The worst part of leaving now is knowing that I’m departing smack in the middle of the biggest story of my career, the pandemic that has upended American (and global) life like no other crisis in living history.

And, yes, the coronavirus played an essential role in my decision to leave. As a high-risk individual both for reasons of age and an underlying health condition, I could no longer fulfill the requirements of this job. For one example, a twoperson news operation can’t afford to have one member who’s constrained from covering public events. For me, not being able to actively cover the news removes much of the fun of journalism.

But like I said, I’ve been wanting to do something different for a while now.

Before Wearing you all way too Thin, I need to thank all of the hundreds of people I’ve worked with at The A-News since arriving in April 1986. Many of these incredible people became lifelong friends, and through the magic of social media (it’s not all bad, Dennis), I’ve managed to keep in touch with lots of them.

Special appreciation goes to the great associate editors whom I’ve worked with, the ones who gave the paper many years of their lives – Jim Phillips, Nick Claussen, Dave DeWitt and last but not least, Conor Morris. (I kept trying to hire women, believe me, since my own most effective and yes, beloved, mentors in college [e.g., Dru Evarts] and early in my career were of the female persuasion.)

Well, I’ve gone on long enough.

Please keep reading the paper, and please keep patronizing the advertisers who appear in the paper. I know I will.

And need I mention, YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE NOT TO PICK IT UP – THE DAMN THING IS FREE!

11

APG CENTRAL ORGANIZATION PURCHASES 23 SUBSCRIPTIONS TO PROMOTE LOCAL JOURNALISM DAILY JEFFERSON COUNTY UNION Heart of the City has demonstrated its support of local journalism by giving away 23 three-month gift subscriptions to the Daily Jefferson County Union.

All Jefferson County residents who were not current subscribers were eligible to enter the online drawing in May. The winners received the print edition of the Daily Union, as well as full online access to its e-edition and website.

Cynthia Ficenec, a member of the grassroots nonprofit organization, noted that Heart of the City’s Board of Directors originally had voted to sponsor 10 gift subscriptions for three months. After it announced the drawing, additional anonymous donors who are loyal readers of the Daily Union chipped in to sponsor more subscriptions.

“Ultimately, Heart of the City was able to award gift subscriptions to 23 people, or half of the 46 people who entered the drawing,” Ficenec said. “New subscribers came from Fort Atkinson, Jefferson, Cambridge and Lake Mills.”

Among the recipients was Jodi Garvin of Fort Atkinson, who said she was grateful that her name was drawn.

“It’s a great way to stay connected to and updated on our community,” she said of subscribing to the newspaper. “I enjoy celebrating the accomplishments of our citizens and local businesses, as well as learning more about community concerns

and needs.

“The electronic version is great for quick access and the printed copy is wonderful for saving special articles and giving my eyes a break from the screen,” she added.

Another recipient, Sam M., also expressed appreciation.

“A big thank you to Heart of the City and their donors for sponsoring such a great drawing,” he/she said. “I keep up with the Daily Union online, but I’m thrilled to now have daily access to the full paper!

Angie Szabo of Fort Atkinson echoed that sentiment.

“Yay! Thank you so much,” she told Heart of the City. “Life is busy and I’ve been meaning to get a subscription for years, and it just keeps getting forgotten about.

“We need to support our local papers now more than ever, as they support our local businesses and community,” she continued.

“I’m so thankful to have the Daily Union in town, and now I’m incredibly thankful to have it delivered to my door. There is not a doubt in my mind that I will continue our subscription now that it is started up.”

Daily Union managing editor Christine Spangler thanked Heart of the City members for sponsoring the subscription drawing and welcomed the 23 new subscribers.

“This was a wonderful way to promote community journalism, and we truly

REMEMBERING RALPH FELLS Ralph Fells, long time mailroom associate in Easton passed away unexpectedly. Ralph’s smile, easy going pleasant manner and helpful characteristics will be remembered by all of us at APG Chesapeake.

Although saddened by this news, we feel blessed to have known Ralph and we are thankful for his contribution as well as the friendship we enjoyed while working together. He is remembered by his direct supervisor and his production co-workers as “an all-around nice guy.”

Please keep Ralph and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

12

appreciate Heart of the City’s support,” Spangler said.

She noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has kept reporters and editors very busy. At the same time, the Daily Union itself has not been immune from the cuts that many businesses have had to undertake to weather the storm.

Among the results has been a severe drop in advertising, the newspaper’s bread and butter.

“Heart of the City’s purchase of 23 subscriptions not only brightened our day, but also provides us an opportunity to toot our own horn about the importance of having a local newspaper in Jefferson County,” Spangler said. “Staying informed on what’s happening in our schools, local government and neighborhoods makes us all better citizens and community members.”

Heart of the City is a Fort Atkinson 501(c)3 non-profit community service group that encourages sustainable development, the preservation of existing and treasured civic characteristics, and active participation of the citizenry. It is devoted to increasing sustainability in homes and communities through education, volunteer efforts, and engagement with neighbors and civic leaders.

Persons interested in joining Heart of the City may visit the group’s Facebook page or website, www.heartofthecity.us, or send an email to heartoffort@gmail.com.

APG CENTRAL PROMOTED TO GROUP EDITOR TO APG SOUTHERN WISCONSIN WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES Scott Peterson, managing editor of the Watertown Daily Times, has been promoted to group editor of APG Southern Wisconsin, Robb Grindstaff, general manager of APG Media’s Southern Wisconsin newspapers, recently announced.

Peterson, who will retain his duties at the Daily Times, will also oversee the editorial departments at the Daily Jefferson County Union and the Hometown group of weekly newspapers, including the Sun Prairie Star, Lake Mills Leader, Waunakee Tribune, Waterloo/Marshall Courier, Cambridge News/Deerfield Independent, Lodi

Enterprise, McFarland Thistle, DeForest Times, Monona/Cottage Grove Herald Independent, Poynette Press and Milton Courier.

The managing editors of these papers will report to Peterson. Peterson will continue to report to Grindstaff, who is retiring at the end of June, when APG’s Southern Wisconsin Sales Manager Missy Feiler will succeed Grindstaff as general manager.

Peterson has been a journalist in southern Wisconsin for more than 40 years, serving most of that time as an editor for Journal Communications overseeing the vast

majority of the suburban newspapers in the metropolitan Milwaukee market.

THE GAZETTE, LAKELAND TIMES HONORED AS NEWSPAPERS OF THE YEAR WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES

The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation on Friday honored the work of newspapers across the state, announcing the award winners and newspapers of the year in the 2019 WNAF Better Newspaper Contest.

Recipients of 2019 Newspaper of the Year Awards were Publisher Mary Jo Villa and The Gazette, Janesville, (Daily Division) and Publisher Gregg Walker and The Lakeland Times, Minocqua (Weekly Division).

The 2019 WNAF Better Newspaper Contest included 2,533 entries from 106 newspapers.

Eligible entries were published between Sept.

1, 2018, and Aug. 31, 2019, and were judged by members of the New York Press Association.

cancel the awards presentation was difficult.

We now know it was the correct decision; one that was made to protect the health and welfare of ceremony attendees.

“The ongoing effects of the coronavirus have dramatically impacted the business of community newspapers across the country.

That blow has not, however, stopped the staffs of Wisconsin’s newspapers from working tirelessly to report on the impact the virus is having on the communities they serve. Each of you has played a vital role in disseminating essential information to your readers by accurately reporting the local and national impact of the virus outbreak.

BEST IN DIVISION WINNERS WERE:

“The WNA Foundation proudly presents each of you with your well-deserved awards. We are anxiously looking forward to seeing you in 2021 awards ceremony.”

Rhinelander

Reactions from some of the winners:

“It is very unfortunate that we were unable to gather as an industry to celebrate your individual and cooperative journalistic successes, WNA Executive Director Beth Bennett said in a statement. “The decision to

“On behalf of everyone at The Janesville Gazette, we sincerely appreciate the recognition of our peers and the efforts of WNA,” said publisher Mary Jo Villa. “This type of ongoing recognition simply is not possible without a team of people from every single department working towards a common goal to ensure our communities have the

DIVISION A: The Gazette, Janesville DIVISION B: Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire DIVISION C: The Northwoods River News,

DIVISION D: The Lakeland Times, Minocqua DIVISION E: The Ripon Commonwealth Press DIVISION F: The Valders Journal

kind of newspaper and local journalism they deserve. Even during a period of significant change, our staff remained focus on our core mission. I am privileged to work with so many talented professionals; I could not be more proud. On behalf of Bliss Communications & Adams Publishing Group, thank you.”

“There has not been a time when community journalists have earned more praise and appreciation for their good work,” said Randy Rickman, APG Regional President for Northern Wisconsin and publisher of the (Eau Claire) Leader-Telegram. “Gary Johnson and his team at the Leader-Telegram are well-deserving of this award. We also thank the production and distribution teams and our readers who support the valuable news that’s created every day.”

“What an honor for our newspaper to earn the Best in Division distinction for the second straight year,” said Brian Thomsen, publisher of The Valders Journal. “We’re a small staff, each adding a personal touch to make the Journal a quality newspaper. The end result is a paper that connects with our readers and the communities we serve.”

13

APG CENTRAL

L-T WINS 20 AWARDS IN STATE JOURNALISM CONTEST THE LEADER TELEGRAM The Leader-Telegram earned 20 awards in the 2019 Wisconsin Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest, including the top overall honor for newspapers in the largest circulation class.

Competing in the category for all daily newspapers with circulation over 7,000, the Leader-Telegram claimed first place in the general excellence category under the leadership of editor Gary Johnson.

In total, the newspaper claimed eight firstplace awards, four seconds, five thirds and three honorable mentions in the statewide journalism competition, with the rest of the honors coming in the category for daily newspapers with circulation between 7,000 and 20,000.

The Country Today, a weekly rural life newspaper also based in Eau Claire, won two awards in the division for weekly newspapers with circulation of 4,000 or more.

Both newspapers are published by Adams Publishing Group.

Leader-Telegram special projects reporter Eric Lindquist won three first-place awards, including one for enterprise/interpretive reporting for a series of stories about the nation’s opioid crisis and its impact in the Chippewa Valley. Lindquist’s other awards came in the feature category for a story about original circus art from the 1800s being discovered and preserved by a Durand restaurant and in the best localized national story category for an article about huffing after the 2018 crash that killed three Girl Scouts and a mother in Chippewa County.

Assistant editor Liam Marlaire won a firstplace award in the editorial category for pieces addressing opposition to a proposed state law that would allow Wisconsin voters to take selfies with their marked election ballots, the art of talking politics in a climate of divisiveness and the trials and tribulations of adding Alexa — via an Echo Dot — into the family fold.

Photographer Dan Reiland won the top prize in the general news photo category

14

for a shot of Pablo Center at the Confluence and the fountains in adjacent Haymarket Plaza lit up at night.

Recently retired photographer Steve Kinderman won a first-place award for a sports photo of the Prescott girls softball team celebrating the final out of their sectional final victory over Bloomer last spring.

Former sports reporter Aaron Rose took a top prize in the sports feature category for a story about UW-Eau Claire runner Kyler Lueck overcoming mental health issues to become an NCAA Division III national champion in the 800-meter run.

Reiland also claimed a pair of second-place awards, one for a general news photo and the other for a sports photo.

Other second-place individual awards went to reporter Sarah Seifert for breaking news coverage and Rose for sports feature.

Reiland and Kinderman also teamed up to win third place in all-around newspaper photography for the Leader-Telegram.

Additional third-place winners were: city

government reporter and business editor Andrew Dowd for both reporting on local government and business coverage; Kinderman for general news photo; and freelance writer B.J. Hollars of Eau Claire for local column.

The newspaper’s sports staffers Jack Goods, Ron Buckli, Spencer Flaten and Rose were awarded an honorable mention in the best sports section category.

Earning individual honorable mentions were Kinderman for spot news photo and Rose for Rookie Reporter of the Year.

For The Country Today, Patti See took first place in the local column category for her pieces about her “septic guy,” snapping turtle eggs in her yard and a fish fry in Chippewa Falls. See is a freelance writer from Lake Hallie.

Staff reporter Nate Jackson won second place in the environmental reporting category.

APG CENTRAL

HOW GEORGE FLOYD’S DEATH BECAME PART OF OUR COVERAGE APG OF EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA When video of George Floyd’s death circulated throughout the Twin Cities shortly after Memorial Day, it didn’t take long before an entire state, nation and world became outraged at what had happened.

Minneapolis is not part of our APG of East Central Minnesota coverage, but it abuts many of the communities where we do operate newspapers.

The bulk of activity heated up on Thursday, May 28, as protests throughout downtown Minneapolis became massive and at times quite violent. Buildings and cars were burned. Stores were looted. People were scared and full of so much sorrow for what had happened to Floyd. It was a very difficult time for everyone.

Much of our online coverage started Thursday as some of the activity, including peaceful protests, migrated into our communities.

From Friday through Saturday morning all of our top 10 stories were tied to the coverage of what was happening with peaceful protests and riots. Those top 10 stories, again active only since Friday, generated 143,500 page views in less than 15 hours.

It is easily the highest activity among our top 10 stories in less than two days that we have ever experienced. Readers were desperate for this critical information. In fact, 19 of the top 20 stories were all George Floyd-

related.

In the three-day period from Friday to Sunday, our sites generated 436,000 page views. That compares with 101,100 in the same three-day period a year ago. Most of the additional page views were a direct result of the Floyd cover¬age.

Some of the coverage highlights included Jonathan Young (ABC Newspapers) and Paige Kief¬fer’s drive through the north metro Saturday night to give an eyewitness account and imagery of what was happening after a curfew went into effect (they were briefly detained by police, but were allowed to continue once they identified who they were); Elizabeth Hustad’s (Laker Pioneer) comprehensive story on the metro-ar¬ea response by law enforcement that involved all of our metro police and sheriff’s offices; Andy Wig’s (Sun Current) coverage of Edina police boosting their coverage Saturday night after vandalism and threats were made to take the fight to the “rich”; Seth Rowe’s (Sun Sailor) coverage of St. Louis Park’s response to the killing of George Floyd, who was a resident of that city; John Gessner’s (Sun Thisweek) coverage of Burnsville superintendent Theresa Battle’s thoughts on the death of Floyd and how it affected her personally as a black woman; Mike Hanks (Sun Current) providing coverage of peaceful protests in Bloomington; Kevin

Miller’s (Sun Post) story on unrest spilling over into Brooklyn Center with a story that generated 71,000 page views and much more.

All of these stories were exceptional, and there were others that really delivered for our readers. And it came at a time when we were so stretched because of gradua¬tions, Memorial Day coverage and our reduced hours.

Since then we’ve had numerous other stories tied to this topic, including invitations to black voices in our communities to share their thoughts in our papers. For May our total page views increased by 67%.

Thankfully there were no incidents of APG reporters being injured or hurt.

15

APG WEST

WTE PUBLISHES SPECIAL SECTIONS TO MARK COVID-19’s IMPACTS WYOMING TRIBUNE EAGLE of the cancellation. Led off by a lengthy column by a local CFD historian about how the event had continued through the 1918 pandemic, two world wars and more, the 40-page special section included memories of previous celebrations from contestants, committee chairs, CFD Hall of Fame members and local residents. It was capped by a story looking ahead to the 125th anniversary in 2021.

As the global coronavirus pandemic continues, impacting advertising sales across the country, the Wyoming Tribune Eagle and its sister publications across the state turned to special sections to help boost the bottom line, and serve its readers in new and unexpected ways.

First came the decision to honor high school seniors who weren’t able to graduate in the usual way. In addition to the online gallery of images, the WTE printed six separate magazines – one for each of the high schools in Laramie County – containing the senior portraits and names of each graduate, as well as a congratulations message from that school’s principal.

This was a large undertaking for an already

hours-strapped newsroom, especially since the schools hadn’t ever done this before. But the extra effort was very warmly received by students, parents and school administrators.

Then, even though Cheyenne Frontier Days was canceled for the first time in its 124-year history, the WTE pivoted from an event preview magazine to a special section marking the historical significance

While not nearly as lucrative as the regular preview magazine, this publication did better than expected and, again, was an unexpected surprise for readers left disappointed by the decision to cancel the community’s largest annual celebration.

Kudos to everyone involved in these extra efforts during a stressful, unusual time!

THE HERALD & NEWS HAS A NEW EDITOR Tim Trainor, 38, took over the post Monday.

Trainor has worked for more than a decade as both a reporter and editor in rural newsrooms in Idaho, Montana and Oregon. He spent five years covering business and the environment in Butte, Montana, and most recently served as deputy managing and opinion page editor of the East Oregonian in Pendleton.

In March he earned a master’s degree in multimedia journalism from the University of Oregon. His undergraduate degree is from Ohio University in 2005.

16

“I’m thrilled about the opportunity here in Klamath Falls,” Trainor said. “I know how important rural newspapers are to their communities and I will work to make sure the Herald & News remains a strong voice in the region as the media landscape changes and adapts.”

Trainor replaces Gerry O’Brien, who left the Herald & News last September for a position at the Bend Bulletin.

Trainor enjoys fly fishing, backpacking, rodeos and horse racing. He promises to cut his hair as soon as it is safe and legal.

Contact him at 541-885-4437 or email ttrainor@heraldandnews.com.

APG WEST

WELCOME TO THE TEAM ANDI THE IDAHO PRESS Andi Gordon has accepted a position as the new Advertising Director for the Idaho Press located in Western Idaho. Prior to joining the Idaho Press, Andi was the Local Sales Manager for Cox Media in Tulsa, OK, overseeing the Cox sales force for cable television and digital media advertising.

Before that, she spent 19 years as a sales leader in the newspaper industry, most of that with the Tampa Bay Times in St. Petersburg, FL. Andi has won numerous awards for leadership and developing talented sales

professionals. She has a passion for helping others succeed and has served her communities as a mentor, educator, and coach for business owners and young professionals groups. In St. Petersburg, she served as a Board leader for various Chambers and community organizations.

Andi earned her bachelor’s degree from Eckerd College and is currently completing a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma. When not working, Andi can be found playing golf, singing at church, or hiking with her dog Lucy.

ENTER TO WIN

INTRODUCING

UP TO

$100!

VISIT HR.ADAMSPG.COM/CONTEST SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO AUGUST THEME

Summer Fun!

WIN UP TO $100 DEADLINE AUGUST 15TH 17

HUMAN

CHECK OUT THE APG HR PORTAL HR.ADAMSPG.COM HR STAFF | BENEFITS CONTACTS | JOB OPENINGS | NEWSLETTERS To help simplify your employment at APG, we have built this Associate portal as a resource for you. Inside, you will find quick links and easy access to: human resources staff, benefits contacts, job openings, newsletters and more…

This is a great place to start when you are searching for HR information. Of course, if you can’t find what you are looking for or need additional help, our HR team is always available to assist you. You can find their contact info at hr.adamspg.com/contact or you can send them a quick message to AskHR@adamspg.com.

LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENT POSITION WITHIN APG? CHECK OUT AVAILABLE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES ON THE HR PORTAL.

AskHR!

Have a question, but don’t know whom to ask? The Human Resources staff is listening! You can always send an email to Ask HR if you have questions or concerns. Emails will be kept confidential and, if we print your question in the APG newsletter, we will not use your name.

Questions may be emailed to AskHR@adamspg.com or sent interoffice to your regional HR representative.

DON’T KNOW WHOM TO CALL? CONTACT HUMAN RESOURCES. JO ANN HOPSON, PHR, SHRM-CP, CEBS

HR Manager – APG Media Central Division, Minnesota, Wisconsin 763.712.2412

TOM CLOUTIER

HR Manager - Greenville, Rocky Mount, Elizabeth City,NC and Key West, FL gdavis@apgenc.com | 252.366.8139

DEB BROOKS

APG Media of Southern Wisconsin HR Generalist – APG Janesville, Antigo and Beloit, Wisconsin sluebke@gazetteextra.com

Talent Acquisition Director for APG HR Manager – APG Maryland/Ohio tcloutier@adamspg.com | 410.770.4159 HR Manager – APG Midwestern Division, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Utah dbrooks@skagitpublishing.com | 360.416.2187

18

CHARLENE VOLD

APG Vice President of Human Resources All states, Based in Tennessee/North Carolina joann.hopson@adamspg.com | 423.620.8771

GWEN DAVIS

STEPHANIE LUEBKE

RESOURCES

SUBMIT TO YOUR REGIONAL HR REP.

19

MOVIE NIGHT

MOVIE NIGHT NOW PLAYING: THE SANDLOT

For your chance to be the lucky winner of an APG Swag and Movie Bag, answer the trivia question below correctly:

WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE DOG IN “THE SANDLOT”?

All answers should be submitted to AskHR@adamspg.com.

The winner will be drawn on Monday, August 17, 2020.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR APRIL WINNER – ALICIA ROGERS, LEADER TELEGRAM The Question Was: In “National Treasure,” what do Benjamin and Riley plan and succeed in stealing?

Answer: The Declaration of Independence *Contents of winner’s prize pack may vary.

DO YOU HAVE A BRIGHT IDEA FOR OUR COMPANY NEWSLETTER?

WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Submissions are due on the 10TH OF EACH MONTH at submitnews.adamspg.com.

Submission guidelines: provide photo and story, include photo credit and names of people in the photos, original content only (no copyrighted material).

20

*Please note, there is limited space in the newsletter and not everything will be printed.