APG Newsletter May 2021

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Mother Swan and Baby on Hoister Lake in Gladwin, Michigan Carissa Petherbridge

MAY 2021

CONTENTS

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MAY 2021 NEWSLETTER

Human Resources

APG East

APG Central

APG West

VACCINE INFO, MENTAL HEALTH COVERAGE

AWARDS, HEALTH, COLLABORATION

LEADERSHIP, AWARDS, REMEMBERANCE

HEROES, NOVEL, RETIREMENT

PAGE 04

PAGE 06

PAGE 11

PAGE 17

WEST DIVISION

Regions: Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming

CENTRAL DIVISION

Regions: Minnesota, Wisconsin

EAST DIVISION

Regions: Michigan, Ohio, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Florida West Division Central Division East Division

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HUMAN RESOURCES

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER GETTING A COVID-19 VACCINE COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19. You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Some people have no side effects.

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS ON THE ARM WHERE YOU GOT THE SHOT: • PAIN

• SWELLING

• REDNESS

THROUGHOUT THE REST OF YOUR BODY: • CHILLS • TIREDNESS • HEADACHE

• FEVER

• MUSCLE PAIN

• NAUSEA

HELPFUL TIPS If you have pain or discomfort after getting your vaccine, talk to your doctor about taking an over-the-counter medicine, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

TO REDUCE PAIN AND DISCOMFORT WHERE YOU GOT THE SHOT:

TO REDUCE DISCOMFORT FROM FEVER:

• Apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the area.

• Use or exercise your arm.

• Drink plenty of fluids.

• Dress lightly.

WHEN TO CALL A DOCTOR In most cases, discomfort from fever or pain is normal. Contact your doctor or healthcare provider: • If the redness or tenderness where you got the shot increases after 24 hours • If your side effects are worrying you or do not seem to be going away after a few days

REMEMBER • Side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days.

• With some COVID-19 vaccines, you will need 2 shots in order to get the most protection. You should get the second shot even if you have side effects after the first shot, unless a vaccination provider or your doctor tells you not to get it.

• You will only need 1 shot of the viral vector COVID-19 vaccine, Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine.

• It takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination. COVID-19 vaccines that require 2 shots may not protect you •

until about two weeks after your second shot. For COVID-19 vaccines that require 1 shot, it takes about two weeks after vaccination for your body to build protection.

After you are fully vaccinated, you may be able to start doing some things you had stopped doing because of the pandemic. Visit CDC’s website for the latest recommendations. www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/vaccines.

MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on our lives. Many of us are facing challenges that can be stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotions. Public health actions, such as social distancing, are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but they can make us feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety.

Our Associates need to know that both health plans offered by APG cover mental health therapy, and that there are ways to access these services for free. Please note that if you have the high deductible plan, unless Doctor On Demand is used, the deductible will be in force.

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SAFETY

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE WHAT IS WORKPLACE VIOLENCE?

HOW CAN THE ASSOCIATES PROTECT THEMSELVES?

Workplace violence is violence or the threat of violence against workers. It can occur at or outside the workplace and can range from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and homicide, one of the leading causes of job-related deaths.

However it manifests itself, workplace violence is a growing concern for employers and Associates nationwide.

Nothing can guarantee that an Associate will not become a victim of workplace violence. These steps, however, can help reduce the odds:

WHO IS VULNERABLE? Some 2 million American workers are victims of workplace violence each year.

Workplace violence can strike anywhere, and no one is immune. Some workers, however, are at increased risk. Among them are workers who exchange money with the public; deliver passengers, goods, or services; or work alone or in small groups, during late night or early morning hours, in high-crime areas, or in community settings and homes where they have extensive contact with the public.

WHAT CAN THESE EMPLOYERS DO TO HELP PROTECT THESE ASSOCIATES? The best protection employers can offer is to establish a zero-tolerance policy toward workplace violence against or by their Associates.

DO YOU KNOW YOUR

PAID TIME OFF BALANCE? (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 in the APG Handbok

• ■ Learn how to recognize, avoid, or

diffuse potentially violent situations by attending personal safety training programs.

• ■ Alert supervisors to any concerns about safety or security and report all incidents immediately in writing

Learn more from the FBI Run Hide Fight Video which provides a basic overview of active shooter preparedness https:// www.fbi.gov/about/par tnerships/ office-of-partner-engagement/activeshooter-resources/responding-to-anactive-shooter-crisis-situation

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE APG TEXT BREAKING NEWS

TEXT ADAMSPG TO 41411 5

APG EAST

HIGH ROAD BRINGS HOME ADVERTISING AWARDS THE HIGH ROAD AGENCY

AAF SWVA also bestowed a Silver Addy on the High Road Agency, this one for our America’s Coolest Hometown – Marion, Va. video in the category of Film, Video, Sound. The video, which targeted visitors to the town, focused on its unique and charming downtown, outdoor recreation such as Hungry Mother State Park, The Lincoln Theatre, local stores, artisan shops, and locally-owned restaurants.

Each year, the High Road Agency is pleased to participate in the American Advertising Federation (AAF) American Advertising Awards, which honor the best in local advertising and cultivate the industry’s highest creative standards. HRA takes part in both the AAF Northeast Tennessee and the AAF Southwest Virginia events. During the recent awards presentations for 2020, we were honored to receive a total of three awards, including a Gold Addy and two Silver Addys.

HRA was also honored with a Silver Addy from AAF NETN for its “Old Slow and Easy” entrant (Single Installation category), which was on display at the Sevierville Visitor Center throughout 2020. The exhibit showcased the Smoky Mountain Railroad, which told the story of Sevier County’s railroad history. HRA designed six lighted panels that featured historical facts and archival photos, obtained artifacts for the display cases, created a fictional passenger’s diary, which detailed a trip on “Old Slow and Easy.” The display also included interactive areas, including a selfie station.

The Gold Addy, awarded by AAF SWVA in The Round category, was for the branding of “The Grind,” a proposed coffee café in Downtown Bristol (Tenn.), that never opened last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Focusing on the aspect of the café grinding its coffee beans, HRA settled on the “The Grind” name. While the café did not open, and the project did not come to fruition, AAF SWVA felt the branding was deserving of “The Round File” honor, given to projects that have figuratively been thrown into the trash.

MILES LAYTON WON THE HENRY LEE WEATHERS FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AWARD PERQUIMANS WEEKLY NC Press Association awards were announced on Feb. 26 in a virtual ceremony.

members and his calls for reforming the town‘s travel policy.

review of the town’s finances and a revision of the (town’s) travel policy.”

Perquimans Weekly Editor Miles Layton won the Henry Lee Weathers Freedom of Information award in the contest’s community division, a special award sponsored by The Associated Press and presented to journalists or newspapers for exceptional work advancing or upholding the cause of freedom of information.

The series of stories centered on two Hertford Town Councilors, including one who lost her bid for a new term, trip to attend a National League of Cities Conference in San Antonio in November 2019, incurring thousands of dollars in taxpayer funded expenses.

Vickery said the contest’s judges considered Layton’s coverage of town government in Hertford “a great example of using the press to protect readers‘ and taxpayers‘ interest and holding public officials‘ feet to the fire.”

The contest’s judges presented Layton the Weathers award for his news coverage and editorials about taxpayer-funded trips by Hertford Town Council

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In a video, awards emcee Shannon Vickery of PBS NC noted that Layton’s ”public record requests led to the uncovering of cost associated with travel and led to a halt of any new council travel, as well as a

“It was nice to see that some oversights unearthed by the paper resulted in positive and forwardthinking change for the town,” Vickery said, quoting the judges.

APG EAST

HEALTH SCARE LEADS TO BETTER HEALTH THE ATHENS MESSENGER

By Brenda L. Brown

B E FO RE A little background about me: I work at The Athens Messenger and am the senior graphics designer having been with this division 33 years this coming May. I have always been a big person. I weighed 142 lbs. In the 4th grade. I have only been under 300 lbs once in my adult life. The most I have weighed before this was 435 lbs. Both my knees are bone on bone with bone spurs and in need of replacements however I have always been too large to perform surgery on them. I use a cane to walk with and maintain balance most of the time. I have always gone to my doctor to get regular check-ups.

Anyhow, in August of 2020 I slipped and fell on my porch due to the snow/icy weather and not only dislocated my right shoulder but fractured it and tore my rotator cuff as well.

Thankfully the only surgery I needed was

to put it back in place and that took 2 tries.

I went to physical therapy and it has been doing great. Falling more than likely saved my life because at the time of my fall, it was determined that I had A-Fib & heart failure, something I had never been diagnosed with before and had no idea that I even had. The doctors tried to do the cardio-conversion to make my heart go back into regular rhythm but it was unsuccessful. I was placed on heart medication and blood thinners and everything seemed to be going well for a few months.

But after just a few months, I didn’t feel right and knew something was wrong but wasn’t sure what it was .. I went to the ER and at first they thought I had blood clots but determined that I had fluid building up in my lungs .. such a scary situation .. I was put in the ICU for 2 days before being released to go back home with medication adjustments and a better understanding of what to look for in case this should happen again. I was put on a no salt heart healthy diet which essentially means no to little salt (reading labels to see what has the least amount of sodium), no processed food, no lunch meat, no boxed dinners and I have been watching my portions as well as trying to eat at a certain time and not eating too late in the evening. I have successfully lost 85 pounds so far. I went from wearing a size 36 to wearing a 26/28 (that is 10 sizes) .. I can now fit in booths instead of always having to wait to be seated at tables when going out to eat.

would have happened. I just want to inspire others to do the same and get in better health. I have also gotten the first round of the covid-19 vaccine and will be fully vaccinated within the first week of April. I will be 58 this year and am no spring chicken but feel with the weight loss I have quite a few miles left on this old girl.

I feel better than I have for years and am currently down to 349.6 lbs. Which is well below the weight I need to be at in order to get my knee surgeries.

I want to stress to everyone the importance of going to the doctor for check-ups and anytime you feel something is not quite right. If I hadn’t gone to the ER when I did who knows what

AFTER

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APG EAST

WELCOME JULIO MORALES TO SUN COAST MEDIA GROUP SUN COAST MEDIA GROUP

As a way to recognize and reward APG's most successful and innovative sales and marketing professionals, earlier this year we introduced the Integrated Digital Excellence Award (IDEA). The quarterly award goes to 6 individuals (three in each tier based on circulation size) who best exemplify achievements of digital revenue growth, innovative campaigns and results for their clients.

Well, the Q1 results are in!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING: TIER 1: First Place - Tyler Edwards (Chesapeake Group), Second Place - Jennifer Brown (Skagit), Third Place - Aaron Rother (East Central Minnesota) TIER 2: First Place - Tom Aune (Mesabi Tribune), Second Place - Heather Boozer (Herald & News), Third Place - Christina Spencer (Athens Messenger).

A REMINDER THAT THE Q2 IDEA NOMINATIONS ARE DUE JULY 12TH. Nominations can be self-submitted or can be submitted by local sales leaders or publishers.

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In his role, Morales will be running day-to-day operations of all SCMG publications, including The Daily Sun, Venice Gondolier Sun, and the Key West Citizen and Key West Free Press.

and helping his father in the shop. After graduating from high school, Morales majored in graphic design at Miami-Dade College, where he earned his undergraduate degree. He then received his master’s degree in multi-media design from DeVry University.

In his role, Morales will be in charge of overseeing “raw materials, and building relationships with all departments.”

Morales said his goal is to “find a way to be creative, build a stronger business, and increase revenue.”

Around the same time Morales was about to work at the Miami Herald, he met his soon-to-be wife, Onika, who was born in Venezuela. They wed a year later, and they are the parents of two daughters.

Morales previously worked for 27 years at the Miami Herald, where he was assistant director of operations and commercial print director.

With apparent pride, Morales talked about his family. His wife holds two master’s degrees, in marketing and special education.

He said he’s particularly interested in the commercial print area, and it’s not surprising.

His daughter Samantha, 21, is a graduate of Duke University and is earning her master’s degree at Georgetown. She plans to become a surgeon, he said.

His father ran a commercial print business in Miami, and as a child Morales assisted his dad in his shop. “I fell in love with graphics because of my father,” Morales said.

His father was born in Nicaragua, but as a child his family brought him to San Francisco, Morales said.

Later, his father decided to return to Nicaragua where he later met his wife. The couple went on to have six children.

His father brought the family to Miami in 1979 when war broke out during the violent campaign led by the Sandinista National Liberation Front to oust the dictatorship.

Morales said he was very young then and doesn’t really remember that era.

Morales enjoyed growing up in Miami

His daughter Sabrina, 17, is graduating from high school and has been accepted to three universities.

In addition to his work, which he said “is non-stop, and I am available 24 hours a day,” Morales does have hobbies. His main one is creating animation videos. He also enjoys walking trails and camping.

Although there’s no time for it right now, Morales said he would like to pursue playing the guitar or piano once he’s retired.

Speaking of retirement, Morales is replacing Ken Shelby who, after many years with Sun Coast Media Group, is retiring to spend more time with his family and pursue his hobbies of fishing and traveling.

APG EAST

THE FLORIDA PRESS ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZES THE VENICE GONDOLIER WITH NOMINATIONS VENICE GONDOLIER

The Venice Gondolier is again competing as one of the top newspapers its size in Florida.

The Florida Press Association announced its finalists in the state newspaper contest. The finalists are the Top 3 selections, although first, second and third place won’t be revealed until a ceremony later this summer.

Along with more than two dozen nominations, the Gondolier was judged by the FPA for its Community Service as a finalist this year. The Gondolier leadership team created a program early in the COVID-19 pandemic in an effort to assist advertisers — a local stimulus program of sorts. It gave away more than 2,500 advertisements in an effort to help the local economy.

On the editorial side, longtime journalists Kim Cool and Bob Mudge also continued their decade-long work being recognized as some of the best reporters for a Florida Press Association Weekly publication.

The Gondolier itself has received the top award, the First Place Overall, for its size publication 18 times since 1998. This year, it goes into the final category with Navarre Press in the Panhandle having about the same amount of nominations per category.

Scott Lawson: Multimedia Storytelling; Online Breaking News Coverage; Feature Photo; Arts, Entertainment & Review Reporting; General News Story; Editorial Page

AMONG THE NOMINEES AND THEIR AWARDS ARE:

Bob Mudge: Outdoor & Recreation; First Amendment Defense; Editorial Award; COVID-19 Breaking News Coverage

Kim Cool: Best Obituary

Glen Nickerson: Serious Column

Craig Garrett, Chris Porter and Steve Reilly: In-Depth Reporting

Joseph John Orchulli II: Feature Photo

Greg Giles: Education Feature; Feature Story, Non-profile Larry Humes: Community History

Pine View School: Best Obituary Vinnie Portell: Sports Column; Sports Spot News Story; Sports Feature Story

Jessica Kerr: Reader Generated Photo

Ed Scott: Special Issue, Section or Supplement

Brianna Kwasnik: Education News

Scott Zucker: Sports Column

CONGRATULATIONS CONTEST WINNERS!

ST 1ST 1

3RD

2ND BUTTERFLY

Diane, The Daily Reflector

MOLLY KATE

Melanie Tucker, The Daily Times

VINCENT AND FRANKIE 9

Kim Hake-Gleason, Sun Newspapers

APG EAST & CENTRAL

THE HIGH ROAD AGENCY, ATHENS MESSENGER COLLABORATION RESULTS IN INNOVATIVE, NEW WEBSITE FOR ATHENS VISITORS BUREAU THE HIGH ROAD AGENCY & THE ATHENS MESSENGER In partnership with The Athens Messenger, the High Road Agency recently worked with The Athens Visitors Bureau (AVB) in Athens, Ohio, to create a new, innovative, and userfriendly website.

Boone Troyer, Executive Director of the AVB, enjoyed working with both The Athens Manager and HRA and was extremely pleased with the final result.

“Since we have been working with you all, it has been great,” he said of the partnership.

“You have all been very responsive in our requests and really helped us understand what our part in the process was. The changes, learning curve, and ability to make us feel like we were on the right track were greatly appreciated.

“We realize that there was a bit of a structural change with a new director in our office, and we appreciate all the extended 10

time and focus on helping us get the website up and running.”

The High Road Agency was able to maximize the visual appeal of the new website (athensohio.com) by utilizing professional photography by AVB’s own Joel Prince. The website features a comprehensive, searchable directory of all points of interest within Athens, including hotels, restaurants, things to do, and events.

The website’s goal is to promote tourism in Athens and provide tourists with one location to easily find everything to see and do in the city, home to Ohio University.

Troyer loves the entire site and feels it will be a tremendous asset.

“It will be a primary resource for our region and Athens County in regards to travel and tourism,” he said. “The photography assets that we have are astounding; they really

set the tone for the site. We also enjoy the Instagram feed at the bottom of the page, as well as the Athens Exclusives section.”

AVB not only promotes the region as a destination for tourists, but it also strengthens the Visit Athens Ohio brand locally and nationally and creates economic development through the leisure, group, and business markets.

The tourism industry took a significant hit in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, with the country beginning to open up again, the new AVB website will help the city draw more tourists. The U.S. Travel Association (UTA) says that total travel spending in the United States dropped 44.8% in 2020 but is forecasting a 37.5% increase in travel spending in 2021, certainly an encouraging sign for the city of Athens.

APG CENTRAL

STILLWATER SALESMAN WILL BE MISSED BY MANY APG WISCONSIN

After Kolliner’s closed in 1996, Lacher began a job in sales at The Gazette in March 1997 and stayed until retirement in January 2020.

Doug Lacher was not an imposing man, but he made an impression.

Go almost anywhere in Stillwater and you’re likely to bump into someone who knew the longtime Gazette Associate, remembered as driven and tenacious, with a fierce love of family, friends and his adopted town of Stillwater.

After beating the medical odds his whole life, the survivor of childhood open heart surgery and a heart transplant died Wednesday, March 24, at age 69.

“He’s going to be dearly missed,” said D.J. Raduenz, a longtime friend of Lacher. “A lot of people loved him.”

Born in Heron Lake, Minnesota, Lacher attended elementary and middle school in Blue Earth and went to high school in Albert Lea. He enrolled in a sales and marketing program at Albert Lea Vocational and Technical Institute and then landed an internship at Kolliner’s, a clothing store in downtown Stillwater. After the internship, he took a full-time job there.

Lacher was a salesman through and through.

“He was wonderful,” said Ed Stuart, who worked at Kolliner’s when Lacher started and who later bought the store. “He was very, very popular with customers.”

“I have never met a person with more tenacity and hustle than Doug Lacher,” Mark Berriman, former publisher of The Gazette, said in an email. “He was truly one of a kind.”

Meeting people and staying connected was second nature to Lacher.

Lacher was involved in the Stillwater Lions and other local organizations, and even though he didn’t grow up in Stillwater, it was his town. Anderson referred to him as “Mr. Stillwater.”

“The way he loves that town is undeniable,” his daughter Missy Lacher said.

— it was among the early pediatric surgeries performed by the University of Minnesota’s Dr. C. Walton Lillehei, known around the world as the “father of open heart surgery.”

In 1986 Lacher had open heart surgery again and almost didn’t make it.

“He died on the table twice,” Missy Lacher said.

He received a pacemaker in 1995 and then had a heart transplant in 2003.

His love for family was also unmistakable.

Anderson believes what kept Lacher going was “a deep inner strength” and a drive to make it to the next day, the next sale.

“He’s passed that on to my sister and I, that family comes first,” Missy Lacher said.

“He was just driven to get after things and to get after living,” Anderson said.

“He absolutely loved his family and those grandkids,” Anderson said.

Missy Lacher said her father loved life, loved others “fiercely” and taught her that “you take care of other people, and really you don’t take life for granted.”

Although medical problems plagued Lacher throughout his life, they couldn’t keep him from living fully.

At birth Lacher was a “blue baby,” meaning he had low blood oxygen.

At age 7 he had his first open heart surgery

“We all leave impressions going through this world,” Raduenz said. “He left a big impression on many.”

“Doug wasn’t large in stature, but he was the biggest man I know,” Anderson said.

For your chance to be the lucky winner of an APG Swag and Movie Bag,

MOVIE NIGHT NOW PLAYING: FINDING NEMO

answer the trivia question below correctly:

IN “FINDING NEMO,” DORI SUFFERS FROM WHAT? All answers should be submitted to AskHR@adamspg.com.

The winner will be drawn on Monday, May 17, 2021.

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APG CENTRAL

APG OF EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA CAPTURES NEWSPAPER AWARDS BEAR RIVER PUBLISHING

Journalists from APG of East Central Minnesota were well represented at the Minnesota Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest that was held at the end of January.

APG journalists collected a total of 69 awards, including 17 first-place awards, 26 seconds, and 26 thirds. Among the numerous awards were six for general excellence and general reporting. The Anoka County UnionHerald also captured the prestigious Best Explanation of a Newspaper Operations and Ethics category. This is a

competition among all classes, including all of the dailies in Minnesota.

This year’s awards ceremony was held virtually and included celebratory videos that were submitted by award winners, including one by our staff that featured winners on a frozen Lake Mille Lacs demonstrating not only their ability to enjoy the moment but thumb their noses at winter’s biting temperatures, which were at or below zero when the video was shot.

Several of our journalists also attended MNA-sponsored webinars during the Tri-

State Newspaper Convention. Webinars included discussions on everything from newspaper ethics and legal situations to making better use of data in reporting. In all, roughly 20 journalists from APG of ECM attended sessions at the convention. It was the first time MNA combined its newspaper convention with Iowa and Wisconsin newspaper associations.

It is the hope next year that we’ll all be able to gather in person and reconnect with many of the colleagues we have not seen in more than 1 ½ years.

AWARDS FOR APG OF EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA AT THE MINNESOTA NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST: Aitkin Independent Age 2 First Place 1 Third Place Anoka County Union Herald 2 First Place 3 Second Place 7 Third Place Blaine | Spring Lake Park Columbia Heights Fridley Life 3 First Place 6 Second Place 4 Third Place Bloomington-Richfield Sun Current 2 Second Place

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Caledonia Argus 1 Third Place County News Review 1 First Place Crystal | Robbinsdale New Hope Golden Valley Sun Post 1 Second Place Edina Sun Current 1 First Place 2 Third Place Forest Lake Times 2 First Place 3 Second Place 3 Third Place

Mille Lacs Messenger 2 Second Place 1 Third Place Morrison County Record 4 Second Place 4 Third Place EP | Excelsior | Minnetonka Sun Sailor 1 First Place Minnetonka | Hopkins Excelsior Sun Sailor 3 First Place Monticello Times 1 First Place 1 Second Place 1 Third Place

Laker Pioneer 1 Second Place Plymouth-Wayzata Sun Sailor 2 Second Place 1 Third Place St. Louis Park Sun Sailor 1 Third Place Waconia Patriot 1 First Place 1 Second Place Total First-17 Second-26 Third-26

APG CENTRAL A MINUTE WITH MARK ADAMS: Why Do Associates Matter At APG? Watch this month’s video: hr.adamspg.com/minute Submit your question: AskMark@adamspg.com

HIBBING BLUEJACKETS BOYS BASKETBALL QUALIFIES FOR STATE COMPETITION NORTHERN MINNESOTA REGION The Hibbing Bluejackets Boys Basketball team qualified for State competition this season. It is the first state tournament for the boys basketball team since 1989.

Hibbing, which finished its’ season 16-3 and had won 9-of-its-last-10 games, faced the Islanders of DeLeSalle in the March 31st quarter final game in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

It has been a tough year for high school athletics. With COVID considerations and distance learning for most students, varsity sports teams have had a rough time keeping consistent practice schedules and team members healthy for competition.

This team worked hard and made a great deal of sacrifices to stay healthy and play competitively through the season. In a send-off rally outside of the Hibbing High School, Hibbing basketball head coach Joel McDonald thanked supporters and

reflected on the successes and challenges of this year’s basketball season. The nontraditional send-off rally concluded with a police escorted parade through town, allowing community members to support their efforts and cheer their team on from the sidewalk, as the team bus passed.

Why Is Integrity So Important In Journalism?

Hibbing was defeated by the Islanders in the quarterfinal game, 92-72. The community of Hibbing is proud of our student athletes for both their achievements and the determination and sacrifices made this season. Coach McDonald reflected, “ There were a lot of things that were disappointing, but I told the guys I’m not going to cry about this because they have done some things here that should resonate for quite some time moving forward in Bluejacket basketball.”

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Tony Gruenig, acting police chief for Brooklyn Center, takes a question at a press conference April 13.

Mayor Mike Elliott stands in the background. Seated in the background is Reggie Edwards, acting city manager following the firing of Curt Boganey.

WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES IDAHO PRESS When the staff of the Sun Post Brooklyn Center/Brooklyn Park first heard about the shooting of Daunte Wright on April 11, they once again found themselves in the middle of the second international incident in the past year, the other being the ripple effect of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis in May 2020.

Brooklyn Center is located about 12 miles north of Minneapolis, but demonstrations and civil unrest spilled over into Brooklyn Center last spring after Floyd was killed and outrage with police mounted.

Staff mobilized quickly this past week to cover the events that were happening at ground zero. Any time an event of this magnitude occurs in your coverage area there will be media outlets from several agencies and an abundance of coverage, but Sun Post staff remained focused and worked their local contacts. Within a matter of hours, staff began posting content online, including the anchor story on what took place. Managing editor Andrew Wig and community editor Kevin Miller worked in concert in the hours that followed to package events as they unfolded.

By Tuesday, just two days after the tragic

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shooting, the duo and others who have assisted with coverage, including executive editor Mandy Froemming, had posted 11 different stories and images concerning the ongoing event.

Meanwhile, they also managed to meet their print deadline with pages going to press Monday afternoon. And they juggled another major local story, a primary election vote that was occurring in nearby Brooklyn Park. Those results were also posted quickly.

Although everybody has grown weary of shootings of this nature, journalists also understand just how important it is to provide objective reporting for loyal readers and get them the information that is so critical during crisis periods such as this.

APG CENTRAL

APG SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL EDITOR PARTICIPATES IN POYNTER INSTITUTE LEADERSHIP TRAINING FARIBAULT DAILY NEWS

by Suzy Rook Faribault Daily News In her own words, Rook describes investment in “Starting Poynt” https://www.poynter.org/shop/leadership/ starting-poynt/

LEARNING OUTCOMES Participants will learn how to: • Communicate with your direct reports, peers and boss more effectively • Recognize your unconscious bias as a manager and employ strategies to stop discrimination • Provide consistent, clear and helpful feedback • Apply a systematic approach to navigating ethics issues • Coach your team to do their best work

• Understand your gifts and potential for growth as a leader in your organization

I had very few expectations going into Poynter’s “Starting Poynts for New Newsroom Leaders.”

I’ve been an editor for more than a decade, but was in a new role and had had no formal leadership training, so I hoped I’d come away with a handful of tips. Instead, I gained something unexpected: insights into how to use existing skills and tendencies to my advantage.

The course, three days in March and another two in April over Zoom, began with introductions, followed by a discussion about how we see ourselves as a leader and how others see us as a leader. We then reviewed written feedback from eight colleagues we selected to answer questions about what we do well and what we could work on.

While opening those was nerve-wracking, the feedback I received helped me see how others perceive me.

That was followed by a breakout session in groups of three where we discussed our reactions to the feedback and results from our Meyers Briggs questionnaire. Discussion about the Meyers Briggs results in general and how to interpret your results followed.

The next two days were filled with discussions about conflict, tension and accountability, and relationships with colleagues from Poynter

coaches Cheryl Carpenter and Butch Ward.

All were interspersed with breakout sessions of three participants in which we discussed what we learned and how we could use what we’d learned in our work, whether to solve or improve an ongoing issue(s).

We left the last of March’s sessions with a plan to implement in the next three weeks that was shared with the group.

While verbalizing that in front of the class helped from an accountability standpoint, it wasn’t until I got back to the office that everything I’d heard started to fall into place.

Almost two weeks after wrapping up the course’s third day, I had my one hour of coaching with Cheryl. We talked about my progress implementing my plan.

It was then I had an epiphany of sorts: I’d changed my plan, modifying how I was going to achieve the goal. I realized the change was not only an improvement, but a lesson: to always be deliberate in my words and actions.

GOALS: • Ensure I always keep being deliberate top of mind, I’m creating a sign with those words on it to hang on my office wall to serve as a constant reminder.

• Remember to step back and see the bigger picture. Leadership coaches often refer to it as “getting off the dance floor and going onto the balcony.”

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APG CENTRAL

EAU CLAIRE TAKES HOME 24 AWARDS EAU CLAIRE LEADER-TELEGRAM The Eau Claire Leader-Telegram was honored earlier this year with 24 awards from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation’s annual Better Newspaper Contest, including 11 first place finishes and honors for general excellence.

The haul was an increase on last year’s already impressive 20 awards. The LeaderTelegram competes in Group B for daily newspapers, the category for circulations above 6,000 but below 15,000, and took the award for the best paper in the category.

Publisher Randy Rickman said the general excellence nod in particular pointed to the success of multiple departments and teams within the Leader-Telegram pulling together to produce a strong newspaper, an effort that meant overcoming disruptions and the crisis of a worldwide pandemic.

“This team stuck together, provided relevant content and information to our print and digital audiences, all produced, manufactured and delivered on time. It’s quite a feat in normal circumstances, even more impressive this past year,” he said.

Assistant Editor Liam Marlaire took first place for editorial writing for the second consecutive year for pieces that questioned proposals to defund police departments

and criticizing political candidates for failing to acknowledge what Americans have in common. The paper’s opinion pages also brought home a second-place award.

Longtime photographer Dan Reiland continued the L-T’s tradition of strong photography, placing in seven categories.

The wins included three first place and two second place awards. Reiland’s work covering tornado cleanup efforts, a care facility visit during COVID lockdown and a stunning image of the International Space Station transiting the sun all took top honors.

Eric Lindquist led the reporting staff with five awards, including first place for pieces on a possible wind energy development in southern Eau Claire County and for the remarkable story of two area men whose lifelong bond was reinforced when one donated a kidney to the other.

Sarah Seifert brought home first-place awards for stories on families dealing with being separated, ongoing coverage of the UW-Eau Claire’s response to racist social media posts by members of the university’s football team and for reporting on local education.

Seifert also shared a first place award

Eric Lindquist

with Andrew Dowd for breaking news coverage after the arrest of the former Altoona schools superintendent. Dowd, in turn, brought home second place for local government coverage.

Ryan Patterson took third place for feature stories.

Leader-Telegram columnists took first and second places for local columns.

B.J. Hollars won for “Bouncing through quarantine,” while Patti See took second for “Get your blue mind on.” See also took first place for her column in The Country Today, which competes in the weekly newspapers division.

While most awards had single names on them, Rickman said the honors reflect the hard work everyone at the newspaper has done over the past year.

“We want each individual who won an award to get credit for their contribution, but it took everyone under this roof and the production facility, our distribution team and our audience, to earn the general excellence award,” he said.

APRIL MOVIE NIGHT NOW PLAYING: STAR WARS: EPISODE V - THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR APRIL WINNER BRIAN K. MARTIN, WYOMING NEWS 16

The Question: What was Han Solo’s response to Princess Leia before getting frozen in carbonite when she said, “I love you”?

The Answer: I know.

APG WEST

UNSUNG HEROES MAKE IT HAPPEN IN WYOMING SKAGIT PUBLISHING At the end of the day, literally, if the press and delivery teams do not get the papers out to our customers, the quality and differencemaking journalism we do, and the revenue generated by advertising and circulation sales don’t matter. It is like having a billboard in your basement – it may look good, but nobody sees it.

It began on Saturday, March 13, and ended on Monday the 15th. The blizzard of 2021 hit Wyoming hard, dumping 30.8 inches of snow, with wind gusts over 50 mph, at times paralyzing the city of Cheyenne.

During Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, the snow and wind was relentless, making roads impassable, and closing all offices and businesses for the week throughout the capital city.

Well, not exactly all businesses. The team in Cheyenne dedicated to not only our products, but to our numerous clients, was not going to sit back in their warm homes and

wait this storm out. After having a mandatory closing of the building Monday for safety reasons, staff started showing up at 4 a.m.

Tuesday to fire up the press and inserting equipment, and get things packaged and ready our clients’ products for when the roads reopened. Many of the staff walked in through waist-high snow, since the roads were impassable, and unplowed for normal vehicles. Two of our staff members had jacked-up 4-wheel-drive trucks, offering shuttle service to their fellow friends and coworkers to get them here.

Like a military operation, one by one, job after job, they worked until we were caught up, awaiting delivery clearance from the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

Some of the team slept here Tuesday night, eating vending machine food to keep the press and inserting equipment going to get us back on track. By late Wednesday evening, main roads out of Cheyenne

started to open, and the dance to get the completed work by deadline to our clients began. Production Director John Posluszny is proud to say, with just one exception of the client’s own making, our drivers worked tirelessly through the night and delivered on time.

By Thursday morning, although the snow and cleanup lingered, we were back to a normal schedule. This effort, on top of a year’s worth of working through the pandemic, with sanitizing workstations becoming second nature, social distancing an artform and keeping each other safe, they showed they have the passion, drive and commitment to deliver for our readers and commercial print customers.

When it comes to “neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds,” the Wyoming production teams told the Post Office, “Here, hold my beer.”

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APG WEST

REMEMBERING ASSOCIATE

CHRISTINA “TINA” AKIYOSHI PULLAR” SKAGIT PUBLISHING and her consultative role helping small businesses succeed and flourish.

Beloved friend, community supporter, mother, “Grandma T,” daughter and aunt, Tina Pullar, lost a courageous and long battle with cancer on Thursday, March 4.

Known for her gentle, kind and loving spirit, Tina was also known for her love of high heels (preferably blue), a great fit-and-flare floral dress, cheeseburgers, traveling, her constant four-legged companion (Zoe) and old movies.

Tina invested her time, talent and treasure in her Skagit community: she served on the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Board of Directors (including Board President) for seven years and was a dedicated La Conner Tulip Frolic Parade volunteer for five years; Burlington Chamber Board of Directors for five years; Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County (EDASC) volunteer (Volunteer of the Year in 2012); volunteer for the Berry Dairy Days Parade for four years; plus gave generously of her time to many other organizations and events. A constant presence at multi-chamber events, Tina always said “yes” when asked to help.

Born on September 2, 1964, in Oakland, California, to Joyce Akiyoshi and Cheno Paz, Tina graduated from Berkeley High School in 1982.

Tina’s son, Eddie Pullar, was born in Mount

Vernon in 1984. Eddie was the love of Tina’s life and she embraced his wife, Sarah Cook and her role as “Grandma T” to her three grandchildren: Noah, 15; Charles, age eight; and Oliver, age four. Tina considered Sarah her angel for taking her to most of her doctor and treatment appointments and that she was always by her side to provide strength, love and encouragement.

In 2013, Tina participated in Leadership Skagit, an immersion program for Skagit County leaders. Through this process, she yearned for a career change after 30 years in the hospitality business. Tina found a new and rewarding career as an advertising consultant with Skagit Publishing serving the Burlington and Sedro-Woolley communities.

Tina loved interacting within the community

Tina is survived by her son, Eddie, his wife, Sarah, and their three children, Noah, Charlie and Oliver of Blaine; her mother, Joyce Akiyoshi, of Berkeley, CA; her niece Kahdija Wells of Arizona; and her niece, Erin Flefel and husband, George, and their six children, of Bellingham. Tina was preceded in death by her father, Cheno Paz, in 2019. His wife, and Tina’s “bonus mother,” Danielle Putnam, of La Jolla, CA, also survives Tina. Danielle was always such a special person in Tina’s life and she was grateful for her deep love of her father. Tina is also survived by a large circle of devoted friends.

Tina’s favorite bible verse was Mathew 7:12 “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Tina, your goodness and kindness exemplified the Golden Rule. God and the angels have welcomed you home, although your earthly friends and family will miss your heavenly presence on this earth.

“If I should go tomorrow, it would never be goodbye. For I have left my heart with you, so don’t you ever cry. The love that’s deep within me, shall reach you from the stars.

You’ll feel it from the heavens, and it will heal the scars.”

REMEMBERING SELAH SMITH

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IT Director, Justin Smith’s daughter Selah’s yearlong battle with cancer ended March 3rd. Her name means “stop and consider.” The Smith family asks everyone to take a moment, stop, consider, and love others a little more each day. There is no greater love than kindness and it their hope each of the people in her life will spread her kindness to others. For those who have loved her, for those who have walked this journey with their family, for those who have kindly helped in so many was, the Smith family wants to thank each and every one of you.

APG WEST

ANACORTES AMERICAN REPORTER’S NOVEL MAKES THE SHORTLIST ANACORTES AMERICAN Briana Alzola, a reporter at the Anacortes American in Anacortes, Wash., recently earned a top spot in the International 3-Day Novel Contest.

The contest challenges writers across the globe to write a novel in just three days over Labor Day Weekend.

Alzola’s 2020 entry, “Welcome to Miller’s Grove,” was named to the contest’s long list this week, putting her in the top 13 of more than 200 entrants.

Announcements about the shortlist, winner and runner(s)-up are expected in early April. The winner earns a publishing contract with Vancouver, B.C.-based Anvil Press.

“Welcome to Miller’s Grove” follows the story of Tessa Brower, the host of crime podcast and blog Tessa Talks Murder. In search of her next book topic, she visits Miller’s Grove, a small mountain town in Washington state, which bills itself as the Sweetest Little Town in the World (11 months out of the year).

After members of the population started mysteriously dying each October, residents decided to start leaving for the month, leaving the area abandoned each fall. Tessa moves in for the month of October, to see what she can discover about the sleepy town and its dark secrets.

The 3-Day Novel Contest started in 1977.

AWARD WINNING PHOTOGRAPHER JOINING THE TEAM

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS! CONGRATS AND THANK YOU, EARLENE!

Earlene Poole, General Manager of the Jefferson Star in Rigby, Idaho , celebrated 40 years with the newspaper last month. During her tenure with the newspaper she has worked in most every department with the majority of her Jme focused on adverJsing sales and as general manager.

She will tell you that she has seen a lot of changes in the past 40 years but one thing that has not changed is her commitment to the company and her clients.

Congratulations and thank you Earlene!

HERALD AND NEWS Herald and News adds another RFA corps member The Herald and News in Klamath Falls, Oregon, will add a second Report for American corps member.

Arden Barnes, an award-winning photographer and videographer, will join the staff in June. Originally from rural Kentucky, Barnes will help document environmental stories in the Klamath Basin, including a massive dam removal project that is slated to begin in 2021.

Barnes has previously interned for the Sacramento Bee and led documentary projects. She most recently had been a freelance photographer for USA Today and the Lexington Herald-Leader, among other outlets.

She was named runner-up student photographer of the year in 2018 by the National Press Photographers Association. She is a 2020 graduate of the University of Kentucky.

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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

APG Vice President of Human Resources All states, particularly TN/NC/VA/MN/WI/FL joann.hopson@adamspg.com 423.620.8771

DEB BROOKS

HR Manager – APG Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming dbrooks@skagitpublishing.com 360.416.2187

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TOM CLOUTIER

CHRIS DETLOFF

Talent Acquisition Director for APG HR Manager – APG Maryland/Ohio tcloutier@adamspg.com 410.770.4159

HR Generalist – APG Central Division Minnesota/Northern Wisconsin

GWEN DAVIS

HR Generalist, APG Southern Wisconsin sluebke@apgenc.com 608.755.8360

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

STEPHANIE LUEBKE

RESOURCES

ASSOCIATE

REFERRAL PROGRAM Know someone who would be a perfect fit at APG?

REFER THEM AND YOU CAN EARN CASH

WHAT’S IN IT FOR

YOU? $100

PLUS

UPON HIRE

$100 AFTER 30 DAYS

PLUS

$100 AFTER 60 DAYS

For any successful referral of friends, family members, or professional acquaintances, you will receive the following payment:

• $100 for any person you refer after he or she is hired • $100 for any person you refer after he or she completes 30 days of employment • $100 for any person you refer after he or she completes 60 days of employment • $200 for any person you refer after he or she completes 90 days of employment • $500 for any person you refer after he or she completes 1 year of employment

There is NO situation in which an incentive will be paid for any Associate who leaves for any reason prior to being employed for 30 days. To receive a referral incentive, the person making the referral must be an Associate of the company on the day the referred Associate is hired AND the day the referral bonus is due to be paid.

PLUS

$200

PLUS

AFTER 90 DAYS

$500 AFTER 1 YEAR

Please be aware that no Associate is authorized to make an offer of employment to any individual or promise employment of any type. All decisions regarding employment offers will be made solely by management.

Only one referral incentive will be issued for each new Associate; it will be paid to the first eligible person to submit the form below to your APG Human Resources representative.

Former Associates who may be rehired by the company are NOT considered to be a new referral and therefore will not be eligible for a referral incentive payment.

*THIS FORM MUST BE COMPLETED AND TURNED IN PRIOR TO THE APPLICATION BEING COMPLETED BY THE PERSON YOU ARE REFERRING.*

APPLICANT NAME

APPLICANT PHONE NUMBER

APPLICANT EMAIL ASSOCIATE NAME

DATE

Please submit forms or questions to your regional HR manager.

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MOVIE NIGHT

MOVIE NIGHT NOW PLAYING: FINDING NEMO

For your chance to be one of two lucky winners of an APG Swag and Movie Bag:

FIRST CHANCE TO WIN:

SEARCH THE NEWSLETTER AND TELL US WHO WON THE MOVIE TRIVIA QUESTION IN APRIL FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THE APRIL MOVIE.

SECOND CHANCE TO WIN:

SEARCH THE NEWSLETTER FOR THIS MONTH’S MOVIE TRIVIA QUESTION AND SEND US THE ANSWER. *Contents of winner’s prize pack may vary.

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

The winner will be drawn on Monday, May 17, 2021.

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).

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