APG Newsletter - August 2021

ASSOCIATE NEWSLETTER

JULY PHOTO OF THE MONTH Congrats to Jane Bellymer, submit your photo for a chance to win a $25 gift card SUBMIT TO SUBMITNEWS.ADAMSPG.COM.

Breakfast Time Jane Bellymer, Cecil Whig

AUGUST 2021

CONTENTS

SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO & WIN! Submit a photo to be featured in the monthly newsletter.

Each month, the person whose photo is selected for the front cover will win a $25 gift card!

SUBMIT TO SUBMITNEWS.ADAMSPG.COM.

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AUGUST 2021 NEWSLETTER

Human Resources

APG East

APG Central

APG West

MOBILE INSURANCE, WORKPLACE HOUSEKEEPING

VIRAL VIDEO, LONGTIME ASSOCIATE, NEW TEAM MEMBERS

OLYMPIANS, REMEMBERANCE, TECHNOLOGY DAYS

NEW EDITOR, AWARDS ACROSS THE REGION

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PRESIDENT’S CORNER Greetings from the home office, As we enter the second half of 2021, APG has accomplished much during these pandemic times. To list a few: We’ve moved the majority of APG associates up in weekly hours. We’re hoping that recovery will happen in the second half of 2020 so we can move the rest as well.

We’ve won a number of state press association awards for excellence in editorial and advertising. Congratulations to all APG winners for your fine work on behalf of our subscriber and advertising customers.

We’re presently in the middle of enterprise wide technology upgrades that should make us nimbler and more efficient.

Nick Monico and I have visited numerous offices in the West and Central divisions, in addition to South Florida. It was great to see folks again following travel restrictions during Covid.

We’re in the process of implementing the Evvnt platform. This will help us re-launch scores of APG’s events that were dormant during Covid.

APG and other news companies still face headwinds: newsprint prices have increased significantly; USPS rate increases will have a negative impact on our mailed products; plate prices have increased as well; we continue to face challenges in recruiting new associates as many people have chosen to stay home until their unemployment benefits expire.

In addition, the Delta COVID variant is taking hold in many of our regions. APG will be following new CDC guidance, and require face coverings in our facilities in counties with either ‘high’ or ‘substantial’ infection rates, regardless of vaccination status. Unvaccinated Associates must wear masks at all times regardless of county infection rates.

Not fun I know, but Associates’ safety and security is our top priority, As always, APG continues to encourages mask wearing for all Associates. Please see the revised infectious disease policy in this newsletter.

I’m proud of how you’ve all managed through the pandemic. It’s been a huge challenge for us all, and I believe we’ve weathered the worst of the storm. I’m looking forward to an improving second half of 2021.

Thanks, Mark

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HUMAN RESOURCES 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.

GO MOBILE WITH BLUE CROSS GET IMPORTANT HEALTH PLAN INFORMATION FAST – WHEREVER YOU NEED IT The BlueCrossMN Mobile app gives you convenient, on-the-go access to important plan information and helpful tools right on your phone:

• A digital member ID card • Deductivle and out-ofpocket sending amounts

(COVERS VACATION/SICK LEAVE) We know how hard you work and recognize the importance of providing you with time for rest and relaxation.

• Search tool for in-network

doctors and care near you

• Claim status tracking • Medical spending account balances

And, depending on your plan, you may even be able to compare the cost of care or medications.

Log in or download the app today to discover all the features that can help you get the most from your health plan.

GET THE APP TODAY

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE APG TEXT BREAKING NEWS

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DIGI-KNOW

Downloading for the first time? Have your bluecrossmnonline.com username and password ready.

Ever feel like you’re missing out on the digital conversation? Things seem too complex? Just don’t know where to start your digital sales journey?

JOIN DIGI-KNOW CHECK WITH YOUR SALES LEADER FOR UPCOMING DATES AND TIMES A company-wide call that allows our digital marketing experts from all markets across the company to share knowledge, success stories and how they are keeping digital revenue at the forefront of their discussions with clients and an opportunity to ask your questions.

MEETING INFORMATION IS SENT OUT PRIOR TO EACH MONDAY CALL. If you would like to receive the conference information, you can request to be added to the distribution list through your Ad Director or by emailing Cindy Sease at csease@dailychronicle.com.

SAFETY

TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE WORKPLACE HOUSEKEEPING

We want to hear what is going on in your neck of the woods. submitnews.adamspg.com

EVERYONE PLAYS A PART To some people, the word “housekeeping” calls to mind cleaning floors and surfaces, removing dust, and organizing clutter. But in a work setting, it means much more. Housekeeping is crucial to safe workplaces. It can help prevent injuries and improve productivity and morale, as well as make a good first impression on visitors. The practice extends from traditional offices to industrial workplaces, including factories, warehouses and manufacturing plants that present special challenges in housekeeping.

ELIMINATE FIRE HAZARDS PREVENT SLIPS, TRIPS AND FALLS Slips, trips and falls are the second leading cause of nonfatal occupational injuries or illnesses involving days away from work according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• Report and clean up spills and leaks.

• Keep aisles and exits clear of items.

• Consider installing mirrors and warning signs to help with blind spots.

• Repair or replace worn, ripped or damage flooring.

• Consider installing anti-slip flooring in areas that can’t always be cleaned.

• Use drip pans, guards, and absorbent materials.

ASSOCIATES CONTRIBUTE TO THE APG NEWSLETTER

The National Safety Council “Supervisors’ Safety Manual” includes these precautionary measures for fire safety: • Keep combustible materials in the work area only in amounts needed for the job. When they are unneeded, move them to an assigned safe storage area.

• Store quick-burning, flammable materials in designated locations away from ignition sources.

• Keep passageways and fire doors free of obstructions. Stairwell doors should be kept closed. Do not store items in stairwells.

• Keep materials at least 18 inches away from automatic sprinklers, and 36 inches in front of fire extinguishers and sprinkler controls.

SUBMISSION DEADLINES January February

HR Newsletter Associate Newsletter: Articles due by Jan. 10, 2021

March

HR Newsletter

April

HR Newsletter

May

Associate Newsletter: Articles due by April 10, 2021

June

HR Newsletter

July

HR Newsletter

August

Associate Newsletter: Articles due by July 10, 2021

September

HR Newsletter

October

HR Newsletter

November

December

Associate Newsletter: Articles due by Oct. 10, 2021 HR Newsletter

• Hazards in electrical areas should be reported immediately.

CLEAR CLUTTER

A cluttered workplace can lead to ergonomics issues and possible injuries because workers have less space to move. Keep aisles, stairways, emergency exits, electrical panels and doors clear of clutter, and purge untidy areas. Empty trash receptacles before they overflow.

THINK LONG-TERM

Housekeeping should be more than a one-time initiative. Housekeeping issues are very common, but they can be easy to fix, it takes persistence and dedication.

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APG EAST

SMALL TOWN NEWSPAPER’S VIDEO GOES VIRAL THE VINTON JACKSON COURIER

By Jeremiah Shaver Courier Multimedia Journalist

JULY MOVIE NIGHT NOW PLAYING: AIR FORCE ONE CONGRATULATIONS

TO OUR JULY WINNER JUDY ESPINO,

MORRISON COUNTY RECORD

I don’t even know where to begin to explain how a small town newspaper had a single news video go viral.

The Vinton Jackson Courier publishes once a week on Wednesdays. However, The Courier delivers up-todate online stories and breaking news from around the area at vintonjacksoncourier.com. We also utilize social media, Facebook in particular, for sharing content, as well as doing live streams.

On Thursday, July 24, I learned about a three semi pile up on a major highway in our coverage area.

I turned to our website and social media accounts (The Courier and my news personality page) to let our readers know about the incident with some initial information.

The crash happened at 9:08 a.m.

I’d received a call from our local Emergency Management Agency (EMA) a few hours later inviting me to the scene. A few other media outlets had arrived or were heading to the scene. The Ohio State Highway Patrol was going to brief the media at the scene.

Anyhow, I went out to the scene of the crash. The law enforcement briefs me on the crash giving me further details. EMA told me the detour for those looking for a way around the crash. I asked law enforcement if I could go live at the scene, and they gave the green light.

Our local readers here, enjoy and appreciate live raw unedited video coverage of events. So, I went live at the scene, and showed the scene, explained what I knew at the time, told them about the detour since it involved a major highway.

The Questions Were: Who won June Trivia, and in “Air Force One,” What was the president’s name?

The Answer: Kelly O’Rourke and President James Marshall 6

Before I went live, law enforcement had mentioned that a fourth vehicle may have been involved in the crash. Toward the end of my live broadcast at the scene, law enforcement approaches me and I ask if anything else needed said. They explained at that moment that they were now looking for a black Jeep, and issued a few reminders. Later, we learned the black Jeep wasn’t involved. A semi was following too close to another semi, and

couldn’t stop in time, thus causing a chain reaction.

Over 200 people were watching live. By the time I got back to the office, to write a follow-up for the website, the video had a few thousand views, which is normal for a crash video.

A few hours had passed and the video went from a few thousand (4,500 or so) to 16,000! Then it doubled to 30,000. I was amazed.

Then people started commenting what state is this?

Then I knew it was being watched in other states. The video kept growing and growing somehow, and by 11 a.m. the following day (Friday, June 25) the video had reached half a million views. It had also been viewed by people around the world per video analytics.

As I write this article for the newsletter, the video is 32,000 views short of one million views! I am still blown away.

My editor, Alex Hulvalchick, had the following to say about the video and its viewership.

“It’s been so incredible to watch Jeremiah’s video coverage,” said Hulvalchick. “The reach of the video is crazy and I love seeing you get the recognition you deserve!”

APG EAST

DANNY CRUM SERVING GREENEVILLE SINCE 1990 THE GREENEVILLE SUN

Few people who worked at The Greeneville Sun in Greeneville, Tennessee in 1990 still remain, but Danny Crum, a longtime member of the mailroom team, is one of those few.

Crum answered a Help Wanted ad and started his job on June 30, 1990 at 28 years old, and during the three decades he has spent with The Greeneville Sun, he has been known across departments at the newspaper for his dependability and good nature and for sharing his signature Lifesaver candies.

“He is very friendly, very dependable, and he’s always saving everybody’s life because he always gives out Lifesavers,” said Circulation Assistant Shirley Jones. With 47 years at The Greeneville Sun, Jones is one of very few others who has been with the newspaper for as long or longer than Crum.

“I have only had the privilege of working with Danny for the last 2 years, but I have found him to be an exemplary associate, whose hard work and dedication has been unwavering for over three decades at the Sun,” said The Greeneville Sun’s Publisher and President of APG for Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia Paul Mauney.

“I have worked with Danny for the past 26 years, and for as long as I’ve known him, he has always been very dependable,” said Printing Director Dale Long. “He’s a very can-do person, no matter what jobs or responsibilities you give him.”

“Danny is very reliable, punctual and always ready to help when needed. I wish I had 10 more just like him,” said Charles Johnson, mailroom and packaging manager.

“He has put in a lot of years, and he has always been as dependable as the sun coming up in the morning,” said Crum’s former supervisor for 28 years Ron Smith. Smith retired in 2020.

“I can’t even remember a time when he has not been to work not just on time, but early,” added Long. “Rain or shine, it doesn’t matter. Danny is always here, and he walks to work. You just can’t

say that about everybody.”

“He’s one in millions,” Smith agreed. “He’s the exception to the rule.”

Crum said he makes the walk of roughly about a mile and a half, about three miles roundtrip, daily.

“Sometimes I catch a ride, but it’s not bad walking, especially on beautiful days,” he said.

That positive, friendly “can-do” attitude is what sticks out most about him to many of those who know Crum through working at The Greeneville Sun. “I am glad that Danny works at The Greeneville Sun. Danny takes pride in his work, exudes a positive energy and is always a gentleman,” said Director of Online Operations Brian Cutshall. “If you look over and see Danny smiling, which he does a lot, you know that everything’s going A-OK.” “He is so nice. He always tries to talk to anybody and everybody, and he just makes everyone feel special,” said Connie Malone, who worked with Crum briefly in the early 90s before relocating to the nearby Johnson City Press and then returning to The Greeneville Sun in 2021.

“I don’t think he has changed a bit over the years,” Malone said.

“He really is a very nice, very pleasant person,” agreed Hala Watson, who also started at The Greeneville Sun in 1990, though she has changed roles before joining the advertising department.

“He always acknowledges you wherever you are, says ‘have a good day,’ and brings you a Lifesaver.”

The old one had three,” Crum said. “Other than that, it’s pretty much the same.”

Mauney said Crum has been a big help with an expanded workload since the printing press at the Greeneville Sun began printing several additional regional newspapers, though.

“Danny’s efforts have been critical to our post-press packaging operation, particularly since expanding our production facility to take on the printing and packaging of five of our North Carolina sister papers in April,” said Mauney.

Crum said his coworkers are his favorite part of the job.

“The guys I work with make it fun to work. If you get along with the people you work with, that’s always fine,” Crum said.

“He’s a very nice guy, and he gets along with everyone,” said Crum’s supervisor Johnson.

“I’ve always appreciated him and enjoyed working with him,” said Smith. “I was his supervisor, but I always thought of him as a friend. He’s just a great guy. He is a terrific, very moral person, and I am proud to know him.”

Outside of work Crum cares for his elderly mother, and in addition to walking to and from work, he said he enjoys walking his dog, a rat terrier he calls Jack.

“It’s been a pleasure working with him,” said Long.

“With a demeanor that is always cheerful and pleasant no matter the circumstances, the Sun is incredibly fortunate to have him on our team,” Mauney said.

Long said Crum has carried this signature candy for as long as he can remember.

“That’s his way of saying ‘thank you,’ but he’s our lifesaver.”

Despite changes in the staff over the years, Crum said his job has not changed much.

“The paper’s not quite as wide as it was when I first started, and the machine we use has six trays now.

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THE HIGH ROAD AGENCY

THE HIGH ROAD AGENCY SCORES BIG AT PINNACLE AWARDS THE HIGH ROAD AGENCY, TENNESSEE The High Road Agency produced a number projects that were honored recently with Pinnacle Awards.

Ranked by a panel of judges within the tourism industry associated with the Southeast Tourism Society, 36 Pinnacle Awards were given to the top entry in each category at the ceremony held at MeadowView Conference Resort and Convention Center on June 3.

HRA produced the Best Marketing Campaign and Best TV Commercial, “Space for Everyone,” for Visit Kingsport, as well as the top Social Media Campaign for National Long Island Iced Tea Day, also for Visit Kingsport.

HRA partners also took top honors in several categories, including Birthplace of County Music Museum for Attraction of the Year. The Birthplace of Country Music (BCM) and Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Live Stream won Best Virtual Event, BCM and Radio Bristol Book Club

earned the top prize for Best Virtual Series, and BCM and Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Celebrating 20 Years won for Best Long Video.

BEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN

TV COMMERCIAL

Visit Kingsport earned a Pinnacle Award for Best Sports Event for the USSSA World Series, while Jud Teague, Executive Director of Visit Kingsport, was named Tourism Leader of the Year.

Ramona Jackson, General Manager of MeadowView Conference Resort and Convention Center, another HRA partner, was named Hospitality Leader of the Year.

The City of Bristol, another long-time HRA partner, saw transportation engineer David Metzger pick up the Lifetime Achievement honor.

Read more

SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN

THE HIGH ROAD AGENCY ADDS TEAM MEMBERS The High Road Agency, based in Kingsport, Tenn., continues to grow, adding two full-time members to its team recently.

Kate Van Huss rejoins HRA as the Director of Digital Advertising and Social Media, having been part of the team in both full and part-time roles in the past.

John Scott, who is originally from Glasgow, Scotland, rejoins The High Road Agency as a multi-talented Digital Designer. John also worked at HRA in full and part-time roles previously.

KATE VAN HUSS 8

HRA is excited that these two talented individuals will now be working with our many partners, as well as our APG counterparts.

JOHN SCOTT

APG CENTRAL

MINNESOTA OLYMPIANS IN OUR COVERAGE AREAS

UPDATES FROM EAU CLAIRE

APG OF EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA Imagine training, for some nearly a lifetime, to reach peak physical potential for the chance to represent the United States in the Olympics, and then at the last moment, you are told the Games will not go on.

That was the situation facing Olympic athletes worldwide when the pandemic prevented the 2020 Olympic Games from being held on schedule. Instead, they were delayed by a full year, drastically disrupting the training that was all geared toward a 2020 competition.

Still, that has not stopped numerous Minnesota Olympians from recalibrating and ramping up for the Summer Games that will be held July 23-Aug. 8 in Tokyo, Japan.

For readers of APG of East Central Minnesota newspapers, there are plenty of Minnesota Olympians to keep an eye on.

Our 28 newspapers will be tracking nine different athletes that are in our coverage areas. They will represent Minnesota and local communities in everything from swimming to rifle shooting. Our coverage has included profiles and will also offer follow-up on their performances once the Games begin.

THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE ATHLETES, THEIR EVEWNTS AND THE NEWSPAPERS THAT WILL BE FOLLOWING THEIR PROGRESS:

Over that past 2 months Eau Claire on-boarded 3 new MMAE’s; Jerrod Foust, Katie Essen and our newest at only 2 weeks, James Fry. We are excited to have such a young, excited and engaged sales team in place as we slowly move towards the all important Q4.

• Kiana Edie, women’s gymnastics – Blaine, Spring Lake Park, Columbia Heights, Fridley Life

• Joe Klecker, 10,000-meter run, track & field – St. Louis Park, Hopkins Sun Sailor

• Grace McCallum, women’s

gymnastics – County News Review

• Payton Otterdahl, track & field, shot put – Dakota County Tribune

• Regan Smith, women’s swimming – Sun Thisweek Lakeville

• Gable Stevenson, men’s freestyle wrestling – Dakota County Tribune

Joe Klecker competes in a 2019 cross country meet for the University of Colorado men’s team. The Hopkins High School graduate will compete in the 10,000-meter run in the 2021 Summer Olympic Games. (Photo courtesy of the University of Colorado).

NEW ASSOCIATES

• Patrick Sunderman, men’s rifle

shooting – Dakota County Tribune

• Jordan Thompson, women’s volleyball – Edina Sun Current

• Shane Wiskus, men’s gymnastics –

EVENTS The week of July 20th24th, The Leader Telegram and The Country Today will be hosting a booth to drive community awareness and subscriptions at the Eau Claire County Farm Technology Days event.

This 3 day event, which was cancelled last year due to Covid-19, is the largest Ag event in the state where they are expecting over 43,000 visitors from across the state and the county to peer into the future of innovation and technology in the Agriculture and farming industries.

Laker Pioneer

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APG CENTRAL

DAIRYLAND PEACH ASSOCIATE WILL MISSED BY MANY DAIRLYAND PEACH

By Annette Gruber, Dairyland Peach Business Manager

Sharon Arnzen lost her battle with cancer and passed away Friday, May 28, 2021 at her home in Sauk Centre. She had beat the medical odds much of her life — a kidney transplant 22 years ago due to polycystic kidney disease and numerous bouts of skin cancer ­— but this last one, throat cancer initially diagnosed in October 2020, proved too much for her, even though she gave it her best shot right up until two weeks before her death.

“Sharon is going to be dearly missed,” said Beth Claussen, a long-time coworker of Arnzen. “Sharon was loved by current and former coworkers.”

Sharon worked for the Dairyland Peach in Sauk Centre for 45 years. She began her career in 1976, when she was hired by original owners, Joe and Dennis McCoy. She continued her employment through successive owners Mark and Jeanette Anderson, ECM Publishers and Adams Publishing Group.

Sharon started back in the day when strip photo printers were used for headlines and IBM typewriters were used for classified ads. She saw many changes over her career — from border tapes (she loved the Christmas reindeer even though they were not popular with all the sales reps at the time), cutting and pasting when 10

the Compugraphic computer was installed in the early 1980s, to Macintosh desktop computers, when ECM Publishers purchased the Peach in 1994.

Sharon was the office comedian! She could always make her coworkers laugh with her “famous one liners.”

When Karen Banal, a former coworker, was asked to share a memory of Sharon, she said, “After thinking about what memory I wanted to share about Sharon, I realized I have so many of them that it’s hard to choose just one. She had the ability to make every day extraordinary with her sharp wit, great sense of humor and strong work ethic. She made coming to work every day enjoyable and this is really what made her so special!”

You considered yourself lucky if you were the recipient of her raspberry jam or her famous pickles, which she generously put up for office auctions to raise money for the Community Affairs Council.

Sharon enjoyed the monthly birthday potlucks where her fruit pizza and strawberry

pretzel salad were always a number one request. Four was the usual number of cards she played for the office bingo games which followed the potlucks.

She took great pride in her work. Sharon was responsible for the design on many inserts and grocery ads over the years. She could be counted on to stay until the paper went to press — even if it meant staying until 1 a.m. when a network outage happened on deadline day.

Sharon was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, and loved to share stories of her family with her Peach office family.

Sharon is survived by her husband, Jim Arnzen and daughters, Nancy (James) Wallen and Diana Arnzen, and grandchildren, Madeline and Sebastian Wallin.

Dairyland Peach staff at the annual Dress Down for Leukemia Day in May 2015. (left to right) front row: Julie Stepan, Sharon Arnzen, Delores Jenc, Annette Gruber; back row: Julie Fuchs, Linda Kraemer, Karen Banal, Lynnette Ostendorf, Beth Claussen

APG CENTRAL

ASHLAND DAILY PRESS WELCOMES NEW GENERAL MANAGER ASHLAND DAILY PRESS

Jeff Robischon this week took over as general manager of the Ashland Daily Press after a career spent in newspapers across the region and the country. Robischon will also be responsible for operations at the Price County Review and Northwood’s Shopper.

career has been in the media industry including positions with Gannett and McClatchy, where he spent nine years at the Star Tribune in Minneapolis in various positions. His newspaper career started as a sales representative at a shopper in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Robischon said be believes being an active member of the Most recently, community is a role Robischon served as Jeff Robischon he takes very seriously student media advisor and looks forward to in at Western Oregon Ashland. In his previous positions he has University, advising students working been involved in Rotary and chambers of with the campus newspaper, radio station commerce. He also has played in his local and magazine. It was a role he was church bands. deeply passionate about. He even built Prior to joining Adams Publishing Group, a podcasting studio to help the students Jeff served in various media capacities build their multimedia journalism talents. to include regional advertising director for Lee Enterprises Northwest division overseeing the advertising operations for Washington and Oregon newspapers.

Prior to that, he served as classified ad director for Lee’s Quad City Times in Davenport, Iowa. The bulk of Robischon’s

In December, Robischon moved back to the Midwest to be closer to his parents. His pride and joy are his three kids, Mati (21), Elle (19) and Camden (15).

His hobbies including fishing and playing guitar, and he even recorded an album.

THE COUNTRY TODAY

FARM TECHNOLOGY DAYS

Sue Scoville and Tom Risen (not pictured) working our booth for The Country Today at Farm Technology Days

Farm Technology Days has been around since 1954 in Wisconsin. The event took place from 7/20/21 - 7/22/21 at the Huntsinger Farms (Silver Spring Foods, Inc) in Eau Claire, WI. Huntsinger Farms is now the world’s largest grower and processor of horseradish. This threeday outdoor event showcases the latest developments in productions agriculture, including practical applications and recent research and technology developments. This is the only farm show of its size in the United States that is organized and run entirely by volunteers. The event welcomes more than 45,000 attendees, with more than 600 commercial vendors.

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

IN “CATCH ME IF YOU CAN,” HOW DID FRANK JR. CHEAT ON THE LOUISIANA BAR EXAM? All answers should be submitted to AskHR@adamspg.com.

The winner will be drawn on Monday, August 16, 2021.

MOVIE NIGHT NOW PLAYING: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN 11

APG CENTRAL ROCK RIVER PROVIDES WILDLIFE VISITS TO WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES One of the pluses of working for the Watertown Daily Times is that the offices about the Rock River in Wisconsin, and that means wildlife often pays a visit.

Reporter Ed Zagorski took some time out to feed the ducks (and the other birds that congregate in our backyard). On more than one occasion, when the weather is seasonable and the office has the doors open, a whole raft of ducks has even marched into the newspaper offices like they owned the place. (We tried to sell them a paper, but they told us to put it on their bill.)

APG of East Central Minnesota Circulation Manager Chelsey Swanson (pink and white suit) leaps from this plane, with a professional skydiver strapped to her back, from 13,000 feet in the air.

CIRCULATION MANAGER JUMPS FROM NEW HEIGHTS APG OF EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA By day, APG of East Central Minnesota’s Chelsey Swanson is a circulation manager driven by the goal to grow subscriptions. But in her free time, her motivation shifts to the thrill of the jump— thousands of feet above all the subscribers who read newspapers.

“Skydiving has always been something that piqued my interest,” she said. “I have always believed in the ‘You only live once, so live it to the fullest’ motto.”

“The moment I jumped it was so exhilarating! It quite literally took my breath away.

I felt so alive and it was such an adrenaline rush!”

Swanson, whose first jump was in June 2019, said she had been struggling with medical and personal dilemmas and was searching for a positive outlet. That’s when she discovered skydiving. “The purpose of life, after all, is to live it,” she said.

She remembers free falling for about 45 seconds before the chute cord was pulled.

“You’re still about 4,000 feet in the air and you’re just floating for a few minutes.

You can see everything! The view is just amazing!”

So rather than procrastinate, she simply committed and signed up for her first leap.

“I honestly was not nervous. I think it’s because this was something I have always wanted to experience.”

Since that first jump, she has fallen in love with skydiving. She went again in 2020, this time sharing the experience with her sister. Her ultimate goal is to go solo, which will require training. Her preferred destination for a solo jump is Hawaii, Colorado or Australia.

She said there was no physical training involved, just a video outlining a few safety necessities. “All of my jumps have been tandem, meaning I do jump with a professional (strapped to) my back.”

It takes roughly 15 minutes to reach 12

altitude, which for the jumps she has made is about 13,000 feet. The professional jumper makes sure all straps and chutes are properly prepped for the adventure.

Swanson said there’s a 25–30-degree temperature drop at that height, compared to the ground.

Until then she’ll settle for the tandem jumps and the magnificent view of Midwest farm fields from a place few people will ever experience.

APG WEST 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

WELCOME IDAHO PRESS NEW EDITOR IDAHO PRESS

Teddy Feinberg’s previous visits to Boise have been memorable.

His first was a stopover on a cross-country road trip from Seattle to his home state of New York. On that trip he had breakfast at Moon’s Kitchen Cafe in downtown, where he saw a cook behind the counter with “the absolute best sideburns I’ve seen in my life.”

His second was for a night’s rest while making the drive from Ellensburg, Washington, where he’d just graduated college, to Roswell, New Mexico, for his first job out of school. On that trip he was accompanied by his parents and they made a point to visit the Capitol, which was a family tradition in their travels.

Then there was the time he traveled here as the New Mexico State football beat writer to watch the Aggies take a 58-0 drubbing at the hands of the Boise State Broncos on the Blue Turf.

And those are just some that have stood out.

Starting next month Feinberg, 38, will have the chance to make many more memories in the Treasure Valley when he takes the helm of the newsroom at the Idaho Press, the largest circulated print publication in the state. He succeeds Holly Beech, who spent a decade at the Idaho Press before taking a job with the Idaho Office for Refugees last month.

Feinberg was hired after a nationwide search. He comes to Idaho from The Bakersfield Californian, where he has been the news editor for 2 1/2 years.

“We considered several candidates for this position and Teddy was a solid standout,” Idaho Press Publisher Matt Davison said. “He has a passion for local community journalism and the enthusiasm to keep the Idaho Press moving forward and adapting to today’s readers.

“I can’t wait to see what he accomplishes here at the Idaho Press.”

Why Is Integrity So Important In Journalism?

Feinberg caught the journalism bug at Central Washington University, where he served as sports editor of the student newspaper The Observer. He has spent 15 years working in newspapers with stints in Roswell and Las Cruces, New Mexico, and York, Pennsylvania, before arriving at The Californian in 2017. The Californian has won back-to-back first-place awards for general excellence from the California News Publishers Association in the secondhighest circulation category for daily newspapers.

(Similarly, the Idaho Press has won back-to-back general excellence awards from the Idaho Press Club as the state’s best daily newspaper.)

As The Californian’s sports editor he helped increase its website traffic on its primary online high school platform BVarsity.com. In 2019, he was promoted to news editor, where he oversaw both sports and news.

In his tenure as news editor, The Californian’s overall website traffic has increased as well.

Feinberg said he’s eager for the challenge of having the top newsroom job at one of the nation’s fastestgrowing newspapers and in one of its fastest-growing communities. Curiously, this is the first time he’s taken a job in a community where he’d visited prior to being hired.

“I’m not one to back away from a challenge,” Feinberg said. “Working in a community like the Treasure Valley excites me.

“I feel blessed to get the opportunity to prove myself in a new market. I believe (the Idaho Press) is right where I’m meant to be. It feels like the right place at the right time. I’m very excited to get started.”

Feinberg’s first day was July 6.

“I want to continue to bring a high-quality product to the community — something we can all be proud of,” he said.

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

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APG WEST CHRONICLE HONORED AT ANNUAL MONTANA NEWSPAPER CONVENTION The Bozeman Daily Chronicle won several awards in the Montana Newspaper Association’s annual journalism contest, including firstplace finishes in three categories.

The winners were announced in June at the association’s annual convention in Big Sky, Montana.

Chronicle editor Michael Wright won first place for feature writing for his story, “One less songbird.”

Designer Jon Maletz, the paper’s former sports editor, won both first and second place in the sports page layout and design contest.

Former Chronicle reporter Freddy Monares won first place for breaking news with his coverage of the killing of 12-year-old James Alex Hurley in West Yellowstone last year.

Monares, who now works at Montana Public Radio, was also part of a team that took second place for continuing news coverage. The other Chronicle staffers receiving that award included photographer Rachel Leathe, reporter Helena Dore and former reporters Shaylee Ragar, Perrin Stein and Gail Schontzler.

Schontzler, who retired last year after 37 1/2 years with the paper, also won second place for education coverage.

Dore took second place in the contest for the Mark Henckel Outdoor Writing Award.

The Chronicle’s advertising department was also honored at the convention, winning first for best online ad and taking second and third place for best color ad to sell or promote merchandise.

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BELGRADE NEWS BRINGS HOME 21 AWARDS FROM MNA CONVENTION BELGRADE NEWS

The Belgrade News was honored with 21 awards at the Montana Newspaper Association Annual Convention last weekend in Big Sky. The newspaper’s staff was recognized for editorial and sports coverage as well for its advertising products. The contest period covered calendar year 2020.

Belgrade News Sports Editor Dan Chesnet won two first-place awards and took third place in two others. He won first place for Best Sports Story for “Long-Awaited Return,” which featured senior basketball player Gabby Weber; and Best Sports & Outdoor Column Writing for an Aug. 20 Prep Corner column, which spoke of the challenges facing prep coaches, players and parents at the beginning of the fall season due to COVID-19 restrictions.

One of Chesnet’s third-place awards for Best Sports Feature Story also featured Gabby Weber. He also took third place for Best Sports Photo for “Touchdown Catch.”

Former staff writer Jennifer Verzuh won first place for Best Education Coverage for her story about the Belgrade High School carpentry class building a new awning for the Senior Center.

Former editor Michael Tucker captured first place for Best Page Layout for a Nov. 12 Valley News page featuring the proposed FEMA flood designations in Three Forks.

Editor Diana Setterberg took second-place awards in the following categories: Best Continuing News Coverage for multiple stories on the citizen effort to legalize backyard chickens in Belgrade; Best Editorial, “COVID can’t extinguish light of the season”; and Best News Story for a write-up about the dispute between then-Montana Secretary of State candidate Scott Sales and the Three Forks Chamber of Commerce over Sales’ placement of a political sign.

Tucker took second-place honors in the Best Graphic category for an informational graphic explaining proposed speed limits on Belgrade’s West Main Street. He won third

place in the same category for graphics explaining the proposal for the city of Belgrade to annex into the Central Valley Fire Department.

Tucker also won third-place honors for his headline writing.

Setterberg took third-place awards for Best Investigative Journalism for her look at a Broadwater County economic district plan near Three Forks and the subsequent indictment of Broadwater County Commissioner Laura Obert.

Advertising Director George Hoffman and Advertising Assistant Megan Anderson won second-place awards for Color Ads to Promote Services, Best Online Ad, and Best Use of Photography in an Ad. They captured both second- and third-place awards in the Best Marketing Campaign category.

The combined editorial/sports staff comprising Anderson, Hoffman and Chesnet won second place for Best Newspaper Special Section for the Belgrade News Fall Sports Preview 2020.

The combined efforts of Hoffman, Anderson, Tucker and Setterberg won second place for Best Niche Publication for the Outlook on Business special section and third place in the Newspaper Special Section category for Home for the Holidays.

John Kuglin, former Associated Press Bureau Chief, was inducted into the Montana newspaper Hall of Fame. Kuglin was selected because of his four-decade dedication to quality Montana journalism and his unrelenting defense of open government and the public’s constitutional right to know. The Hall of Fame was established by the Montana Newspaper Association and the University of Montana to honor Montana journalists who have made outstanding contributions to the profession, the arts and their community.

The mission of the Montana Newspaper Association is to advance and sustain the Montana news publishing industry. The association has 84 professional member news providers and was established in 1885.

APG PHOTO RUNNER UP PHOTO CONTEST RUNNER UP MOUNTAIN SCAPE MELANIE TUCKER Date: July 28, 2021 Memo: To All Associates From: Human Resources Re: Updated CDC Guidance to our Infectious Disease Policy As you are aware the COVID-19 pandemic transmission rate is rising dramatically across the country. Adams Publishing Group has taken preventive measures against COVID-19 for the past year-and-a-half to help keep you, our entire staff, your families, and our customers safe. We have worked under some uncertain and often stressful conditions, and you have helped make possible the continuation of our essential operations.

The Delta variant transmission rate increase has resulted in the CDC and OSHA issuing new official guidance for both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. Adams Publishing Group will implement CDC guidelines in our operations starting Monday, August 2, 2021. If your operation is located in a county reporting Substantial or High infections rates: 1. All associates, vaccinated or not vaccinated, will be required to wear a face covering while in the building and remain six feet away from your co-worker and follow all other procedures we currently have in place. Notification of the CDC status will be provided by your Regional President on a weekly basis.

2. If you travel outside the state, a Covid-19 test is required and must be negative prior to reentry to any APG building.

Adams Publishing Group strongly encourages vaccinations but understands it is a personal choice only you, the Associate, can make. Our Associates are at increased risk of contracting COVID-19 and spreading it to others because work-related duties must be performed on-site and involve being in close contact (within 6 feet for a cumulative total of 15 minutes in a 24-hour period) with the public or coworkers.

Getting the COVID-19 vaccine gives you an added layer of protection against COVID-19 and could also protect your coworkers and your family. Here are some key points about COVID-19 vaccination:

Submit a photo to be featured in the monthly newsletter. Each month, the person whose photo is selected for the front cover will win a $25 gift card!

SUBMIT TO

SUBMITNEWS.ADAMSPG.COM

• All COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States are very effective at preventing the disease.

• The most common side effects are pain in the arm where you got the shot, feeling tired, headache, body aches, chills, and fever.

• Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools we have available—wearing

masks, staying at least 6 feet from people who don’t live with you, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, washing your hands frequently, and getting vaccinated.

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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/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.

17

MOVIE NIGHT

MOVIE NIGHT NOW PLAYING: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN

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 JULY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THE AUGUST 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, August 16, 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.