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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2020)
4A WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020 The Observer OUR VIEW New year a time for reflection As the new year descends upon us, it is fi tting to step back and remember a few key items about our community, state and nation. That might be a tall order for some if a casual glance at the news is any indication. For some in our great nation, a great deal of bitterness lingers in the wake of the impeachment of the president by the U.S. House of Representatives. That is understand- able, up to a point. Fact is, though, Trump will remain president through his four-year term. The Senate will not re- move him from offi ce, and he will run for re-election. It is time to move forward. We are, it seems, bombarded with a steady diet of “what is wrong” in our nation and communities. That isn’t all bad. The fi rst step toward fi xing any issue is a strong dose of the truth, and often the truth isn’t very appealing. Yet it is critical when we refl ect on the past year — and eye the future with hope — we all realize that overall, we are in a good shape as a nation. There are problems — no doubt about it — but there also are a lot of great things about America. For one, regardless of the rhetoric piped into the big pop-culture machine of Americana, we remain a nation of laws and specifi c freedoms. We can, if we so choose, congregate together and protest peacefully. We still carry the right to defend ourselves. We are a nation governed by laws and a system of due process. We still can hold free elections. In short, there is an array of good things about our nation and communities that should be remembered as the new year dawns. Locally, we remain a commu- nity that cares. We are a community that embraces change while preserving our most cherished tradi- tions. We appear to collectively seek answers and develop solutions to challenges that arise. Write to us LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Observer welcomes letters to the editor. Letters are limited to 350 words and must be signed and carry the author’s address and phone number (for verifi cation purposes only). We edit letters for brevity, grammar, taste and legal reasons. We will not publish poetry, consumer complaints against businesses or personal attacks against private individuals. Thank-you letters are discouraged. Letter writers are limited to one letter every two weeks. Email your letters to news@lagrandeobserver.com or mail them to La Grande Observer, 1406 5th St., La Grande, Ore., 97850. MY VOICE My Voice columns should be 500 words. Submissions should include a portrait-type photograph of the author. Authors also should include their full name, age, occupation and relevant organizational memberships. We edit submissions for brevity, grammar, taste and legal reasons. We reject those published elsewhere. Send columns to La Grande Observer, 1406 5th St., La Grande, Ore., 97850, fax them to 541-963-7804 or email them to pwright@lagrandeobserver.com. Moving into a new era of delivery H appy New Year. The calendar has taken another faithful leap from the end of one year to the begin- ning of another and hopes are running high. January is often prime time for personal and professional refl ection on the past 12 months and preparation for the future. It’s also a month of resolu- tions and improvement plans. We wipe the slate clean from the challenges and disappointments of the previous year and begin laying the foundation for a more successful and promising year ahead with anticipation. It’s a month of transition and change. If my newspaper career has taught me anything, it’s that change is inevitable — and necessary — but there will be bumps along the way. Brace yourselves, loyal readers, as we embark together on yet another excit- ing adventure in newspapering. One of my key initiatives for 2020 was to evaluate our customer service, including how to provide more reliable in-home delivery to subscribers and a better overall product. So much of the last few years of our operation and the decisions we made were based purely on survival. It’s refreshing to be able to refocus our attention and energy into rebuilding our brand and reconnect- ing with our readers and communities. Adding more value to your subscription and providing you the best product and service possible is once again our top priority. Without a doubt, the most challeng- ing facet of our business is delivery. The simple act of getting your newspaper from our offi ce to your front door sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it? But it’s a job that has proven to be more diffi cult with each passing year. Finding and maintaining a carrier force has become a daily struggle and a trend we haven’t been able to buck. Our ability to provide consistent delivery to our subscribers is in constant jeopardy. It’s an exhausting cycle. You might not know that your car- rier isn’t an employee of The Observer or the Baker City Herald. They’re contracted haulers and self-employed. Gone are the days of the beloved “paper FROM THE PUBLISHER KARRINE BROGOITTI route kid.” Our carrier force is made up primarily of retired folks and workers who aren’t looking for full-time employ- ment but rather a way to supplement their income. Delivery of our product is a vital aspect of our operation. What good is a breaking news story, a compelling photo or an advertising campaign if it doesn’t reach the homes of our readers? A shortage of carriers and recruitment challenges have forced the offi ce staff at both newspapers to pitch in and deliver “down routes.” There’s been more than one occasion in which myself, reporters and advertising staff have delivered newspapers. I am fortunate our offi ce culture has a “all hands on deck” mentality. While it’s a nice change of scenery for those of us who are chained to a desk most days, it’s not a model that can sustain itself long term. And here’s where our adventure begins. Beginning Tuesday, Feb. 4, The Observer and the Baker City Herald will convert our delivery method from contracted carrier to same-day U.S. Postal Service mail delivery. At the same time, we will shift our publishing days to Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sat- urdays. Shifting publishing days allows readers the advantage of receiving their coveted grocery sales ads on the day the sales start, expands our late-breaking news opportunity and puts us in a position to provide Friday night sports coverage and scores in our Saturday editions. It also sets the stage for get- ting your newspaper to the post offi ce in time for same-day delivery by mail. A partnership with USPS allows us to hand off the delivery of our product to the experts, freeing up my staff to do what they do best — reporting on local news and events and helping promote and market businesses in our communities. Shifting our publication days and moving from afternoon carrier delivery SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Stopped account balances less than $5 will be refunded upon request. Subscription rates per month: By carrier...............................................$11.80 By mail, all other U.S. .............................. $15 A division of Karrine Brogoitti is the publisher of The Observer. STAFF Phone: SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE NEWSSTAND PRICE: $1.50 You can save up to 34% off the single-copy price with home delivery. Call 541-963-3161 to subscribe. to same-day delivery via postal carrier is a natural and industry-wide solution to delivery challenges and gives us the ability to fi x inconsistencies. This is not a cost-cutting measure. There are no savings with this switch. It’s a decision based purely on our desire to ensure our valuable subscribers get the news- paper delivered to them, three days a week, on a consistent and predictable schedule they can rely on and with the most vetted, accurate, up-to-date local news coverage and advertising we can provide. The conversion to mail distribution does mean the end of an era for our newspapers in terms of our delivery force. After nearly 125 years for The Observer and 150 years for the Baker City Herald, the last carrier-delivered newspaper will hit your doorstep Jan. 31. Our dedicated carriers waged war against unpredictable weather, late press times, aggressive dogs and dis- gruntled subscribers. It’s a diffi cult and often thankless gig — even under the most ideal circumstances. And rarely are the circumstances ideal. There are few words that can express the gratitude we have for our carriers, past and present. They are truly the unsung heroes of our operation, and although we think that partnering for postal delivery is the right business decision to make, it is not easy to say goodbye to our delivery partners. I hope in the coming days and weeks as we transition our delivery that you will take a few minutes to visit with your carriers and to thank them for their service. The foundation of a successful news- paper hinges on its commitment to its readers and customers. It’s my sincere hope our readers will embrace and appreciate these changes as inherently positive transitions in which The Ob- server and Baker City Herald fulfi ll our promise of providing the best product and delivery service possible — not just for the short-term, but in a way that is sustainable long into our future. 541-963-3161 An independent newspaper founded in 1896 (USPS 299-260) The Observer reserves the right to adjust subscription rates by giving prepaid and mail subscribers 30 days notice. Periodicals postage paid at La Grande, Oregon 97850. Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (except Dec. 25) by EO Media Group, 1406 Fifth St., La Grande, OR 97850 (USPS 299-260) COPYRIGHT © 2020 THE OBSERVER The Observer retains ownership and copyright protection of all staff-prepared news copy, advertising copy, photos and news or ad illustrations. They may not be reproduced without explicit prior approval. Toll free (Oregon): 1-800-422-3110 Fax: 541-963-7804 Email: news@lagrandeobserver.com Website: www.lagrandeobserver.com Street address: 1406 Fifth St., La Grande POSTMASTER Send address changes to: The Observer, 1406 Fifth St., La Grande, OR 97850 Periodicals postage paid at: La Grande, Oregon 97850 Publisher........................................Karrine Brogoitti Classifieds ........................................ Devi Mathson Regional circulation director ....................Kelli Craft Home delivery advisor.................Amanda Fredrick Editor .....................................................Phil Wright Customer service rep ......................... Mollie Lynch News clerk....................................Lisa Lester Kelly Advertising representative...............Juli Bloodgood Sports editor .......................................Ronald Bond Advertising representative...................... Amy Horn Reporter................................................Dick Mason Graphic design supervisor................Dorothy Kautz Reporter....................................Sabrina Thompson Graphic design ..............................Cheryl Christian IT support ........................................Nicole Gilbride Chris Rush, Regional Publisher
