Newspaper carriers spin out trying to deliver to readers
Longtime subscriber doesn’t want safety over news
When snow and ice hit the Auburn area it meant the community’s local newspaper was challenged with not only reporting the news but also delivering it. Sunday night the initial round of snow impacted the Auburn Journal’s entire 63 routes, said Kelly Leibold, circulation director. “Of the 63 routes, all were affected by snow, ice and inclement weather,” Leibold said. Leibold said that some customers received their newspapers a little later in the day while others didn’t receive a copy of the Auburn Journal until the next day when their road was more accessible. The delayed or lack of delivery resulted in constant phone calls to customer service Monday and Tuesday starting at 6 a.m., said Mandy Hanna, Journal customer service representative. “We had close to 500 phone calls in one day,” Hanna said. “The majority of people were complaining that it was late.” Hanna said that at least two carriers spun out on the ice driving their routes and another had their car stuck in an embankment. Hanna and other customer service representatives said that some readers threatened to cancel while others criticized carriers for not knowing how to drive in snow and ice. But longtime reader Lynn Lombard said she feels exactly the opposite. Lombard initially e-mailed Leibold on Tuesday saying she didn’t like seeing her carrier Mary DeGraff delivering her newspaper late Sunday night on an icy Placer Hills Road in Weimar. “Our carrier Mary DeGraff went above and beyond the call of duty to get the Auburn Journal to longtime subscribers,” Lombard said Thursday. Lombard said she had called DeGraff earlier Sunday night to tell her not to come. “Under no circumstances did we want to risk her personal safety to deliver the Auburn Journal to us,” Lombard said. “The Auburn Journal has been delivered to us under unbelievable circumstances with grace and reliability.” Leibold said Thursday that carriers are not asked to put themselves at risk. If they come upon a route that is too difficult to access, they are asked to call customer service at the Auburn Journal and tell them which route will not receive their newspapers. “We do not ask any carrier to travel down a closed road and ask they use good judgment when delivering,” Leibold said. As of Thursday, Leibold said there are some areas in Ophir, Colfax, Christian Valley and Meadow Vista where carriers are still not able to deliver newspapers. He said carriers are also making second attempts later in the day after ice melts to complete their routes. Leibold added that carriers were advised to outfit their vehicles for the snow by investing in a set of traction tires, studded tires or chains to help them work during the winter season. “As we go forward, we encourage carriers to invest in traction devices while still being as cautious as they can be,” Leibold said. Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com.
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No newspaper delivery? Auburn Journal subscribers who do not receive their newspaper are asked to call customer service representatives at (530) 885-2471. Subscribers missing issues can either received credit for missed newspapers or have them sent out with the first available delivery.
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My road has been cleared and easily accessible since Monday afternoon, but no Journal, late or otherwise. In the meantime, the Sacramento Bee carrier has delivered the paper without fail. What do the Bee carriers know that the Journal carriers do not?
Gulliver you are to much!! Think of someone else before yourself. geeeeeez
I do not in any way want to criticize the Journal delivery - I did not get a paper on Monday & that was fully understandable & expected, on Tuesday delivery was back on schedule & I got both dats papers. I do though want to praise my Bee delivery person, who went above and beyond somehow and got our paper here on Monday by 7, when most my neighbors could note even get out of the neighborhood, this should be recognized!.
Hope all the carriers are safe - not worth killing yourself to deliver a paper - not like we can't use the internet ;)!
I would like to comment in defense of the selfless newspaper delivery people, (ARTICLE, FRONT PAGE DEC 11& 12). So you wake up, put on some clothes, shoes and jacket, reluctantly open the door of your house, you struggle to walk the whole 20 yards to get your Monday paper, you look in the box and to your horror IT‘S NOT THERE. With your new me me me attitude you power walk back to the house with the, I’LL SHOW THEM thought running through your frozen head. You actually get on the phone and call the newspaper to complain.
HEY PIN HEAD,
did you not notice the 7 to 14 inches of snow you just struggled to walk threw to retrieve your 6 page paper.
GIVE ME A BREAK
These newspaper delivery people get up at, who know what hour, prepare the paper for delivery in their high gas mileage, two wheel drive sedan with bald tires and do a job that needs to be done. You people that had the complete selfish thought to call and complain about your paper being late, should have your subscription canceled by the paper. I say, you get in your own car, drive through whatever weather you have to deal with, and buy your own damn paper. Or better yet, you can all pitch in and buy all the delivery people 4 wheel drive SUV’s with studded snow tires, so your paper isn’t late once or twice a year.
gulliver, they know who you are, the Bee carrier is oblivious. There are some on this blog that hope you don't ever receive the Journal. Just trying to point out an "obvious". Don't be so negative "troop"! Have a great weekend.
"billaustin" thank you for the support of the auburn journal carriers. Although I no longer deliver the Journal and haven't for a few years I felt I had to chime in. These people don't realize that these carriers get up around 2 or 3 am in any weather 6 days a week. Most of the carriers don't drive SUV's or trucks (its way to expensive).
In 1990 and 1991 we had a huge snow fall. I myself was pregnant and delivering papers at that time. We finished most of our routes (my route was in town so I didn't have alot of trouble but some. My husband delivered in Christian Valley and with his 4x4 truck still couldn't deliever some of the route. So you see even if he was prepared he still couldn't deliver. (he even had to come rescue me and my daughter in the mobile home park where I was stuck!
People have patient's these carriers are doing thier best. They are still out their delivering in the snow while ya'll are sleeping warmly in your beds.
I think the Auburn Journal could of stuck up more for thier carriers though!!!!!!!!!!