Thank you to some hard-working people

There are times in life when things just don't go the way you planned.

This is one of those stories.

Thursday evening, we will have a small gathering at the Spencer Daily Reporter to say thanks, share memories and wish people well as our in-house printing and mailing operation is closed.

Let's get this straight.

The Dickinson County News is not closing.

The Spencer Reporter is not closing.

The Northwest Iowa Shopper is not closing.

We will be transferring the printing and mailing operation to another location, effective with next week's publications.

The change means 11 dedicated workers – eight part-time and three full-time – will be leaving our employment in their current roles. Bob, Cindy, Cody, Destiny, Devin, Jade, Mike and Monte in our inserting/mailing operation, and Nathan, Randy and Todd who have printed your papers, have done everything asked of them to give you a quality print job and to get the paper to you. I can tell you they also play some really good tunes when they work. Over the course of the past seven and one-half months, they have learned many new ways to do things; no one complained. They were eager to do a great job for you and their employer, and they did.

When the Hall family purchased the property and publications last spring, the intent was to retain a printing operation. Unforeseen losses of print customers meant the work dried up, and absent that outside work, there is not enough to keep a full-scale printing/mailing operation.

I have great respect for the people work in printing and mailing. They perform difficult and laborious chores. Have you ever inserted 15,000 shoppers or shafted newsprint rolls? Plus, the deadline clock is always ticking, and they often have to wait for others to get their work done before they can do their own. They don't get bylines and sales commissions. They aren't usually seen by our customers. However, absent their work, the paper is dead in the water.

It has been my pleasure to get to know these people. I am grateful for their commitment, and if you are looking for people who work, they will come with my highest recommendations.

Thank you, crew. We will miss you.