New Sussex County Post

Delmarva merges the Sussex Post and the Leader & State Register into one news packed Sussex County Post to be distributed in 600 locations throughout Sussex County Delaware with the first issue February 4. The Delmarva Distribution team has spend long hours assisting Tammy Brittingham, Publisher of the Delaware Weeklies, reworking maps, designing routes, talking to carriers, finding single copy outlet locations, and the endless job of entering everything in the system. Judy McMillan has been designated as the distribution person to work directly with Tammy Brittingham and the local carriers once this change is completed. The excitement mounts as the deadline date draws near.

Judy Kasten Celebrates 30 Years

ANNIVERSARY PROFILE
30 YEARS

Judy Kasten

Name: Judy Kasten

Newspaper:  INI Florida: Okeechobee News, Clewiston News, Glades County Democrat, The Sun, Caloosa Belle and Immokalee Bulletin

Position: Advertising Director, INI Florida

Number of years in the newspaper or printing business: 30

Job description: As Advertising Director for INI Florida, I provide leadership, organization, support, and accountability so our papers will achieve their full potential for advertising sales and productivity.

What I like best (about my job): The constant challenges due to the economic changes in our marketplace and this causing us to change our advertising strategies so we can help our accounts continue to get results with their advertising campaigns and bring our company a fair return on dollars invested.

Most memorable moment with INI: Over the past 30 years, there have been lots of memorable moments. One of the funniest was the day two young boys walked into the Arcadian with a two foot alligator they had caught. They wanted their picture taken. When the reporter told them it was illegal for them to catch an alligator, they dropped it in front of my desk. I hopped onto the desk and stayed there until the boys and ‘gator left the office.

Hobbies/Interests: Gardening, boating, fishing, traveling

Fun fact (about myself): I’m a Jimmy Buffett fan and belong to his fan club, the Parrot Heads. We do lots of fundraising and having fun doing it. I’ve recently returned from a national four day fundraising event in Key West.

Arizona Teams Are Busy

NORTH VALLEY TEAM:

The Scottsdale Independent is NOW serving ALL of Scottsdale! Our new rotating distribution zones mean we reach 60,000 different homes over the course of four weeks (15,000 homes every week). Upcoming editions include: This week: North Scottsdale, Jan. 27. For a current map or route breakdown, contact Brian or Diane.

EAST VALLEY TEAM:

Tina Pendexter and Richard Dyer attended the kickoff dinner for the 2010 Lost Dutchman Days in Apache Junction last Thursday.

VALLEY NEWSPAPERS:

The last week of the month is in full swing at Valley. Schedule is humming and we like that. In the last year we've sure discovered a wide variety of ethnic publications here. We're printing Hispanic, Filopino, Korean, Asian, Chinese, Vietnamese and more! Quite the melting pot of printing here at Valley!

WEST VALLEY TEAM:

The West Valley team will be participating in the Sun City’s 50th anniversary parade on March 13. Please e-mail Charlene if you are interested in participating.

Arizona Offices Make An Impression On The Community

Census Office thanks Rusty Bradshaw

Al Nieto, U.S. Census Phoenix central office branch manager, told Rusty Bradshaw, Sun City/Peoria Independent news editor, a story he wrote about caution with people claiming to be Census workers helped the Census Bureau track down a misconception.

“When you asked about the hand-held devices that made us aware this was a problem and we tracked it to May 2009 when our initial efforts had people who were verifying addresses using those types of devices. The Better Business Bureau, Senator Kyl’s office and other entities picked up on that and included it in their Web site information. However, Census workers going out in April will not have hand-held devices and we have been able to get those sites corrected. They meant well in including that information, but had not updated it. Thanks to you bringing it to our attention, we were able to track and correct the information.”

Chaparral High School Praises Michelle Tennis

Michelle Tennis received the following e-mail in response to an article:

Hi, Michelle, Thank you so much for your help in getting that information and picture in about the Sister Cities trip to Switzerland, too! You are wonderful. It is so nice to see all of the wonderful, positive articles you run in the Paradise Valley Independent. Thanks for your help .-- Faith Harris, Teacher/Librarian. Chaparral High School

This Bud's For ...

This Bud’s for… A very special thank you to everyone that has helped me during my transition back to the Delaware State News and INI family… it’s great to be back! --Tonda L. Parks

This Bud’s for … Tim Buzzard – you are always ready to fix something broken at the Dover offices from toilet seats to holes in the walls. You are a man of many talents and I appreciate it. – Sheila Clendaniel

This Bud’s for … Michelle Tennis for handling the Bulletin all these weeks that turned into years. We really appreciate your efforts, Michelle - The staff at Valley Newspapers

This Bud’s for… Vicki Mead-Brown and Lori Kircher for their help entering information in the circulation system for the new Sussex County Post. – Don Clendaniel and Rita Maier

2010 Kent County Profile Unveiled

From left, Delaware State News managing editor Andrew West, Kent Economic Partnership chairman Dennis E. Klima and Kent Economic Partnership chief executive officer Daniel W. Wolfensberger show off the cover of the 2010 Kent County Profile. The glossy publication, a collaborative effort between the Delaware State News and Kent Economic Partnership, will be used as an economic development tool.

      
Delaware State News publisher Ed Dulin welcomed nearly 100 people attending the unveiling of the Kent County Profile.
 
 
Photo by: Delaware State News/Dave Chambers

Kristin and Richard Share Their Talents

Kristin Doetsch and Richard Dyer hosted a Cub Scout den from Queen Creek Saturday morning, Jan. 23. The Scouts were learning how to gather facts and information working to earn their Bear Badge and they worked on a mock front page with a photo of the scouts.

Crisfield Somerset County Times GM Honored by Chamber of Commerce

Dear Crisfield Times,

At our Annual Awards Banquet in January 2010 the Crisfield Chamber of Commerce chose to honor Richard Crumbacker for his dedicated service to both the Chamber and our local community. Richard attended all of our meetings, gave fair and unbiased reports on the community affairs and promoted those activities taking place in and around our community.

We are requesting that you add this letter of commendation to Richard’s personnel file. We in the community appreciate his dedication and your company continuing to support the publishing of our local paper.

Sincerely,
Chris Sterling,
President, Crisfield Chamber of Commerce

Sun City West Helps the Amazing Race

Dear Charlene,

The coordinators of the Amazing Race would like to thank you for donating paper space for our logos in the Sun City West Independent newspaper. You were very helpful to me and it helped make this event special. The participants hunted through the paper to find the hidden messages and I heard it really challenged them.

We have asked our participants and volunteers to support your paper and have noted your donation in our section of the SCW Rec Center News published monthly. You were also at the top of our donor lists that was posted at the event and on the tables. It was also posted on our Web site.

Thank you for your generosity. It was greatly appreciated.

Cheri Cavanaugh
Amazing Race coordinator

February Anniversaries

2/2 , 40 Yrs , Antoinette Hewes , Delaware Printing Company
2/3 , 30 Yrs , Philip Bisesi , Valley Newspaper Printing
2/4 , 16 Yrs , Robert Giarraputo , Valley Newspaper Printing
2/6 , 4 Yrs , Julie Maurer , Sun City Independent
2/7 , 5 Yrs , Jennifer Wright , Delaware State News
2/8 , 11 Yrs , Angela Bridges , Okeechobee News
2/8 , 5 Yrs , Jean McNeeley , Okeechobee News
2/14 , 5 Yrs , Cathy Parker , The Leader State Register
2/14 , 3 Yrs , Anthony Blue , Delaware Printing Company
2/14 , 3 Yrs , Scott Verbout , Apache Junction Independent
2/15 , 17 Yrs , Janet Madray , Okeechobee News
2/16 , 40 Yrs , Danny Breedlove , Delaware Printing Company
2/20 , 4 Yrs , Olivia Littleton , Delaware State News
2/24 , 6 Yrs , Angela Mendez , Independent of Arizona
2/26 , 3 Yrs , Alison Hammond , Delaware State News
2/28 , 10 Yrs , Jennifer Keim , The Leader State Register

February Birthdays

2/1 , Jennifer Keim , The Leader State Register
2/3 , James Daisey , Delaware Printing Company
2/3 , Linda Sabo , Corporate
2/4 , Karla Akmentins , Delaware State News
2/7 , Burkey Emmons , Delaware Printing Company
2/8 , Kristin Doetsch , Apache Junction Independent
2/8 , Yolibet Garelick , Valley Newspaper Printing
2/8 , Diane Runion , Northeast Group Independent
2/10 , Dianna Sellers , Delaware State News
2/14 , Craig Horleman , Delaware State News
2/15 , Jeremy Carr , Sun City Independent
2/15 , Katrina Elsken , Okeechobee News
2/15 , Bruce Pringle , Delaware State News
2/16 , Angela Dewelles , Apache Junction Independent
2/18 , Victoria Meades-Brown , Delaware State News
2/19 , Robert Giarraputo , Valley Newspaper Printing
2/20 , Ashley Smith , Clewiston News
2/20 , Diane Timmons , Okeechobee News
2/24 , Dennis Gonzalez , Valley Newspaper Printing
2/27 , Scherie Drzymalski , Corporate

DSN Managing Editor Meets The Rich and Famous

Travis Tritt and Andy West

Andy West, Managing Editor of the Delaware State News, attended a Travis Tritt concert at Dover Downes recently and had the privilege of visiting with Travis Tritt personally.

Jean McNeeley

ANNIVERSARY PROFILE
5 YEARS

 

Jean McNeeley

Name: Jean M McNeeley

Newspaper: Okeechobee News

Position: Customer Service Representative

Number of years in the newspaper or printing business: 5 years

Job description: Tear sheets for Display & Classified, Legal Affidavits, DCR, Subscribers for Circulation, Receptionist other misc. duties.

What I like best (about my job): The opportunity to meet and help so many nice people.

Hobbies/Interests: Traveling

Fun fact (about myself): I enjoy playing cards and going to garage sales and thrift shops.

2010 Sussex County Profile Unveiled

Independent Newspapers, Inc., publisher of the Delaware State News, and the Sussex County Economic Development Office unveiled the 2010 edition of the Sussex County Profile on Tuesday, January 19, at the Brick Hotel in Georgetown. Independent Newspapers, Inc. and the county collaborate annually on the publication, which is designed to serve as an economic development tool.

The cover photo, taken by Dave Chambers, features aerial applicator, Jeff Chorman, piloting his Turbo Thrush 550 over a cornfield near Bridgeville. Mr. Chorman flies for Allen Chorman and Sons, Inc., which is based in Greenwood and Milton. The 2010 Sussex County Profile can be viewed online at http://www.sussexcountyprofile.com/.

Shown after the cover unveiling, from left, are Delaware State News managing editor Andrew West, Mr. Chorman, Sussex County Council members Samuel R. Wilson Jr., Vance C. Phillips, Michael H. Vincent and Joan R. Deaver, Sussex County administrator David Baker and council member George B. Cole.

Reaching Out To The Next Generation

Combs High School Journalism Class

Jill Adair and Angela De Welles visited the journalism class at Combs High School in San Tan Valley on Tuesday, Jan. 19 to present the “Write to Report” program and to encourage the students to submit stories and photos to the Queen Creek/San Tan Valley paper. The students discussed ideas of stories that they would like to submit and the editorial staff in the East Valley Office hopes to see their work soon!

News From Okeechobee

How many people are in Okeechobee County? How many cows? How high is the dike around Lake Okeechobee? How deep is the big lake? What’s the average temperature in February? The Okeechobee News staff has been busy gathering plenty of facts about Okeechobee County for the annual Community Guide which goes to press this week. For our 2010 guide, we focused on making the guide more attractive and “fact packed” than ever. And thanks to lots of color ads, for the first time ever, the entire 32-page special section is in full color.

Praises Ring for Arizona Teams

Charlene Bisson received the following e-mail from a satisfied reader:

Love the size of the paper and that you do not write "outline" articles like the ones we commonly see these days in the Peoria Republic. It feels like I'm just reading the reports very sketchy notes. – Kim Price Olsen

Michelle Tennis and Zach Colick received the following e-mail in response to an article that ran in the PV edition:

I just checked my online edition of the Independent and saw the nice big article, with photo, about our Dream Act play. Thank you so much for the great publicity! I hope some of our church neighbors will be curious enough to attend one of the performances.—Charlotte

A very nice letter was received last week for the efforts of the EV staff. The staff made a Christmas donation on behalf of readers to the Salvation Army:

“You continue to be our biggest supporters with Christmas and throughout the year,” said Linda Raymond, case worker for the Salvation Army.

Buds

This bud's for the entire EV Team for such a wonderful welcoming pot luck! Everything was yummy!—Renie Scibona

This bud’s for the plate-setting department here at Valley for helping assure the upgrade to our aging Prinergy workflow is now complete. Thanks Debbie, Terry, Yoli, Marc, and Rob for all your help — Steve Steinke

News From Arizona

EAST VALLEY TEAM:

We are distributing in Zone 2, Downtown Mesa, for the 1/27 pub date. If anyone has access to a utility trailer that we can borrow for our Lost Dutchman Days parade float and/or an easy-up canopy for our booth at the rodeo, please let us know. We are doing January cleaning for new beginnings in our office, and we have excess furniture and supplies. If you are in need of cubicle shelves or desk organizers/baskets, please get in touch with Tina.

If you have any advertisers sold into the new Chandler & Gilbert markets, please let us know as we are trying to track our progress for the Feb. 3 launch. The East Valley office is also in production for a 32-page Lost Dutchman Days special section. The team wrapped up the special section with more than $7,000 in sales.

News Editor Terrance Thornton will be moderating a legislative forum for the Queen Creek Chamber on the evening of Jan. 27. The Queen Creek chamber will be working with the QC Independent by providing a monthly chamber update.

NORTH VALLEY TEAM:

The Scottsdale Independent is NOW serving ALL of Scottsdale! Our new rotating distribution zones mean we reach 60,000 different homes over the course of four weeks (15,000 homes every week). Upcoming editions include: This week: downtown/south Scottsdale, Jan. 20. For a current map or route breakdown, contact Brian or Diane.

VALLEY NEWSPAPERS:

It's a new year at Valley Newspapers, and while there's not a sound of a powerful locomotive driving our sales engine right now, we continue to pick up some new clients and bring back others who had wandered away. It's an energy crunch for all of us, but one that we know is ours to make happen. We're convinced that the first quarter of 2010 will be much improved from the same period last year. That alone helps us keep going. It's good to see the more colorful INI's as well.

Color is a big advantage to advertisers, and our ability to provide it in so many different places within each publication has to be a help to our INI sales staff too. Also, contact Mike Jacobs regarding an insert printing opportunity we have too.

WEST VALLEY TEAM:

The team wishes DC Clark a happy birthday today! Congrats on another year! Arrowhead Ranch will kick off this week. Please check out the first edition!

DSN and DPC Host Leadership Central Delaware's Class of 2010 Tour

Tonda Parks, Andrew West, Heather Cregar & Tom Bugbee

Andy West explains the graphics department

Tom Bugbee explains the inserting process

Members of Leadership Central Delaware’s Class of 2010 toured the Delaware State News & Delaware Printing Company on Thursday for its Communications Day, chaired by Delaware State News Managing Editor Andy West. The leadership program is sponsored by the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce. The group also participated in a mock-reporting drill and news photo decision-making session at the new Holiday Inn in Dover.

If you have a Face Book account click on the link below for more pictures

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Newszapcom/78251099671#/album.php?aid=2033159&id=1051387753&ref=mf

New HIre Paperwork

Are you uncertain about which forms to use? In an effort to streamline the process and save you time, HR has created a folder with a checklist and all the forms required at file://ini04/TeamLeaders/Forms/Sign-Up_Paperwork  Each form must be completed and signed by the team leader and the new employee prior to their beginning work with INI. In this folder you will also find a listing of salary exemption rules. If the new hire is to be signed up as salaried please indicate which exemption you are using. Just print, complete and send to inipayroll@newszap.com

Increase Your 401k Investment and Save For Retirement!

Limits remain unchanged for 2010. Most eligible employees can defer up to $16,500 of their annual salary to their 401k investment plan. Employees age 50 and older can defer up to $22,000. In most cases, each participant may defer up to the maximum allowed by law. The plan defers taxes on the amount you invest in your 401k account. If you would like to increase your contribution, it's simple! Log onto Self Service>Benefits>401k Elections. Please email inipayroll@newszap.com with questions.

Benefit Heads up For Health Plan Participants!

As a way of promoting wellness, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical Plan provides 100% coverage (applies to in-network physician and medical facilities only) for preventive services. Preventive Care includes procedures such as routine physicals, hearing exams, immunizations, mammograms and colonoscopy tests. Check out the Blue Cross Blue Shield Summary Document in the toolbox @ http://www.initoolbox.com/PDFs/medical2009.pdf for a full listing of services. If you are unsure of whether your doctor is part of the in-network PPO group, log on to the Blue Cross Blue Shield website @ https://www.bcbsde.com/ProviderDirectory/Default.asp  Select PROVIDER, enter INI’s group# 117954. Select the Local BCBSD network and select the type of physicians within your city and state. Contact inipayroll@newszap.com with questions.

January Anniversaries

1/1 , 50 Yrs , Joe Smyth , Chairman Office
1/5 , 1 Yrs , Duane Clark , Sun City Independent
1/5 , 23 Yrs , Tamra Brittingham , The Leader State Register
1/6 , 6 Yrs , Dianna Sellers , Delaware State News
1/13 , 13 Yrs , Kay Sheedy , Okeechobee News
1/15 , 13 Yrs , Robert Martin , Valley Newspaper Printing
1/16 , 3 Yrs , Laura Riffle , Independent of Arizona
1/22 , 3 Yrs , Logan Anderson , Milford The Journal
1/26 , 1 Yrs , Scherie Drzymalski , Corporate
1/29 , 7 Yrs , Daniel Sepulveda , Independent of Arizona

January Birthdays

6,  Jena Connor , Corporate
6,  Debra Luke , Corporate
7,  Philip Bisesi , Valley Newspaper Printing
8,  John Irwin , Delaware Printing Company
11, Darre Porter , Apache Junction Independent
14, Jasper Purnell , Delaware Printing Company
16, David Rehkamp , Delaware Printing Company
16, John Redman , Delaware State News
18, Tina Griffith , Delaware Printing Company
18, Sandra Stokes , Daily Banner
19, Duane Clark , Sun City Independent
22, Donny Jacobs , Valley Newspaper Printing
25, Sharon Harvey , Delaware State News
29, Michael Fenimore , Corporate

News From Arizona

EAST VALLEY TEAM

The East Valley office has delayed its launch of the new Chandler and Gilbert Independents until Feb. 3, 2010. The delay will give the office additional time to fine-tune distribution routes, secure commitments and allow our new publisher an opportunity to promote the openings within the communities. For distribution information, contact eastvalleyads@newszap.com. The East Valley office is planning a potluck Friday, Jan. 15 with a roasted turkey and all the fixings. Tuesday, Jan. 12 is the last day to get an advertisement in the 2010 Lost Dutchman Days special section. Also, if anyone has access to a utility trailer that we can borrow for our parade float in the Lost Dutchman Days event and/or an easy-up canopy for our booth at the rodeo, please let us know.

We are distributing in Zone 4, NE Mesa, for the 1/20 pub date. We are doing January cleaning for new beginnings in our office, and we have excess furniture and supplies. If you are in need of cubicle shelves or desk organizers/baskets, please get in touch with Tina. If you have any advertisers sold into the new Chandler & Gilbert markets, please let us know as we are trying to track our progress for the Feb. 3 launch!

MAJORS/NATIONAL ACCOUNTS
We have secured a deal with Walmart beginning in March in Scottsdale, with other markets still being considered. Desert Hills Bank has renewed for 26 weeks in SC, SCW and has added into TPV with front page banner ads. We are also working on Safeway possibly for Apache Junction and Sun City. And Buca di Beppo has committed for the next 12 weeks in Peoria, half page full color ads. And we are close to coming to an agreement with Local Point Media, SNA’s advertising branch, for a FULL RUN buy. Also SRP is going to be doing some future ads in 7 markets. WOO HOO!! Good Things.

AZ CLASSIFIEDS
Classified Team has secured a total of 18 new contracts in the Chandler/Gilbert & Arrowhead Ranch papers. We continue to make our outbound calls for all three areas. Please continue to send us any leads you have in your area.

NORTH VALLEY TEAM
The Scottsdale Independent is NOW serving ALL of Scottsdale! Our new rotating distribution zones mean we reach 60,000 different homes over the course of four weeks (15,000 homes every week). Upcoming editions include: This week: Ranch Edition, Jan. 13. For a current map or route breakdown, contact Brian or Diane.

WEST VALLEY TEAM
Arrowhead Ranch sales continue to go well. The team is closing in on their launch goal. Two full pages ads have been sold. A reminder: Deadline is noon Wednesday, Jan. 20. Jeremy Carr received kudos from the Salvation Army this morning as they appreciated him for his stories and promotions during the holiday season

Welcome Back Renie!

Renie Scibona, former publisher of Ahwatukee Foothills News has been hired to lead and expand operations for INI’s East Valley operations.

Renie most recently served as Publisher of the Ahwatukee Foothills News for 4 ½ years. She returns to INI after being employed with them for over 14 years. She served Independent Newspapers in several capacities including General Manager of three of its publication in the Northeast Valley. Her last position was the National/Major Accounts Ad Director.

“We’re very pleased Renie has decided to come back home to INI,” says Bret McKeand, vice president of operations. “Her values and vision for what makes a great community newspaper are perfectly in tune with our company’s philosophies.”

“We have tremendous opportunities in the East Valley,” adds Bret. “Renie’s experience, stellar reputation and record of success will boost our efforts to grow our products and become the East Valley’s top community newspaper group.”

The Arizona group will re-launch its Chandler Independent and Gilbert Independent on Feb. 3. The expansion brings the number of newspapers published by the company in the East Valley to five, with a combined total weekly circulation of 90,000.

Happy anniversary Joe!

The Arizona team surprised CEO Joe Smyth Tuesday with a special 50th anniversary party at Valley Newspapers. A special anniversary gift clock, cake and card were presented on behalf of all employees in the Independent family. Joe, who started working for INI in 1959, was attending an Arizona team leader meeting and was unaware of the festivities planned to mark the occasion. The clock contained a plaque inscribed with a message of thanks for 50 years of dedicated service and commitment.