Press suspends Monday print editions until Sept. 6

Help is on the way, but until it arrives, The Press is taking a print hiatus for the next nine Mondays.

The move is effective immediately, said Publisher Clint Schroeder, acknowledging that the shortage of newspaper carriers led to the decision.

“Giving our carriers one day off a week will help the workforce we already have and will buy us time to recruit more people to deliver the newspaper as substitutes or regular carriers,” Schroeder said. “Employees and contracted newspaper carriers have performed magnificently throughout this crisis, but some relief for them and their families is urgent.”

The Press has had a high number of customer complaints about delivery, Schroeder said, but once the labor shortage is explained, “almost every customer has been incredibly understanding and supportive.”

Throughout North Idaho, businesses of every kind are being stymied by a lack of workers. Many restaurants and retailers have reduced hours or are open fewer days than usual. Delivery of all kinds are being delayed or missed entirely.

For instance, because of national delivery delays caused by too few truck drivers, The Press was forced to wait hours Thursday for pallets of advertising inserts. That made getting the Friday newspaper delivered on time extra challenging.

“We are hopeful that within the next 60 days, we can give our crew a much needed break, but more importantly get the major challenges under control. It is our plan that the Monday print editions return Sept. 6.”

He said that in the meantime, carriers will be paid for seven days' delivery even though they're working six.

Until the Monday print editions return, the Monday digital newspaper will be available free to the community at cdapress.com.

Readers using a computer should click on the capital E at the top of cdapress.com next to the box that says Manage Subscription. On phones, the capital E appears at the bottom of cdapress.com’s home page. Either way, clicking on the E will take you to that day’s newspaper. When you click on the front page, you can read The Press exactly as it would appear in print.

For more information about possibly becoming a substitute or regular newspaper carrier, please call The Press Circulation Department at 208-664-0220 or email Shaila Maciosek: smaciosek@hagadonemedia.com