It is no secret that the landscape of media has changed - a lot - since our company began seven years ago. Yet despite some major trust issues between the public and most mainstream media outlets, local newspapers remain not only trusted but also a relevant and reliable source of community information.

The past couple of years have brought several challenges to our local papers. As you may or may not know, most of Nebraska’s daily newspapers are owned by Lee Enterprises, including the North Platte Telegraph, Kearney Hub, and Lexington Clipper Herald.

Two years ago this month, both the Hub and Telegraph shut down their press operations. Both had not only printed their own newspapers, but the papers for several other area publications as well, including this one. That left a lot of us looking for alternative printing sites.

Shortly before the Kearney press closed, we moved our printing operations to White Wolf Web, located in Sheldon, Iowa. Logistically, it is certainly not the ideal situation. We have a driver who makes a trip to Milford bright and early every Wednesday morning to pick up all four papers from a White Wolf Web delivery truck, then delivers those papers to Minden, Callaway, Gothenburg, and Cozad. Like I said, not ideal, but it is working, and we have been very pleased with the product and service the Iowa printing company has provided.

Now that we have our printing situation taken care of, we have been thrown another curveball. This one isn’t a new issue, it is one that just seems to keep getting more complicated. It is our U.S. Postal Service.

Postage rates have continued to climb, with another big increase coming this month. With a new postmaster general due to start this month, the National Newspaper Association (NNA) is taking up the fight to make sure this same kind of path toward the destruction of the mail service is not repeated.

The NNA strongly supports the “USPS Serves Us Act’, which would ensure that the postal service cannot raise rates if it fails to control costs. Nor could it raise rates if service quality is not maintained, and it would give the U.S. Postal Service regulator the power to halt service cuts.

Along with the skyrocketing rates that have hit the newspaper industry hard, there is also the issue of “quality service”. Our local postmasters and mail carriers do the best they can to accommodate us; however, their hands are tied. Meanwhile, cuts within the federal operations are resulting in later deliveries for our newspapers.

We have been informed that the mail truck running from Callaway will now be leaving the post office by 9:30 a.m., which of course, is much earlier than we arrive with the papers on Wednesdays. This means the delivery of your Courier will now be pushed back a full day. We are researching and discussing options on what we can do about that, but for now, unfortunately, your papers will be even later.

One option for many of you may be our online edition. The Courier is available online every week through our website, thecallawaycourier.com. If you are a paid subscriber, your online subscription is included; simply call our office with your email address if you have not shared that with us, and we will get you added to the e-edition list. The e-edition is also available by subscription, either through the website or by calling Kelly at our office.

The NNA is also asking for the help of our readers. The “USPS Serves Us Act” is the only bill in Congress that would halt destructive postage hikes and service cuts, but with all the controversy in Washington, as many people as possible are being asked to request your representatives to support it. We also need you to contact the U.S. Postal Service to demand that it halt the July increase. Taking action is easy. Visit https://p2a.co/onNfwe5 or text “MAIL” to 52886, and you can send a message to your representative in just a few minutes.

We are doing everything we can at The Callaway Courier to continue to bring your community news to you in a timely and affordable manner. Now we need your help to keep that ball rolling.