Missing out but for a good reason

This week marks the start of school back in my hometown of Delta, Colorado. It also marks the beginning of my son Jon’s senior year in high school.

I’ve always been very attentive of my three kids and their school activities. Jon is our youngest and this will be my wife Melissa’s and I’s last year of having school aged children. Our oldest two (Victoria, 29 and Matt, 24) are grown and making their own way in life. Melissa is doing a great job of holding down the home front and Jon has been a big help to her. It won’t be easy watching Jon go through this year from afar.

Tonight also marks the start of the Colorado High School football season. Jon, who is a 6-foot2, 279-pound defensive tackle, and his teammates have a great opportunity to win the 2A conference state championship. Delta has only won one, way back in 1960. For our family it would be special beyond the obvious. Melissa’s dad, Vernon Nutter, played on that team in 1960. It would be pretty neat for Grandpa and Grandson to share that accomplishment. Through the magic of the Internet I’ll be able to listen to the live stream radio broadcast of each game and view game film the next day on an app called Hudl. Not as fun as watching the game from the stands but I appreciate the fact that these services exist. I’ll make it home for Senior night and I’m counting on them to make deep into the playoffs. I’ve scheduled a trip home to coincide with those dates. I’ll be most happy when Melissa and Jon make the move to Alaska next May.

Four months

Yesterday marked four months since my arrival at the Frontiersman and I marvel at how much our team has accomplished in such a short time. I won’t bore you with the details since most it is internal structure changes. But the big one arrives on Sunday, Sept. 4. Our new circulation model will increase our home delivery by 300 percent.

The printed version of the Frontiersman will have a new size, and double the color page capacity so that it will be mostly printed in color. We’re working hard on the launch of the new product. Increasing our footprint and improving the look and feel of your community newspaper will open up opportunities not only for us to make an impact on the community but you as well. We appreciate your support. Reach out to us if you have story ideas, promotional ideas or simply want your opinion heard through a letter to the editor.

Beyond the call of business

One of our three marketing consultants, Tawni Davis and I, sat down with Cremation Society co-owner Amanda Hasara. Their business name sounds like it tells you all you need to know about the service they provide — but there’s more. A couple of services they provide and doesn’t show on the revenue line of their profit and loss statement is cell phones for soldiers and retiring old flags. Cell phone for soldiers is a program where you bring in your old cell phone to Cremation Society, whether it’s operational or not. Amanda and her husband/business partner Dominic hold on to them until they have a good number to ship off for recycling. Then the recycled cell phones are given to soldiers at no charge. Retiring of the flag is a service that the Cremation Society provides to properly dispose of “Old Glories” who have seen better days. They do it with a proper ceremony according to protocol. Two awesome services that just driving by their place in Brentwood Plaza on the Palmer Wasilla Highway you wouldn’t know were available. Now you do.

Ending on a good one

The Alaska State Fair kicked off yesterday and it looks like two weeks of family fun. Dean Phipps and his team once again have done a great job with this year’s lineup of activities and entertainment. I can’t imagine the time and effort it takes to put on such an extensive program. We’re proud to have printed the Official Alaska State Fair Guides, all toll 130,000 copies. Working with the Alaska State Fair team has been seamless. Every detail was thought of and executed in advance so all deadlines were met with ease. Our team lead by Pressroom manager Ryan Sleight did a great job with the finished product. I’m looking forward to my first state fair and all it brings. We’re fortunate to have it right here in Palmer. Enjoy and thanks for reading the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman.