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Monday, July 14, 2025 at 1:26 PM

Captain’s Log -- Abandon Ship (but only because it's really hot in here)

Captain’s Log -- Abandon Ship (but only because it's really hot in here)
The latest in cooling technology

No. To answer the many of you who have inquired throughout the week, no, the air-conditioner is not working yet. I feel like it’s kind of a long story. More of an Epic at this point.

Let’s just say that today, Thursday, printing day, the day we fire up Becky and run the “presses,” that the girls have gotten creative and solved our problem. Temporarily. I hope a more permanent solution is just over the horizon.

I’m telling you, these girls have been very, very good sports about this whole thing for the past two weeks now. I did sense a certain amount of hostility late this morning, however. It’s never a good idea for five women to be in close quarters when the ambient temperature is approaching 100 degrees.

And then Vic came by for a visit and turned right around and left.

So, here’s what happened. Our little Ginny got super feisty when we got back from staff lunch. Her saucy, Chicago face tightened around the mouth and you could hear the accent as she stormed out of the office – something like, “I’m gonna fix this,” belted none to quite under her breath.

And then here she is not too much longer, coming back, lugging in big bags of ice and Styrofoam coolers. And a big fan. There are already several fans running throughout the office, mind you.

Then she had a plastic picnic knife aggressively in hand, and I got worried. She began cutting holes in the coolers (yep, super messy), adding ice, and then salt. I couldn’t help but take pictures to document this girl-scout-deck-hand phenomenon, as I watched in awe.

Sure enough, these little homemade contraptions had the office cooled off considerably, in short order. (See below)

This whole thing reminds me of short-Anne Pershing. It makes me think she is looking down, laughing, shaking her head like she always used to. It was the anniversary of her death this week. Tall-Anne McMillin, Steve Ranson, and I all met for lunch at Jerry’s in her favorite booth where over the years we all watched her navigate the politics of a small-town newspaperwoman.

There is nothing like work friends who become family. There is nothing like a small-town paper. There is nothing like air-conditioning.

In spite of our current state of affairs, we will be here…

 

…Keeping you posted,

Rachel

 

 

 

 


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Comment author: Mike HinzComment text: I knew Sam as a member of our church growing up. He always had a warm smile, a kind word, and a great sense of humor! He will be great missed!Comment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:57 AMComment source: Obituary -- Samuel Bruce WickizerComment author: Mike HinzComment text: Great teacher, great coach, but even a better person!!! Rest in peace Mr. BeachComment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:53 AMComment source: Obituary -- Jack Victor Beach, Jr.Comment author: Mike HinzComment text: I had Mrs Hedges for First Grade at Northside Elementary in 1969. I still, to this day, remember her as a wonderful teacher…one of my favorites!!Comment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:29 AMComment source: Obituary - Nancy Marie Hedges C Comment author: Carl C. HagenComment text: What are MFNs and PBMs ?? ............................ From the editor: This is a very good question and we apologize for not catching that wasn't in there. We reached out to the writer/submitter and got this info back...hope it's helpful. PBM: Pharmacy Benefit Managers are pharmacies that are owned by insurance companies. (CVS is one.) They negotiate with drug makers to get reduced pricing for medications, but they historically have not passed along those savings to patients. https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/pharmacy-benefit-managers-staff-report.pdf MFN: Most Favored Nation pricing is a policy that means a country agrees to offer the same trade concessions (like tariffs or price reductions) to all member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). When applied to pharmaceuticals, it could disrupt global access, deter innovation, and obscure the deeper systemic issues in American health care. https://petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2025/05/22/the-global-risks-of-americas-most-favored-nation-drug-pricing-policy/Comment publication date: 6/23/25, 7:47 AMComment source: L E T T E R TO THE EDITOR
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