Thursday, March 28, 2024

When everything piles up like a train wreck!

 

Last week was one of those weeks!

Has anyone ever had one of those days when everything begins to pile up like a train wreck?

Last week was just that at the Dodge County Independent. At first, a few Byron subscribers did not get their DCI and that was followed up by phones on Friday with disgruntled folks in Hayfield, with each caller stating no one in town received last week’s DCI.

Finally, after calling Ryan’s Food in Hayfield and asking them to give any customer stating that they did not receive a DCI a copy and we’d cover their cost of sale.

Then I received a voice mail from one disgruntled gentleman who said “you need to get your s__t together.” He indicated that it was not the fault of the post office, because the Hayfield post office had not received any DCI and that we were not holding up our end of the deal.

Well, that phone call put a burr under my saddle and I headed over to the post office in Kasson to check with Barry Erichsen, the clerk who handles periodical publications. He informed me that our printing plant delivers a pallet of DCI to Kasson each Wednesday. He removes the Kasson bags containing the DCI and the remainder of the county and Byron goes to the post office in Rochester. If Rochester is overwhelmed with work, everything goes to Eagan, the main post office.

That’s when Barry offered a possible solution. He suggested that he pull all Dodge County postal bags containing the DCI and place them in containers that qualify for priority handling when they reach to postal workers at the Rochester facility.

Hopefully, that will solve our missing papers in Hayfield, Byron and a smattering of subscribers around the county.

We are working to solve this dilemma. We are not making excuses for the DCI staff, our printer, or the driver who delivers the DCI and ADvantage each week. We work to solve the problems that you bring to our attention.

To the gentleman in Hayfield offering his assessment, I ask that you please give us another week to see if Barry is able to sort things out at the post office. Thank you.

Late for Work

Charley, a new retiree-greeter at Wal-Mart, just couldn't seem to get to work on time.

Every day he was 5, 10, 15 minutes late. But he was a good worker, really tidy, clean-shaven, sharp-minded and a real credit to the company and obviously demonstrating their "Older Person Friendly" policies.

One day the boss called him into the office for a talk.

"Charley, I have to tell you, I like your work ethic, you do a bang-up job when you finally get here; but your being late so often is quite bothersome."

"Yes, I know boss, and I am working on it."

"Well good, you are a team player. That's what I like to hear.

Yes sir, I understand your concern and I’ll try harder.

Seeming puzzled, the manager went on to comment, It's odd though your coming in late. I know you're retired from the Armed Forces. What did they say to you there if you showed up in the morning so late and so often?"

The old man looked down at the floor, and then smiled.

He chuckled quietly, and then said with a grin, "They usually saluted and said, good morning, General, can I get your coffee, sir?”

 

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Dodge County Independent

Dodge County Independent
Dodge County ADvantage
301 S. Mantorville Ave.
Plaza 57 • Suite 200
Kasson, MN 55944

Dodge County Printing
301 S. Mantorville Ave.
Plaza 57 • Suite 200
Kasson, MN 55944

507-634-7503
 
Hours: 
Monday-Thursday 10a.m.-3p.m.