A note of appreciation from the publisher

Dear Readers and Subscribers of the Columbia Basin Herald,

As president of the Hagadone Corporation's Communications Division, I wish to share my sincere pride and gratitude. Founded in 1941, this year we celebrate 82 years of the Columbia Basin Herald’s service to the community. This weekend, we celebrate the dedicated men and women who have ensured the paper reaches our readers and subscribers for so many decades.

Today is Newspaper Carrier Day, a day to honor the devoted team of people who make it possible for us to maintain the flow of information in our community.

The Hagadone Newspaper Group includes daily and weekly publications in Washington, Idaho and Montana. Each newspaper, including the Columbia Basin Herald, is a vital cornerstone of its unique community. From enabling business growth and development to safeguarding our shared history, from holding those in power accountable to narrating the community’s ongoing story, our publications are the thread of continuity that unites us all.

At the Columbia Basin Herald and throughout Hagadone’s Communications Division, we understand a tangible sense of community comes from flipping through your local newspaper's printed and digital pages, a custom that we are committed to preserving and improving with each passing day.

To meet that promise, our editorial team works seven days a week with a 5 p.m. deadline to bring you the most current and relevant news. Five of those days, a driver delivers the paper to our office from the printer and our dedicated carriers are on the road before sunrise, working well into the morning to ensure each paper finds its way to subscriber households, single copy racks, countertop sales, and commercial distribution locations.

But our carriers don’t merely distribute newspapers; they take the initiative to help stranded drivers, report suspicious activity, and, on more than one occasion, provide lifesaving assistance to community members — all before the sun comes up. A special thank you goes out to each of our carriers who take the time to enhance our delivery processes, listen to reader feedback, and implement needed changes. They are truly unsung heroes and the heartbeat of our operation.

And to our valued readers, we thank you for the trust that empowers us to be guardians of accountability, narrators of our history, and partners in community development. Together, we inform and transform the fabric of the Columbia Basin. We are committed to strengthening these pillars of community journalism even as we adapt to the evolving landscape of news consumption.

So, in observance of National Carrier Appreciation Day, I ask that we take a moment to say “thank you,” and I gently remind you to tip your carrier.

With the deepest gratitude and commitment,

Clint Schroeder

President & Executive Publisher

Communications Division

Hagadone Corporation