When snow and ice hit the Auburn area it meant the community’s local newspaper was challenged with not only reporting the news but also delivering it.

Sunday night the initial round of snow impacted the Auburn Journal’s entire 63 routes, said Kelly Leibold, circulation director.

“Of the 63 routes, all were affected by snow, ice and inclement weather,” Leibold said.

Leibold said that some customers received their newspapers a little later in the day while others didn’t receive a copy of the Auburn Journal until the next day when their road was more accessible.

The delayed or lack of delivery resulted in constant phone calls to customer service Monday and Tuesday starting at 6 a.m., said Mandy Hanna, Journal customer service representative.

“We had close to 500 phone calls in one day,” Hanna said. “The majority of people were complaining that it was late.”

Hanna said that at least two carriers spun out on the ice driving their routes and another had their car stuck in an embankment.

Hanna and other customer service representatives said that some readers threatened to cancel while others criticized carriers for not knowing how to drive in snow and ice.

But longtime reader Lynn Lombard said she feels exactly the opposite.

Lombard initially e-mailed Leibold on Tuesday saying she didn’t like seeing her carrier Mary DeGraff delivering her newspaper late Sunday night on an icy Placer Hills Road in Weimar.

“Our carrier Mary DeGraff went above and beyond the call of duty to get the Auburn Journal to longtime subscribers,” Lombard said Thursday.

Lombard said she had called DeGraff earlier Sunday night to tell her not to come.

“Under no circumstances did we want to risk her personal safety to deliver the Auburn Journal to us,” Lombard said. “The Auburn Journal has been delivered to us under unbelievable circumstances with grace and reliability.”

Leibold said Thursday that carriers are not asked to put themselves at risk. If they come upon a route that is too difficult to access, they are asked to call customer service at the Auburn Journal and tell them which route will not receive their newspapers.

“We do not ask any carrier to travel down a closed road and ask they use good judgment when delivering,” Leibold said.

As of Thursday, Leibold said there are some areas in Ophir, Colfax, Christian Valley and Meadow Vista where carriers are still not able to deliver newspapers.

He said carriers are also making second attempts later in the day after ice melts to complete their routes.

Leibold added that carriers were advised to outfit their vehicles for the snow by investing in a set of traction tires, studded tires or chains to help them work during the winter season.

“As we go forward, we encourage carriers to invest in traction devices while still being as cautious as they can be,” Leibold said.

Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com.

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No newspaper delivery?

Auburn Journal subscribers who do not receive their newspaper are asked to call customer service representatives at (530) 885-2471.

Subscribers missing issues can either received credit for missed newspapers or have them sent out with the first available delivery.

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