Belgrade News

The Belgrade News has pulled its outdoor distribution racks from Belgrade’s three Town Pump convenience stores, Managing Editor Andy Malby said.

The reason? Town Pump recently signed a contract for management of freedistribution publications that renders circulation at their stores cost-prohibitive, he said.

Under the terms of the contract with The Mini Nickel, a unit of publishing giant Lee Enterprises, all free-distribution publications, including community newspapers, must pay a monthly fee to circulate their products on Town Pump property.

According to Malby, the News decided to circulate elsewhere rather than pay the fee.

“Like every other business in an economy like this, we have to watch every penny,” he said.

The three Belgrade Town Pump stores have been “key drop points” for the Belgrade News, he said. Customers and even local Town Pump staff have asked why the racks are no longer there.

”We are working with Town Pump and hope they will amend their contract with Lee to make an exception for local community newspapers,” Malby said. “The term ‘newspaper’ is clearly defined in state law. We are not in the same league as adbased publications that carry no news and which, ultimately, the management contract is designed to control.”

Until the situation is ironed out, the News has increased circulation at other drop points in Belgrade and is in the process of placing racks at new distribution points.



Paper to showcase acts of charity, valor



Today marked the launch of a new feature segment in the Belgrade News titled “Hope in Hard Times,” designed to showcase “good news” — the good works of local citizens and groups in spite of economic difficulties.

Readers are asked to contact the newspaper with stories of good works or acts of valor committed by individuals, organizations, churches or others whose aim is to help those less fortunate.

The effort is explained in Editor Andy Malby’s “Hubbub of the Valley” column on page A8 of today’s paper. The first installment of “Hope in Hard Times” appears on page A1 today.

Readers and others are encouraged to contact Malby at 388-5101 ext. 12 or by e-mail at editor@belgrade-news.com if they have reports that might be appropriate for the ongoing feature.