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Business News
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
Lake County News obtained a memo from Steve Smith, vice president of community newspapers for MediaNews Group's California Newspapers Partnership, which informs employees that they will be required to take the unpaid furlough in an effort to help offset revenue declines.
MediaNews Group is the parent company of the Lake County Record-Bee, Clear Lake Observer-American, Ukiah Daily Journal, Chico Enterprise-Record and the Oakland Tribune, among many others.
The Associated Press reported that the furlough order will affect 3,300 newspaper employees – including managers – across the company's daily and weekly newspapers.
Last month, MediaNews Group announced that it would temporarily suspend its matching contributions to employees' 401(k) retirement plans, as Lake County News has reported. That move is being emulated in other newspapers around the country.
The Rocky Mountain News has reported that MediaNews Group had to loan its flagship paper, the Denver Post, $13 million to make its December payroll. The Berkeley Daily Planet reports that MediaNews' East Bay Newspaper Partnership has reduced its staff by 60 percent in continuing layoffs.
Earlier this month, the Record-Bee's newsroom also shrank by one staffer, when News Editor Mandy Feder – the person largely responsible for laying out and proofing the paper – was laid off and her job eliminated.
Newspapers around the country are having financial problems. This week, McClatchy announced it would suspend dividend payments to stockholders.
The full text of Smith's memo is below.
January 28, 2009
TO: NCN Employees
FROM: NCN Central Office
Dear Fellow Employee,
In a further effort to help offset the continuing decline in revenue and position the company for future financial success without further job losses, I am announcing the implementation of a mandatory one (1) week furlough for all employees to be scheduled during the period beginning February 1, 2009 and running through the month of March. Each employee's department head will determine the actual week an employee is furloughed. All management including myself is included.
I realize that we are all working so hard to overcome this difficult time. I know this action will create a strain on our personal budgets. I know I cannot guarantee that a furlough will prevent any further layoffs. However, from what I am hearing across our company ... “a brief period without pay is better than many more layoffs.”
Please understand that I am not trivializing the serious nature of furloughs. Implementing unpaid furloughs is indeed a very serious step. This furlough action is unprecedented for our company. But, I am confident that an unpaid furlough will go a long way toward keeping future layoffs, if any, to a minimum.
Over the next few days, your department heads will meet with you to further explain the furlough process and how people will be scheduled. A Q&A sheet is being prepared for distribution. Your human resources contact will be available to assist you and your supervisors.
Although our customers are our top priority, we will not ignore our other most valuable asset ... our employees. Be assured that throughout this action we will be fair to all our people. To that end personal situations will be considered based on seniority and the operational needs of the company. But, such considerations should only impact when a person's furlough begins and ends, not if a person will or will not be excused from a furlough.
At this time it is important to understand that we, like many media and other companies, are facing significant financial challenges due to the deep recession. We are not the first and we certainly won't be the last to implement furloughs or take similar steps in order to address these challenges and keep our financial houses in order. We take these actions on our own because we can and we should ... for the long term good of our customers and ourselves.
Thank you for your understanding, your support and your dedication.
Sincerely,
Steve Smith
Vice President, Community Newspapers
Northern California
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- Written by: Editor
Last year, Rep. Thompson was the first member of Congress to introduce passenger rights legislation.
“We need to ensure that when passengers set foot on a plane, they will be treated fairly and humanely,” said Congressman Thompson. “This bill will also help airlines develop standards so that they can have a plan in place to deal with extended tarmac delays. Obviously preventing extended delays by improving airport infrastructure and upgrading the air traffic control system needs to happen. But no matter what, we need to make sure that passengers will not be held in uncomfortable and unsafe conditions.”
Congressman Thompson’s bill, the companion to legislation introduced by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), would require:
Airlines to provide passengers with food, potable water, comfortable cabin temperature and ventilation, and adequate restrooms while a plane is delayed on the ground.
Passengers be offered the option to safely deplane after sitting on the ground for three hours. This option would be provided every three hours, should the plane continue to sit on the ground.
The creation of a consumer complaint hotline run by the Department of Transportation (DOT) so that passengers can alert the agency about delays.
DOT to review and approve contingency plans developed by the airlines. DOT would also be allowed to fine air carriers and airports that do not submit or comply with contingency plans.
Last Congress, the Passenger Bill of Rights introduced by Congressman Thompson was included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization passed by the House of Representatives.
Similar legislation was included in the Senate version of the FAA reauthorization, but was blocked on the Senate floor.
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UPPER LAKE – Lynne and Bernie Butcher, owners of the Tallman Hotel and Blue Wing Saloon & Café in Upper Lake, are pleased to announce the addition of two experienced managers to their staff.
Travis Lipscomb joins as hotel general manager while Teresa Lynn Cook is director of dining and events at both the saloon and hotel.
“We’ve got a great hotel and restaurant here,” said Bernie Butcher, “but Travis and Teresa, together with chef Mark Linback, will definitely take us to the next level of quality and service.”
A Hidden Valley resident since 1989, Teresa Cook is well known in Lake County culinary circles. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in hospitality and food and beverage management and completed the Saga Corp. Management Training Program.
She managed the service staff at the Hidden Valley Golf Club before becoming food service director at Robinson Rancheria in 2005.
“Robinson is a big operation and I’m proud of what we did there,” she said. “But the unique facilities and great staff at the Blue Wing and Tallman are second to none in the county. I’m really excited about what we can offer our customers here.”
To help them get started, the Butchers originally employed a management company, but the business has been independently managed since the middle of last year.
Bernie Butcher said that the need for a general manager arose when their long-time operations officer Megan Robnett decided to move to Sacramento.
“Megan did a great job,” he said, “and we were fortunate that Travis was available just at the right time to assume on-site leadership. He’s exactly the systems-oriented general manager we were looking for.”
Lipscomb lives a block from the hotel in Upper Lake with his wife Shalean Smith and their young children. Smith also works part-time at the hotel as marketing manager.
Lipscomb's diverse experience includes food service in the military, commercial real estate with CPS Country Air and Coldwell Banker in Lakeport, and – most recently – he has been managing the Players Club at Robinson Rancheria. He’s very familiar with all sorts of computer and management systems.
“The Tallman and Blue Wing are both top quality,” noted Lipscomb, “and so far I really like the challenge of continuing to build the reputation of the business throughout the county and the country.”
The Tallman Hotel is located at 9550 Main St., Upper Lake; telephone, 707-275-2244; e-mail,
The Blue Wing Saloon and Café is located next door at 9520 Main St.; telephone, 707-275-2233; e-mail,
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The task force will act as liaison between the industry and the department in matters relating to equine health and economic data.
“California’s equine industry touches every part of this state – from companion and competition horses to working equines and rodeos,” said CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura. “This task force will assist the department in addressing important issues impacting the equine industry.”
The Equine Advisory Task Force is a 12-member committee established by the secretary following a recommendation from the California State Board of Food and Agriculture.
The task force is intended to increase the collaboration between the industry and department on equine issues. Members receive no compensation.
“We look forward to hearing from the task force as it works with the department in addressing some of the key issues facing the equine industry,” said Al Montna, president of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture. “The social and economic value of this industry is an important component of California agriculture.”
Members of the Equine Advisory Task Force:
Sandy Arledge, Sandy Arledge Quarter Horses Inc.;
Dr. Jerry Black, Pioneer Equine Hospital, Inc.;
Mike Boitano, California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association;
Don Burt, Equestrian Consultants Inc.;
Dr. Greg Ferraro, University of California, Davis, Center for Equine Health;
Bob Fox, industry consultant;
Vince Genco, Pacific Airlift Inc.;
Ruth Gerson, Recreation and Equestrian Coalition;
Ross Jenkins, California Cattlemen’s Association;
Christopher Korby, California Authority of Racing Fairs;
Frank Vessels, Vessels Stallion Farm LLC;
Johnny Zamrzla, Showdown Rodeo Inc.
CDFA’s Animal Health and Food Safety Services Division provides services to protect public health and protect the health of California’s livestock and poultry.
The department’s equine programs regulate the interstate movement of horses into California; establish controls for domestic and foreign disease concerns; and deter the misuse of drugs in show and sale horses.
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