Pioneer Press telemarketing called again, 9 a.m. or so, even after I was told the glitch would be fixed (yesterday). Caller i-d tells me it’s 847 486 6822 that’s calling and being not there when I pick up the phone.
So I called it back and was given the option of saying (on recording) that I do not want to be called, this per recorded instructions.
Did so and hope it works. Another thing: I’ve been a subscriber to Oak Leaves for decades. Maybe that’s why they hang up on me when I answer their calls.
Blithe Spirit 
Not surprising what happened to you, Jim, although this has not happened to me with my local Pioneer Press publication. As a member of the Sun-Times News Group, I do know that the Pioneer Press, as a sister publication, shares the financial woes of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Lake County News Sun, and other members of the Sun-Times News Group. Regarding the Pioneer Press, all sorts of less than positive changes have been ordered for Pioneer Press publications. First off, 12 community publications were discontinued several weeks ago. This was followed by the news stand price going up to $2.00. This was done to make Pioneer Press publications profitable. For years the price of community Pioneer Press publications was set at $1.00 before the price went up to $1.50, now to its present news stand price of $2.00. At the same time my own Pioneer Press publication decreased in size. I did comment to my editor about how unwise it was to give people less while asking for more money. There have been other noticable changes directed from on high to the individual publishers at Pioneer Press. Letters must relate to the community represented by each Pioneer Press publication. They must further stay in that community. No more sharing of letters. I was also informed that space is now limited for letters under YOU SAY on the Opinion page. I was delighted to observe this week that my editor did use his discretion to spill letters over to other pages. I also know that a number of people have recently been left go at Pioneer Press as a cost cutting measure. Not an unusual event these days! Particularly noticable at the Pioneer Press is that the Diversions editor handling North Shore events is no longer working at Pioneer Press. What happened to you, Jim, seems to be a case of unwelcome inefficiency. Perhaps this should be expected given the recent changes at Pioneer Press. As a long time subscriber to my local Pioneer Press publication I would miss receiving my weekly copy in the mail, but I think the writing is on the wall. The Sun-Times News Group cannot be turned around to become profitable. It will be only a matter of time before all publications in the Sun-Times News Group fold. This time can’t come quickly enough for me in regards to the Chicago Sun-Times.
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