The Fort Leonard Wood newspaper, the GUIDON, will not be delivered door-to-door in post housing areas beginning Feb. 25.
Instead, residents of Stonegate, Woodlands and Piney Hills can pick up a copy of the weekly publication at their respective community center.
Weatherproof newspaper stands are located at the main entrance of each center. Entrance into the centers is not necessary to grab a copy.
Community centers are located at:
-- Stonegate Community Center, 235 Ellis St.
-- Woodlands Neighborhood Center, 140 Indiana Ave.
-- Piney Hills Neighborhood Center, 100 Thayer St.
Newspapers are also available at high-traffic areas and major on-post facilities such as the commissary, bowling alley, Exchange, General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital, post office, shoppettes, Exchange Mini-Mall as well as offices and buildings throughout the installation.
"Fort Leonard Wood Homes is very excited to have centralized newspaper boxes at our three community centers," said Shawna Swanson, community manager, Balfour Beatty Communities, Fort Leonard Wood.
"We feel this will help limit the trash and debris in each of our neighborhoods," added Swanson who said the Balfour Beatty staff had to spend time walking through the neighborhoods picking up papers.
According to Rose Gabel, chief, Housing Branch, Directorate of Public Works, the uncollected papers created a hazard during heavy rainfall.
"The papers that were left in yards, driveways or roadways ultimately ended up in the storm drains," Gabel said. "That created flooding of the streets and neighborhoods."
The GUIDON is published 50 weeks yearly, with a circulation of 10,000 copies weekly. Of that number, more than 90 percent are delivered on post and the remainder at off-post establishments. The Springfield News-Leader, Springfield, Missouri, is under contract to print and deliver the publication to venues as specified by the Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office.
"It would be virtually impossible for the newspaper distribution contractors to pinpoint exactly which house is vacant, due to the constant rotation, vacations, etc.," said Tiffany Wood, director of Public Affairs, whose office is responsible for production of the GUIDON.
"Additionally, papers were observed at homes where there was occupancy, leading to an eyesore and extra manpower output to rid the housing areas of the papers," Wood said.
"We realize it is an inconvenience," Wood added. "Door-step delivery is something residents are accustomed to, but we are confident there are enough papers delivered around the post to assure there is easy access to the GUIDON."
Wood said her office, along with resident input, will monitor and evaluate if there is a need for additional newspaper distribution points on post.
"We take this decision very seriously, but there was no other feasible alternative, as we were asked to find a solution for the newspaper-littering problem," Wood said.
On-post delivery locations
-- North Shoppette
-- Post Office
-- Public Affairs Office
-- Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Headquarters
-- U.S. Army Engineer School
-- U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School
-- U.S. Army Military Police School
-- Bruce C. Clarke Library
-- General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital (waiting room, snack bar, main entrance, vending area)
-- Chaplains office
-- Logistics Readiness Center
-- Noncommissioned Officers Academy
-- Main Exchange
-- Commissary
-- Double DFAC
-- Burger King
-- Army Community Service
-- Main Street Mall
-- Daugherty Bowling Center
-- Troop Medical Clinic
-- FMWR Sports
-- Specker Shoppette
-- Specker Barracks Dining
Off-post delivery locations
-- Eagle Stop
-- Ramada Inn
-- Fairfield Inn
-- Comfort Inn
-- Price Cutter Plus
-- Rands True Value
-- Waynesville and St. Robert post offices
-- Hampton Inn
-- Holiday Inn
*List contains only major delivery locations.
Related Links:
Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood Facebook
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