National Newspaper Carrier Day is being celebrated this year on Wednesday, September 4th. In honor of this day, we would like to celebrate and recognize our own local newspaper carrier, Dave Link or as many people know him,” The Kernal/Colonel”. Dave has been carrying the Wagner Post, Avon Clarion, Lake Andes Wave and Announcer for Pechous Publications for going on two years, when he started in 2023. He first became interested in the position after Scott Pechous approached him asking him if he would be interested in carrying the newspapers. Dave agreed, thinking he would “give it a whirl” and here he is two years later still enjoying his weekly job.

When asking Dave about the kind of skills that are important to this position, he jokingly said being able to drive and count. There are more skills that are needed to be efficient at his job. First off, not only does one have to be able to drive, but he or she must be able and willing to drive in adverse weather conditions because unless the newspaper and print shop closes for the day due to weather, Dave delivers the papers to various stops from as far away as Spencer, NE to Avon and everywhere in between every Tuesday, 52 weeks a year. Organization is another important skill that is needed to be successful at this job. Dave picks up the numerous bundles of the four different papers in Armour and then must organize the papers in the order of his stops/deliveries. Not only that, he has to take the papers off of the shelves at the different locations where he replaces them with the new issue. This is where the next part of the skills needed are involved. He then needs to correctly count and record the number of papers that were not sold at each location.

What Dave really enjoys about the job is getting paid well and having a reason to get out and take in the scenic view during his delivery driving. One of the most challenging parts of being a newspaper carrier would be driving in bad weather and trying to safely and timely make it to all the locations needed in time to get papers on the mail truck.

A typical Tuesday for Dave starts out at around 8:15 a.m. when he starts the day by picking up his handy dandy clipboard that contains all the record keeping and paperwork required for that day at Pechous Publications in Wagner. Before heading to Armour, Dave has to stop at Bomgaars to pick up ads to be inserted in future Announcers. After that stop, he heads to Armour to pick up the papers at Rocket Printing Inc. Sometimes the papers are ready when he arrives, other times he may have to wait due to printing issues, staffing and the weather. After picking up the over thousand issues of the Announcer, Post, Wave and Clarion, he heads back to Wagner where he immediately drops off the bundles that stay at Pechous Publications before dropping off at the Wagner Post Office. From there he drops off at the Wagner Community Memorial Hospital, Booms, Wagner Lakeside Motel, Ft. Randall Telephone, Fort Randall Casino and Hotel and Gus Stop before going to Lake Andes. When he gets to Lake Andes his first stop is the Lake Andes Post Office followed by Cahoys, Pumpr Niks, and Gus Stop. When he finishes his deliveries in Lake Andes, he then heads to Spencer, NE where he delivers to the Spencer Post Office before heading back to Wagner. Dave then delivers to Gus Stop, Buches, James Drug, Super Foods, K’s Qwik Stop, Midtowne and finally Valley Pump. After Valley Pump, he heads to Avon where he delivers to A-1 Gas & Go, Avon Post Office, and Ron’s Market. Once all of the papers are delivered, Dave drives back to Wagner to his final stop again at Pechous Publications to turn in his clipboard. Dave is usually done with his route between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. He travels the same route with the same delivery order every week like clockwork.

Dave was born in Parkston but was raised in Wagner and has been an almost lifetime resident. When asked how he feels about being the local newspaper carrier, Dave said that he is glad that he is able to do it and contribute to the Wagner community. Dave said that one thing that residents may not know is that the several bundles of the Announcer are delivered to Spencer, NE each week. Dave is married to his wife, Sandy. Before taking this position with Pechous Publications, Dave had worked for Farmers Coop/Country Pride/ CHS for 39 years before retiring. Dave is also very involved with his church, the Wagner Community Church, where he does Bible Study every Wednesday morning. Dave has also been a member of the Wagner American Legion for over 30 years. In his free time, Dave enjoys playing guitar and singing at local nursing homes; listening to Christian radio; reading the Bible, survival and Christian mission stories; and sharing the hope that he has found in Jesus.

Thank you, Dave, for the job that you do to make sure that Wagner, Lake Andes, Avon and Spencer all get their papers on time.