Mario Live & Barb Schreur

Rutherford Says Times Making Enemies With Star Watch; Griscom Says Just Call
by Suzanne Walker
posted July 26, 2006

City and county leaders say that their constituents frequently complain that Star Watch papers, a free subscription put out by the Times Free Press, litter their yards. Tom Griscom of the Times Free Press told the County Commission legal committee on Wednesday that recipients must simply call the circulation office at 757-6262 if they wish to no longer receive the free subscription.

"The solution has been there for a while. Individuals have a right to do things and take action, but they must step up and take responsibility because no else will do it for you," he said.

Commissioner Lou Miller said some people have complained that after calling to cancel their subscription the Star Watch has continued to be delivered.

Circulation Director David Enoch said 120,000 Star Watch papers are delivered weekly to Catoosa, North Walker and Hamilton counties. Over the last six months, he said he has received only 87 complaints that the paper continued being delivered after the individual requested its cancellation. He said those calls equal one out of 40,000. "Are things 100 percent? No, but one out of 40,000 is not a bad track record."

Mr. Enoch said when a call is received, the individual's address is flagged and the recipient is taken off the delivery list. Sometimes mistakes are made, he said. For example, a carrier may change. Mr. Enoch said every week four Times Free Press employees drive around the city looking for places where Star Watch papers have piled up and making sure that cancellation requests have been respected.

Mr. Enoch further noted that in the last six months, 173 people called requesting a subscription to Star Watch. Star Watch is delivered to non-subscribers of the Times Free Press daily paper, but some people want to continue getting the Star Watch in addition to the daily paper.

Mr. Griscom said the circulation office phone number (757-6262) can be found in the A2 column of the Star Watch and on the Times Free Press website.

City Councilwoman Marti Rutherford, who also attended the meeting, said, "If people aren't willing to stoop down, pick up the paper and throw it away, then they are not going to look up the number. I get called weekly with complaints. I don't know how the Times Free Press can litter at will. You have it backwards, Tom. Why can't you discontinue the paper and get the people who want it to call. I think this would make the Times a tremendous number of friends because right now you're making enemies."

Mr. Griscom said the Times may place the circulation office phone number on the front of the Star Watch, so it will be more visible.

Commissioner Miller said she is concerned that unpicked-up Star Watch papers not only create piles of litter but also may alert criminals that no one is home.

Commissioner Larry Henry said one constituent complained that he continued receiving the Star Watch after several calls to the circulation office. The constituent wrote, "Griscom turns a blind eye to keep circulation count high."

Mr. Griscom noted that the Star Watch has nothing to do with the "circulation leadership of the Times Free Press." He said the paper carries advertisements and entertainment news. "It's designed specifically for the community in Hamilton County." He said many other communities distribute similar types of papers.

Commissioner Miller said, "We must do something to eliminate the problem of litter in Hamilton County. We're so trashy. We're not finger pointing, but problem solving."

This has made me exceedingly happy.