The holidays are here and the focus for many of us will be, rightly, on our families and friends. I’d like to remind our readers, though, that while we too will be taking time out to enjoy Christmas, rest assured that we will also still keep a focus on our local news package.

Our goal to be a solid platform for you, the reader, to gain insight, understanding and context regarding the issues that impact the communities across the great arc of Northeast Oregon remains a strong one.

That means even while we are placing our news gathering machine in neutral for a very short time during the holidays, we will still keep a laser-like focus on the news that we can all use.

And, as always, there are plenty of news items for us to follow up on. We will take a short breather on Christmas but as soon as the day rolls over into Dec. 26 we will be right back at it. Our ability to gather news and deliver it to our readers on various platforms — in print or online — not only is good for our readers but allows us to be a more versatile organization.

I want to make sure before the year ends that I express my thanks to our readers and to all the hardworking members of our wider, EO Media Group team here in Eastern Oregon. We need our readers, of course, but just as important are the men and women who fill various roles across our great organization who perform at a high level every single day. We would not be the news gathering organization we are without their commitment.

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas.

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Due to Christmas falling on a Monday, when the Tuesday issue is normally produced, the East Oregonian will not produce a paper for Dec. 26. There will be new stories daily on all the website. The weekend edition will be published as usual on Dec. 30. The regular Tuesday section will resume on Jan. 2.

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If you haven’t already, take a moment to register your subscription for digital access of the East Oregonian. Call 800-781-3214 to talk to one of our customer service staff who will be happy to walk you through the process. It’s easy, takes just a few moments to get set up and allows you to take advantage of our e-edition, app and website delivery along with your print subscription.

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As always, if you have comments or questions about the East Oregonian, or want to pass along a story idea, send me an email at this address: acutler@eastoregonian.com.

Finally, let me take this opportunity to once again thank the East Oregonian’s subscribers: We simply would be unable to do this vital work without your support.

Andrew Cutler is the publisher and editor of the East Oregonian.