We welcome calls from readers. Especially when those readers are calling to alert us that annoying telephone calls are being made that appear to be coming from The Daily Journal.

Some of our subscribers have been receiving very persistent calls from a telemarketing company, according to Journal Publisher Rob Davenport.

The calls originate from the 314 area code and if the area resident does not answer the call, a message is left on their machine asking them to call 314-963-8895.

When the telephone number is called, a recording is played saying that company has an offer from their local newspaper.

We appreciate that many people think of The Journal when they hear the phrase “local newspaper.” But if the resident answers the phone and gets a human, they are presented with a sales pitch from USA Today.

We are not associated with these phone calls.

These phone calls are being conducted by a telemarketing company called The PISA Group and The Journal did not hire them.

Readers can call the Minnesota Attorney General at 800-657-3787 to report any issues with these phone calls or call The PISA Group at 314-845-2825 to ask them to stop calling.

Again, even though these recordings say they represent the local newspaper, they are not associated with The Daily Journal.

Thanks for contacting us with your concerns about these calls. It helped us to track down the source and to alert you that the calls are not being made by or for us.

In the meantime, we’re heading into the holiday weeks, which are short on days and long on duties. We have a few people out on vacation as they gather with family, so bear with us. You may see stories on days other than you have come to expect while we continue to bring you the news you need and want to know.

Merry Christmas to all!