A Loveable Addition to the Crew, Upcoming Hunting Seasons, and More

Tuesday, September 1st, 2026

Good morning! Welcome to The Tradesman, a 5-minute newsletter tailored just for America’s tradesmen.

Congratulations to Tyler M. of McKeever and Niekamp Electric for winning our gas card giveaway!

Tyler, we have sent you an email. Make sure you check your inbox to find out how to claim your prize!

If you like cats, you're going to love this one.

We'd like to introduce you to this adorable kitten that was found trapped inside an excavator by construction workers with River Reach Construction in Barberton, Ohio.

After the crew was unable to locate her mother, they sent her to a foster home where she was nursed back to health and promptly returned to the workers, who gave her the name Komatsu, or “Sue” for short, after the brand of excavator she was discovered in.

Now, Sue has been adopted by the crew and has even been given her own uniform, which we understand meets OSHA standards.

Usually, the surprises we get on job sites are bad ones. Other times, they can be a cat named Sue dressed like a second-year apprentice.

If you made a double-take at your calendar this morning, not believing it's September, you're not the only one.

It genuinely feels like just yesterday we were announcing the start of BBQ season, and now tree leaves are already beginning to change.

While it is heartbreaking (at least to us) that summer is essentially over, the start of September marks the start of hunting season in Ohio.

As of today, squirrels and doves are fair game — for those who eat squirrels and doves — and in just a few days, on Sept. 5, the season for Canada geese and teals begins. Find a full breakdown of Ohio's September hunting seasons here.

As Merit Shop workers, it's hard not to feel slighted on Labor Day.

Here in Ohio, Merit Shop workers make up more than 90 percent of the trades workforce. So really, this is our day. But somehow, it still feels like everyone else's party — enjoy the 10%... you know who you are.

In theory, this Monday is supposed to celebrate all the hard work we tradesmen do to keep this country running, but instead it's seen as a day off for some, the unofficial end to summer for others, or worse, a day to celebrate, bleh, unions.

Ironically enough, half of us still have to work on Labor Day, so really, what's the point?

We'll tell you what it's for: savings.

Right now, through Monday, companies all over the country are having massive sales on furniture, grills, mattresses, and more. So if you need a new grill, now's the time — it's probably cheaper than it was in May. If you have any other big purchases you've been putting off, now might be the time to make them too.

Need some inspiration? Click here for a list of sales and promo codes that could get you up to 70% off on your purchases.

We know. We're as tired of reporting on it as you guys are probably of hearing it, but this past weekend, the U.S. and Iran traded strikes for the first time in over a month.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard hit two U.S. bases in Jordan after American forces struck Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island.

That means gas prices are expected to rise yet again, as if they weren't high enough already.

As it stands now, the national gas price average is $4 a gallon, the highest it's ever been this time of year. So don’t forget to sign up for our gas card giveaway on Thursday. 

In times like these, don't forget to use tools like GasBuddy to find the cheapest gas near you. You can find more money-saving tips here.

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