CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$ 16,303	$ 12,993	$ 18,075
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Impairments on assets held for sale	0	645	1,888
Goodwill impairment	10,952	0	0
Depreciation	57,961	45,350	36,553
Amortization	6,452	10,420	6,078
Pension settlement and curtailment expense	0	0	3,964
Provision for bad debt	2,870	3,243	1,462
Stock based compensation expense	1,842	1,718	792
Excess tax benefits on stock option exercises	(106)	(5)	(70)
Deferred income taxes	6,504	15,973	4,628
Net (gain) loss on disposal of equipment	426	(1,360)	335
Gain on sale of assets	0	0	(4,000)
Realized (gain) loss on disposal of investments	(66)	27	147
Unrealized (gains) losses on investments	(191)	132	(325)
Net (gain) loss from patronage and equity Investments	(894)	233	100
Write-off of unamortized loan fees	780	0	0
Other	1,526	257	373
(Increase) decrease in:
Accounts receivable	(8,246)	(1,891)	(3,120)
Materials and supplies	(2,321)	(1,080)	(262)
Income taxes receivable	7,790	(9,919)	2,955
Increase (decrease) in:
Accounts payable	(4,690)	(596)	3,528
Deferred lease payable	729	416	374
Other prepaids, deferrals and accruals	(647)	4,371	1,729
Net cash provided by operating activities	96,974	80,927	75,204
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(89,053)	(74,663)	(55,936)
Proceeds from sale of equipment	102	675	258
Proceeds from sales of assets	3,803	2,986	4,000
Cash paid to acquire prepaid subscriber rights	0	0	(6,884)
Cash paid to acquire businesses	0	0	(152,114)
Purchase of investment securities	0	(84)	(127)
Proceeds from sale of investment securities	1,227	475	62
Net cash used in investing activities	(83,921)	(70,611)	(210,741)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Principal payments on long-term debt	(178,397)	(14,538)	(28,620)
Amounts borrowed under debt agreements	230,000	0	189,800
Cash paid for debt issuance costs	(2,418)	0	(3,562)
Dividends paid, net of dividends reinvested	(7,403)	(7,320)	(7,313)
Excess tax benefits on stock option exercises	106	5	70
Repurchases of stock	(143)	(92)	0
Proceeds from exercise of incentive stock options	414	50	561
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	42,159	(21,895)	150,936
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	55,212	(11,579)	15,399
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning	15,874	27,453	12,054
Ending	71,086	15,874	27,453
Cash payments for:
Interest, net of capitalized interest of $486 in 2012, $215 in 2011, and $488 in 2010	6,598	7,076	3,991
Income taxes paid (refunded), net	$ (2,482)	$ 4,248	$ 5,657