Copied without permission from Ralls County On Line: June 6--The Editor has heard through the grapevine that a few people (most notably those who have close connections with the Ralls County 911 system) were not pleased with the RCHE's treatment of the "silent siren" in Center. O Gentle Readers, I have been hearing more and more stories of questionable management at the emergency center, equipment failures, people being unavailable for long periods of time, etc., etc. And now those closely connected with the operation question the credibility of what I printed about the incident this week! I quoted the city clerk in what I wrote, because I believe she knows the facts...and because I think the news had been manipulated in other media outlets--one in particular. Other sources quoted the 911 director as saying that the Center siren had been inoperative, or "down," during the storm. The city clerk said it was not--and never was--inoperative. I believe her; she should know.
The mayor was quoted elsewhere as saying the city needed the capability of manually activating the siren themselves. The city clerk said the city has always had that capability. So why didn't the mayor know that? Again, I believe the city clerk; she should know.
But what makes me think the news has been manipulated? Well, I understand that 911 contacted a reporter from an area daily and gave said reporter the "true story" behind the silent siren. You know, Gentle R's, that is news manipulation, pure and simple. What else would you call it? Put all the lipstick you want on that little piggy; slather it on with a trowel. But that little piggy remains a hog! It's still using the media to suit one entity's purposes. And one preferred media outlet, evidently. Talk about hearing only one side! Talk about "Lapdog Media"! Talk about pimping the news!
The correct way to handle such situations is to put out a press release to all area media outlets. The way it was handled was like the White House calling Fox News to put its own narrow slant on a controversial subject and leaving all other networks and newspapers out of the loop. That's the way its handled when people get just the news an entity wants them to hear, just the news that's all warm and fuzzy.
Incidentally, the fuzzy-wuzzy media reporter didn't bother to contact the city clerk for anything in gathering facts for the fuzzy-wuzzy story! I've been in the business long enough to know that if you want to uncover the cold, hard facts, contact the city clerks first. They know what's going on. And they don't pimp the news.
And, no, I don't have a problem with 911; I think someone at 911 has a problem with me, a problem with the Sunshine Law, and a problem with the truth. By the way, listen to what some law enforcement people and first responders/fire fighters have to say. Just a suggestion....
Just a reminder...I hope all of our readers know that what we print on page 2 of the paper is opinion and is not presented as fact.
One final thing: Someone commented recently on my apparent
"obsession" with the Sunshine Law and said something
to this effect--"Why don't you cut us some slack; after
all, these are just small towns and ordinary people." Excuse
me? Are there two sets of Sunshine Laws? One for big cities and
one for rural areas and "ordinary" people?
12 comments on Ralls County On Line Comments -- Good Ones!
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At least one person is lying somewhere. I don't consider the Herald Ent. article credible or his blog credible, although he is on to something in the water being stinky. The big question in my book: Who is lying?
I think the reason the siren wasn't sounded has been determined and "fixed." But, there is definitely a cloud of ugliness and I am not sure if it lies within an involved entity or the above author. If the truth isn't discovered soon, it never will be.
Lying or stirring.....take your pick. I can tell you this - the Center siren was "down" - at the 911 center. I don't know where the city clerk got her information that 911 just didn't push the button, but that would be wrong!!!! I am not going into mismanagement issues - thats not my cup of tea. The RCHE article was slanted last week and I said it myself - maybe it was me he was talking about - like I care. He didn't call anyone at 911 and ask for their side of the story and maybe - don't quote me because I didn't make the comments to the other "fuzzy wuzzy" reporter - they got the story because they called and asked for a comment. DUH!!!!! I see a lot of CYA going on and I am not going to point fingers, but maybe some reporters just need to let it drop. Everybody else has. If Mr. Gene "The Sunshine Law" Statler wants to get to the bottom of it all and have a real story, start asking the right people the right questions and demand answers and write a real news story - not some slanted article.
Questions to be asked and answered (In my opinion):
1. Why wasn't the siren working and when did the problem occur?
2. Were actions being taken to repair the siren?
3. Were the cities (New London's siren was inoperable from 911 too) notified?
4. Why was New London able to manually set off the siren but not Center?
5. Is there really only one person or entity to point a finger at or was the ball dropped all the way around?
And now, all I will say, is that while Mr. Statler says he has no problem with 911 or anyone involved - his previous statements make me think he may be fibbing an eensy weensy bit.
And I want to know, who are the law enforcement, first responders and fireman complaining about? Dispatchers or administation? Big difference there.
Oh, Chuckles, check out the Walrus....my oh my........
Actually danimac, I got a call earlier to check it out. Spies , spies, spies.
Chuckles has had a good chuckle, but a busy day tomorrow. Must find a dictionary, then I want to find an encyclopedia to find out some interesting FACTS about walruses or is it walrusses. Now I have to check that out.
danimac,
I went back to re read that darn thing & I think it has disappeared. Just wanted to get my FACTS straight. Oh, but wait. I think it said something about. No, I won't speculate, it might stir something. By the way, what do you think blogs are really for? Oh darn & I thought it was going to be fun. Party pooper.
w a l r u s e s
Mr. Statler has taken offense to someone questioning the credibility of his June 5, FRONT PAGE, newspaper article. Understandable.
I have not spoken to the city clerk, I believe I have not spoken to anyone connected to 911, firemen, responders, or other people directly connected to the newspaper article or the issue at hand.
I question the credibility of the article because he interviewed one person of one entity. Of course, we are to believe the city clerk is the ONE to believe, according to Mr. Statlers' opinion.
According to my sources, Center City Hall was closed May 30 (not May 3 as the paper stated) and if it had been opened the city clerk would not have been there "around 5:30 p.m." "More importantly, Carman said, is that the siren can be manually activated at Center." Fine, who does it? Where were they? Why didn't they? Oh, they "didn't get any advance notice." 911 dispatchers were letting Center firemen know that the siren couldn't be activated from the dispatch center. There are lots of questions that the local editor did little to no leg work on and he wanted it to be a FRONT PAGE, factual article. Why was the siren silent?
Mr. Statler then wants to slam 911 in his blog, those folks should be fighting mad, maybe they do have a problem with him, why shouldn't they? His blog can certainly be his opinion, page 2 of the Ralls County Herald Enterprise, Views & Comments, can certainly be his opinion. But the FRONT PAGE-SHEESH
I have not yet received my current copy of the local newspaper, but I hope to find the answers to some of my questions. Not holding my breath, but ya never know. Guess I'll just go ask myself or depend on some spies.
By the way, I did some research on walruses. They are supposed to tough skinned.
Also, in this weeks paper I hope to find what steps the City of Center has taken to ensure the future safety of its citizens. Hope someone contacted Mr. Statler to get their message out.
Mr. Statler mentioned "other area news outlets" in his newspaper article but never cited them. He had a disparaging attitude toward "warm fuzzy" reporting and I wonder is he used any information from the preferred media outlet or the fuzzy wuzzy reporter to form his slanted opinions.
I would like to add that newspapers editors usually do step on toes and are not very popular for doing their jobs. But most of us already know that, right?
Posted from the Ralls County Newspaper Website without permission:
June 11--Someone just posted a comment on another blog saying he or she didn't consider The Walrus to be "credible." Did this person not read the disclaimer? Do they not know the difference between fact and opinion? Opinion is just that--opinion. It's not meant to be fact, nor is it necessarily presented as anything other than opinion. Sheesh! Not-so-Gentle Reader, my advice is Get a dictionary!
It was there tonight Chuckles!!!!!
Where is the Gadfly?? No comment?
Thanks. Gadfly is quiet, come on out Gadfly.
The Walrus had some good on line comments. Share what you are thinking.
Not so Gentle Reader (now that just gives me the fuzzy wuzzies)
Chuckles thinks that this area has a lot of really big problems facing us, family, friends, neighbors right now. This bickering needs to be put aside, the siren problem has been addressed & that was most important. I'm praying for all those affected by the floods, the farmers that need to plant, mow hay & all the things they do. Just look around, count our blessings, pray for those that need strength. And then let's find something to smile about & smile a lot, giggle, whatever it takes. It helps a lot.