Ex-Hacks on the T-S
James H. Mitchell, McKinleyville
Editor:
Thank you for prompting the local paper to get out into the community and write about news of substance.
There was a time (in the 1950s and 1960s) when both the Times and the Standard newsrooms dug for serious stories and reported them competently.
Under the leadership of owner Don O’Kane and editors “Scoop” Beal and Elmer Hodgkinson, we reporters competed to fill our pages with stories that reflected a vibrant local community whose activities and concerns were page 1 news.
I was fortunate enough to work in Scoop’s newsroom — the Standard, or the “day side” — and your comments reminded me of how hard Scoop made me dig for information in the days before Google. I hope the T-S staff gives some thought to using that marvelous tool, as you did, as a jumping-off point to put a face on what is happening to a segment of our community that can’t take many more hits.
Carol McFarland, Arcata
Sweet Spot:* You know what? We’ve skipped a few weeks here and there for various reasons, and so we’re just going to go ahead and award a sundae to each of our colleagues emeritus. James H. Mitchell and Carol McFarland win Bon Boniere sundaes for sending our favorite letters of the week, and we encourage them to continue the debate over hot fudge.*
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on the cover
Railroad!
Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
Choo-choo Fantasies
Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
seven-o-heaven
Undeterred Will
Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
More →
TWO Comments
Comment / By welllll / Aug. 13, 2009, 10:48 a.m.
What comprises the touted good stories mentioned above from the T-S?
I have seen stories that only consist of unverified, self-aggrandizing comments by people who either receive money by direct benefits or working to provide benefits. The reporter must be seeking to publish only that which supports his own agenda.
In the IHSS stories, no mention is made of the reasons for the budget cuts or the reasons for the minimal requirement for to prevent fraud. This leaves the public without information as to what is really going on. There are a number of very serious cases of abuse and neglect. The IHSS employees who have done those things have simply moved somewhere else when it was discovered and did the same thing. Also being disabled or old or poor does not mean that people do not take what is not theirs either. Maybe the thought that catching some of these people might leave some money for others who could use it should have been “investigated” too?
Comment / By bill keevil / Aug. 14, 2009, 9:19 p.m.
Renewed your subscription? What a lucky man. I recently had mine cancelled and was issued a refund for the remaining six months of my annual subscription. Their excuse? I was too remote (i.e. they are only servicing two roads heading north out of Crescent City. I have the misfortune to live on number road number three. The funny thing is I now get calls wanting me to re-subscribe. I’m tempted to take them on their offer just to see what happens.