Where is your professionalism?

Lisa Armstrong

Letter to the Editor
My letter is in response to two different articles in your Oct. 19th edition.
I would like to direct my first concern to you Ken, by asking, “Where is your professionalism when it comes to reporting?” I would think that as an editor and reporter of a newspaper your own personal opinion should be neutral when reporting a story. As a matter of fact, yours was the only negative remarks that I heard in regards to the unfortunate gas leak.
To criticize our local police department as you did only reiterates your lack of professionalism. I believe this was a personal dig on your part. “Shame on You”. Maybe you should take the time to report on the positive benefits of having a cruiser sit on the top of Main Street. If it stops one drunk person from getting in the car and driving that’s a plus, and that is only one example of the extraordinary things our local police dept. has accomplished! I would also like to say that this is the same police department, that only 3 weeks ago, went above and beyond the call of duty and hosted an sponsored the Kids Fishing Tournament for a 2nd year in a row. This was a tournament in which over 40 kids participated, had a great time, and all took home some pretty awesome prizes.
And what about our “VOLUNTEER” Fire Department. Do you honestly expect these men to be within arms reach at all times. Of the 5 men mentioned, 2 of them are businessmen (whom I’m sure must make arrangements before leaving their business), and 3 of them work outside of town limits (and also must make arrangements before leaving work). These are the men who put their own life at risk every time they go out on call. They are also the same men who volunteer their time and efforts to provide the community with fireworks on special occasions. Not only did you criticize them once, but in 3 separate articles in the same paper.
As far as the Town of Rainy River not being prepared for sudden emergencies, perhaps you should gather all the facts before reporting. If you did then you would know that the town employees and council have been attending special meetings to help them prepare for emergency measures.
My second concern is regarding the issue of changing the date for trick or treats. How naive are people to actually believe that council had something to gain by changing a date! Whether or not the decision to do so was the right thing to do, it was done for the benefit of the children and the children only. How many of us as parents take our children directly to main street for treats because that is the first place they want to go. As a matter of fact when children are very young the business section is sometimes the only place they go. As afar as the religious aspect of it goes, I would like to ask Ken, if the issue was even brought up at council, or was it your own little twist to the story?
Did anyone catch the national news on Oct 19th. It seems Rainy River is not alone when it comes to changing the date for kids to go out for treats!
In closing I would like to say thank you to the many great and appreciated volunteers of our community.
Sincerely,
Lisa Armstrong