No comment, no story?

To the editor:

I hope that 2025 is going well in spite of the recent weather and school mascot mayhem. 

I am writing to and about Gary McCall’s letter to the editor (“A fiery reaction”) published Jan. 15.

I shall start with my sadness on his loss, as it was reported in an earlier publication of the Marion County Record. My thoughts go out to you, Mr. McCall, during this terrible point in time. 

Without meaning to pile onto your hardships at this time, I feel compelled to bring to your attention that news is news no matter what side of that news you agree or disagree with. 

You have every right to refuse to comment on a news story, but you do so at the great cost of not getting your side placed into that story.

“No” should mean “no” regarding comment but not on printing the picture of a fire or reporting the facts as gathered from first responders, witnesses, or investigators at the scene or after.

I believe that even in sorrow a bit of humor can bring respite from the anger, sadness and grief. I have been a person to have all of that many times over in my life. 

So, on a lighter note, Mr. McCall, you stated getting your paper two days later in your mailbox as ”old news.”

Well, I received my Jan. 15 paper in my mailbox Jan. 28. I see this as “great news,” and I enjoyed reading it front to back.

Perspective will always define our lives. I’m a big fan of the Marion County Record.

Greg Bashem
Lancaster, California

Editor’s note: In-county delivery of the Jan. 15 issue was delayed because the U.S. Postal Service observed a federal holiday for Jimmy Carter’s funeral. Delays in out-of-county delivery plague all newspapers despite postal rate increases so severe that it now costs us more to mail our paper than it does to print it.