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If it's the truth, why does a lawyer have to approve the response? It has been over a month since I printed and distributed the first issue of The Occasional Gazette. It has garnered much local attention because it brought the issue of what the Nutrioso Volunteer Fire District is, or isn't, doing to meet the needs of this town. I have been talking with many local residents who were happy to know that someone else was talking about the problem of higher taxes, a $40,000 fire chief, a new fire station, and much more. In that print issue I had requested that someone send me the facts concerning the NVFD to justify the direction they have chosen, or at least to state support for the fire department as it currently exists. I have yet to hear from any source of support. In the meantime, I have continued to investigate many of the leads I have been given by various citizens and am preparing a second print issue. I have been putting if off in hopes that NVFD would come forward with a written explanation that would present itself to the community. In the meeting minutes that were posted in the Nutrioso Post Office on Monday there is a statement saying that a response has been written and submitted to the attorney for clearance before they demand that I print it. If it is indeed a truthful document filled with traceable facts then why does it have to be approved by a lawyer? And, if it is of such importance, why is it still not available at the end of the week? It seems to me that NVFD would be more than glad to address these concerns. The talk has been circulating around town for some time and will not dissipate until the fire department functions with more transparency and realizes it exists to serve the people of this community. They should be excited to share their plans with the folks who live here and be able to show that it is what we need and what we can afford. One person who is affiliated with the fire department was heard saying that The Occasional Gazette is just "yellow journalism." Nothing could be farther from the truth. We have only brought to light the things that everyone in town have been talking about in whispers, saying that they feel they have been taken advantage of, and then gathering hear-say bits and pieces as it goes from person to person. By sifting through what I heard, and finding some facts in the midst of it, I thought the people of Nutrioso should come out of their shells and discuss the fire department, get to the bottom, find out what is true and then decide if the NVFD should get their support or not. We are not doing any more than offering information for public discussion. Any actions, pro or con, by the citizens of Nutrioso is of their own volution and not instituted by The Occasional Gazette. We will continue to report on this, and other local issues, through this website and print editions. I am looking into reviving the Gazette to include more entertaining content like the Mogollon Gazette used to offer. This would be a 38 page quarterly journal which would cost $5 each... and is all dependent on whether I can get it printed or not. Local history, photos, stories about wildlife and hiking trails, as well as the Community Events Calendar which was so popular in the Mogollon Gazette. Some of the interesting articles would also be available online for visitors to our area. Even if this occurs, the Occasional Gazette would still produce broadsheets when the local interest in an issue calls for the immediate attention. Let me know if you would be interested in this expanded Gazette and I will see if I can afford to produce it. |
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"Without a free press how will you |
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