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4A Daily News – Friday, December 16, 2011 Opinion D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Late Wednesday provided a dilemma. Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer's home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong com- munity newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehi- cles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its com- munities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the resi- dents and businesses of Tehama County. How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 Earlier in the day a reporter had written a story about search and rescue teams trying to locate an at-risk man in the Cot- tonwood area. At the time of the writing, he was simply missing. Reporters were asked to update me on the story, even after hours, if anything changed. Around 8:45 p.m., I was wandering through the aisles at Grocery Outlet on my way home. As I headed to my car, I received a text from a reporter – she had been chatting on Face- book with a friend who is a member of the local search and rescue unit. This friend reported that, though he wasn't part of the search at the time, searchers had discovered the man, deceased, sometime Wednesday. I returned to the office, sure we had a scoop, and set about changing the front page to reflect the new information. In the course of a few texts back and forth, I found this was sec- ond-hand information – a no-no in the news business. That's when it started eating at me. This was solid informa- tion, from somebody with the right connections to know what he was talking about. Most of you, given the same set of cir- cumstances, would probably have run with it. But it involved a man's death. We worked to confirm the information with the Tehama County Sheriff, but didn't receive a response at the late hour. Moments before sending the page with the updated story I backed off. Yes, we could have been among the first to report this man's tragic death, but was it worth risking reporting a death that wasn't? We covered our butts. The information about the death was attributed to a source involved with the search and rescue unit. It was made clear that no confirmation of the report had been avail- able from the sheriff's department. If the report turned out to be false, we could, techni- cally, say all we did was report what we had been told. Whether or not we The risk-reward ratio was substantial. But the fallout in the event our uncorrobo- rated information turned out to be incor- rect was simply not worth the relatively minor risk. Chip have an out, the report- ing of potentially inac- curate information for the sake of doing so first goes against our mission. Accuracy is any newspaper's most valuable asset. Compromising it is far more damaging than being first is appealing. Thompson 545 Diamond Ave. be. Chip Thompson can be reached at 527-2151, Ext. 112 or by e-mail at editor@redbluffdailynews.com. Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2595 Cean- othus Ave., Ste. 182, Chico, CA 95973; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224- 0454. What's in a name? Commentary When we, years ago, negotiated a sale of the Corning Observer, the late, great, Mari Petti took me aside and said, "You continue to say Corning Observer when it is the Corn- ing Daily Observer. That's where the value is…it is a daily." We advertized it as a daily and received about 20 responses from as far away as New York, and took the best offer from 5 or 6, which turned out to be from the late Walter Dodd, who was great in a different way. Anyhow, I note in the phone book that the Observer is still in business but simply as the Corning Observer and publishing only two days a week. The Daily News is still a daily, but it has elected not to publish on Mondays starting the 9th of January. This is a pity. It is not the end of the world as we know it, but it is a disturbing trend as Publisher Greg Stevens and Editor Chip Thompson have recently written in their editorials. The paper is a whole apple, per se, but a slice has been removed and my Monday mornings at the office will not be the same. I don't drink cof- fee, but do have a power bar…and that, plus the DN get me going and motivated each morning. At noon, I read the S.F. Chronicle, but find myself, after scanning the front page, discarding the front section and going to the sports section for that which truly interest me. That section is more precise. Somebody won and somebody lost. There are statistics which indicate why one was a winner and one a loser, but that is the name of the game. The bay area news section contains the obit- uaries. The Date Book might point me to a particular film or TV show, but that's about it for reading at noon. Oh, there is the finan- cial section, but that is for folks who invest in stocks and want the latest iPhone, what- ever that is. As you well know, I often make use of the "I" word, but without the use of a phone. The dropping of the Monday edition of the DN is a step to the rear. The military would call it a retrograde movement for it sounds better. We can't say that it is a sur- render of sorts because that suggests there is an enemy to which the paper has surren- dered. Maybe Pogo was right when he said "We have met the enemy and he is us!" Tsk, tsk. *** The GOP presidential contenders seem to be a sorry lot. And now that Newt Gingrich appears to be the front runner, President Obama must be applauding loudly from the side lines. Columnist George Will described Gingrich: "He's the classic rental politi- cian." It is likely to be a divisive conservative race with no party, Tea or other- wise, garnering enough votes to unseat the chap from Hawaii. A strong woman for vice president would help either party, but no mention of such as of this writing." Speaking of a strong woman, sources say Britain's Margaret Thatcher is in the throes of Alzheimer's. When a forceful leader is cut down by this disease, it is particularly dreadful. *** Sources say 40 million Americans suffer from clinical anxiety... and you may be in that group if you have chest pains, have feel- ings of doom, panic, light-headedness or rapid breathing, are unable to function in your daily routine or have repeated flash- backs or memories of traumatic events. Just the description of this malady might pro- voke anxiety in some. However, there may be relief of these symptoms by intake of Omega-3 fatty acids and herbal remedies such as Golden Root, Roseroot and Aaron's Rod, all alleged to be mood boosters. I can- not personally attest to the efficacy of same, but I know of a married couple in Manton who appear to be free of anxiety. They may be knowledgeable regarding these particular herbs. *** Not to add to anyone's anxiety, but rumor has it that as an economy measure, the Immigration Department will start deporting seniors, rather than illegals. This is designed to lower Social Security and Medicare costs, older people are easier to catch and they will not remember how to get back home. This seems awfully mean, doesn't it? *** Thieves recently stole 500 feet of barbed wire. If you see anyone walking around wearing welding gloves and a heavy leather jacket, best call the cops. *** Last week's quiz must Robert Minch I Say *** Here is good news on the restaurant front. The cost of a home cooked meal is rising faster than eating out. How about that? In a discussion with a leading purveyor of ice cream considering increasing their prices to keep up with franchises in other towns, I encouraged them to do so. They are going to think about it. However, an increase in price for that rent-a- movie company back fired on them, big time. *** Worth a repeat: To the horror of the locals, Satan appeared on Main Street in a small town. Everyone ran indoors except one old codger. "Aren't you afraid of me?," asked the devil. "Nope," said the old fellow rocking in his rocking chair. "Why not?," asked the incredulous Satan. "Been married to your sister for 46 years" Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of Red Bluff and former columnist for the Corning Daily Observer and Meat Industry magazine. He can be reached at rminchandmurray@hotmail.com. have been too tough. Lind- bergh's airplane sported a 9-cylinder Wright J-5C "Whirlwind" engine, Jonathan Swift wrote of the "Yahoos" in Gulliver's Travels and metal tokens in the game of Monopoly are thimble, iron, shoe, dog, battleship, top hat, cannon and race car. This week's quiz: Laurie Spiegel compiled a list of U.S. Presidents who did not experience a war during their administrations. Can you name, say 5 out of the 15 or so in that rare list? It turns out our information was cor- rect and confirmed around 6 a.m. Thurs- day. Gambling with the truth would have paid off this time, but that doesn't give us per- mission to do so the next time — as tempt- ing as doing so may Right or right now?