OUR LOSS: Our affiliation with the ELF Fund, the community’s
Christmas giving program sponsored by The Era, brings us into
contact with many kind souls. MaryAnn Whitbeck of Marshburg, who
died Sunday, was one of them. Years ago, she worked for what was
then Howard Johnson’s and each year took charge of baking the many
dozens of Christmas cookies served at the annual bus trip and party
for senior citizens. She loved doing it. We will miss this generous
lady.
FEEDBACK: We get letters of all kind — some of which we can even
print!
Leith S. Larson, Washington, N.J., writes: “I left Bradford in
1975. One of the first things I do each day is read the Era. The
great reporting by the staff makes me feel like I never left
Bradford. Keep up the great reporting.”
Jim Espin of Kane tells us the placement of our stories on
Monday’s front page caught his eye. “Headlines about the terrible
murder that took place in Bradford were right beside an article
stating that ‘Bradford is a safe place to live.’ That article
placement caused a few of us to chuckle about the story placement …
not the murder.”
Bob Hasard of Eldred drops us this e-line: “After reading the
article on cutting trees at Rimrock Overlook, some over two feet
through, it take trees years and years to grow and minutes to cut
down, all for someone to have five minutes to view somewhere. Does
anyone take time to view a tree?”
ONE MORE: We’ve been whining recently about some of the nasty
comments we get from people — forgive us, it gets on our nerves
from time to time — but even we had to sit up and take notice in
Tuesday’s paper when our reporter was chastised by a man accused
of two counts of murder!
In case you missed it, Thomas Haggie, the man who allegedly
killed a pregnant woman last September and then e-mailed photos of
the victim to an acquaintance, had the audacity to make this
comment to a reporter after a Monday hearing: “Are you done
wrecking people’s lives yet?”
Wow. After all the years of complaints we’ve received, this was
a first: an attack from an accused double murderer! That’s one for
the record books.
