Out and About

As you might have read in last week’s editorial, we reported on the unconventional death and subsequent toxicology report of a beloved member of the community. It was a very public death, in the parking lot of the local Lowes. There were reports of the subject acting erratically and they later found unspent bullets littering the parking lot around his vehicle. When we reported the death, the funeral had already taken place and apparently, we shared news that no one except the family and closest of friends were aware of. There was a huge backlash for that story in December which lasted about two days. However, the real overreaction happened a few weeks ago when we reported the results of the toxicology report which stated there was long time alcohol abuse and there was alcohol and cocaine in his system when he died. According to a lady that picked up the torch for the family, we were hurting the future memories of this fine man – for his children and grandchildren. There was a change.org petition circulated via social media to have me removed from the board of MSCA. One of the reasons was because I live in Navarre, and not in Crestview. That made me laugh. I do own property in Crestview (on Main Street even) – which means I pay property taxes, and additional city taxes. This lady also wrote every one of our advertisers in Crestview and Navarre to say that I wasn’t the kind of person they wanted to associate with – so they should pull their advertising out of our newspapers. There was a coordinated effort to have people cancel their subscriptions and according to last count, on Facebook, and according to self-proclaimed subscription cancellers, we lost about 115 subscriptions. However, the real count was one cancelled subscription – and it was the subscription of the lady that started the petition on Change.org that was subsequently taken down when I reminded Change.org that the petition didn’t follow their guidelines. This very vocal and aggressive keyboard warrior woman couldn’t even cancel her own subscription. She had her husband call and cancel – and they didn’t really cancel, they decided to let it just run out – until November. So really – that doesn’t even count. For all we know, they will renew when they receive the renewal notice.  When our awesome advertisers made me aware of what she was doing and sent me copies of her plea for them to cancel their advertising – I called her. I had her number because she was a subscriber. The phone call went something like this;   Ring  Ring….Answer, “This is Gillian”  Me, “Hi Gillian, this is Sandi Kemp. You have been very busy today.”  Click…..that was the sound of her hanging up on me. Can’t even talk to me. I can’t wait to see her in public. From what I’ve been told, she has plans to run for city council and is trying to make a name for herself by being very offended by the local – liberal (ha ha) media outlet. Back to they MSCA board, I feel bad for them – and thought for a split second that maybe I should be tossed over the side of the proverbial boat so the seas would be calmer for them. However, unlike Jonah, I wasn’t trying to escape what God had called me to do. I/we were doing exactly what good journalist should do, and that is report on the news without favor – to anyone. I do know that the Crestview City Officials were very happy that they were getting a break because the pitchfork posse of Crestview was going after me, and not them. Turns out, every town has a community agitator or two. We have ours – and they have theirs and I’m the favorite target of both! Just glad it is me and not someone else.

Quote of the Week: “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” – John Shedd (1859 – 1928) An American author and professor.