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Rural Rants (Sept. 1, 2010)

By Mike Donahue

A few weeks ago I wrote a news story that appeared in the Progress lamenting Cappalappa Family Resource Center’s (CFRC) apparent loss of a Clark County grant (Cappalappa Loses Most of Its Grant Funding: Progress July 28, 2010). Through the article, the center appealed to Moapa Valley residents for help in overcoming the anticipated shortfall.

After the story ran, however, CFRC learned county grants had not yet been awarded or denied and the center was premature in assuming it was not a recipient. The Progress, naturally, printed another article that appeared in the paper’s next edition explaining CFRC was still in the running for the county cash.

Now all this seems pretty cut and dried and those who read the Progress probably saw both stories and thought so much the better for CFRC, which does so much for so many Moapa Valley residents. There is, however, a little more to the story.

For some unfathomable reason when the first story appeared, according to the grapevine, it created a virtual firestorm in Clark County Commissioner Tom Collin’s office. Now I don’t know this as fact (but then that’s the type of reporter I am, but I’ll get to that later) but I understand Tom Collins apparently began ranting and raving about that little good-for-nothing newspaper (the Progress) and reporter (that’s me) in Moapa Valley and how they print lies and libelous statements and the CFRC story was just another example of bad journalism and how if it were up to him � Well, you get the idea.

After the screaming dissipated and various phone calls had been made, Tom Collins apparently dispatched two employees to confront the scurrilous newspaper in Moapa Valley (that’s the Progress again). Some threats of legal action were even made. Now I haven’t the faintest idea what legal action could possibly be threatened since this is, after all, America. I wonder if Tom Collins or his employees know absolutely anything about journalism, the U.S. Constitution, mass media law, etc., but then that’s for another column.

Anyway, Tom Collins’ personal liaison was especially vigorous and obnoxious in her criticism of the CFRC story. She demanded to know who said what and when and where did the information in the story come from. She commented that the “the Progress will obviously print anything said by anyone even if it’s a lie.” Although getting the truth from the liaison was difficult, she later admitted her vilification was based solely on the article’s headline.

She hadn’t even READ the story!

If she had, she could have answered her own questions.

I am still wondering if Tom Collins ever read the story as well.

Anyway, within days Tom Collins wrote a letter to the editor seeking a “correction” and crying about inaccuracies in regard to the CFRC county grant. And when the letter wasn’t printed quite as quickly as he thought it should be, he had Clark County public information officer Erik Pappa call Progress editor Vernon Robison to demand the paper hurry up and print it. (Does no one know in county government and Tom Collins’ office know anything about the First Amendment to the Constitution? I would have thought Erik � Oh, well, perhaps not.)

Nevertheless, the Progress did print the letter. Not because of a complaining Clark County commissioner and a demanding public information officer whose time could be better spent in other endeavors, however, but because it’s the newspaper’s policy to print letters to the editor. It’s what the paper does. That’s why there’s a letters to the editor section.

As an aside, rural readers, by the time Tom Collins directed Erik Pappa to demand his letter be printed, the updated information about CFRC had already appeared in the Progress. Everyone who reads our small Moapa Valley newspaper (complete articles as well as headlines) knew the county hadn’t slammed the door on Cappalappa. Perhaps Tom Collins wasn’t aware there was a second story. Who knows?

Although Tom Collins letter was short he took time to add some affable and journalistically educational words of wisdom for me for which I am grateful.

“A responsible reporter,” Collins wrote, “would have contacted Clark County’s Community Resources to verify that the information (about CFRC losing out on the grant) was accurate.” (No matter to Tom Collins, apparently, that the information in the story came from the CFRC director and CFRC board president.)

Anyway, Tom Collins, since you were so gracious to advise me about the tenets of responsible reporting, I am returning the favor. Herein you will find what a responsible county commissioner does in the performance of his or her duties. This is according to the feedback I gleaned from many, many Moapa Valley residents to whom I put the question in the last few weeks.

-A responsible commissioner would obey the rule of law and allow the tenets of majority rule to apply even if he or she is not happy about the outcome. (This came from several people upset that the Clark County Board of Commissioners, apparently at Tom Collins urging, ignored a straw poll electing Moapa Valley Town Advisory Board members, deciding instead to appoint someone who got substantially fewer votes.)

-A responsible commissioner realizes he or she represents ALL the constituents in the county, not merely those who voted for same commissioner.

– A responsible commissioner is obedient, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, brave, kind, clean, cheerful, thrifty, reverent and trustworthy � with thanks to the Boy Scouts of America. (Please see first recommendation.) -A responsible commissioner would treat everyone in the county equally.

-A responsible commissioner would understand the value of suggestions and recommendations from local residents and governing boards, (such as, but not limited to, the Moapa Valley Town Board) even if they weren’t handpicked.

To belabor the obvious, “Rural Rants” is a column about rural living and the people who live here. Because it’s a column and not a news story, it’s written subjectively, with personal observations. It appears the first and third Wednesdays of the month. Your comments and input are important and will be appreciated. Contact me via email at mouse@mvdsl.com.

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