Part of the problem

Dear Editor:

The Morgan Messenger lead articles have recently evidenced such a biased slant on facts that readers must independently investigate to acquire the true story. In tabloid style, The Messenger has sensationalized the Sheriff’s latest challenge to the Morgan County Commission position regarding office space and an enquiry about a postage meter.

The Messenger reported some two years ago that the Sheriff’s Office would not be located within the Courthouse, and I was personally told by the Sheriff’s administrative staff that they much preferred to be in the Rescue building.

The reporter failed to mention the sheriff’s current unreasonable demands for a 35% increase in budget, at a time when the Commission is struggling with a significant deficit in available funds. The sheriff is obviously suffering no more than a case of sour grapes.

The same can be said of the letter from Tina Harvey, who failed to disclose that she is the mother of a county employee and mother-in-law of a deputy sheriff. Ms. Harvey’s rant is misplaced, disingenuous and immaturely sexist.

Homeowners are genuinely appreciative that we at long last have commissioners who are concerned about unnecessary spending. I don’t know anyone who wants an increase in taxes. In spite of the lack of cooperation by certain elected officials whose efforts to sabotage civic-minded leadership are patent, the commission is endeavoring to hold down costs and to cut out waste.

It is a shame that two of our commissioners should be subjected to thinly veiled threats of retaliation from self-interested entities. The partisan perspective of The Messenger has also not gone unnoticed by its subscribers. Has our local newspaper sold its soul and become part of the problem?

Dawn White
Berkeley Springs