I would like to make an additional comment concerning Mark Miller’s column in the Saturday, Aug. 18, News-Banner.
I agree that small-town daily newspapers (local journalism) are a vital source of local information. The N-B covers and reports on the school board meetings (there are three), County, Ossian, Markle councils, Park Board, County Commissioners, City Council, Library, Health Dept. and other local meetings. These reports are so the readers of the N-B are constantly informed as to what is going on around Wells County.
Without these reports, there would be no way of knowing what is transpiring in these meetings. When any newspaper’s offices are raided (latest being in Marion, Kan.) with a so-called subpoena/search warrant which was never presented to the editor) that is a thing to be overly concerned about.
Allegedly the whole issue started about a local restaurant owner and the police chief. Even though nothing was ever printed in the paper about either. The editor could not verify the facts.
The attempt was made to shut down the paper. The local prosecutor dropped the charges and ordered the computers and other vital devices returned to the newspaper offices. I am also biased (as Mark), having worked in the newspaper industry for a total of 43 years.
We need our local newspapers. I have been a subscriber to the N-B for the past 25 years and the Journal Gazette even longer. Without these newspapers I would have a very limited way to get the correct information.
And by the way after all the hullabaloo in Marion, their weekly newspaper added an additional 2,000 subscribers. Please consider subscribing and advertising in your local newspaper. We need all the newspapers in the country.
Ed Rahn
Ossian
