Allegations Made Should be Proved...

     by Dixie A. Walter
     November 16, 2003

     I find the latest trend in the Dispatch repugnant. The slash and run attacks directed at Interim Public Works Director Greg Wilder is a classic case of killing the messenger because he isn't carrying the message you want to hear. I am not involved in all the various allegations against the man, however, I am thrown into the pot when Michael Jeffries, publisher, prints flat out fabrications about me, ENN and Wilder. 
     In the November 12 issue of the paper Jeffries editorial "Is retaliation the answer to requests for public Information," writes that Wilder was picking on Steve Lind, planning commission chairman, because Lind didn't have a business license in town. (Even though he has been running a business from his home for many years. That's what he said.) Lind has now applied for a business license. For the record Lind wasn't singled out. Town planner Mart Kask also received a letter, and several other people, including town consultants, received phone calls to verify their status with town business licenses. 
     While writing about Lind, Jeffries stated the following, "He [Wilder] has since written several threatening letters to Lind, leaked the letters to a local website (that posted the letters - perhaps confusing this with journalism), and then mailed the letters to Lind: a seemingly unprofessional and even unethical act." 
     I will ignore the attempt to insult me - it's just childish. However, I cannot ignore the blatant attempt at deception, accusing Wilder of leaking letters to me before he even mails them. That is extremely nasty and extremely false. This has never happened!  
     To begin with I wouldn't embarrass myself  by asking someone to take part in such an unethical action. And I certainly wouldn't put another person in such a position. I haven't done it in thirty years of writing for you and I don't intend to start now. Every document I have received from the town hall has been given to me in a professional and legal manner.
     I will state, just this once, that nothing has ever been given to me unless I have asked for it and nothing has ever been leaked to me from any source within the town. I will also go on the record to state that I have always been treated very nicely by all members of the town staff. I have never been denied any request for public records nor have I ever been the subject of retaliation.
     I believe it is malicious to publicly accuse people of something that has not occurred. And I believe the accuser should be prepared to prove the allegations made. I keep asking people who accuse me to substantiate the charges leveled at me. It's no coincidence that they have not been able to corroborate their claims. It's really quite simple; they don't prove it because they cannot. 
     This is the only time I will explain how this works. We are on the Internet, the World Wide Web; ENN is a Website on the Internet. Websites on the Internet do not have to wait any length of time before publishing news stories, photos, etc. A weekly newspaper is just that - weekly. A Website can be daily, even hourly. If I receive press releases, photos, etc. I can publish them within the hour much of the time. This is about technology, not about deceit. Think about it, Mr. Jeffries, and while you are at it, figure out how you are going to prove your false, but serious, accusations against myself and Greg Wilder. I can't speak for Wilder, but where I'm concerned, you best be able to prove public allegations. You owe both of us, and the community we serve, a public apology. 
 

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