Story, editorial, letter

The Paris Board of Selectmen and a few Paris residents are apparently confused as to the difference between fact and opinion.

The lead story in the May 24 issue was based on interviews with the entire selectboard and Town Manager Phil Tarr. The information in the story was from those sources.

The editorial, however, was the opinion of the newspaper – a reaction to the story.

And then there was a letter to the editor. The letter was the opinion of its writer.

Somehow, it seems, the three very different pieces were muddled together in folks' minds and a hue and cry was raised against them as a single entity.

Selectman Kurtz said he did not have a problem with the reporting. He did, however, take issue with the editorial, claiming the paper "did not understand the situation."

Many took issue with the letter to the editor which, they claimed, was inaccurate. Perhaps it was. But the angst and anger should be directed at the letter writer, not at the paper. Nor should the contents of the letter be confused with the reporting on the front page or the opinion in the editorial.

Interestingly, board Chair Bob Kirchherr while claiming the reporting to be made "from whole cloth," never actually denied having visited Tarr, as Tarr claimed. Neither did Selectman Jean Smart.

And all of them, Kirchherr, Smart, Kurtz and Lorrain, had the opportunity to make sure the original story included their contribution. Only Kurtz and Lorrain took the opportunity.

The board doth protest too much, methinks ... .

It seems quite clear to us that the board is upset that its actions did not remain on the q.t. but were put up for public consumption ... and that the public didn't like what it read.