Wellsville Resident Claims "Spanks" Remark Bogus

Every Friday The Review has an editorial column called Thanks & Spanks. It's similar to the Morning Journal's Roast & Toast. Yesterday's edition of The Review's column sent out spanks claiming that a Wellsville dog owner left a dead dog chained to a fence and gave a double spanks to Village officials for doing nothing about it. It was another "sad" dog story that apparently the newspapers love to use to sell papers. The article was the first time any Village officials heard about the alleged dead dog left to decompose.

While we were at Village Hall yesterday afternoon a call was received by a Village official from a resident that claims that piece was referring to his pet. The caller claimed that the author of the "Spanks" and he are having a dispute of some sort. The caller said the remark was a lie and invited that official to stop by and see the alleged dead dog that is, in fact, very much alive. It was the second complaint we heard in two days about that weekly column.

At Thursday's BWD Board of Trustees meeting, Board member Chuck Bibbee took umbrage to another "Spanks" remark about the water district that he claims was unsubstantiated. Bibbee went on to spell out and give facts and figures to back up his statement. Apparently recent personnel moves at BWD will be a money saver instead of a means to raise water rates. Bibbee emphatically stated there are no plans to raise rates anytime in the foreseeable future.

Regardless, we think Bibbee might have hit the nail on the head when he said it was irresponsible reporting when such negative comments are published without verification. The reporter of the Wellsville Village kennel story bluntly remarked that pet stories are newspaper sellers in a Loose Ends column.

That may be true but is it necessary to sell papers with sad pet stories? That's not our opinion. We would be hard pressed to name any public official that would be willing to get their name dragged through the mud because of any pet abuse. We also doubt if any pet owner would leave a dead animal in full view of the public.

We have to agree with Mr. Bibbee. If the newspapers want to print such stories to sell papers, it is their responsibility to verify the facts before putting them into ink. This is especially true when such stories cast unsubstantiated aspersions on any community or person. The disclaimer for the Spanks & Thanks column require the sender to give their name & phone number. We suggest they use those numbers if they don't have the people to actually check on them. That would be the first step in the right direction.

ole nib