Over the past week, I have seen a very interesting thing take place. I covered the story on the Boycott of Mailer/Journal Advertisers in what I considered a very unbiased way. But, some  have said that I, Mike Ramsey, or a member of my family started this Boycott.

Each reader has the right to believe what you want, but I will tell you the facts, and you can take it from there. I was contacted on Friday the 16th of October, and told that a boycott was started in the area against advertisers in the weekly mailer. I was roofing a house when I found this out, and started to talk about it with everyone there. I saw a copy of the boycott on Monday October 19th, 2009 and copied it word for word on the posting.  I did my best to cover it fairly and with no bias. After looking at the posting further, I even removed the business names (that were part of the letter).

I did not start the boycott, nor did I write the anonymous letters sent to businesses. I have not signed the boycott. I believe that the story does need covered, and not covered up (though I have been threatened to cover the story up).

I am sad that people feel the only way to get The Weekly Mailer/News Journal” to change is to boycott local businesses advertising in the publication. I feel that the only party who can step up and lead the fix to this situation is the Weekly Mailer/News Journal. Jay Lenkersdorfer (the owner of the mentioned papers) on “Zeb Bell At The Ranch” said that positive changes to his publication are coming.  If this is the case, I commend Jay and in the future, wish him the best. So many people have been hurt on both sides of past issues, and I think it will take a lot to forgive what has happened…and a lot of apologies for what has taken place. Though it will take years to build trust, with some work I am confident that it can be done.

Those who have gone to the media with criticism and complaint I ask….did you talk to the individuals before hand? Did you feel better for defaming someone’s name? Did you succeed in humiliating your politician of choice? Could many issues be resolved behind closed doors? Did you stand firm on your position with your name, or simply attack others behind the word “anonymous”? I think if people within the community ask themselves these questions, many issues would be resolved outside of the media, and would help our community as a whole.

I love this community and will stand strong to promote the future growth of this area. I promote “anonymous” service, and despise “anonymous” attacks. I ask that if people have issues, they first talk to the individuals involved.

I feel that now, boycotters and businesses need to work together in holding the mailer/news journal accountable for their future actions, so that we as a community can progress to a new day. If the mailer/news journal make changes for the betterment of the community, then they will receive my forgiveness and support. If they don’t make the changes mentioned by Jay, I invite competition to take them out of business. In my opinion, and from numerous phone calls and conversations with business owners, public employees, and community members…The ball is in Jay’s court, and a community pleading for unity is watching with a very close eye.

Signed,

Mike Ramsey

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To the Editor,

Recently, seven of nine rank and file career firefighters and career officers of the Burley Fire Department voted to start a local Union and affiliate with  International  Association of Fire Fighters and Professional Fire Fighters of Idaho.  With this affiliation comes many benefits that our fellow career firefighters across the state already enjoy.  We are excited to be joining these organizations that have an excellent reputation for improving safety and professionalism in the firefighting field.

As a Union we would like to stress this decision was made with no malice or hard feelings toward the City of Burley.  The Burley Fire Department has a long standing great relationship with Mayor Jon Anderson,  the City Council, and  City Administrator Mark Mitton.  Their door has always been open to answer any questions or address any problems that we might have.  We have always worked hard together to provide the best emergency  fire and medical protection possible to the citizens of Burley and North Cassia Rural Fire District.  With the help of the twenty five Burley Fire Department  paid-on-call/volunteers we will continue to provide this great service to our community.

One of the benefits that we can excersize as Union Local #3308 is endorse publicly those candidates that we as a group feel will be the best choice for the citizens of Burley, and will continue the great support of the Burley Fire Department that we already enjoy.  We would like to endorse Mayor Jon Anderson,  Councilman Gordon Hansen, Councilman Dennis Dexter, former Councilman Don Dean.  These candidates have a proven track record of supporting the mission of the fire department .  We know they will continue their support  of the fire department and will work with us to continually improve emergency services.

Thank you,

Recently I was skimming through some articles looking for something interesting enough to read when I came across the title, “Siblings’ fight over MLK estate set for trial” (CNN). Although I wasn’t sure what it was about, I had just enough curiosity to continue. As I did, I was totally surprised by what I read.  Apparently, MLK is Martin Luther King Jr., and the siblings fighting over the estate are his children.  Imagine my surprise!

Apparently, his three surviving adult children, Bernice King, Martin Luther King III, and Dexter King are having family squabbles about money.  Bernice, and Martin Luther King III are suing their brother Dexter for misusing the family estate money.  In- turn, Dexter is counter-suing his sister Bernice for some personal letters that belonged to their now deceased mother, Corretta Scott King. These letters, written by Dr. King to his wife, allegedly were supposed to be part of a $1.4 million book deal that fell through.

As if all this wasn’t bad enough, I discovered that there was a discrepancy with the King family over the Nobel Peace Prize that Dr. King won.  How in heavens name can you fight over a Nobel Peace Prize?  Isn’t that a bit of a contradiction?

Although the amount of money, and some of the things they are fighting over might be a little different than the typical family, I’ve seen something like this before.  Too often  good and decent families, regardless of how strong, loving, and caring we think they are, fall into deep pits of anger, jealousy, resentment, and/or disappointment when parents pass on and there’s an inheritance to be dealt with.

However, I must have had in my head that there were some families that would be immune from such things. That’s why I was so shocked to hear about it.  I guess the old saying is true, “It can happen to the best of us.”

Martin Luther King Jr. has always been one of my favorite American heroes.  I suppose that’s why I felt so bad about what’s happening to their family.  I remember learning about how he fought for the human rights of all people, and how he was assassinated for doing so.  However, the thing I loved about him the most was the character he showed when the world around him was in such a chaotic, hateful, state of mind, directed often at him personally.  He was still able to live his life with the conviction of non-violence, while teaching others to do the same.

So, for me it’s another sad day in American history.  I hope the King family can find their way through this difficult time and come out the other side without too much damage.  I’d also like to extend my sympathies to anyone else who’s family is fighting over an inheritance.  Just keep this in mind, when it comes to money and earthly treasures, you still can’t take it with you when you go.

Janet Ramsey