We have recently added the ability to “like” or “dislike” comments.  Based on the amount of votes the comment can change color, be “well loved”, in “hot debate”, or disliked and the comment is then hid.

My question is….should we keep this feature? There are definitely pro’s and con’s to comment ratings, and GoBurley feels that since it has a direct effect on readers…..you should be the ones who decide. We are conducting a poll below and will follow up within a couple weeks of the findings. Let your voice be heard.

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

Miss Cassia Jr. Miss Brooklynn Gunnell will be competing in Jr. Miss State Competition September 24, 25 and 26 in Pocatello. Brooklynn is a senior at Burley High School. She is a cheerleader, peer tutor, and a member of the BSOPPS and NHS organizations. She is serving as the youth leader of her church service organization for young women. In the mini-cassia competition Brooklyn won $5000 in scholarships, winning awards for interview, scholastics and fitness. Brooklynn will be presenting a hoedown clogging dance for her talent at state finals where she will participate with 38 girls from all of the state of Idaho.  Brooklynn is the daughter of Kent and Christine Gunnell.  Her siblings include Camille and Bridger attending BHS and Landon a 5^th grader at White Pine.

Tickets will be handled by the Idaho State University Box office at the Stephens Performing Arts Center. Box office: 208-282-3595 or online at: isu.edu/tickets.  If you have questions contact Mini-Cassia Jr. Miss Chairman Candace King.

A two car collision caused a temporary loss of power for a few hundred Burley residents and businesses Thursday evening when one of the cars split a power pole in half. According to firemen on the scene the crash happened just before 7 pm when a SUV driven by a teenage driver was going north on Oakley Avenue and hit another car headed west on 16th Street.

The car that was struck spun a number of times before it crashed into the wooden pole and stopped in the yard of a nearby home. Officials released the teenage driver and a teenage passenger to one of their mothers to be taken to the hospital for possible injuries. The driver of the other car was not hurt. The impact caused a water line in the yard to erupt as well as leave the live power cables dangling over the sidewalk parallel to the street. Burley electrical crews worked for about an hour to restore power to Burley residents near the intersection of 16th street and Overland Avenue.

Reported by Kim Seely

Welcome

Hello…My name is Mike Ramsey. I am not a journalist. Nor am I a reporter, or anything else that relates to someone that should be writing a newspaper. Read the full story