Cant wait to see the site expand, I really like the up to date stories.

Mike,

I am excited to follow your Web site. As a Burley native who has moved away, I often wonder what is going on at home. The Times-News hasn’t been good at updating their site and the Weekly Mailer doesn’t have an online presence.

I am excited to read the user-generated news on GoBurley. Good luck on your new venture!

First I would like to say to Mike congratulations on getting this site underway! I think it is going to become a great place for the community to gather and not only get their news but also express their opinions. With that said, I would like to respond to Lucas Handy’s comment.

I used to work for Jay Lenkersdorfer at the Weekly Mailer as the pagination editor for the News Journal so I feel comfortable conveying what first-hand knowledge I have.

Jay has mixed reviews from everyone in the community. I can tell you that he loves this community and is committed to making it a great place to live. He doesn’t always agree with everyone and he’s not always right, but I can respect the man because he stands up for what he believes in, even when no one else will stand with him.

As far as the Sound Off goes, to my knowledge he himself has never submitted an unsigned letter. I saw virtually every Sound Off that was submitted during the time I worked there, via the production inbox and those that were delivered by hand. All of them had to be submitted for approval and he only denied ones that were inappropriate.

I find it interesting that when letters that agree with Jay’s opinions are submitted by people in the community, those letters are somehow linked to his “agenda” and there for he is responsible from them. You know, Jay ALSO publishes letters that disagree with his opinion, including one in which has was called a pompous ass. I think that if he was filtering these letters to meet his own agenda, he would have left that one out.

At one point, Jay was so torn on whether or not to allowed unsigned letters in the Weekly Mailer, that he decided to poll his readers. I collected many of these votes myself and the overwhelming majority demanded that Jay leave the Weekly Mailer just as it was, unsigned letter and all. He doesn’t, however, allow unsigned letters in the Weekly News Journal.

Jay has, on occasion, felt so strongly about an issue that he has written a column about it, which has not only been accompanied by his name, but also by his photograph. He has also published several other columns by other politicians. I also know for a fact that he encourages his writers of the News Journal to get both sides of the story and has rejected stories that come back to him as too one-sided.

I’m not asking anyone to change their opinion because, lets be honest, one little comment on a startup Web site probably isn’t going to do it. I will, however, encourage you to at least respect what Mr. Lenkersdorfer IS doing for the community. He started up a local community paper in economic hard times when other papers across the nation are failing. He did this because he felt that such a great community deserved their own paper and many have thanked him for it. He often puts his and his family’s reputations on the line in order to stand up for what he believes in. He works hard for his community and should be thanked for his service.

By the way, it’s good to hear from you Lucas!

Lyndsey Weedop

*This comment was not solicited!*

Mike,
I think what your doing is a great thing.Me and Nick are behind you all the way.Even though Im not from there Nick is and he is so proud of you and what you are doing for the community.Its on my I Google page and signed up for Email.Keep up your great efforts!!

Nick and Amy Ramsey

How do you want the Media to inform you?

This summer, I repeatedly saw the media misused by councilman Lenkensdorfer, the editor of a local paper. Through a free of charge “weekly mailer” he propagated his political agenda. Name calling, deceitful unsigned letters to the Editor, and other methods to discredit politicians that opposed his ideas. Ultimately, this resulted in a very skewed and biased perception of Burley politics for the general public!

I like the guidelines that goburley.com has established. This will ensure unbiased, informative media coverage for Burley politics. Signed letters to the Editor will encourage accountability, and allow a citizen to determine the validity of a comment through it’s author. Inviting everyone to write will give enhance representation, not just one politician’s opinion, to ensure truth. These standards will result in the elimination of the current misrepresentations, misconceptions, falsehoods, and lies.

As a result of the greater truth, citizens may understand the root causes of a political issue. Debate and discussion for the best solution will replace the inhumane name calling and other ego-driven tactics. Ultimately, the truth will make you a socially responsible citizen! I invite you to raise your standards and eliminate this extremely biased media. Boycott any news that purposefully prints any form of deceptions to the general public. This may make money, but it is unethical!

Attached is a exemplar video showing how the media often forgets their role in society. Here, Governor Mitt Romney, corrects the journalist and identifies the media’s role.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-S9Ntek9QE

Lucas Handy
Brigham Young University,
Master of Public Administration
Emphasis in Human Resources and Local Government.

Only if it is a fact

I think this is a major step in the rigth direction. I look forward to the growth of the site.
One ? can we call are selves crooks?