Demanding Accountability

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Letters to the Editor

 

Dear Editor:

Hello. I just really wanted to take a second and thank you for all the hard work you have done in regards to Kevin. He is a great friend of mine, and it hurts to see such a good person in such a unwarranted fight for his life. I would like to say that since your involvement in his case, Kevin has regained a lot more hope for his future. Thank you again, and keep up the good work. If only the world was filled with more people such as yourselves, courageous enough to stand up and speak the truth, becoming a voice for those without… our world might be in a better place.

Very respectfully,

Angela Hanson
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Tabloid Press?

Editor:

Your tag is that You Focus On the Truth:

Bad News; you might want to get the whole truth instead of this one sided version you referred to in this article (Kevin Driscoll story).

Do you know Mr. Driscoll not only faces these charges; but almost identical charges in 3 other cases, that involved “Hot-tubbing” were he forced himself on other women.

If you are going to publish under the truth, you might want to ensure you have the whole truth, not just the parts that make for Good Tabloid Press.

If there is a video tape why was it not presented at Mr. Driscoll’s recent status hearing, because video tape does not Lie. I was at this hearing, and these facts you refer to were not presented by Mr Driscolls lawyer either.

Shame on you!!!

Scott Day

Editor’s Response to above:

Scott,

Shame on you... First off, the recent hearing was not a hearing in which to present evidence. Mr. Driscoll has not been charged with any other cases at this point, so he is not facing any other charges.

I viewed the video tape and all the evidence and can factually state that Kevin did not rape Melissa.

I don’t publish Tabloid News, I publish facts. I certainly wouldn’t claim that Driscoll has “forced himself on other women” without naming them and looking at all the evidence.

Prosecutor Jody Vaughan is factually responsible for falsely prosecuting another case that I have looked into and you had better hope that this evil, deceitful and vindictive bitch never targets you. If she does you should call me ASAP.

Our entire article was based on fact and testimony, mainly from third parties, and the tapes.

Best Regards,

Edward Snook
Chief of Investigations
US~Observer
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Response From KTVZ
(Response to Nicks' unpublished email)

Lynette Jones Nicks,

We MAY report this story, Ms. Nicks, but I’m NOT going to allow postings in comments that name a deputy DA and make such accusations. If we do a story, we will talk to her as well and get HER side. That is only fair, and how we’d treat any such allegations.

Your accusations against us make it even more difficult. We report, as always, what police report - as does most media across the country. And including us in your attacks makes it a challenge to decide how to proceed. Don’t see how you could imagine otherwise.

I’m copying in my supervisor, News Director Lee Anderson, to whom I also forwarded your e-mail earlier today, so that if you call he can be fully up to speed on your claims and can respond regarding our policies.

FYI, many years ago, when I was at The Bulletin, the folks behind the Observer threatened to sue me, in print. But my name was misspelled. After more than 30 years in this business, I have learned that whatever I do, I’ll make friends and enemies, always striving for the former and never the latter. But I also believe in my heart that I, and we, are pretty good at what we do. But you can never please everyone.

Have a nice evening.

Barney Lerten
Assignment Mgr./Digital Content Director
KTVZ

 

Editor’s Response to Barney Lerten’s e-mail above.

You can share the following with whomever you choose.

Barney Lerten is a “systems reporter.” These type reporters rarely if ever publish the truth about any situation because they have relationships with the legal system and other governmental agencies - due mainly to financial reasons (advertising, etc.). The medias they work for depend on advertising dollars and if these ridiculous media were to attack a malicious and evil prosecutor like Jody Stutzman Vaughan they would go broke overnight.

I’m sure Barney is okay among the limp-wristed, socialist crowd, but him and his ilk are not okay in my world or that of the US~Observer. System reporters and the media they hire themselves out to certainly can’t have any pride in themselves or their work. Also, they can’t have much of a conscience or they would hide in shame when they find out they have helped ruin an innocent person’s life, just like they have Kevin Driscoll.

Improtant to note is the part of Lerten’s response which states, “I’m NOT going to allow postings in comments that name a deputy DA and make such accusations. If we do a story, we will talk to her as well and get HER side. That is only fair, and how we’d treat any such allegations.

Barney Lerten is quite the hypocrit, isn’t he? Why wouldn’t he show Driscoll the same courtesy? The fact is, Barney doesn’t have the time or the resources to properly investigate any case and therefore no one can ever trust that they are receiving the truth from him. So sad, but very true...

Barney Lerten’s “fairness” always has two sides, however, there is only one side to the truth, not two.

Best Regards,

Edward Snook
Chief of Investigations
US~Observer
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“The Video”

Editor:

Where is the video? I want to believe what I see. I am torn between sides.

Wendy Larocque

Editor’s Response to above question:

Wendy,

The video is available to view on our web-site at www.usobserver.com

You don’t need to be “torn between sides,” just simply realize that I wouldn’t have published the damaging article that I did if it wasn’t true. I would get sued in a heart-beat.

Best Regards,

Edward Snook
Chief of Investigations
US~Observer
-----

Driscoll “Appeared” Guilty

Kevin, I will be honest with you. After I saw the [local] news I figured you were guilty. The story they did made you look like you were.

Then just a few days ago I had a US~Observer put on my door step. I was a little unsure about the information that was being reported by the US~Observer.

Some of my questions were “If they had so much evidence why would they be pursuing this?” I started once again to follow KTVZ blogs. Everyone said what I was thinking ... “Doubt videos exist, US Observer is slanted truth and how can local media report such rubbish?”

Now after seeing the video - that does indeed exist - all I can say is WOW. I’m also asking myself “What is the District Attorney’s office and local media doing?” It’s looks to be that the US~Observer is reporting the truth.

Our prayers go out to you and your family. The truth will come out in court as it clearly has here.

E. Sanders
From the Bend Observer Blog
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We Old People Are Waking Up ...

The following letter to the AARP says it all. It is a must read regardless of your age. This was sent to Mr. Rand who is the Executive Director of AARP

Dear Mr. Rand,

Recently you sent us a letter encouraging us to renew our lapsed membership in AARP by the requested date. I know it is not what you were looking for, but this is the most honest response I can give you. Our gap in coverage is merely a microscopic symptom of the real problem, a deepening lack of faith.

While we have proudly maintained our membership for several years and have long admired the AARP goals and principles, regrettably, we can no longer endorse it’s abdication of our values. Your letter specifically stated that we can count on AARP to speak up for our rights, yet the voice we hear is not ours. Your offer of being kept up to date on important issues through DIVIDED WE FAIL presents neither an impartial view nor the one we have come to embrace. We do believe that when two parties agree all the time on everything presented to them, one is probably not necessary.. But, when the opinions and long term goals are diametrically opposed, the divorce is imminent. This is the philosophy which spawned our 200 years of government.

Once upon a time, we looked forward to being part of the senior demographic. We also looked to AARP to provide certain benefits and give our voice a power we could not possibly hope to achieve on our own. AARP gave us a sense of belonging which we no longer enjoy. The Socialist politics practiced by the Obama administration and empowered by AARP serves only to raise the blood pressure my medical insurance strives to contain. Clearly a conflict of interest there!

We do not understand the AARP posture, feel greatly betrayed by the guiding forces whom we expected to map out our senior years and leave your ranks with a great sense of regret. We mitigate that disappointment with the relief of knowing that we are not contributing to the problem anymore by renewing our membership. There are numerous other organizations which offer discounts without threatening our way of life or offending our sensibilities.

This Presidential Administration scares the living daylights out of us. Not just for ourselves, but for our proud and bloodstained heritage, but even more importantly for our children and grandchildren. Washington has rendered Soylent Green a prophetic cautionary tale rather than a nonfiction scare tactic. I have never in my life endorsed any militant or radical groups, yet now I find myself listening to them. I don’t have to agree with them to appreciate the fear which birthed their existence. Their borderline insanity presents little more than a balance to the voice of the Socialist mind-set in power. Perhaps I became American by a great stroke of luck in some cosmic uterine lottery, but in my adulthood I CHOOSE to embrace it and nurture the freedoms it represents as well as the responsibilities it requires.

Your web-site generously offers us the opportunity to receive all communication in Spanish. ARE YOU KIDDING??? Someone has broken into our ‘house’, invaded our home without our invitation or consent. The President has insisted we keep the perpetrator in comfort and learn the perp language so we can communicate our reluctant welcome to them.

I DON’T choose to welcome them.

I DON’T choose to support them.

I DON’T choose to educate them.

I DON’T choose to medicate them, pay for their food or clothing.

American home invaders get arrested.

Please explain to me why foreign lawbreakers can enjoy privileges on American soil that Americans do not get?

Why do some immigrants have to play the game to be welcomed and others only have to break & enter to be welcomed?

We travel for a living. Walt hauls horses all over this great country, averaging over 10,000 miles a month when he is out there. He meets more people than a politician on caffeine overdose. Of all the many good folks he enjoyed on this last 10,000 miles, this trip yielded only ONE supporter of the current administration. One of us is out of touch with mainstream America. Since our poll is conducted without funding, I have more faith in it than one which is power driven.

We have decided to forward this to everyone on our mailing list, and will encourage them to do the same. With several hundred in my address book, I have every faith that the eventual exponential factor will make a credible statement to you..

I am disappointed as hell.

I am scared as hell.

I am MAD as hell, and I’m NOT gon'na take it anymore!

Walt & Cyndy
Miller Farms Equine Transport
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Without Voter Permission

Editor:

The voters of Lake County learned 2 weeks after the beginning of the fiscal year that the Lake County Board of Commissioners (here in after the “BOCC”) had declaired their jobs to be full time and granted themselves a 75% pay raise without benefit of asking the voters

ORS 203.111 gives the duty of adopting a budget to the BOCC. So they didn’t need to ask the some 4000 registered voters for whom they work for permission to take a pay raise of 75%, which amounts to almost $1600 a month on top of the $2274. they were getting already.

Raymond M. Bledsaw
Lakeview, OR
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