Smith announcement too long for space

I put a lot of thought and effort into what I wanted to say in announcing my desire to continue serving the people of Boundary County as county commissioner; how much I appreciate the people I work with every day, what has been accomplished and the challenges that lie ahead. I wanted every word to count, so I ran it by several media-savvy people to ensure it met journalistic standards.

I guess we used a few too many words.

That announcement appeared on the front page of the Feb. 16 Bonners Ferry Herald, and the article said everything I wanted to say right up until the very end, when it stopped three paragraphs before we did, cutting a few key points and failing to conclude with what I thought were the most important words.

The on-line version of the Herald included those last three paragraphs;

“By having these public hearings, the commissioners, along with the public, can work to mitigate adverse impacts of such a designation and protect our economy, our recreation, and our way of life. We may not obtain all the concessions we need, but we will be heard and our concerns will become part of the federal record.

“Smith said he looks forward to continuing building on the strides that have been made in recent years, and to continue serving the citizens of Boundary County.

“In addition to serving the citizens of Boundary County, both Ron and Evelyn, his wife of 53 years, are active throughout the community, particularly when it comes to their church, their beloved Bonners Ferry Badgers and to education in general, giving of themselves and their time for a community they both love.”

I was a little upset when I saw that those last lines didn’t make it into the printed Herald, but we failed to remember that newspapers are limited by space, and that when space runs out, it’s the conclusion of the story, the last lines, that get left out.

This letter is written to give “the rest of the story,” and to give credit where it is due. Public service isn’t a privilege, it’s a debt we owe our community. For everything I’ve done well, for 53 years, I’ve been bolstered, blessed and strengthened by the example my wife, Evelyn, sets every day.

Ron Smith