I would like to respond to the comment in tonight’s pulseline about the assault that occurred in Southwick earlier this year. First, don’t always believe what you read in the paper. Unless you were there during the alleged assault or in the courtroom during the trial, please keep your opinions and comments to yourself. The jury was presented with the FACTS and not a bunch of half truths as was written in the paper. If you were presented with the evidence the jury was presented with, you would understand how three of the four defendants were found not guilty and acquitted of all charges. Why do you think these three defendants chose a trial instead of a plea bargain? Because they didn’t do what they were accused of. And I love how the paper omitted the part about how the so called victim punched a girl and she had to go to the hospital. Nor did it mention how when this victim got to the hospital he was very combative and wanted drugs and when he didn’t get them at Noble went to Baystate instead. That’s someone near death? I don’t think so. So before you comment in a public forum, I suggest you get the FACTS and not someone else’s version of events. Thank you.
I guess it just matters who you are. I sent in a response to the PulseLine on December 4 and it has yet to be put in the paper. I guess the paper doesn’t like to publish facts. Just slander! Your comments were recently brought to my attention and I am happy to reply although I doubt if you will be satisfied. First, if journalists were to “keep your opinions and comments to yourself” as you suggest “Unless you were there during the alleged assault” virtually nothing would be reported. Most importantly, “FACTS” are elusive and hard to pin down. Even if you and I were standing next to each other at the same event, what you believe to be true (and thus a “fact”) is not necessarily what I believe to be true. And, as time passes, our recollections of the “facts” may become increasingly divergent. And, if we reported what we saw in court then, those “facts” would still be in doubt. In court, a jury is asked to determine what “facts” they believe to be true and determine if the defendants have broken a law. And, if a person is found to be innocent of a crime, that does not necessarily mean that the events for which they were charged did not occur. A jury, for example, may have found that what is alleged to be a criminal event was in fact justified. Or, the defense may just be better than the prosecution at convincing the jury. Witness the two O.J. Simpson cases. He was found to be innocent in criminal court but responsible in civil court. The only facts that are not in doubt are what the system did. It is a fact that the men in question were charged. It is a fact that three were acquitted. It is a fact that they are innocent of any crime but it is not a fact that they did not do what is claimed. So, when I report a case, I cannot report the “facts” of the events, only what people claim to be the facts. The only “facts” that I can report as facts are documented events such as who was charged and what action the court took. If you look, you will find that every “fact” about the events that transpired is attributed to whomever claimed it to be fact. As I see it, the story reported a horrendous event that happened in Southwick. I never said that anybody was guilty or that anybody attacked anybody else, I reported what witnesses told police and what the investigators found. Only the jury really knows why they decided what they decided and I accept their decision. It seems hard to reconcile with the “facts” reported by the witnesses but, they were empowered to decide and we should all accept their decision. But, even though I, or you, might not understand the ultimate result, I believe there is a legitimate public interest in the events that transpire around them even though it is almost impossible to be certain what the “facts” of the event were. It is enough that something happened which was unusual enough to make people wonder if their friend was beaten to death. That makes it worthwhile to attempt to unravel and reports the events, as best I can. – CEH
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You City Councilors for cutting our taxes. It’s about time. You have to control Mr. Tax and Borrow and Spend Knapik.
I just finished reading another update on Dobelle’s lawsuit, and all I can say is that anyone who had anything to do with the hiring of Dobelle should be fired. It is obvious that the Board of Trustees did not verify Dobelle’s background. All they had to do is Google his name and all the information about him would have been there. If the board failed the tax payers of Westfield in hiring him, I bet they are vulnerable in the lawsuit that Dobelle has filled against them. I will go on the record and say that he will walk away with at least several million in damages due to the boards’ lack of professionalism in handling his dismissal. I feel sorry for the students and the tax payers of Westfield!!!
Hi PulseLine! Great job, by the way, you help us vent. What is the deal with Whalley Park in Southwick? This summer the town let it go. The beautiful baseball fields all went to weeds and it looked terrible. They told us that they closed the park because of safety and now I see construction going on up there. If you can find out thanks.
Hi! Noble Hospital has built an urgent care medical facility on Union Street in Westfield. I think that’s great! I wish Noble would consider building an urgent care facility here in Southwick. It would be a lot more convenient for a lot more people that live here that don’t drive and have to go all the way to Noble for a simple x-ray or a cold or the emergency room for something minor and blood tests. I can see where urgent care is needed for Southwick and it has been for a long time. So I hope Noble considers that. Thank you.
How ya doin? I’m narrating for my boss who reads my newspaper every day, and he wonders why I buy this rag. When you spent a page and a half talking about two brothers from years ago, and then, you flip and you get to the police log, and then it goes to the court log, which is the police log written all over again. So, my boss is wondering why I buy this rag and why you guys do this stuff. Looking forward to your response. Rag? Gee, thanks for the kind words. If you’d care to better understand why close to 50 local people work hard every day to get you this paper, give our owner, Patrick Berry, a call and he will gladly speak with you about it. He can be reached at 562-4181 ext 101.
