Harrington reader takes issue with writer's word choice

When Ms. Ott, your roving reporter for The Odessa Record, belittles small communities, as I feel she did in her column of September 1, 2011, perhaps she should follow her own advice. In item #13 of her “big ideas for a small town” article she admonishes us to “not be mean spirited, as it is not helpful, and we should evaluate what we say before we say it.”

She infers in her article that several of our small communities are resting on our laurels. I feel that is “mean spirited” and not helpful, when you don’t know the facts or care to find out the truth. We in Harrington are working very hard and not resting on our laurels. So for her to make such a statement is hurtful to our community and to those of us working hard to accomplish our goals and make community improvements.

Perhaps Ms. Ott should attend a Harrington Opera House, Historical Preservation, Harrington H-CATS or Chamber of Commerce meetings in Harrington before she makes statements based on her perception while driving through town.

This is the second time your paper has printed unkind comments about Harrington and other small communities. WHY?

Bunny Haugan

Harrington

Editor’s note: Ms. Haugan’s reference to another time the paper printed “unkind comments about Harrington” occurred under a previous editor.