What is News?

 It seems like almost everyday I am asked the question, “what is happening to the Record Searchlight?”…like I should know. Good question, though, that I even ask myself. In thinking about this, I decided to look back over the past few weeks to see what was “in the news” and some interesting things developed. #1. Some form of crime was noted almost every day. #2. Some form of bizarre behavior was noted regularly, and #3. With the exception of the Healthcare walk, very little space was given to community activities and involvement. The Sports page, even though shrunk to a couple of pages, is the exception. And, www.redding.com is very impressive. Why is this?  Is nothing else happening in Redding and Shasta County? Recently a new resident to our area commented that for a small town, there is limited news in the paper about the “small town”. Good point. So, I started looking around and asking about what is happening, and sure enough, so much going on that it is hard to keep up with. Yet, a mention either before the activity or event appears, or after the function, seldom, if ever, shows up in the paper. Sure, healthcare and the 100 marchers got coverage, but then with the unbelievable push for nationalized healthcare from the White House, what do we expect? And, part of the problem is that, due to cutbacks and other factors, the reporters at the paper may not even know about “what’s happening. So, rather than complain, what can I do to change this? Two weeks ago, about 600 people gathered at a rally at the Rodeo grounds at 7 in the evening in almost 100 degree temperature to hear a national speaker on “Patriotism”. I attended, as a close friend invited me knowing that I would find it of interest, being a retired Air Force Reserve Officer and one that believes patriotism and America is still alive and well. What an evening this was, hosted by known radio personalities, with a flag procession representing young and old, and our own Sundial Singers singing the National Anthem, as we all heard first hand that we had better wake up to what was going on nationally before it is too late. Pure “baseball, apple pie, and Friday night football”. Bring it on, was felt by many. When have we ever in the history of our country sat back and allowed our elected officials to lead us into such a financial fiasco as we are in today, with the national debt growing daily? When has the general public ever been so apathetic about what is happening on a daily basis to change the basic fabric of our free society? Never, and now we must do something. The rally, called the Redding Tea Party, was held to remind us of our American values, our standards, and our character qualities that have made us the greatest country in the World. Sure, we still have issues, and the homeless, and those with substandard healthcare, but we cannot give up. The Redding Tea Party is here to support the citizens of Shasta County and Redding in maintaining our system of government, our lifestyle, and our freedoms. To my way of thinking, this was news, and good news, and now it is reported. We have many and varied activities and subjects that are “newsworthy”, in my opinion, whether it is Turtle Bay events, the Cascade Theater scheduled programs, high school and college activities with school starting up, or the City leaders changing the rules for the homeless. But we just would like to read about them before they occur and then a report on what happened. There just has to be some “non-bad” news out there.  And, I am going to do my part and send in events and functions when I know about them. This is not too much to ask of members of our community that do want to “get the good news out”.  Ron LargentAnderson, CA