Pubdate: Sun, 13 Oct 2002
Source: Times-News, The (ID)
Copyright: 2002 Magic Valley Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.magicvalley.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/595
Author: Priscilla A. Sisson

TOO MUCH COVERAGE OF DOCTOR'S CASE

I have been following the articles in The Times-News on Dr. Retmier's 
impending case. I must say I'm not surprised at the constant reviewing of 
the "facts" by The Times-News. Is the "news fit to print" so sparse in Twin 
Falls that you need to constantly restate the "facts" you have printed in 
at least three other articles? And the headlines on the front page where as 
large as the headlines on Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, "Japanese bombs Pearl 
Harbor." Slow news days? No murders? No child abductions? Give us all a 
break and let this play out in the court system where it belongs.

Dr. Retmier has the right to a fair hearing on the charges brought against 
him. With The Times-News' constant barge of "reportedly" this and 
"allegedly" that, how can this ever happen? I honestly think if these 
charges were leveled against "Joe Average," it would make only the court 
records, not the front page. Does The Times-News have a vendetta against 
Dr. Retmier? Dr. Retmier has a family who doesn't need to be constantly 
subjected to your brand of fair and important reporting. Try to remember 
that in your reporting of all these so- called "facts."

The hospital also has the right to handle this matter according to its 
policy and not that deemed correct or right or just by The Times-News. In 
other words, butt out! Let this be handled appropriately by the court and 
the hospital and save your grandstanding until Dr. Retmier has had his day 
in court.

Compared to the print coverage you gave on the principal from Bickel caught 
with marijuana, this is overkill of the so-called alleged, reported 
"facts." I was much more appalled by an educator with access to hundreds of 
children possessing illegal drugs. Where's your big headlines and fantastic 
"facts" day after day on that issue?

Times-News, in the vernacular of our youthful generation, get a life. Let 
the court system and the hospital take care of this, and then, when it's 
all said and done and you really have the "facts," print your article.

PRISCILLA A. SISSON

Buhl
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MAP posted-by: Tom