Story missed

To the editor:
I find it interesting that a neighbouring community would not carry a story which affects well over 330 families in Dryden—the Weyerhaeuser layoffs of 330 union people and some staff members.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, in time for your Wednesday paper which we get here on a Thursday (did you perhaps carry it in your daily paper, which we do not get here?)
The “indefinite” (permanent) layoffs take effect Oct. 11, 2003. Interesting. Fort Frances also is basically a one-industry town. It would be smart for you to look at this story. This could happen to you, too.
You found it important enough to carry court reports on MNR fines in the Dryden area. Odd how that would be of more importance than something that affects many people—and possibly even in your town since fewer dollars here mean fewer dollars from Dryden visitors to your town.
Just curious as to why this story was not covered. Kenora carried it on its front page.
And just a quick comment (while I am at it) on the Wal-Mart stories ad nauseam. We already have a Wal-Mart and many of your area’s citizens shop here. That is probably why you are now getting one there—they did a postal code survey of shopping patterns here and now both Fort Frances and Kenora are to get Wal-Mart (I see that yours is already under construction).
When Wal-Mart comes into a town, many other stores close. We lost McLeod’s, Robinson’s, Cadarios, and The Bay, to name some. And you can bet a big outfit like Wal-Mart is not going to hang in there when the economy slows. Then what are we left with?
Just some food for thought.
(Signed),
Trudy Valdock
Dryden, Ont.