LETTERS: WHOLE STORY HASN'T BEEN TOLD ABOUT DUNOD

To the editor:

I was quite disappointed in the tone and substance of Sam Blackwell's report about Pascal Dunod from France in last Thursday's paper. It must have been a slow news day for that to merit front-page coverage along with the lost parrot in Kennett.

When Blackwell telephoned me last week, asking about the projects that Dunod had started in Jackson, Mo., I informed him only in general terms about some of the difficulties Dunod encountered and indicated that he indeed had decided not to pursue any development in Jackson at this time. I also promised him that I would tell him the whole story when the time was appropriate.

However he chose to go forward anyway without knowing any facts whatsoever.

I never implied that Dunod had any problems with the city of Jackson regarding the French Orchard Estates Subdivision, so he went off on a totally wrong track.

Dunod is still not ready to discuss in print any of the problems he encountered. And rest assured that when the time comes to discuss the whole story, I will talk to a more responsible journalist.

Frankly, I am disappointed in Blackwell for doing a fill-in-the-blanks kind of news report. That's when you don't know the real story, so you fill in with something that sounds good, like the inference that he may have encountered financial difficulties. I don't remember saying anything of the kind. If you only knew the truth about his finances you would be embarrassed.

My father, who spent 40 years in the newspaper business, always touted the expression "Never make someone mad who buys ink by the barrel." Of course, he meant one should always keep the newspaper on good terms. But frankly when I read this report I found no reason to hold the same respect for this newspaper that he had for the industry.

Sadly, the Southeast Missourian doesn't rank too highly in my esteem.

SHARON HOPKINS

Marble Hill, Mo.