July 17, 2012 — Last week I received several phone calls and emails from readers regarding stories and a photograph that appeared in recent issues of the newspaper.

I look forward to hearing those comments — both positive and negative — although it’s much more productive to communicate with those folks interested in having a real dialogue compared with those who just want to vent some hot steam in my direction.

I appreciate hearing what readers think because I believe their perspective helps me do a better job as an editor and pushes me to do a better job serving our community.

Life truly is a learning experience, and sometimes it seems I learn something new with every issue of the paper.

Several readers disagreed with my decision to publish a photograph of Jon Nakanishi and Tony Mallery on the front page so soon after Nakanishi’s untimely death. One reader even thought the Mallery campaign, the source of the photograph, was almost trying to create an endorsement of sorts. I apologize to anyone who might have been offended by my decision.

Last week’s “My Turn” about the Lassen Municipal Utility District also apparently raised a few eyebrows and drew a couple of different responses. First, I misreported the date Frank Cady was offered the general manager’s job. The correct date is May 2005.

One reader, a longtime Lassen County resident whose opinion I respect, noted in late 2007 three LMUD board members resigned. Three new LMUD board members were appointed by the Lassen County Board of Supervisors, and the first thing they did was “remove” Cady as general manager.

Another new board member was subsequently elected from Ward 3, leaving Fred Nagel as the only director who served when Cady was general manager.

This reader thought the current LMUD board and management team are working well, lowering rates and increasing the reliability of service.

“I just don’t want them to be blamed for the actions of others in the past,” he wrote. “I realize your comments were directed at the legal aspects, i.e. the board is (was) responsible for the actions of the manager and their legal argument will probably fail and LMUD may be exposed to significant liability as a result. However, I don’t think the current board is responsible and shouldn’t shoulder the blame.”

Fair enough. Four of the five current LMUD board members weren’t serving on the board when the decision to purchase the Hayden Hill transmission line was made or not made — whatever the case may be.

But then another reader, another longtime resident whose opinion I also respect, responded, “Man, Sam, why are you being so hard on poor overworked, mistreated, misunderstood and maligned Frank Cady … Here you have a faithful community servant who takes on the job of being the LMUD general manager for a meager amount of restitution, and when he makes a simple mistake, you want to castigate him. I know this is just ‘your opinion,’ and I respect that. However I have to state my opinion, and that is … you are right on target.”

So, go figure. Thank you, readers, for all your comments. I hope you will continue to give us your feedback. You can call me at 257-5321 or send me an email at swilliams@lassennews.com.