AR-News: Akron Deer Kill: More Calls Needed

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

Dear Friends,

Steve Hindi and Colleen Gardner are in Ohio working on the Akron deer 
issue, so Steve asked me to send you this update.  There have been 
numerous developments regarding the Summit County Metro Parks, and an 
update is forthcoming in the next couple days.   There is one matter, 
however, that can't wait.

You may recall Steve’s alert regarding the Solon Herald Sun newspaper 
which ran a few stories regarding an upcoming deer kill in the Solon 
area.  The newspaper included reference to, or allegations about SHARK 
in a couple of the stories, but never contacted us for input.  As a 
result, some false insinuations regarding our activities in Ohio were 
allowed to stand unchallenged.

Steve called reporter Bob Sandrick to ask why SHARK had not been called 
to set the record straight.  Sandrick told Steve that he had been 
ordered NOT to call SHARK, and that the order had been given by editor 
Mary Jane Skala.  Steve called Skala repeatedly, but she would not talk 
to him or return his calls.

Steve then asked in an E-mail update that SHARK supporters call the 
Solon Herald Sun offices to speak with editors Mary Jane Skala, and her 
supervisor, Executive Editor Lindsey Kinsey.  Some of you forwarded us 
Skala’s responses.  In one she claimed to have tried to call Steve, but 
he says there have been no calls or messages from Skala.  Steve’s 
assistant Jodie Wiederkehr called Executive Editor Lindsey Kinsey to 
ask for an opportunity for Steve and Colleen to see her, but she 
refused.

Today, Steve and Colleen dropped into the Solon Herald Sun office to 
speak to editor Mary Jane Skala in person, since she apparently isn't 
disposed to returning her phone calls.  They had documentation in hand 
in the form of a police report and more documentation turned over by 
Metro Parks in response to our official request for public documents.  
All this documentation is what the paper should be reporting, as 
opposed to their very narrow, biased, and inaccurate assertions.

Incredibly, Ms. Skala refused to see Steve and Colleen, claiming 
through her receptionist that she was “unavailable.”   Colleen watched 
and listened as the receptionist spoke to Skala, however, and it was 
clear that she was in the office.  Skala didn’t leave the option of 
waiting for her, nor did she call afterward.   Clearly, Ms. Skala is 
simply unwilling to either report stories accurately or face those who 
approach her when she orders her reporter to get it wrong.  Her 
supervisor is equally unwilling to do the right thing.

This seems very unprofessional – and frankly, cowardly to us.  The 
sheer magnitude of the breach of professional ethics just boggles our 
minds.  We hope that you are just as outraged over the sleaze and 
injustice that's at work.  If you haven't contacted Ms. Skala and Ms. 
Kinsey, we ask that you do.  If you already have, we would so 
appreciate it if you would consider doing it again.  These cowards 
desperately need to hear from us and be made to realize that what 
they're doing is not going unnoticed.

Kindest Regards,

Pat Vinet
SHARK

CONTACT:

Mary Jane Skala, Editor
Solon Herald Sun
E-mail:  editormj at yahoo.com
Phone:  (800) 362-8008 and ask for her, or her Direct Line 
is: 216-464-6397
Fax:  216-464-8816

 
Linda Kinsey, Executive Editor
Solon Herald Sun
5510 Cloverleaf Pkwy.
Valley View, OH 44125-4887
email:  lkinsey at sunnews.com
(800) 362-8008



 
 
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