Rumors and fact are different things.
It is our job to investigate issues important to our readership and to inform them of any developments.
We take the words of RCMP Sgt. Bob Dodds as fact, as he is representative of his detachment. Likewise, we take the words of Town of Barrhead mayor Dave McKenzie and County of Barrhead reeve Doug Drozd at face value because they are the mayor and reeve respectively.
Whether it is town or county council, our staff reports on the activities within chambers and quote councillors routinely, publishing articles based on the discussions that our councillors have while acknowledging that their respective administrations have done the appropriate work and/or the skill set required to speak with authority.
The point is, we investigate issues and fact-check the information that we receive but generally don’t ask to see credentials from people who speak to us, specifically if they are representatives of organizations such as the police, fire department, municipality or Alberta Fish & Game Association.
In response to the public outcry regarding possible regulation changes at Dolberg Lake, the Barrhead Leader investigated the issue.
We did not find anything substantial to go on, despite efforts to discuss the issue with Fish & Wildlife officers or the fishing clubs named by County of Barrhead CAO Debbie Oyarzun.
However, the first two stories in our April 10th edition were run based on the fact that discussions about the issue were being had at both the County of Barrhead and Woodlands County councils.
In fact, Woodlands County coun. Dale Kluin was one of the first vocal commentators.
Rumors are rumors, but when council gets involved, rumors become issues.
However, after the first two stories went public, we were contacted regarding the veracity of our statements with respect to the regulation changes.
We published two articles in the April 17 edition to further clarify the issue, speaking first with Jason Doucette, a non-speaking member of the Alberta Fish & Game Association, as well as Barrhead Fish & Game Association (BFGA) president Joe Prociuk.
As you will read in the story on page 2A however, Athabasca-based Alberta Environment and Parks senior biologist Marcel Mancullo said it was his decision to initiate the bait ban and fish size limit.
Our hope had been that the decision was based on science, but it turns out it was based on the volume of calls Mancullo received and 138 surveys collected, the majority of which, from our understanding, came from outside the community. The point is, before shooting from the hip, make sure there’s proof before making allegations.
