I am grateful for the Rogue Valley Times and your efforts. With my Salem travel schedule, I rely on the paper to keep me abreast of local events.

When we had no paper, it was incredibly frustrating not to know what was happening at local council and board meetings, so I was anticipating reading such stories once you got up and running.

It seems either you lack staff or interest in attending the meetings of these public bodies, as I see few stories from their meetings.

A reporter in the room holds public bodies accountable. It’s how we know if public meeting laws are being followed and if items are being discussed or voted on inappropriately or outside public view. It’s how we know there are problems under the surface.

For example, until Buffy Pollack showed up to the Fire District 5 meetings, no one knew the problems underlying the eventual resignation of three board members.

A reporter in the room keeps everyone mindful that they are a publicly elected body, making rules and policies that affect the public. The temptation to operate as a private organization is strong.

The desire to “save face” by making decisions outside of public view is fierce. The urge to escape public scrutiny about actions that might affect the next election is deep-seated.

There is no substitute for newspapers’ role in holding public bodies accountable. You are making a difference covering local news again. I just encourage you to do even more.