JAMES COOK

Times Editor

Each year we try to do a nice thing for our graduating seniors and their families. With the help of some advertisers, we put out a special section for them In recent years, since multiple photographers are used by parents and students, it gets harder and harder to get the photos we need for that section.
This year was one of the worst.
In a class with 188 seniors we received, from the school, just over 90 pictures despite extending the deadline twice. I understand that some may have been sent to the school and to a wrong email, but we printed the photos we had. We also print the name of students we don’t have photos for. We have to go by the deadline set for us by our printer.
Now, I am a person who believes in taking responsibility and I have shouldered some for others over the years. But not today.
I will say that we accidentally left out one picture we had in time and due to a fluke of pages sticking together we missed some names that should have been listed. I am making that right this week in this issue.
But I refuse to be cussed, mocked, have ill-informed social media attacks or generally blamed for the problems that I, or this newspaper, did not commit. It takes only a simple call or question to get a truthful answer from me. Belligerence or lack of a better word, hot tempers, generally do not move me to cower or jump at someone’s “order.” We did what we were supposed to with the information given to us – it’s just that simple.
I do apologize for those who may have hurt feelings over this and maybe a new system will now be instituted, like making all the seniors get a photo taken from one photographer so we will have a place to go and get them. But I trust it will be better in the future.
Am I upset? A little. Not because of mistakes, those happen. But because of the accusations slung in my direction. I want to see all of those kids make it and would never intentionally hurt a kid.
Once again I am sorry for any pain, but two wrongs don’t make it right.
I’m just saying . . .