As a graduate of East Bladen High School, I would like to remind a few people of the real world here in Bladen County. After reading the Letter to the Editor in the Bladen Journal dated October 25, I have to actually rebut the allegations by the East Bladen students, student/athletes, and faculty of East Bladen High School that our local newspaper shows favoritism to West Bladen High School (or noted as the "other" high school.)

This rivalry is as old as dirt and the people in this county have been shouting discriminations that would remind some of the older citizens living in this county, of the feud between the Hatfields and McKoys.

For one minute let us be fair to the newspaper. If you actually read the Bladen Journal, you will find that they are constantly asking for citizens to submit pictures and articles all the time. The sports staff is limited and sometimes articles are written by using statistics turned in by local area school statisticians. It is actually impossible for the sports editor and photographer to be present at all games. With the large number of different sports and the large number of games, it would require a staff of over 20 to supply coverage for each.

So, you might consider helping the newspaper by supplying stats or even go as far as to assign someone from your student newspaper staff to write and send in articles and pictures (without being paid) of sporting events.

So before we go trashing the paper, let's get the facts. That is what good newspaper reporting is about. The facts.

Prejudice is such an ugly word. Many strong statements were made in the Letter to the Editor. No person in this county should feel neglected or insignificant. We are all important and we all matter. East or West.

Beth Wright

1976 Graduate of East Bladen High School