This letter is in response to Pastor Reil/s letter to the editor. Our paper will not win a Pulitzer anytime soon, but it is a reflection of our little town. The writing on the recent events could be viewed as emotional but they did report and inform. Yes, we all would have liked more accurate information, but the reporters did what they could do. The reporters did a good job and were thanked by the families at the service.

This was a very emotional and violent crime that no one, including our paper and its staff, is used to writing about. If there is a problem with the writing style, fine, but why would a man of God make personal attacks against people in their time of stress and grief? I don/t know.

For a more factual paper with more real news, may I suggest the L.A. Times or the Chronicle? If you examine the structure of most small community papers, the local news is on the front page and human interest is a factor in all.

Our town is an amazing place with caring and supportive people who come together in time of crisis.

Roberta Petersen

Lompoc

October 25, 2006