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Al Qaeda in Monroe County?

I usually don't watch the local news. But last night I had the T.V. on ABC watching the end of Monday Night Football. And since I wanted to find out the weather forecast, I just left it there.

I was a bit startled as the anchor breathlessly dove in with the lead story: Authorities are investigating a possible "terrorist attack" on a water supply affecting hundreds of people camping in the Cherokee National Forest.

"Wow," I thought, "this must be a huge story." Have biological agents been found? From Iraq? Are people being rushed to the hospital? Have any died?

The answer is "no," to all of the above. The dramatic potential terrorist attack in this case turns out to be someone who "jammed rocks and sticks into the reservoir" which supplies the campground.

I call that kind of thing "vandalism." But given the media's need to hype things up for ratings, I guess people throwing rocks into the water must now be viewed as possible terrorists.


Posted by Brian on October 21, 2003 6:32 AM | Permalink |

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Tracked on October 21, 2003 9:23 AM

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» The problem with local news from Say Uncle
Here in East Tennessee, nothing really ever happens. When it does though, it is huge. So, a lot of our reporter types tend to exaggerate... [More]

Tracked on October 22, 2003 12:43 PM

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» Fair and balanced update from Say Uncle
In response to this post, CJ took issue in comments: The only person in the entire story to even suggest terrorism is the park ranger... [More]

Comments

Barry
October 21, 2003 8:41 AM

29

"Yeah, and I would've gotten away with it if it hadn't been for that meddling Homeland Security and WATE-TV 6 news!"

--Old Man McGillicudy

CJ
October 22, 2003 3:01 AM

30

Complete mischaracterization of the story, but that's fine. For those who want to see the real story we did, just go here: WATE.com Video The only person in the story to suggest terrorism was the park ranger himself. We consistently refer to it as vandalism. I'm not sure where this breathless reference to a "terrorist attack" is, but maybe you had fallen asleep after the game and dreamed about it. ;-)

Brian Arner
October 22, 2003 11:57 AM

31

C.J.,

I pretty sure the news anchor said "terrorism," but admittedly I wasn't paying close attention at the start of the story. That said, quoting a park official to say the same isn't much different on the hype meter. You as much as anyone knows that local news makes mountains out of mole hills.

CJ
October 22, 2003 6:09 PM

32

You think it's a mountain out of a molehill, but I disagree. Thousands at the campsite can't use the water source, and haven't been able to for days. The entire reservoir had to be drained and rechlorinated before anyone could use it. It's cost more than $10,000 that's going to have to come out of our pocket. Why isn't that a story?

SayUncle
October 23, 2003 9:44 AM

33

Why isn't that a story?

That is the story. THe terror thing is just sensationalism.