Over the last day or two, I've received a number of comments from various people. Seems a local blogger has decided to...again...attack The Macon County Times. And I'm certain more is coming - and each attack, as the previous, will deliberately exclude information that might change the story...but information that does not serve the purposes of our attackers.

There are many reasons I don't usually respond and I really can't list them without coming across as attacking the bloggers, which I don't wish to do.

Author John D. MacDonald - one of my favorites - used a quote once: "Integrity is not a conditional word. It doesn't blow in the wind or change with the weather. It is your inner image of yourself, and if you look in there and see a man who doesn't cheat, then you know he never will."

Macon County, under my direction this paper has never knowingly lied to you, never intentionally misled you and has certainly never served special interests, government agenices or other groups.

When something has been brought to our attention, we have corrected it.

We report the news, but we report more than that. We report the births, deaths, spelling bees, school activities, sports news, and much more. We cover ALL the Times of your life, regardless of what we think about it. No, what is important is what YOU think about it. It may not be big news to me, but that doesn't mean it isn't important to you, and for that reason, all items are treated with respect.

We are the only local media that I've seen that allows you to criticize us - as in criticize The Times in The Times - publicly. We're not beyond it and heck, sometimes we deserve it. Letters, comments and more are always welcome, even if they take us to task. Just read the March 4 paper, or some comments on our web site for that.

As for our competitors, they can do what they wish and say what they want. What I know in my heart is that The Macon County Times conducts its business and its news gathering with honesty and professionalism; focusing on reporting accurately and fully all the news - but only news based on solid sources verified first-hand by our professionally trained reporters. And we always do our best to put it in proper context, not leaving out pertinent information that balances the story.

After all, last week, more people read the Macon County Times online than any other online news source. Our growing paid print circulation coupled with legitimate "pass along" readership swells our total overall readership into the mid-teens every week.

That is quite a huge responsibility and one we take very seriously. And it is the reason "our time and energies are devoted to the welfare of Macon County."

If you ever have a concern, give me a ring. My cell number is published every week in the Macon County Times - it is 615-670-6989. You can also reach me at the office at 666-2440 or e-mail me at cmorgan@heartlandpublications.com.