Comments by Publisher
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Posted on October 30 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well said selmaOnMyMind. If parents aren't going to parent as they should, then someone has to look out for the children of this community with some "tough love."
As for the officer at Bloch Park, maybe he was concerned about the safety of a group of children, after dark, with "crack heads" lurking nearby who would do anything to score some cash for their next "hit." Or maybe he had a bone to pick, who knows. I wasn't there so I'm just speculating.
Dennis Palmer
Publisher
The Selma Times-Journal
selmatimesjournal.com
Posted on October 16 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The phone number for the Claude C. Brown YMCA is 334-872-1496 and the address is 1133 Minter Avenue, Selma, 36701.
If you have an interest in helping with this program or another at the Brown YMCA, I'm sure Yasmin McKinney would love to hear from you.
Dennis Palmer
Publisher
The Selma Times-Journal
selmatimesjournal.com
Posted on October 15 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's about 40 children. It was mentioned in the cutline in the print edition. There are about 75 children that utilize the Brown YMCA each day - according to McKinney.
I don't know a real way to "weed out" children whose parent's don't want to cook, but I don't think that's the child's fault and they don't need to go hungry because of it.
If you have not recently, why don't you go visit the Brown Y, steeldogwood, and see for yourself what the needs are there? Such a visit would answer your questions.
Dennis Palmer
Publisher
The Selma Times-Journal
selmatimesjournal.com
Posted on October 9 at 2:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
eyeonyou, 99.9% of what you'll find here is about Selma and Dallas County, because that's our niche and we cover it better than anyone else can or wants to.
If you want articles on the "reality of this administration," you're welcome to go to Fox News or CNN. We don't, and won't, cover that here. Not because it's not important, but others are positioned better than we are to handle that niche.
Dennis Palmer
Publisher
The Selma Times-Journal
selmatimesjournal.com
Posted on August 21 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Always_Selma and eyeonyou: I want to commend you both for addressing both sides of an issue in a reasonable, constructive manner. While it's obvious you have disagreements, civil discourse on issues is important, which is the very reason we've added the comments feature to our digital stories. Our hope in doing so was that this type of dialogue would take place.
I hope more users take the approach you two have on this story. You've stated your cases, agreed to disagree and taught others [me included] something in the process.
Thanks for reading and thanks for working to set a positive example.
Dennis Palmer
Publisher
The Selma Times-Journal
selmatimesjournal.com
Posted on August 14 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We're looking at all possibilities and options related to providing content to our readership, and this is one of them. We've not raised our rates to print subscribers in more than three years now, something I expect is not the norm at most companies that provide a service.
Ultimately, newspapers are going to have to wake up to the fact that they are giving their franchises away by giving content away for free via Web. I believe some finally are. Our industry has been debating this topic for years, but have taken the approach that "If I charge, digital readers will just go someplace else and get it for free." Such is true for media outlets that deal in "commoditized" news such as national, international, pop culture, etc. But if you want targeted, ultra-local news about Selma, your options are very limited.
I agree that the new information paradigm is trending toward getting somthing for nothing, but I don't know many businesses that can keep their doors open long operating in that manner.
We haven't made a decision, yet, about how we'll treat Web access in the future, but what we do know is that according to Google Analytics during the month of July more than 33,872 absolute unique visitors visited selmatimesjournal.com a total of 119,595 times and looked 612,783 pages of content.
Certainly those numbers indicate there is some value there for a digital reader, even if it's only a few bucks a month or a few cents per story read.
Dennis Palmer
Publisher
The Selma Times-Journal
selmatimesjournal.com
Posted on August 10 at 11:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
While I believe there are some productive comments expressed about this story, there are many that are very unproductive.
I realize discussion of race can be very inflammatory for some folks, but I urge you to please be courteous in your remarks as this is an opportunity for people from all races to have an honest discussion regarding this issue.
If you choose to be discourteous in your remarks on this issue or any other, your comments will be removed and your posting privileges will be revoked.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Dennis Palmer
Publisher
The Selma Times-Journal
selmatimesjournal.com
Posted on July 20 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm constantly amazed by some people's inability to focus on what someone or some organization did wrong instead of the larger, more important picture of what they're doing right.
Could they have done a better job communicating? Sure. While sitting in a hospital bed could he have instructed someone to call and do PR? Maybe.
The larger picture to me is that this guy is investing in this community, doing something positive and needs to be thanked rather than being overly criticized.
In a retail environment that's tough as nails to get customers and credit, this guy is making a significant capital investment in Selma that will produce jobs, fund municipal services, public education, etc.
To that I say "Thanks, we really appreciate it because our community needs and appreciates your business, but let's try to communicate major changes such as this better in the future."
Dennis Palmer
Publisher
The Selma Times-Journal
selmatimesjournal.com
Posted on July 20 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Instead of being critical of someone's communication skills, I believe we should be thankful that this company is planning to make a significant investment in rebuilding a business here.
Based on other Sonic restarants I've frequented, the new format will be much brighter, much better.
I congratulate and thank the owners for seeing our community as a place to improve their standing and visibility and hope that others appreciate the investment they're making.
The other option would certainly not be as pleasing.
Dennis Palmer
Publisher
The Selma Times-Journal
selmatimesjournal.com
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Posted on November 17 at 3:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I might add that thousands of Alabamians travel every day to Mississippi, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee to gamble, taking money they earned [or were given] in Alabama and spending it for the benefit of residents of other states.
People are going to gamble. It's been that way for thousands of years. If there is a way to keep those dollars in this state to improve education, roads, provide local jobs so people can get off public assistance, improve infrastructure, etc. then it needs to be seriously considered.
And I certainly agree with others who say you cannot legislate morality. People need to be responsible and accountable for their own actions.
Lastly, I'll add that I believe gambling to be an addictive vice like alcohol, drugs, shopping, etc. and if gambling is allowed to proliferate in our state it will indeed cause societal issues similar to those caused by other vices. I would hope that whatever legislation is enacted to legalize gambling would account for some level of treatment for the issues created by its legalization.
Dennis Palmer
Publisher
The Selma Times-Journal
selmatimesjournal.com
On Building Alabama, not tearing it down