MEDIA GETS A DOSE OF RURAL AMERICA - We Hope Its Been Good For Everyone

(04/04/2003)
By Bob Weaver

It has been good media madness week in Wirt County, reporters and photographers trying to get the best inside information on the life of Jessica Lynch.

It may be difficult to imagine, but there have been real traffic jams in the town and up on Route 14.

While the Hur Herald has attempted to cover this story "live," its been a tough contest. We're out of our league.

An Elizabeth resident was walking "around our small town with his digital camera, taking photos of the folks who were taking pictures of us yesterday," reported Dianne Ludwig.

It was fascinating to see foreign news agencies mixed with CNN, Fox, CBS, NBC, PBS and dozens and dozens of newspaper reporters who crowded up narrow Mayberry Run and tried to grab lunch at Mike's Place.

Ludwig said the county has been crowded, and that's an understatement. The reporters were asking their own" life-or-death" questions, to which she answered:

- Yes, I realize your cell phone doesn't work here. Your satellite phone either. Neither does mine.

- No, I cannot tell you the exact population of Palestine. Why? It's unincorporated. It's not a town. If there weren't a post office, there wouldn't be a Palestine.

- Yes, the roads are curvy (and out-of-staters get a little sick).

- No, there really is no McDonald's or Pizza Hut either.

- That's right, no hotel!

What is the primary major industry? Uh.....

- Yes, we realize the men's room upstairs at the courthouse has a defective lock. Feel free to use the ladies room. And on, and on.....

Photos courtesy of Ed Wagaman