An Editorial...Covering the Courthouse

The winning song at this year's Grammy Awards, or something similar, was "It's Hard Out There for a Pimp, Tryin' to Make Money for the Rent."

We're serious.

Equally hard is the news reporter's job of covering the Delaware County Courthouse.
Having done this in earlier times, when one walked to school uphill backwards both ways, in the snow, it should be a cinch deal. Like riding a bicycle.

But in Jay, it's hard out there.

They may as well put a sign over the District Attorney's Office reading: "No one is Here and We Don't Know Nuthin."
We've been trying for weeks to find out what is going on with the Moose Lodge Raid case, telephoning, asking, prying, and we were just about there, just an inch from getting a scoop.
Until we read about it in the other newspaper. Thanks guys.

And there's the Court Clerk's row of windows. Even McDonald's keeps the drive up window open. Little hand made signs adorn the glass, behind which a clerk sits with no sign of a smile. Maybe they hate their jobs. Figuring out which window to go to is a puzzle…maybe it's the last window on the right, the one tucked behind the wall.

Figuring out which cases are coming up for trial, or who is going to be let out of jail is nearly impossible. There isn't a trial schedule posted. Maybe they like it that way.

Of course there are exceptions…the County Assessor is the nicest guy you'd ever meet; and the County Clerk's office is full of young lovelies eager to help.

The County Commissioners hold open meetings each Monday so that isn't so tough, except when they abbreviate in code on the Agenda. Like a REAP Grant from the DIGIT Fund for the CBGF.

We've never been to the County Treasurer's office…that's where they keep all the money in round glass jars, but we can assume everything is kosher there.

But there are some courthouse employees that should look at their next paycheck and write on the back, "Paid by County Taxpayers." Or maybe take a course in Public Relations.

Grump, Grump.