Rockmart Rotary Club members collect rubber duckies Saturday afternoon at the end of the annual duck race on the Euharlee Creek in downtown Rockmart. (Lowell Vickers/thepolkfishwrap.com)
The duck race managed by Rotarians is traditionally a highly-anticipated event. Tickets were sold matching numbers stamped on rubber duckies, with a flat-screen television available as first prize. There was also a chance at a $10,000 prize, provided the winning duck matched pre-selected numbers held in reserve by a prize insurer.
Information about prize recipients was not immediately available.
A lack of rain left the Euharlee Creek very shallow this year, which also meant the creek flowing through Seaborn Jones Park was running with a very slow current. Add in prevailing strong winds blowing against the current, and the result was a very slow race.
When the creek is running at normal water levels, the duck race is usually over within 5 to 10 minutes. At some 15 minutes into the race, most of the ducks were languishing in mid stream or were caught on the creek's banks.
Finally, however, a stiff easterly-blowing wind gave the ducks the final needed push to get a few over the finish line.
Other festival events that continued through the afternoon include a variety of musical acts, dance routines and other public performances; vendors selling arts and crafts; and food vending by local civic organizations and visiting businesses.
The fireworks show was held around 10 p.m., as soon as the skies were dark enough to allow a good show. The fireworks at the festival are visible from anywhere near Rockmart's downtown area.
When you update a story and maybe say why or what you did to update it, could you use that same procedure to announce that the content was not being updated but that comments were unacceptable and that you were cutting off comments?
1. I would have made a comment explaining my actions. However, by disabling the comments on the BOE story I also cannot post anything there. It should also be noted that there is notification saying when and why comments may be removed.
2. I used the pronoun "I" in my earlier comment for two reasons--I am the online editor and the responsibility to monitor comments for abuse most often falls for me, and the story was one I had written. That said, other editors can do the same.
3. I don't actually care what any particular person's opinion was, but when personal character attacks start it falls to me to stop it. I chose to do that this time by simply disabling comments on the story. If you disagree with my action, you are entitled to your opinion, but as I said before I can't monitor the website 24/7 and the BOE story was high traffic.
4. NPCO always has to abide by libel laws. Any published statement threatening or damaging the reputation of an individual can subject us to a lawsuit if left alone.
The right to Free Speech specifically does not include statements that are libelous and even a potentially libelous statement can open us to lawsuits. Even though that statement was made by someone else using our website. Even if we won, it would cost us time and money in court. That is money that would be much better spent trying to improve the quality of our products and services for you through innovation.
5. The Fishwrap encourages vigorous debate on the dress code policy and any such issue. There is a special session meeting today, July 18, at 6:30 p.m. and for those who feel the policy is wrong, they can always call the school board member who represents them or even vote them out next time.
6. Finally note that i am leaving up the comments questioning my actions. Make no mistake, I hate censorship and my decisions to close down the boards was not off the cuff. I will do a follow up story after Monday evening's meeting. The board for that story will be open for comments and will remain so as long as there is no: vulgar language, accusations that cannot be proven by documented evidence or reports or terroristic threats against any group or individual implicit or implied (obviously a threat to vote against a board member or take similar action does not fall under these categories).
I think most readers are aware of this but you censored/deleted all those comments made before the abuse started. Very unprofessional. I can't believe that the publishers of the newspapers are aware of such unprofessional actions and arrogance by an employee and I certainly can't believe they put any editorial authority in such an employees hands. You probably are guilty of what many people do in this era of instant communication - you made a mistake, you got caught and you responded instantly and improperly.
I reserve the right to block comments on any story that are abusive.
The BOE story was beginning to have comments that were personal attacks against other commenters as well as Board members. I let it go as long as I could since the board members are limited public figures, but it went too far. Since I can't monitor the website 24 hours a day I simply took down the comments for that story.
The Fishwrap is a free service as well as a public forum you the right to post your opinions, but you no one has right to post something vulgar or constitutes a threat or libel.
That happened, I acted.
--Jake Carter
online editor.