Waseca County Pioneer
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Waseca, MN

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It’s called ‘news’ for a reason

January 27, 2023
For those who don’t know, I grew up as a neighbor to Anthony Martens. Given what I do for a living AND being his neighbor, he and I have had “one or two” interactions.
I told Sheriff Jay Dulas and Tony that I don’t like writing news stories which hurt people. After Tony was offered the job of chief deputy he told me he received hundreds of messages, emails and comments congratulating him. However, over the past couple weeks, we have seen the picture change completely: Tony is going to continue his role as New Richland’s City Administrator, a job he has appeared to excel at, by all reports. 
Jay hasn’t named his choice for chief deputy. Neither he nor Tony appreciate us covering the story, especially given the way it’s turned out.
I’m not sorry; that’s the news. The choice of the county’s chief deputy does, in some way affect everyone who lives in the county. We all rely on law enforcement. I, speaking for myself, am grateful for the quality service we have. 
That said, whoever the next deputy will be is news. Jay announced at the end of December who his selection would be; Tony resigned to take the job. I would not be doing my job if I did not write about it. 
Period. 
I don’t like writing stories where people end up hurt. The fallout of Tony not getting the job is not my fault and the newspaper doesn’t accept any blame for that happening. (When we, the newspaper, report on news stories, the newspaper does sometimes get blamed for simply sharing the outcome of events.) 
I couldn’t write or report very much in my article about Tony taking his job back in New Richland. I can share my opinion here. My best guess is one of two things. 
1. Something in his background check didn’t turn out. I say this because that was the last update I received from the county. I was referred to County Administrator Michael Johnson and the head of human resources at the county two weeks ago. Seeing as that was the last stop, I could draw the conclusion that that was where the job fell through. 
2. People at the county level or in the sheriff’s office don’t want Tony to be the chief deputy. Maybe someone wants the job for themself, maybe Tony irritated the wrong person, or maybe Jay just decided he wanted to go a different direction.
Regardless, the decision was and is Jay’s. He doesn’t have to share the reason why he rescinded his offer to Tony. But I feel Tony, at the very least, is owed an explanation– something I don’t believe has happened. 
And, well, Jay hasn’t taken my phone calls in a couple weeks. If he had kept his announcement private, maybe none of this would have happened. That said, the newspaper simply reporting on the announcement is not wrong. It’s my job. 
Tony, on the other hand, has talked to me every time I’ve called or stopped in person, albeit not always happily. If I am informed, I can write an accurate article. The benefit of that is people have a place, a source, which everyone can point to and say, “That’s what happened. The newspaper said so.” 
When people speculate, rumors occur, and that isn’t good for anyone. Hence, why my opinions about what happened were shared in this space and not in the news article. 
 
“There can be no progress without head-on confrontation.” ― Christopher Hitchens, Love, Poverty, and War: Journeys and Essays
 

 

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