Dear Readers,
Last week I ran an ad (see below) concerning the government push to stop publishing Legal Ads in the Newspapers, and instead place all Legal Ads on a online web service.
Historically, publishing Legal Ads came about when the Court system would order that persons who were associated with legal action against them would receive notice in a newspaper.
Because there were some attorneys that did not play fair and would place these legal notices in papers in other areas, where they knew the person would not see them, laws were established as to where the legal ads could be posted and how they would be posted. These laws still exist today.
Currently, there are those within the State Government who are pressing that all legal ads be turned over to an office in the state system to be placed on the internet, knowing that many in the State do not have internet, do not use a computer and would not be capable of determining if they are involved in any legal action let alone receive notice of changes in the law, floodplain changes, well permits, ordinances and other actions being taken that may affect their daily lives.
As the Co-owner of the Herald Record, I know the Legal Ads make up a large portion of the newspaper industry’s income, and removing these from the local papers would not only financially hurt the local papers, but could deny citizens their right to receive notice.
Currently, I believe The Herald Record goes beyond the requirements of the Law, not only in the printed copy in the papers but by placing them on our web page, free of charge to those who would like to review them, as well as submitting them for inclusion at the WVLegals.com, a website provided at no cost by the WV Press Service.
The WV Legislature is now discussing this issue, with some saying that it would be “better” for the State to control the Legal Notices and pushing for a full take-over with the Notices to only be placed on the internet. When have you ever known a time or issue that the Government has taken over to “fix” and it not become a financial boondoggle?
The WV Press Service, the Herald Record and newspapers across the State are fighting for their livelihoods as well as for you and your right to receive and review public notices that concern you.
Will you help us by contacting your local representatives?
You can contact Senator Mike Maroney at: [email protected]., Phone number is: 304-357-7902 and physical address is Room 439M, Building1, State Capital Complex, Charleston WV 25305
Delegate Charles Clements can be reached at: [email protected], Phone 304-357-7827 or 304- 455-5339, or his mailing address is Room 441M, Bldg. 1, State Capital Complex, Charleston WV 25305.
Delegate David Kelly’s contact information is: [email protected], Phone 304-340-3226, or mailing Room 209E, Bldg.1, State CaComplex, Charleston, WV 25305
Thank-you,
Tammy Beamer, Co-Owner, Editor
The Herald Record