A vicious rumour has surfaced in our community.
Last week, someone claimed the Sechelt woman who went missing in December was found. Her body was said to be tied up under the dock in Porpoise Bay. Whoever started this rumour never tried to verify it with authorities, never contacted the family to see if it was true. They just started spreading the news, which swept up and down the Coast like wildfire.
We'd like to set the record straight - the rumour is false! Rhody Lake is still missing and authorities have turned up no sign of her.
Members of the Lake family contacted us several times during the weekend to express their shock, outrage and dismay. A letter from the family appears at the top of page A11.
Did this person consider the family's feelings when they shared this unfounded news? According to the family, someone went so far as to make an announcement at the Sechelt Legion and at a bingo night last week. The family also said another person went around tearing down the family's missing person posters in Roberts Creek, which the family had to then replace.
Some people in this community have a blood thirst for gossip and rumour. They don't care who they hurt or the trouble they cause. They just spread the news without considering anybody else or how they might feel. And this isn't the first time we've encountered this.
Every week we receive news tips and information on stories via email or phone call that are simply untrue. Someone has concocted an idea and because it came from "so and so" it's got to be true. In this instance, it's not true. This rumour is hurtful and devastating for the Lake family. Whoever started it should be ashamed.
Election notesWe received some criticism this week over our editorial on the Conservative party and candidate Derek Zeisman in the Jan. 13 edition.
Some questioned whether we were biased towards the Liberal party. This is certainly not the case. Later in the week and past our deadline, we learned that Prime Minister Paul Martin dumped his candidate in Abbotsford, David Oliver, amid allegations he attempted to bribe the NDP candidate to drop out of the race.
Oliver should be held accountable. Should there by any criminal proceedings, those should also be handled accordingly. No candidate nor any party is above the law.
As for us being biased, well, if that's what someone thinks, we can't change his or her opinion. All we can do is continue to present both sides and let you be the judge.
