I believe you are the best newspaper in town, but your last WTF note re: the water level at Smith Rock rates journalistically on a par with that rag that claims to be a local daily newspaper.
Your rant shows a lack of research on your reporter's part. You do not appear to appreciate the turbidity of the water, the lack of visibility, the underwater difficulties and hazards encountered by the divers, the safety issues involved and so forth. Nor did you adequately address possible safety issues at the dam should water continue to be allowed to fill the reservoir. And yes, there is probably a huge economic cost to the irrigators. When you rant about them, first go on a weeklong fast.
Finally, you do not display adequate appreciation of how a drowning victim is finally recovered. There is plenty of expertise and experience in the tri-county area you might have consulted.
Yours for improved journalism,
John Barton
