Overview - Your right to know

On the front page of this issue of the Independent Record you will find stories about what your town and county government are doing. All the business government does is your business.

It is your right to know their decisions and expenditures. We believe it is your money they are working with.

Our government can only be by and for the people when it is out in front of people. We are the government and the government is us.

The powers held by federal, state and local government are the powers we give.

At the IR, we take our job seriously and work hard to protect your right to know. Media is most definitely not your enemy. Nor are we the enemy of the government. We simply aim to keep government transparent and readers informed. We act as informants and messengers.

It is important to support your local community newspaper because towns that have lost theirs are finding themselves in the dark. Gone with the newspaper is the ability to watchdog the actions of government agencies and elected officials.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” - First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.