Wasilla paper pooh-poohs media interest in Palin fence, goes one sentence too far and apologizes

The tri-weekly newspaper in former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's hometown has apologized for any suggestion in a Saturday editorial that author Joe McGinniss "would or should be the victim of violence" because he rented the house next door to Palin on Lake Lucille In Wasilla.

The Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman editorial focused on national news-media interest in the move and Palin's construction of a fence between the lots. It concluded, "Maybe we’re out of step here, but the unanimous consensus of the newsroom is that we don’t really care if the Palins want some privacy from what they worry might be prying eyes. Fences have been known to make good neighbors and everybody knows we could use a lot more of those around here. So if the fence keeps McGinnis on one side and the Palins content, why would the Today show or ABC care? Finally, those who are fond of Joe McGinnis might remind him (if he doesn’t already know) that Alaska has a law that allows the use of deadly force in protection of life and property."

An editor's note, added Tuesday to the bottom of the editorial, reads: "In an effort to find a catchy ending, I was a bit too creative with the last paragraph. If I had it to do over again, I would have left off the last sentence of the editorial. It doesn’t add to my point, which was that there is nothing particularly newsworthy about someone moving in next door nor about a new fence going up to protect the privacy of neighbors. I certainly did not mean to suggest that McGinnis would or should be the victim of violence. For that matter, I didn’t mean to suggest the Palins would do such a thing. All of which points to the power of words. I misused them on Saturday. I’ll try to have more respect for that power next time around." The note was written by Managing Editor T.C. Mitchell, a later post revealed.