NCJ Does NCRA

The North Coast Journal (I know. I know...it's The Journal now) had a couple pieces in it that I found of interest this week.

The first was Hank Sims' cover story on the conflict between the proposed Bay Trail vs. the North Coast Railroad Authority. I found the inside look at the NCRA not just interesting but entertaining for some reason.

I've said many times before that starting up rail service up here is a pipe dream, if not a boondoggle. After reading Sims article, I feel the same way.

Not sure what to think of the Bay Trail proposal. I don't believe such a trail would add much to the economy, as proponents suggest. I can't believe all that many people would use it. Still, it would be fun to have. So would the railroad.

Question is, are either worth the money?

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The Media Maven, Marcy Burstiner, brought up a good point in discussing coverage of crime around Humboldt. Specifically, she mentioned the Thomas Applegate murder and subsequent trial- the result of Applegate walking into a home in Bridgeville killing someone. She suggests most information reported just came from trial coverage and many aspects of the story went uncovered.

I hadn't realized I'd been thinking the same thing until I read that. I'll admit I didn't read coverage of the Applegate trial word for word, but I scanned most of the stories. What I always wondered was why the guy went into that house, twice, and killed someone he didn't know. Did I miss something?

I must have or it was just a random murder by a nutcase. Anybody read something I didn't about that case?

Burstiner suggests consulting pysychiatrists, sociologists and such. I wondered if the easiest source for that information might have been Applegate himself? He's been convicted. Anyone thought of asking him why he did it?