'Dirt ball' comment reverberates

This Week's Poll
How was August in Leadville for you? Please select one:
	I stayed out of town.
	Exhausting.
	Too many people; too much trash.
	Profitable.
	I loved all the events and people in town.

This Week's Poll
Whose side are you on? Please select one:
	Augusta
	Baby Doe
	Neither
	Both

home : news : news

3/18/2010 2:13:00 PM

Email this article • Print this article

'Dirt ball' comment reverberates

by Marcia Martinek
Herald Editor

When Mike McPhee, Denver Post reporter, referred to Leadville as a "dirt ball town" in a broadcast for Fox News, he "made a mistake," he told the Herald Tuesday morning.

"I feel terrible about it," McPhee said. "I grew up near Leadville. I wrote a book about the railroads' race to serve Leadville. I've ridden my bike there, stayed at the Delaware Hotel, shopped at the antique stores."

McPhee made the remark when discussing the Jamie Paulin-Ramirez case Monday on a live broadcast, making a point about how strange it was that this incident should evolve from Leadville.

The Herald was alerted to his statement by Christine Hain, who described herself as "formerly from Leadville and proud of it."

A number of others also e-mailed their opinions of the "dirt ball" comment.

McPhee told Hain and the Herald that the "dirt ball" came from the tailing piles around Leadville.

After speaking with the Herald, McPhee e-mailed a letter of apology to this community that appears on page 4.

Reader Comments

Posted: Friday, March 26, 2010
Article comment by: Isabella Chase

Was this really breaking news? I understand that feelings might have been hurt, but I think Ms. Martinek is only adding fuel to the fire. Does she realize that by putting this out there constantly ( I've counted 2 editorials, a breaking news, an article and a silly recipe in the paper in the last two weeks) she is doing more hurt to her town than help. I love Leadville, but this is ridiculous, now when people search Leadville dirtball our own paper is up there on as the second search making a mockery of itself. Please stick to reporting something with substance and not fueling the flames. My mother used to say that when someone does something to you, you move on. Ms. Martinek isn't allowing Leadville to move on, but constantly pushing it in our faces, we all know what happened, but the first offense has been blown out of proportion by another one of our own. Please do your job and report on something that actually matters and isn't fluff.
-Isabella Chase, formally of Leadville

Article Comment Submission Form

Please feel free to submit your comments.

Article comments are not posted immediately to the Web site. Each submission must be approved by the Web site editor, who may edit content for appropriateness. There may be a delay of 24-48 hours for any submission while the web site editor reviews and approves it.

Note: All information on this form is required. Your telephone number is for our use only, and will not be attached to your comment.

Name:

Telephone:

E-mail:

Passcode:

This form will not send your comment unless you copy exactly the passcode seen below into the text field. This is an anti-spam device to help reduce the automated email spam coming through this form.

Please copy the passcode exactly
- it is case sensitive.

Message:

On-line publication, Copyright 2007, The Herald Democrat. All information on these pages is Copyright 2010, Arkansas Valley Publishing.
Any reproduction requires permission in writing from
Arkansas Valley Publishing, PO Box 189, Salida, Colorado 81201. (719-539-6691)
Software © 1998-2010 1up! Software, All Rights Reserved