Well, here we go again. You would have thought the Daytona Beach News-Journal would have learned its lesson Jan. 23 when it was dead last among the Central Florida daily news providers to report that George Anthony, grandfather of slain toddler Caylee Anthony, had been committed to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach for psychiatric care.
Well, guess what? George Anthony was released from Halifax 6:30 tonight. It was reported on the Orlando Tv stations and the Orlando Sentinel, but as of 11:45 p.m., the Mighty Metro had not posted anything on its Web site. Once again, the News-Journal missed out on a story in its own city. Halifax is less than three miles from the News-Journal's lone office on Sixth Street.
The News-Journal, of course, used to have bureaus in Deltona, DeLand, Bunnell and New Smyrna Beach until they were closed last June because the paper is in dire financial straits, having squandered millions on the News-Journal Center and getting sued by its minority partner, Cox Enrerprises as a result.
That must explain in part why when the News-Journal reported on the locations of the Denny's restaurants in Volusia and Flagler counties yesterday regarding a free breakfast promotion, it omitted the Denny's on State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach. Here's what the News-Journal listed: Area Denny's are at 1446 International Speedway Blvd. and 2701 N. Atlantic Ave., both in Daytona Beach; 3162 S. Atlantic Blvd., Daytona Beach Shores; 110 Williamson Blvd. Ormond Beach; 1641 Dunlawton Ave., Port Orange; 1012 Saxon Blvd., Orange City; 1810 S. Woodland Blvd., DeLand; and 7 Kings Way, Palm Coast.
But back to George Anthony, the News-Journal hadn't reported on his initial hospitalization until mid-morning, hours after every other daily media outlet reported it. I even drove from New Smyrna Beach and back to shoot photos, which I posted on NSBNEWS.net and the News-Journal hadn't gotten around to posting a story online.
Perhaps the News-Journal was spread too thin today. After all, having fired more than 100 employees and closing the bureaus, there are only so many stories that can be picked up in a day and priorities have to be made. For example, how about that story posted on the News-Jornal's Web site today, headlined: Ouch! Loose toilet sends man to emergency room.
The story was well-written and very descriptive, about a 250-pound man complaining of lax treatment after he sat on a public toilet seat in the DeLand Police Department and pinched his penis while sitting on a loose seat.