Local Marine, Brad Payne, killed in Iraq

I wondered this morning as I read this "blurb" on page one of the Tri-County section why the Talladega Motor Speedway antics took precedence over this. Here is a young man, age 23-24, on his second tour of duty to Iraq, who was killed, along with his fellow Marines, when a Humvee hit a roadside bomb; yet, we put sports before that? He was the only son of Howard and Carol Payne of Pike Road. His dad has been the pharmacist at Baptist South for many years. He died, leaving a young wife and two small children.

Why wasn't he given the same coverage as poor Officer Houts? Why didn't someone go to interview his family?

This is a military town and I am sure there are many who are shaking their heads this morning. While I am thankful that at least it appeared in the paper, if I live to be a hundred, I will never understand who at the Advertiser determines what is front-page news. Because the truth is, the paper lacks sorely in that area. This paper is an institution of the state of Alabama and more care should be given to what is determined news in your paper.

You didn't cover a deadly crash down the road on Hwy. 80 that involved a Ft. Deposit policeman, but yet you cover a "crash" at Talladega Motor Speedway. Go figure. (I might add that the White Hall crash was put in the paper the following day, after I expressed my concerns to the editorial staff.)

So, I truly hope that Brad Payne will get the homage he so rightly deserves.