Dear Editor,

I was absolutely appalled at the verbiage used in Sunday’s paper. The front-page headline “Local artists to be hung at city hall” is more than just a little disturbing. My brother hung himself last year, and that is an extremely difficult situation to deal with. I will never heal from this tragedy.

The headline suggests the artists themselves are being hung at city hall, and not their artwork. I’m sure that there were better ways to word this, such as “Local artists’ work to be displayed at city hall.”

Upon turning to page 8, I saw a picture of a man standing next to a hangman’s noose. I do not know if the staff at this paper is aware of the number of suicides in this valley, but unfortunately I am aware of way too many cases, many of them hangings. I am spending every day of my life trying to move past this and it’s very difficult to hear, read, or see words and images relating to hanging.

I realize that if you’ve never experienced a loss such as this, there may seem nothing wrong with what was printed. Suicide survivors are very sensitive and I pray that no one else ever has to suffer this kind of tragedy, but unfortunately that will never happen.

I just want the newspaper staff to be made aware of what is being presented to your readers and be a little more sensitive in the future.

Stephanie Budd-Miller

New Castle