Paper needs research staff to check facts

To the editor:

I would like to correct some serious errors in a letter you published from Suzanne McCausland in the Oct. 8, 2010, Frontiersman (page A6) concerning LeRoi Heaven. I have just returned from visiting our son and attending his graduation ceremony, so just today read the letter; or I would have responded sooner.

There are serious errors in parts of her letter.

One — LeRoi did not think Mrs. Palin (Sarah) had “unethical standards.” Quite the contrary; he felt she had high moral standards. While he did not always agree with her, and they had differences of opinions about how things were handled in Wasilla, he always respected her for saying what she really thought and how she felt about an issue.

Two — LeRoi was born in Seldovia, not in Kodiak.

Three — LeRoi did not learn who his biological father was until 1995. Then LeRoi was able to meet him and they visited several times. Yes, he was mayor of Kodiak at one time, but long after LeRoi was born.

Four — LeRoi and I adopted one son, of whom we are very proud. The article sounds like we adopted several others.

It has been very troubling to read articles about LeRoi in the Frontiersman that have so many errors (i.e. his age and where he lived when his family first moved to the Valley in the first article you published). Perhaps you need a better research staff to check facts before you publish.

Margaret Heaven

Wasilla