Freedom of speech is important and Nobody has the right to tell you what you can or can not say. Also, Nobody has the right to keep you from speak when you want to. I'm glad Sally Stern-Hamilton won her case.

So it's okay to yell "fire!" in a crowded theater? There are limits to free speech, and they are called slander and libel.

I concur totally Hoss, but look at the current cost to any of us that dare stand up for our Freedom of Speech,(Rights)in Ludington nowadays, Bankruptcy? The statement that this tragedy in an (empty win) sends to me is: can you afford to file bankruptcy to be right? To stand up for your own Constitutional Rights? Cause the County of Mason has just told you they will enforce their will upon you at ANY COST, NO Matter the MONEY, cause THEY have MORE than US! Anytime, and anywhere, just for their HUGE EGOS and VANITY! A very sad day in distortion of the American Dream, and our heritage, forefathers intentions, loss of life for liberty in all wars, and so much more we as a people stand for, imho.

Where can you commit an illegal act,cost taxpayers(us)money and still keep your job....? Librarian Dickson and the Library board should all lose their jobs......period.

Apparently you didn't read the article, it said they settled not that Stern-Hamilton won!!! The Library I am sure would have won, they just didn't want to use money better used for the needs of the Library Patrons!!!! Good job to the Library Board!!

Free speech is imperative and needs to be preserved. However, what Sally Stern-Hamilton did was violate the confidentiality of patrons that visit the Mason County Library. We all have our idiosyncrasies and this is not the red carpet or a place where you should feel as though you are scrutinized. How many of us have gone into the library to get information on how to talk to our children about sex, books on divorce, or how to conquer or treat a health condition. By the library fighting Ms. Hamilton, hopefully it instills the point of a library, where people can freely attain information without the concern of your private affairs being made into a book.

Your right Hoss. We should be able to say anything we want. But here's the thing. Speech is not FREE, if you talk to load, or too often it will cost you.

Sally Stern-Hamilton did not win the case, the First Amendment won in this settlement. Sorry to hear about your economic plight Sally.

Just to be clear, I would defend your right to freedom of speech, whether it's a popular thought or not.

I totally disagree with Meresa's statement. If you are in a public place , why do you need any "privacy"...? Second NOBODY was named in the book and it has a disclaimer in the front of the book....ala Dragnet's "Names were changed to protect the innocent" line. What happened is that the Library head read the book ,didn't like the picture it painted of him and fired her. (with Library boards okay)...What SHOULD have happened was the Library head and Board should have went to the County Commision first and checked out what LEGAL options they had. Instead, the county got sued. This firing WAS an ILLEGAL ACT.By settling the suit the county IS ADMITTING GUILT.So explain to me why the Library head still has a job...?

Dolores, You are absolutely correct, the First Amendment won, and Sally lost. That is why I posted, you can say whatever you want, but it is not free. I too have been on the wrong end of "true" speech. However it wasn't what anyone wanted to hear or deal with so it cost me big. It took years before those involved told me, I was right. It was too late then. That is why I favor, and think it is very necessary to have anonymity in forums such as this. There are many things in communities that need to be brought to light. Everything from city business, police, school, legal, ect. There are many things that need to be brought to the fore front for the public's assessment. The pay, and bennies of the county commissioners is a perfect example.(trust me someone will pay for that, monetarily or other wise). Unless one has been on a board of a entity where no one that is drawing a wage has any of their own $$$$$ in the game, you wouldn't understand what I am saying. If you have sat on a board where the administrators make huge wages collected from tax $$$$$ you know there have been things that are wrong and absolutely drive you crazy, but there isn't one thing you can do about it without being absolutely crucified. Your coming forth and speaking would not be free.

What about the Dial-A-Ride address? I have lived here all my life. It was news to me when I map-quested and found this little street off a road I have traveled too many times to count. Mrs. Hamilton stated that probably was a mistake on her part. Now lets talk privacy.

Meh. Most newspapers are going to FaceBook account postings, using real names. I do that on Lansing State Journal. NOTE: We are working on it...

MizzOcking, does your latest statement mean you no longer think there are limits to free speech such as libel and slander? Will you yell "fire in a crowded theater some day? If you don't know what I'm talking about see your first post. I'll work on getting a FaceBook account so you can print my name. You have my permission to print it in every paper in Michigan.