Battle Mountain runhappy with Post story

A cover story in a national publication is something many small Nevada towns would kill for.

But apparently, at least some folks in Battle Mountain would like to kill over an article naming their town the "armpit of America" appearing in Sunday's Washington Post Magazine

"The locals are a little bit peeved," said Battle Mountain Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sharlene Peterson. "It may have hit a little close to home for some people."

Battle Mountain is located along Interstate 80 about 230 miles from Carson City.

The article, written by Below the Beltway columnist Gene Weingarten, appeared in the Dec. 2 edition of the magazine. It was the result of Weingarten's call for nominations for the title "Armpit of America."

He recounts a visit to Battle Mountain and how he found it to be eminently qualified for the title. But then he returned after the Sept. 11 bombing and discovered the town is more than the buildings and setting.

Peterson said the headline told the story: "Why not the worst? We promised to find the armpit of America. Turns out it's only about five inches from the heart."

She said she was dreading coming into work on Monday morning after the article came out, but she says the chamber board is brainstorming ideas to put the town on the map.

"This is a card dealt to our hand and we need to play it to the best advantage we can," she said. "It has been a very interesting week."

One casualty of the article may have been Battle Mountain Bugle editor Lorrie Baumann, who was quoted in the article.

Baumann wrote a front-page column about the article in Tuesday's edition.

She also wrote the front page story in Thursday's edition about the chamber's reaction to the piece. Thursday was also her last day as editor.

In her column, Baumann confirmed that her quotes in the article were accurate.

When Weingarten asked her if Battle Mountain would qualify as the armpit of America, she answered "Sounds about right."

Bugle Publisher Lee Denmark said he is serving as acting editor until someone new is found. Phone calls to Baumann were not returned.

Denmark refused to say whether Baumann was fired over the Post article.

"We don't discuss personnel issues outside the organization," he said on Friday.

He said he read Weingarten's article and felt it was unfair to the town.

"I think the writer had an ax to grind and he was looking for a place to grind it," he said.

Both Peterson and Denmark said the town should try to make the best of the attention.

"This has totally turned our office around," Peterson said "It has kept us busy here. We've got a lot of response phone calls and e-mails, with people saying it sounds like the little hometown we would want to visit."

The Bugle is owned by Diversified Suburban Newspapers. Denmark has been publisher of the Sun and the Bugle since September 2000, when he took over for Elaine Heit.