More than a few letters to the editor since Saturday have called for a written apology to the Lewis and Clark County commissioners, particularly Chairman Ed Tinsley and Mike Murray, for a comment printed about them in Saturday's newspaper.

Deservingly so.

The Independent Record sincerely apologizes to the commissioners for the negligence we administered in approving the online comment and further in printing that comment on page 2A.

This newspaper does not condone that type of comment, either online or in print. It was a poor lapse in judgment on our part that allowed it to appear, and we regret it.

Our page 2A, called "e-port," is intended to be a window to our news Web site, helenair.com. On 2A, we promote the multimedia and interactivity on the Web site that you just can't find in print: video, audio slideshows, reader forums, etc.

The intention of the "best comment" on 2A is to be a slice of the deeper discussions taking place online that you don't see in our letters to the editor section in the newspaper. Those selected online comments are supposed to be constructive, insightful or a different perspective than appears in print.

They're also printed by their registration names, which are not the readers' real names. This is an online wheel that we certainly did not invent, as any forum you find online employs a similar approach to its discussion boards.

While the commenters may seem anonymous, this newspaper keeps track of and identifies every one of our online registered users by e-mail and IP addresses. We know who they are.

However, when the comment becomes personal, not printing that commenter's real name is essentially a faceless attack.

It's our policy that those types of comments have no place online or in the printed edition, as they serve no constructive purpose.

Yet this one made it in, and for that we're sorry -- sorry for the commissioners, sorry for this newspaper, and, most importantly, sorry for the community.

We've let you down.

Commissioner Tinsley, in an e-mail blast to many people in this community, said the Independent Record needed a "wake up call."

He's right. This certainly served as such.

The online comment was deleted early Saturday, and while we can't take away the printed comment, we can ensure it won't happen again.

We're revising our editorial policy for online comments, clearly stating in writing for our editors what constitutes an appropriate comment and what does not.

We're also eliminating that "best comment" space on 2A, as it serves as a double standard and is contradictory to letters to the editor, which require a full name and address to be published.

We are not going so far as to eliminate comments online altogether. There are positive discussions taking place right now online, fresh and lively discussions that contribute to the improvement of our society.

We will, however, more closely monitor who is making the poor and tasteless comments, and implement a "three strikes and you're out" policy where commenters who launch personal attacks are warned that those types of comments are not welcome, and that a third such submission will result in that person being "blacked out" from our forums.

Hopefully it doesn't get to that. The last thing we want is to curtail free speech.

Because that, above all else, would be the worst thing this newspaper could do for this community.

Editor John Doran can be reached at 447-4072 or by e-mail at john.doran@lee.net