More than four years have passed since John Rigas' legal ordeal began. In that time, he has been convicted on federal fraud charges and sentenced to jail.

Awaiting an answer to a request for a new trial, he has remained a somewhat isolated figure in his home outside of Coudersport, where he spends time with family and friends while coping with the stress of a pending, 10-year prison sentence.

Advised not to take the witness stand in his own defense, Rigas could not tell his version of the story that brought down his giant cable company. Despite media pressure, Rigas has remained guarded publicly, presenting only fragments of his version of how the events unfolded with selected reporters and with people who read his occasional column," John Says," on his website.

Today, that changes. The man who altered the social and economic landscape in these rural mountains, speaks out in our page two forum, "My Side."

In it he admits to making "tactical errors in the heat of battle," but insists that his mistakes were not against the law.

One of John's sons, James, also submitted an opinion piece this week. It, too, appears on page two of this editon.