News satellite trucks, reporters and photographers converged onBrookhaven Wednesday looking for townspeople to comment on thesentencing of Brookhavenite Bernie Ebbers.

Ebbers was sentenced yesterday to 25 years in prison for hisrole in the $11 billion WorldCom accounting fraud.

In seeking public reaction to the decision, many news teamsfound only marginal success as most of those interviewed had nocomment or did not wish to speak on camera. In an informal DAILYLEADER survey, all of the people stopped yesterday declined commentor declined to be named.

In a place where one might think the conversation would offer updiffering opinions on Ebbers’ sentence, Brookhaven Barbershop ownerJill Davis said otherwise.

“Nobody seems to care,” Davis said of the conversations amongher customers.

Davis said several news teams had been in and out of herbarbershop throughout the day looking for comments on the verdict.She and her staff said there was basically nothing to say,regardless of what an individual’s position might be.

“The people that lost money don’t want to cry over spilledmilk,” she said.

Elsewhere, while entering a local restaurant, one-time Ebbersneighbor Tom Moak said he told several news agencies the same thinghe was telling The DAILY LEADER. And that was “nothing.”

“I have nothing to say,” Moak said.

Others who did not want to comment on the record cited concernsfor Ebbers’ family members who live in town or a desire to notoffend people on either side of the Ebbers issue. Some electedofficials contacted expressed sympathy for all involved.

“I am sorry for anyone to have to go to prison – even those whoare guilty,” said state Rep. Dr. Jim Barnett. “I feel for him andhis family and those who lost their life savings.”

Fellow state Rep. Bobby Moak said there are a lot of emotionsinvolved in the Ebbers case. Other than news report, Moak said hehad not followed the case closely, but the result was bad forEbbers, his family, former employees and investors.

“There’s just not a way to feel good for anybody in situationslike that,” Moak said.