Trashiness & Threats – Lack of Emotional Control Leads to Unhinged Outbursts
By The Fostoria Free Press January 25, 2026
Instead of wasting law enforcement’s time on Facebook fighting words, The Free Press publishes threats online for the world to see, including employers & of course our beloved law enforcement.
In small-town America, where everyone knows everyone and grudges last longer than winter snow, social media has become the modern-day town square. Unfortunately, for too many, that square has turned into a back-alley brawl. Over the past week, comments on this page have devolved into a parade of threats, profanity, and personal attacks—all because some locals can’t handle a news story they disagree with.
The triggered?
A special report shared here about a Minneapolis shooting involving federal ICE agents and a gunman identified as Alex Pretti. Additionally a post excluding locations & names was shared about a recent overdose in Fostoria. Facts were presented, video evidence was linked, and questions were raised. What followed wasn’t reasoned debate or counter-evidence. It was rage.
Justin Apgar (Fostoria)
Owner of made-up-business “Punk Rock Paranormal”, In the comment section, escalated quickly from insults to outright challenges: “Why don’t you just fucking meet me somewhere and learn a fucking lesson about basic human decency?” He went on to invite physical confrontation not once but multiple times, offering his backyard as the venue and promising to “record your ass getting handed to you.” When called out for immaturity, he doubled down: “You can come here right now… You wanna throw shit out there and degrade people… face somebody and see how famous you really are.”
Mackenzie Reiter (Fostoria City School – School Bus Driver)
Known for defending the FHS basketball player that physically attacked an Eastwood player on the court, and unable to prove any preliminary racism.
(“Look Josh… one day someone is gonna knock your teeth down your throat.” Lmao Mackenzie, threats from a keyboard warrior? That’s cute. Keep dreaming, Drama Queen. 😂 But more importantly, I am concerned to know someone having trouble controlling their anger is bussing around Fostoria kids.
James Byer (Fostoria)
(Investigated in 2024 by the Seneca County Dog Warden & Humane Society) Byer wasn’t far behind, mocking the page while threatening: “If given the chance to tangle in person I will destroy you. Promise.” He later claimed he’d “get the help I needed” but still insisted the town hates the page and its author. Byer also posted “Come to my door for an interview, it will be your last” “I’ll get to practice my hunting skills ;)”. These last two comments were reported to Facebook and later removed by their content moderators.
This is the trash of our small towns on full display:
Grown adults hiding behind keyboards, issuing fight challenges because they can’t articulate a coherent counter-argument. It’s not patriotism. It’s not toughness. It’s cowardice wrapped in bravado.
The irony is thick. Many of these same individuals claim to defend “freedom” and rail against “censorship,” yet they’re the first to demand pages be shut down, accounts reported, or voices silenced when the story doesn’t fit their narrative. They scream about “free speech” only when it’s speech they agree with.
Real journalism—whether from a legacy outlet or an independent page—exists to ask hard questions and share uncomfortable facts. It’s not here to coddle feelings or confirm biases. When the response to reporting is threats instead of evidence, it tells you everything you need to know about who’s operating on emotion and who’s operating on reason.
We won’t be intimidated.
We won’t be silenced. And we certainly won’t be meeting anyone in a backyard for a fistfight over a news story. The Fostoria Free Press will keep reporting, keep linking sources, and keep exposing the hypocrisy—even when it comes from our own neighbors.
To the decent folks reading this: thank you for the private messages of support, the shares, and the quiet encouragement. To the rest: grow up. Put down the keyboard warrior act. If you’ve got a better story, bring facts—not fists.
Because threats don’t change truth. They just reveal character. Everyone has their right to free speech, we just wait for them to mess up do to lack of emotional control. This is the risk of making Facebook your entire life and treating the phone application like your 5th limb.
The Fostoria Free Press – Free News for Free People
