Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/106264
6A Daily News – Tuesday, January 29, 2013 Opinion Highway 99E makes the grade DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U NTY S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes letters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All letters must be signed and provide the writer's home street address and home phone number. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submitted will be considered for publication. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong community newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehicles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its communities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the residents and businesses of Tehama County. How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 Several years ago I authored a column complaining about the dangers of Highway 99E as it passes from Chico to Red Bluff. Now I am glad to report that these dangers have in large part been rectified using funds allocated statewide by the California Transportation Commission coming from Proposition 1B, a transportation bond approved by voters in 2006. About $3 million went for a "traffic calming" project on Highway 99 from Grant Street in Los Molinos north to Tehama Vina Road. Curbs, gutters, lights, drainage, bike buffers, landscape islands and a thin-blanket overlay have now been installed there and another $10 million was invested to improve the roadway that extends north to Red Bluff. The commission allocated $347 million for 47 projects statewide with about $281 million from the transportation bond. The remainder came from state and federally funded transportation accounts including the Obama administration's economic recovery program. Work is now complete on upgrades to Highway 99E north of Chico, also known as the Golden State Highway. While work continues on the stretch through Chico with highway widening and ramp improvements it is now smooth sailing all the way to Red Bluff, including particularly impressive improvements from Los Molinos to Red Bluff. After suffering what seemed like years of delay and inconvenience these Caltrans projects significantly improve the safety and comfort of all who travel this busy multi-use highway. Pavement rehabilitation work from Los Molinos Creek Bridge to the Salt Creek Bridge near Red Bluff was completed in the fall of 2011. The project increased pavement life, improved ride quality, upgraded bridges and guardrails and provided centerline and shoulder rumble strips on this 12 mile section of Highway 99. The approximately $10 million project was conducted by Knife River Construction of Chico, California. The rumble strips are having the desired effect of alerting drivers that stray out of their lanes before they might plow into oncoming traffic or ram a tree since no such incidents have occurred since completion. The second project was the Los Molinos 99 Bond project. This work was conducted in two phases with Phase 1 introducing traffic calming elements from Orange Street to Grant Street and establishing a storm drainage system. Completed in 2010, Phase 1 also installed a traffic light at Aramayo Way, a signaled crosswalk at Grant Street, and added bike lanes, added to the existing two-way left turn lane. sidewalks, parking, and Economic developstreet lighting. Phase 2 ment in Los Molinos finished this month has followed this work extending storm with the addition of drainage outlet from the two new business west end of Grant Street enterprises in the past to Mill Slough and by months, plans for a widening, repaving, and new Dollar Store and beautifying the adjacent Enloe Urgent Care roadway. This included Center in the works, widening the highway and Crossland gas stashoulders between Grant Avenue and TehamaRichard tion reconstruction. As a resident of Los MoliVina on the west side of nos with property on SR 99 to accommodate a Highway 99 I couldn't bike lane and on-street be happier about these parking, and adding sideinvestments as they are walks, drainage, street sure to improve properlighting, landscaping and ty values and provide irrigation. comfort, beauty, and On the east side of the highway Aramayo Way and safety as I ride my bike to Los Tehama-Vina, the highway shoul- Molinos and drive my car to Red ders were widened to accommo- Bluff. I hope that similar infradate a standard shoulder with a structure projects move forward to bike lane. Between Grant Street bring prosperity, improved faciliand Aramayo Way highway ties, and safer communities to shoulders were widened to accom- other areas, most notably Gerber, modate a bike lane and on-street Corning and Red Bluff. To the parking, new sidewalks, drainage, people of California, Caltrans, and street lighting, landscaping and particularly those that participated irrigation. Also between Grant in these planning and construction Street and Tehama-Vina Road a 3' efforts I offer kudos because as a wide brick colored and textured result of their capable efforts pavement section was added to Highway 99E makes the grade. separate the vehicle and bike lanes Richard Mazzucchi can be and several brick colored and textured pavement sections were reached at living-green@att.net. Mazzucchi Positive Point Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Dan Logue, 1550 Humboldt Road, Ste. 4, Chico, CA 95928, 530-895-4217 STATE SENATOR — Jim Nielsen, 280 Hemsted Dr., Ste. 110, Redding, CA 96002, 530-223-6300, Fax: 530-223-6737, senator.nielsen@senate.ca.gov GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: governor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Doug LaMalfa 506 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, 202-225-3076. U.S. SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. Commentary Guns, polls, genocide and bullying Meeting note: Tea Party Patriots will have as tonight's guest Jeff Sutton who is in charge of the Diversion Dam; 6 p.m. at the Westside Grange. Following are some gun-related thoughts and vignettes: Look up a fascinating article, "Why Young Women Want AR-15s," by Celia Bigelow and Aubrey Blankenship, searchable by title; use the nationalreview.com link. It begins, "Sorry, President Obama. As young women we prefer an AR-15 'assault' rifle with a 30-round magazine for self-defense … AR15s are the most popular rifle in the U.S.; more than 3 million Americans own one. And its popularity isn't with criminals – assault rifles account for only 0.6 percent of murders every year (but) are the guns of choice for many hunters, target shooters, and home defenders … Our goal when defending against a home invader is simple: to hit where we aim." After remarking on its relative light weight, low recoil, ease of shooting, as well as the intimidation factor (important against intruders who might take on a mere revolver), they wrote of the woman defending herself in Georgia. Six rounds fired from her place of retreat with her children failed to bring her assailant down, let alone kill him; he stumbled back out the door. Draw your own conclusion about her chances against additional men after having emptied her gun. Lessons: Those who focus on the hardware, gun styles, bullet capacity, etc. are willing to deprive law-abiding citizens of their choices in either their God-given right to self-defense, or their God-given right to pursue happiness on a shooting range. Criminals, as we often report on KBLF, or the police log, pay zero attention to what they are legally prohibited from carrying and using. Do you really believe a few gang-bangers with knives will say that since you're unarmed, they'll give you a pass? Get real! An article in the Washington Post, picked up by the Bend Bulletin on Jan. 12, titled "District was quick to arm guards at schools," (searchable by title, use bendbulletin.com link) tells the story of a Butler, PA, school superintendent, Mike Rogers, who had specialized in school safety for 20 years. His three binders full of security plans and lockdown drills felt suddenly inadequate on December 14, as his concern mounted over a possible copycat attack the day after the Sandy Hook elementary mass murders. "He looked out his office window at the snow-covered trees of western Pennsylvania and imagined a gunman approaching one of Butler County's 14 schools, allowing the attack to unfold in his mind. In came the gunman past the unarmed guards Strutt had hired after Columbine, past the metal detectors he had installed after Virginia Tech; past the intercom and surveillance system he had updated after Aurora. "Strutt stood from his desk and called the president of the Butler County School Board, Don Pringle. "This could happen here. Armed guards are the one thing that gives us a fighting chance. Don't we want that one thing?" A wise question that I hope is being asked among those responsible for our collective children's safety Ottoman Empire. Part of the late history and demise of here in Tehama County. the Ottoman Empire Look it up, either at bendinvolved the genocidal bulletin.com or at Polecat murder of groups, espeNews and Views (Doncially the Armenians. Polson.blogspot.com) Look it up; however, before writing one more you'll not likely find refword about the issue on erence to the fact that the this page, please. Armenians were disRemember the polls armed before the genoshowing overwhelming cide. All of the tyrannisupport for armed school cal "-isms" of the last guards (Pew as well as century disarmed their rasmussenreports.com). citizens prior to murderThe favorability/approval Don ing them. Incidentally, I of the National Rifle will personally place a Association is about the Polson "Gun free zone" sign in same as that for President Obama (Rasmussen). The way front of anyone's home, if asked. Please note also, accordA new book, "Buling to Rasmussen, "TwoI see it lies: How the Left's out-of-three Americans Culture of Fear and recognize that their constitutional right to own a gun was Intimidation Silences Americans," intended to ensure their freedom" by Ben Shapiro is relevant to an ("65 percent See Gun Rights as email I received. "The left is the Protection Against Tyranny" greatest purveyor of bullying in modern American history … as 1/18/13). Finally, polling Americans on they attempt to quash their oppopractical measures to keep guns nents through … rhetorical intimiout of the hands of criminals and dation …" The email, from Mr. mentally ill people does not violate Mazzucchi, admonished me to our 2nd Amendment rights, but "concentrate on your own column actually banning magazines or any and commentaries and stay the hell type of weapon does, so a poll out of mine." Really? Or what? result to that effect is as irrelevant Seems a bit angry and arrogant, and ineffective as saying newspa- no? No one gets to tell me what to pers shouldn't write stories about do. (I do try to say "As you wish" she-who-must-be-obeyed). mass murdering criminals. Law to abiding gun owners and their free- Readers can view the whole email dom to purchase those items are at DonPolson.blogspot.com, as not part of the problem; a gangster well as the comments to which could go out tomorrow and acquire RM took exception. a fully automatic gun, no matter Don Polson has called Red Bluff the illegalities. I was reading about the fascina- home since 1988. He can be by e-mail at tion many liberals have with reached Turkey, when it was called the donplsn@yahoo.com.