Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/111022
4A Daily News – Friday, February 22, 2013 Opinion It has been said that something as small as the flutter of a butterfly's wings can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world. AILY EWS - Chaos Theory The City of Shasta Lake has looked at a teen drinking or "Social Host" ordinance which may strengthen other applicable laws in the war on underage drinking. Yes, it's a war with battles either won or battles lost. It seems we mostly hear Greg Stevens, Publisher about the battles lost. We all know gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com of at least one teenager and family who lost their battle. Both wars and battles include statistics. The above quote from the Chaos Chip Thompson, Editor Theory was the beginning of a letter editor@redbluffdailynews.com Shelby Lyn Allen wrote five days before she died of alcohol poisoning. (Age 17, Dec. 20, 2008) The letter's title was "Shelby's Editorial policy Choices." She attended Foothill The Daily News opinion is High School in Palo Cedro. Shelby expressed in the editorial. The Lyn Allen's letter was about the positive choices she was planning to opinions expressed in columns, make, and was making, for the rest letters and cartoons are those of her life but choices for teens these days are not so simple and certainly of the authors and artists. not easy. It's a real struggle for many teens. It was for her as well. Letter policy Now it is for her family. Alcohol is considered a drug, in The Daily News welcomes letthe same harmful and many times ters from its readers on timely fatal, category as marijuana, tobactopics of public interest. All let- co, prescription medications and ters must be signed and proenergy drinks as substances that change the chemistry in the brain, vide the writer's home street especially a teenager's brain. None 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. D RED BLUFF N 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 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 of these are beneficial, especially to a child. To a teenager these are deadly. Yes, even energy drinks. From the Shelby's Rules website at shelbysrulesfoundation.com: "The teen Brain => is not ready to regulate risk. The teen brain is like a Ferrari: it's sleek, shiny, sexy, and fast and it corners really well. But it also has really crappy brakes. Here's what's going on under the hood . . ." Judith Newman, PhD (there's information that every parent is encouraged to read and share with their teen(s). Why do teens drink? The site mentions that family norms play into some of the reasons; parents may be priming the child by allowing them to drink small amounts at family gatherings; they may believe that it's inevitable anyway; there's no negative consequences; and many times the teen follows in the parent(s) footsteps by "modeling" this behavior. The alcohol industry promotes underage drinking with drinks such as "Alcopops," for people who don't like the taste of alcohol; it is a way to get drunk without the bad taste." (Energy drinks are quickly slipping into this category.) There's the opportunity for teens to gain access to alcohol because of parents who provide a safe environment for teen drinking; parents are many times either unable or unwilling to control teen gatherings; there are parents who do not want to 96080, provides a list of these organizations and for those that are not know what their teens are up to. Whether or not this ordinance or listed the Chamber may be able to give you some ideas on any law should be considered isn't the most impor- Guest View how to contact those that are not listed. If tant thing to consider, John your organization is although it ranks right up not listed please conthere with the number one tact the Chamber and reason: education. find out how to get The war on drugs your organization's includes tragedy and our communities need more youth and name listed. These are serious problems we adult warriors. Warriorship in this sense means to be so strong (edu- need to face as a concerned and cated) that no battles are necessary active community just a bit more because this war is about taking assertively. We need warriors. Warcharge of personal character. Char- riors who are "good to go" to get acter is about nurturing our youth in down with our teenagers and crawl a way that they can understand by in the mud, dirt and slime with them modeling sober behavior that they because that's where many of them need and want. Yes, teenagers want are waging those battles. Acknowlour input and understanding and edge your warriorship and get involved! Get down and dirty. See they also crave structure. There are youth organizations the war from their angle. As it has been repeatedly said, that staff a host of caring professionals and mostly dedicated and "time is love." What is not repeated passionate volunteers who are try- enough is, "donate your time" to a ing very hard to do all the right youth organization that promotes things that must be done, but they healthy living and healthy choices need more support in the areas of and nurturing so each child in need training and education that is free (nearly all) can "feel the love" and abundant if our teenagers are through your support and undergoing to make those best possible standing. Let's repeat, over and choices that will affect the rest of over again and then act on it, "Acknowledge warriorship. Be a their lives. Our Chamber of Commerce, hero to a teenager or any child. info@redbluffchamber.com, (530) Every child needs another healthy 527-6220, 100 Main Street, P.O. hero in their life." You are the comBox 850, Red Bluff, California munity's warrior in a child's live. Minton 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, 530223-6300, Fax: 530-223-6737, senator.nielsen@senate.ca.gov GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 5583160; E-mail: governor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Doug LaMalfa 506 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, 202-2253076. U.S. SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 3930710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. For Whom the Bell Tolls Michael Grunwald in TIME: "It's easy to see why Republicans are freaking out. The electorate is getting more diverse, less rural, more educated, less evangelical...in short, less demographically Republican. It is also getting less hostile to gays, gun control, even government...in short, less ideologically Republican. GOP elites have to admit that America is not producing enough angry old white guys for them to win national elections." *** The tale of the bell may be coming to a satisfactory conclusion. Newly installed Rotary President Greg Stevens (and publisher of the DN) stopped by the office to announce that our request to place the original bell from the long gone Cone & Kimball building on a grassy plot next to the tower replica is back on a burner at the Rotary Club…and we may see written permission to donate the bell for this endeavor. If all goes well the bell will be positioned in a frame and with a plaque and perhaps a photo indicating the genesis of the grand old building that is currently unknown to newcomers. *** The missus has a good sense of humor, but in our family of extroverts, seldom has a chance to exercise it. However, we were headed into a Redding restaurant for dinner and, with a feeling of elation over the prospect of french onion soup and a rack of lamb, I burst into a cappella song with "What a friend we have in Jesus..." The missus stopped and looked upward. "What?' I asked. She replied, "I hope lightning doesn't strike you… at least until after we have had dinner." I laughed and we continued unmolested into the Outback. *** Exchanged letters to the editor last week were unfortunate. L. Wolfe accused H. Merhoff of looking down his nose at the common folk...referring to the latter disparaging the Tea Party movement at least in the eyes of the former. What Les needs to remember is that the Tea Party was apparently formed to offer voters an alternative to the usual factions on the left and the right. As voters subsequently rejected the new party concept, it suggests they suspected the TP people of having an agenda, hidden or otherwise, to change the way of our Republic. Change can be scary and not easy to come by, as perennial candidate Ralph Nader knows all too well. What I think is needed is a compelling spokesman or woman for a non partisan party. But that means change…and people resist change *** R. Scheuler, recently retired from the Superior bench, gently chided me for discussing the cost of manufacture of the penny when I should have referred to the coin as one cent…the U.S. equivalent of the British penny. I stand corrected. However this led to a spirited discussion of how mis- quoting often alters the structure of the original quote. Being a Shakespeare buff, he noted the phrase "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" is not the original quote of WS…that over the years people have substituted "name" for "word" and now it seems to be common usage. Ergo, "A rose by any other word etc." So advised, said I, and then countered with Congreve's "…to gild the lily" was originally "…to paint the lily"…and now "gild" sounds better than "paint." He agreed and we had a jolly time thereafter discussing how he, no longer on the bench, now enters a room with less deference than when previously in robe. And I replied that I receive even less deference than when I was a captain of industry back in the good days of the meat plant. With that we touched elbows in observance of the conRobert tinuing flu season, and he departed. Intelligent conversation is as welcome to me as a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich any day. *** An ad in the New Yorker touted "Jackson Twenty One" as a "Dream Village." It appears to be a little enclave in the middle of Jackson, New Jersey. An artist's rendering portrays a very friendly area with the slogan "A great place for really nice people to live, work and have fun!" However, they concluded with the caveat "If you are not a nice person, please don't call." I think, in our effort to identify Red Bluff as an attractive destination site, we should add the same tag. *** "I note that a local dog won Best of Breed at the Westminster Kennel Club," said Murray Clyde. "Yes, it is an adorable little Welsh Corgi," said I. "Big dogs don't win Best of Show, do they?" "No, that seldom happens…but this local win was for Best of Breed." Murray thought for a minute and then said, "Could I have won for Best of Breed Bullmastiff?" Minch I Say "I certainly think so…but you would have to eat less, lose weight and get a bath every day." "What's the alternative?" "Well, I can name you Best of Ranch, if you like." "I would like that," said the big dog with a satisfied smile. *** Last week's quiz was first answered by nephew B. Smith of Ketchum, Idaho. Dying Testate means dying with a will, that a Tenancy at Sufferance is one in which the tenant is holding over with an expired lease, and the most important aspect of Joint Tenancy is having the Right of Survivorship. This week's quiz: What is the oldest ski hill in the Sierras, which has the highest base lodge, Mt. Rose, Heavenly or Northstar...and who invented the snowboard? *** St. Peter at the Pearly Gates tells Andy Giambroni that he needs to climb a ladder, take a piece of chalk, and write on the wall all of his sins. He is doing so when someone steps on his hand on the ladder. Andy says, "Why are you coming down the ladder?" and the guy, in this case, yours truly, says, "I've run out of chalk!" Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of Red Bluff, former columnist for the Corning Daily Observer and Meat Industry magazine and author of the "The Knocking Pen." He can be reached a t rminchandmurray@hotmail.com.