Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/120087
4A Daily News – Friday, April 5, 2013 Opinion Discovery Center offers thanks to community 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 This is April Fool's Day, but this is not an April Fool's letter. This is a letter of gratitude for the people of Tehama Country. I like the change I feel in people's attitudes toward living here and the number of people who are becoming involved in doing something positive for our community. An example is the Cleaner Greener project to improve the trails on Samuel Ayer's Dog Island Park. There may be a trail with a bridge connecting this island with the trails around Ide Adobe State Park, someday. I hope to see you at the Clean Up Day on Saturday. The Sacramento River Discovery Center has been the beneficiary of a number of positive actions in recent months. The number of volunteers that are helping with the garden project has increased. This last week, we had Los Molinos 4-H members and their families helping pull weeds and filling "three bags full." Earlier in the month we the members of Boy Scout Pack 417 help with trails cleanup in the Red Bluff Recreation Area, and they promise to return. Unfortunately there are still more unwanted plant species that need to be removed from their current locations — we would like to relocate them to the Tehama Country Landfill. If you have a little time, pulling weeds is good therapy and we have plenty to help the whole community. Businesses in the community are helping the SRDC. The Louisiana Pacific facility provided the SRDC with 2"x 6" lumber to build tables for our plants and and some picnic tables. Home Depot and Rod McClellen's SuperSoil representative provided the Center with a number of 2 cubic foot bags of potting soil to aid the Center as it is growing seedlings for the Community Action Agency's Garden Box and Food Share projects. It is joyful to see the generosity of community members with their time or their materials. The SRDC has also had the donation of volunteer time to develop web pages and a Facebook page design to help us to join the 21st Century. There will be many new pages with photographs and information about the increasing numbers of native plants that are being grown in the Discovery Garden. We are still looking for lecting aquatic species from the river, learning about people who would like to take possession of Guest View flora and fauna and being creative with some of the deer resisart.and others. tant and drought tolerant Bobie I am most thankful plants that need to be for the following comremoved from the garmunity members and den to make room for businesses that are the new additions. We are looking for volunteers to help helping keep the doors of the us with the research on these new Sacramento River Discovery plant species so that we can add Center open; Alsco Irrigation, this information to our plant kiosk Home Depot, Louisiana Pacific in the Discovery Garden as well as facility, Norm's Printing, Rolling the website. This project can be Hills Casino, Tehama County completed from the comfort of Department of Education, your own home. Writing articles Tehama County Resource Conabout the SRDC is another talent servation District, The Aquarithat the SRDC is seeking to help um, True Value Hardware, tell the story to others about the Tehama County Farm Bureaubeautiful community in which we You are all The Best. Many individuals help me keep my sanity : live. The season for Elementary Randy Baker, Bruce Gray, Rene Education programming is upon Henthorn, Nancy Freire, Liz us and the SRDC would appreci- Omalyer, Larry Ridgel, Carl ate the assistance of retired ele- Stoldt, Barbara Jackson, Rob mentary instructors to help with Rodriquez, Joanne Heiber and programming for youth pre-K to Ben Hughes (he helps with the 6th grade. We welcome the stu- Center's snakes among many dents from as far away as Paradise other chores). I thank each and to come spend three hours explor- every one, Visit the Discovery Center garing the environment with hands-on activities like bird watching, col- den, 1000 Sale Lane and say hi. Hughes Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Dan Logue, 1550 Humboldt Road, Ste. 4, Chico, CA 95928, 530-895-4217 STATE SENATOR — Jim Nielsen, 2635 Forest Ave., Ste. 110, Chico, CA 95928, (530) 8 7 9 - 7 4 2 4 , senator.nielsen@senate.ca.gov GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E m a i l : 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) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. Commentary A humble act is a hard act to follow A good friend thanked me for taking it easy on the new Pope in my last effort. I was not aware that I had toned down my rhetoric. Did I miss something that required comment? Another revelation...but not in the biblical sense? Well, after all it was Easter week... and millions of people around the globe did more than color and hide Easter eggs. They celebrated "The Greatest Story Ever Told." I don't find it so rated but must agree the Catholics have a monopoly on the subject when it comes to re-enactments such as the toting of the cross and the washing of feet. One does not make jest during these symbolic acts. I do, however, take issue with a statement in a recent edition of TIME wherein J. Meacham wrote that the resignation of Pope Benedict was "a striking, even revolutionary act of humility". I don't think so. Photos and films of the Pope emeritus, prior to his resignation, suggest that he needed to heed the advice of his handlers who wished him to go out with a flourish rather than with the whimper of dementia or worse. Anyhow, the changing of that guard occurred none too soon for all concerned. *** Mark Twain said, "Put all your eggs in one basket...and then watch that basket!" Also, "The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for." *** "Thanks to the internet, the disproportion between writerly supply and demand, always tricky, has tipped: anyone can write, and everyone does, and beginners are expected to be the last pure philanthropists, giving it all away for the naches (a Yiddish word for pride or joy). It has never been easier to be a writer, and it has never been harder to be a professional writer."Adam Gopnik in the New Yorker. *** The Ramos Doughnut shop on Main at Oak proclaims "Real doughnuts for real people" thus suggesting they do not cater to "unreal people." Conclusion: Those who demonstrate with placards on that very corner might consider bringing their own doughnuts. *** Is it not odd that a mild mannered Woody Allen look-alike might play a role in the case of the murdered teenager, which appears to be headed for trial. The fellow was Clarence Earl Gideon who, in 1961, was charged with break- ing and entering a Panama City, Florida pool days, a person can be overheard gabbing on a hall and stealing money from vending cell phone, but she had to no phone to her ear. She was talking to herself while writing machines. He asked for the state to out a check from her checkprovide a counsel to reprebook. She was saying such sent him but his request things as, "Alrighty...let's see was denied. After he was now...this goes here...and this sentenced to 5 years in goes there...hmmm...yes..." prison, he filed a petition About then I thought she might for release from unjust break into song, but she only imprisonment, which went gave voice to another comment all the way to the Supreme relevant to her checkbook mainCourt where, in a unanitenance. I found it charming mous decision written by that she was so engrossed in her Justice Hugo Black, the Robert project that she was not conCourt ruled that Gideon's scious of her utterings. When conviction was unconstitushe finally looked up and tional because he was noticed I was within earshot and denied a defense attorney at staring, she smiled wanly and the trial. Said denial won't looked away. I wanted to say be the case in Tehama "nice day" or something to that County, for although six local attorneys shunned the opportunity, one effect, but discretion being a part of valor, I Shon Northam agreed to represent the accused decided to mind my own business...for a Quentin Ray Bealer. The outcome of the case, change. *** regardless of the verdict, will be yet another Play ball! example of our judicial system at work. The pitchers must have made a lot of money *** Regarding last week's quiz, several readers this year. The manager called the bullpen and responded, but their answers differed from got an answering service. Pitcher: "I thought I had some good stuff mine, so apparently my question (and subsequent answers) were out-dated. My sources said today" Manager: "Yes, the batters on the other team that the only sports invented in the U.S. were baseball, volleyball and rodeo. However some certainly liked it." If diamonds are a girl's best friend, why does readers nominated basketball, and suggested that rodeo might have originated in Mexico. If a wife get sore when a guy goes to a ballgame? A small boy got lost at a ballgame. He went Google and Wikipedia can be considered the ultimate authorities, then add to the list Ameri- up to a police officer and said tearfully, "I've lost can flag rugby, American football, Circle rules my dad!" The officer asked, "What's he like?" football, Beach Tennis, Kickball, Kronum, Mat- The boy answered, "Beer and women." A baseball team manager who had an ulcer ball, Roller Derby, Schtick (disk game) Shootfighting, Slamball, Stickball, Ultimate (sport) visited a doctor. "Remember," said the doctor, "don't get excited, don't get angry ...and forget and Beach Volleyball. I'm sorry I asked. all about baseball when you are off the field." *** This week's quiz: The famous Duesenberg Then he added, "By the way, how come you let automobile was built by whom, what Duke was the pitcher bat with the tying run on second and given credit for defeating Napoleon at Waterloo two men out in the ninth?" and who was the owner and trainer of movie Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of Red star Rin-Tin-Tin? Bluff, former columnist for the Corning Daily *** Sightem: While standing in line at the bank, Observer and Meat Industry magazine and I could hear a woman across from a divider author of the "The Knocking Pen." He can be counter talking. As is so often the case these reached at rminchandmurray@hotmail.com. Minch I Say