Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/130651
6A Daily News – Thursday, May 16, 2013 Opinion 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 Watershed celebration Editor: I want to thank the many community members who devote their time, effort and money to support the important volunteer organizations in this community. The Sacramento River Discovery Center was recently the beneficiary of some of these efforts. The annual Watershed Celebration, was held, under the beautiful "Old Oak Tree" in the Discovery Garden. Through the year the buildings and gardens have benefited from the efforts of a group of regular volunteers. This year, we were able to "have the garden looking better than it has looked in years." This includes groups such as WorkAbility1 students of Red Bluff High School led by Kathy Smith; the NVS Landscaping crew, Bruce Gray, Randy Baker, Rene Henthorn, Carl Stoldt, Nancy Freire, Liz Omalyer, Rachel Vigliotti and Larry Ridgel. The Garden was ready. Saturday morning May 11 started with the Sacramento River Discovery Center holding a small but successful Walk-Run event thanks to the work of volunteers from the SRDC and Red Bluff High Key Club members. A great walk-run course has been created along the trails of the Mendocino National Forest's Red Bluff Recreation Area. It was a wonderful day for a run. Thanks to Dutch Brothers the workers were provided drink cards and runner's & workers were able to enjoy some wonderful cold bottled water. After the walk-run people gathered around "the Old Oak Tree" to learn about the watershed and groups that are working to restore, protect and preserve the quality of life and water resources in this part of the state. Groups and agencies presenting information and fun learning activities for visitors included: US Fish & Wildlife Service, Coleman Fish Hatchery, Mendocino National Forest, Battle Creek Watershed work group, Lassen National Park, Ide Adobe State Park and the REAP Program of the Tehama Landfill. Food was provided by Twilford family and Girl Scout Troop 70235. Nature in art was showcased by both the Red Bluff Art Association and the Red Bluff Photography club, Bob Madgic shared information about the Sacramento River, and his new book The Sacramento, A Transcendent River and AltaCal Audubon was there to explain why there was pigwire in the parking lot. It is protecting a killdeer nest. The Ridge family brought two adorable alpacas, and Ardith Read helped visitors learn about Native American basket weav- teers to make it the success that ing. Whittenberg School and the it has been over the years. Help SRDC Summer camps program our community stay vital and was represented by Zach Whit- Volunteer Your Services. Bobie Hughes, Red Bluff ten, camps director. The Community Action Agency's Garden Box project booth, garnered the most visitors as it offered lots of information about constructing a Editor: mobile garden box, and offered Kudos to Michael Peters' letattendees, the ability to take ter May 4. Your readers need home a box, with soil and seeds more letters from those or seedlings. CAA who survived the provided all the matebrainwashing of Your rials to grow fresh Berkeley, Princeton, vegetables, at attenColumbia, Brandeis dees own homes or and all the others not apartments. Darla mentioned in his letter. Bandsma, of UC Isn't it interesting that Cooperative Extension provided, recipes & samples, to use Columbia University has a new the produce grown in the boxes. professor, a colleague of Bill The success of this project was, Ayers, a former member of the in part, through the labors of the Weather Underground and conJob Training Center and making victed killer Kathy Boudin. use of supplies from the Recy- Maybe the surviving Boston cle and Reuse Program (REAP) Bomber has a future at Columof the Tehama County Landfill. bia University also. Oh, by the The previous Saturday the way, does Columbia University, Branding Project and SERRF Bill Ayers and Obama ring a held their own Walk/Run event bell? Information proving the that brought about 800 people infiltration of the Communist or to the Red Bluff Recreation Area. These events were sup- other radical influence in our ported by the wonderful volun- universities is easily obtained teers of Tehama County. The on the Internet. Information is next opportunity to volunteer also available to show just how will be the American Cancer many radicals, communists and Society's Relay for Life. This is Islamists are appointed by or an outstanding community close to Obama. Les Wolfe, Red Bluff effort that relies on many volun- Communist infiltration Turn 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) 879-7424, 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. Commentary Something in the water pays off on diamonds OK, I think I've lived here long enough. I deserve some answers. I want in on the little secret. What exactly did this town do to its children in the past couple decades? Was it the nitrates in the water? Did the hospital have something to do with it? Is that what all those Top 100 awards are about? Was an outside "consultant" brought in to start a massive Weapon X program? Just please someone tell me how has this little cowtown stockpiled its youth baseball and softball programs with winners — year after year. In the short time I've been here I've seen 12-year-old baseball and softball teams get within one game of their respective Little League World Series. I've watched the Lady Spartans softball program reach six consecutive section title games. I've seen the Red Bluff Bulls American Legion baseball team within outs of a state championship. I've covered a Red Bluff High baseball team posting 20win seasons year after year no matter how good or bad their preseason hype is. All the while producing athlete after athlete who go on to do great things in colleges not just across the state, but across the country. One girl even set a section home run record during her time in Red Bluff. Then Tuesday happened. In the softball semifinals Shasta took a late 6-4 lead in an inning in which the Lady Wolves belted a grand slam. So, what did the Lady Spartans do? First Emily Larzabal smashes a two-run homer to tie it. Then Haley Harris steals her way around the bases and scores on a Samantha Jones squeeze bunt to win the game with the team down to their last out. But that's not all that happened. Down in Chico the seventhseeded Red Bluff baseball team had blown a lead against rival Pleasant Valley — in a game they never had a chance of winning if you asked anyone outside 96080. The Vikings needed just one more out to move on to the section championship. They'd get that out, but not before Walker Dodero hit an RBI double to send the game to extra innings. In the extra frame future mayor of Red Bluff Garrett Sandow drove in the winning run and Kyle Martin closed the deal on the mound. As a result both Red Bluff High's baseball and softball programs will play for section champions on Saturday. It's not the first time they'll both play for greatness on the same day. They did it back in tainly seems that "don't quit until the last out" spir2010. it was there Tuesday And get used to it, for the boys and girls. their going to do it The reason I again and again in the believe Red Bluff near future. youth baseball and Those 12-year-old softball is in a golden Little League legends generation right now are now descending goes back to the 1974 into the varsity ranks Little League Alland both of Red Bluff's Star team. junior varsity teams I believe a city had outstanding seasaw the wonders the sons. Rich sport can do for chilBut just how did dren and a town. Red Bluff produce Family and friends what's been at least a involved with that decade of talented team have tried to recreate that ballplayers? Some I've talked to point to moment as they've grown older. That's built a foundation of parthe weather. More sunny days even com- ent, coach and league support pared to other nearby cities, that's hard to replicate. Those involved with youth more opportunities to practice. Simple enough, I'm sure that and the sport are willing to volunteer long hours because they has to help. I've been told Red Bluff Lit- know how rewarding the end tle League's philosophy of result can be. It helps that Red Bluff cares dividing teams is a factor. Some cities lump all their tal- about its girls as much as its ented players together through- boys and built softball proout the youth regular season so grams to match what the boys when All-Star time rolls around were getting. Now what made that 1974 the selected few have already built chemistry with each other team so good? For that answer, I'm sticking on their super team. Red Bluff prefers to spread with the nitrates. their talent around to different Rich Greene can be teams and have a league that builds the kids through better reached at 527-2151, Ext. or by email at competition game-in and game- 109 rgreene@redbluffdailynews.c out. I like that idea as well, cer- om. Greene