Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/132596
Saturday, May 25, 2013 – Daily News 5A 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. RBFD doughnut runs Editor: I want to thank Rich Greene for his journalism regarding the potential doughnut scandal in the city of Red Bluff's Fire Department. This is the most amusing report I have read in the Daily News. I laughed out loud. Who could guess from typical reporting how witty these three department heads are? Thank you, fire chief, police chief and Public Works director. I want to thank the publisher, editor and writer before Joseph Neff analyzes the costs ad nauseam and Les Wolfe creates a local government conspiracy. Sue Gallagher, Los Molinos Senior scams Editor: Scams on seniors seem to abound and here is the scoop on the latest one, which involved a telephone call to me from "Medical Alert." The caller identified himself as being in the shipping department of Medical Alert and all they needed was my address to ship to and credit card information for shipping costs. I informed him that I had not ordered anything from Medical Alert and he proceeded to inform me that the equipment was free from Medicare and all I owed was shipping. I ended the conversation with a disconnect with 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 Red, White and Brew Editor: Nothing could be more satisfying for many of us than kicking back after a long day's work with a frothy glass of good old American Budweiser Beer, a case of pride...red, white and blue, which also provides a way of showing our appreciation for their coverage and sponsorship of an array of professional sporting events at home and abroad from baseball to football, rodeo, boxing and the Olympics. In fact, it has been adopted by many as another true American Icon, along with good old apple pie and Chevrolet, and often an inspiration for patriotic fervor and jubilation, including joyous shouts of USA! USA! It might come as quite a surprise to some, but a few years ago Anheuser Busch was unceremoniously sold for $52 billion to InBev, a beverage company which is headquartered in Belgium. Black, yellow and red anyone? As an alternative, why not switch to Miller Beer, another education taxes for choice, well established U.S. brand, students willing to accept the famous for the introduction of more rigorous discipline of a low calorie light variety private and parochial schools some decades ago? Surprise. achieve higher graduation The company is firmly in the rates, and taxpayers more than hands of South African Brew- halve the education costs for ing Co. every student transferring to However, there is still choice schools. hope. Certainly, the Coors Thirteen forward looking family of Colorado, states have now co-founders of the adopted vouchers. Your John Birch Society The most recent is and well known for Indiana that allows its patriotism, will every grade school stand firm, abide by transferee a $4,500 its principles and provoucher that saves vide us their Silver Bullet free taxpayers $5,500 per transferfrom outside influence and ee. High school students are interference. Unfortunately, allowed the $5,500 to $8,000 they have also succumbed to state portion of public fundthe lure, and merged with the ing, depending if they are an Molson Brewery of socialist urban or a suburban schools. Canada. Urban schools receive higher This is just one particular, state funding than suburban albeit egregious example, schools because of poorer pointing to the fact, that we parents. are not only outsourcing jobs Public schools continue to and our manufacturing capac- receive the unchanged averity to other countries, but age $10,000 per student yearownership of our U.S. based ly, so no one looses. There are corporations as well. only winners with vouchers. Even at the peril of redun- Indiana urban schools have dancy, it is difficult having to seen a 15 percent transfer rate acknowledge once again, that from academically failing greed keeps on trumping public schools to equal class patriotism, with no end in size but less costly charter, sight. private, and parochial schools Joe Bahlke, Red Bluff The cost savings to taxpayers comes from the lack of school busing, 15 percent lower average pay and benefits for Editor: voucher and charter school With California in bank- teachers and administrators, ruptcy from excess spending, fewer administrators, and no a huge savings can be local taxes or school bonds achieved with school choice used for vouchers or charters. vouchers. It is a win for stuJoseph J. Neff, Corning dents, parents, and taxpayers in that parents can use their Turn School choice 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. 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 the shipping department. This is not only fraud on the senior population, it is also fraud to Medicare. If you have Caller ID, you are advised to record the number calling and forward this information to California Senior Medicare Patrol at 855-6137080 so they can take action. Just a heads up. Linda Walker, Proberta Commentary Needed: Federal control of garage sales Having just helped my mother with her annual yard sale, I have come to a disturbing conclusion. As much as it pains me to say it, for the sake of buyers and sellers alike, the federal government needs to intervene in the yard/garage sale industries. Homeowners displaying collectibles for sale need to receive some sort of stipend for enduring endless sob stories from shoppers whose mothers saw fit to dispose of valuable baseball cards, etc. And the shoppers themselves need consoling via a free copy of the LGBT-approved book "Heather Has Two Mommies — And Both of Them Threw Out Her Comic Books!" Call it the nanny state gone amok, but we need protection from ourselves. Folks displaying unappreciated shower gifts they received in the past six months need a spin doctor to help them respond when the gift giver unexpectedly shows up at the sale. ("Believe me, I discovered at the same time you did that this 'Steve and Marcia, Wishing You A Lifetime of Wedded Bliss' platter was a shower gift.") Likewise, sellers may need emergency relocation if their minister makes a surprise visit and sees all the shot glasses, bawdy T-shirts and wellthumbed "Playboy" magazines. This service is popularly known as the "Federal Jehovah's Witness Protection Program." Peace negotiators must be rushed in to quell angry mobs in normally quiet cul-de-sacs where one homeowner always thoughtfully advertises "Free Beer For 18-Wheeler Drivers." The Department of Education should give crash courses to children of overprotective mothers, so when mom warns, "Don't touch those toys — you don't know where they've been," the youngster can retort, "Don't reelect that congressman — you don't know where he's been." Troops must be dispatched to those homes with towering stacks of used romance novels. Deodorant, nose hair trimmers and 21st century underwear will be airlifted to the males in the household, and a tactical nuclear strike will take out their widescreen football games. Public service announce- ments could help sellers be more metically sealed box tucked selective about buying sou- under your upstairs bed?" The sellers who venirs, trinkets and won't budge from the whatnots in the future. latest "retail plus 20 "If you find yourself percent" prices on exclaiming, 'Hey, I fortheir heirloom George got I had that!,' maybe Foreman grills need a the memorabilia wasn't surprise visit from the so doggone memoEnvironmental Protecrable in the first place." tion Agency. ("ConPerhaps the U.S. trary to your beliefs, Forest Service could our inspection really do something about all does detect an aroma those unused fondue wafting from your sets and treadmills that Danny bathroom.") have crossbred and Yes, the issue is a gone feral. puzzle with a couple For the shoppers of pieces missing. who set out to buy 25Speaking of which, cent items armed only with a roll of twenties, the how many popcorn poppers with Bureau of Printing and Engrav- slightly chewed cords would ing could produce a special Boy you take for that puzzle with a Scout-themed bill. "Always be couple of...? prepared — for dirty looks!" Maybe the FBI could offer Danny Tyree welcomes help to sellers who line up thousands of sale items only to reader e-mail responses at and receive countless creepy tyreetyrades@aol.com inquiries about the clothesline, visits to his Facebook fan page the mailbox, the family lawn- "Tyree's Tyrades." Danny's' mower and other not-for-sale weekly column is distributed items. "So, how much for your exclusively by Cagle Cartoons grandmother's ashes in that her- Inc. newspaper syndicate. Tyree