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6A – Daily News – Tuesday, September 14, 2010 Opinion Williams D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 remembered Editor: Lyle A. Williams, former sher- 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 let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer’s home street address and home phone num- ber. 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 submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong com- munity 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 vehi- cles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its com- munities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the resi- dents 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 Book report Commentary Just as parents try to get over the shock of this year's college tuition rates, the bills start piling up for peripherals – everything from desk lamps to laundry. So here's a question regarding one of higher education's most exor- bitant non-tuition items: Why does a collegiate paperback such as "Vice and Virtue in Everyday Life" cost $133.95? The book, subtitled "Intro- ductory Readings in Ethics," is in its eighth edition and remains a favorite in college ethics class- es. It's a 544-page paperback, certainly a hefty tome, but vast- ly overpriced for all markets except college, where predatory publishers, careless instructors and lax administrators combine to deliver a wallop to the wallet. College book prices, which can easily exceed $1,000 a year, have been climbing at roughly six percent annually. One response – made easier by the Internet – is the burgeoning mar- ket for used books. Used books now account for about $2 billion of the $5 billion total spent by American college students. But, since publishers don't get any of the revenue from used books, their natural response is to raise prices on new books even high- er. In 2008 Congress took a look at this problem, and the result was the Higher Education Opportunity Act, which finally went into effect in time for the fall '10 semester. The law requires publishers to offer books and other materials, such as CDs, separately rather than in costly bundles. And, most importantly, colleges are now required to publish the cost of books in course catalogs. In its discovery process, Con- gress identified several factors that inflate college book prices. The most damaging is that the primary choosers of books are not the primary users; that is, teachers usually select the books, but students pay for them. Congress also noted that col- lege books tend to be "price inelastic," meaning that buyers do not meet hikes in price with typical resistance. This is understandable, since students are generally hostage to profes- sors' selections. Interestingly, the condition is not as profound in Europe, where many schools demand lower prices from pub- lishers. Congress learned that one popular economics text cost $126 in the U.S., while the same book was priced at $76 in Great Britain. Since lawmakers were gra- cious enough to give schools two years to get ready for the new regulations, I decided to check a few dozen colleges and universities to see if book prices were now included in course catalogs. Compliance is spotty at best. Here's a particularly galling notice on Princeton Uni- versity's website: "The system is expected to be generally avail- able to all faculty for input of course reading lists in the spring of 2011, with plans to make complete course read- ing information avail- able to students by the fall of 2011." There were no signs of book lists or prices at many schools including Stanford, Boise State, Temple, Florida State and the University of Chicago. At George- town University, the student newspaper, The Hoya, reported last week that only 52 per- cent of courses in the school catalog had books listed for the fall semester. A few schools, most notably Arizona State, have not only complied with the law, but creat- ed handy online features to allow comparisons. schools are turning to e-books, with student costs expected to drop by as much as 50 percent. The publication says for-profit colleges have been in the van- guard of e-text use, while tradi- tional nonprofit institu- tions have been slow, in large part because faculty control of the book process remains "sacred." A good first step in controlling college book costs would be for schools to immedi- ately comply with the law. Peter Funt Another would be for administrators to insist that teachers select books early, and wisely, and avoid unnecessary changes from one edition of a Unfortu- nately, ASU’s data shed light on another facet of the problem. It seems that students taking the very same course, such as Intro to Sociology, but from different teachers, are finding that books cost $150 in one class, but under $50 in another. Technology may soon give stu- dents an edge that even Congress was not able to provide. Inside Higher Ed reports that several book to the next – which reduces or eliminates the resale market. And the future can’t arrive quickly enough when it comes to e-books on campus. Many of us retain our love for printed volumes for recreational read- ing, but the exorbitant cost of college books makes a digital fix already, as they say in the library, overdue. Peter Funt is a writer and public speaker. He's also the long-time host of "Candid Camera." A collection of his DVDs is available at www.candidcamera.com. iff of Tehama County passed away Sept. 3. Williams was sheriff from 1954 to 1974. On Nov. 4, 1970, he won an unprecedented fifth term as sheriff and became the first sheriff to be elected to five terms since the establishment of Tehama County in 1858. Out of a total of 23 men who have served as sheriff of Tehama County since 1856, only three men have been elected to four terms of office. Many times Williams was referred to as the last of the old time sheriffs. He was good friends with John Balma, sheriff of Shas- ta County, who served more than 30 years as sheriff during the same years Williams was sheriff of Tehama County. They were really a one of a kind. Williams was a visible sheriff always wearing his cowboy hat, cowboy boots and shiny sheriff’s badge. He would work the rodeos, fairs and patrol the dances from Paskenta to Stout Hall in Red Bluff, always making sure the young teenagers were able to get rides home. Williams was a city police offi- cer and undersheriff before he was elected sheriff. He would often state how times had changed. As a police officer he would walk the beat. He would not just ride around in a patrol car he would get out and walk up and down the main streets checking the doors to make sure they were locked. Williams was also known to be controversial at times — because if you asked him his opinion he would always let you know exact- ly what he thought. It might not have been what you wanted to hear but he was always honest. During his term as sheriff, Williams met many celebrities and positions. When John F. Kennedy was campaigning in 1960, he passed through Red Bluff on the train. Williams was in charge of security in Tehama County when the train stopped on the tracks on Walnut Street. A large crowed gathered around the train and Kennedy gave a speech. He then got down off the train a shook hands. The train stopped in Gerber and Kennedy did the same thing there. Williams also guard- ed Kennedy when he flew into Shasta County to dedicate Whiskeytown Lake. Williams provided security for President Richard Nixon when he came to Red Bluff campaigning. He has a picture of Nixon trying to take away his pistol he had on his hip. A picture Williams was really proud of is the one he had taken with Casy Tibbs, who attended many Red Bluff Round-Ups and was one of the all time champi- ons. So, Williams was not always chasing bad guys. He met many great people during his five terms in office. There has always been the question of where the herferd bull’s head came from that appears on the sheriff’s cars and some of the county cars in Tehama County. Jack McKenzie was a deputy sheriff and a cattleman. One day Williams and McKenzie went to his cattle ranch and took a picture of one of his bulls. Williams went to the Tehama County Supervisors and asked if they could put the bull’s head with a star on the cars, it was granted and the bull’s head and star has remained on the cars for 56 years. Williams is responsible for researching the history of all of the sheriffs of Tehama County. After gathering the information and pictures he donated them to the sheriff’s office. They are all hanging on the wall as you enter the office. Wisdom from many sources Editor: On Sept. 12 I was playing catch up on time in reflection, reading Sacred Moments, Daily Meditations on the Virtues, by Linda Kavelin Popov. Your Turn The entry for Sept. 11 was so apt. “If ye remain firm and act aright… your Lord would help you with five thousand angels.” What holy book was that from? Sounds pretty Biblical. It was the Quran. Did Ms. Popov select that source for that date on purpose? The book was published in 1997 so we can only guess how providence works. After his retirement Williams purchased the first registered boar goats to be brought into Tehama County. Now you see them all over Tehama and Shasta counties. He might of come across to some people as a strong tough guy but there was a real kind hearted person in him especially when it came to his family. Jill Smith, Red Bluff I hope Christian brothers and sisters can acknowledge that there is some wisdom to be found outside the Bible, and at least see that Muslims can turn to their book to correct their thoughts and behavior just as followers of the Gospel do. Jesus said, “Many sheep have I that are not of this fold.” The selection for Sept. 13 is from Matthew 7, in which Jesus says “By their fruits ye shall know them.” Are our fruits those of compassion, love, reason and reconcilia- tion? Jan Ivanoff, Red Bluff Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 4164 P.O. Box 942849, Sacramento 94249; (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319- 2102 STATE SENATOR — Sam Aanestad (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 2054, Sacramen- to, CA 95814. (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 893-8363. 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; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454.