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4A – Daily News – Friday, October 29, 2010 Opinion Corning City 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 Council Editor: 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 The upcoming election in Corning provides an opportunity for the voters to elect a mayor and City Council to administer City Hall in a way that will be user friendly, honest and dedicated to serving the best interests of the cit- izens. Gena Bowen and John Richards are two candidates run- ning for Corning City Council who can change the current status quo at City Hall to one of profes- sional, honest and dedicated ser- vice to the community. I support each candidate because of their commitment to pro business, infrastructure, light industry and job creation. In the past 30 years, I’ve seen all of these things deteriorate in the city of Corning. Gena Bowen and John Richards are candidates who acknowledge the problems that our current administration is neglecting. If you are ready for positive change in the city of Corning, I urge you to vote for Gena Bowen and John Richards for City Coun- cil. Michele Burton, Corning City Council vote Editor: Wayne Brown is the most active member of the Red Bluff City Council. He studies all of the agenda items that come before the coun- cil well in advance so that he is prepared on each subject matter. When a hard decision has to be made he makes sure all the citizens of Red Bluff are consid- ered. Once he makes a decision he does not waiver, even under the pressure of special interest groups. He is always the first to approach anyone that has an issue, to hear their personal view. He is the most approachable councilman, in that he is always available and takes the time to listen. As you think about who to support for City Council, please consider Wayne Brown on Nov.2. Bob Carrel, Red Bluff Career politicians Editor: A recent writer to this col- umn was pointing out the merits of voting for a career politician instead of someone with only manufacturing experience. The choice being Jerry Brown over Meg Whitman. After recovering from gag- ging on my coffee I sat and con- sidered why one would make such a statement. Apparently the writer was pro Democrat as I once was. The Democrats used to have stalwarts with experience in the real world. I remembered Harry Truman; a WWI artillery captain fight- ing in Europe. Old “give em hell Harry.” Then John Kennedy; a WWII Navy hero in the Pacific fighting the Japan- ese. A true leader and states- man. Not just someone that spent a career behind a desk exercising their mouth. Jerry Brown; known as Gov- ernor Moonbeam while he was in office due to his weird ways, is a prime reason that the resi- dents of California put term lim- its on the office of governor. Career politicians like Brown and Boxer tend to think of themselves as crown princes with the keys to the treasury instead of the reality of just being the hired help. We need to put this pair, and other career politicians, back to Your Turn work in the real world. They would be highly qualified for spreading fertilizer in a wheat field. I'm not to sure of Meg Whitman's total qualifications, but the most positive thing I can think of her is she isn't Jerry Brown. Phil Southern, Red Bluff No one turned away yet Editor: Thank you for the great newspaper article on Oct. 21 about our community food bank. Individuals and families have been bringing macaroni and cheese, beans, rice and canned goods. Because of generous community support we have not had to turn anyone away. We should have enough food to last until the third week of November. Then, we will need more for our Thanksgiving food boxes. We really appreciate the Daily News and the community for re-stocking our food pantry. Major Frank Severs. 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. Anonymous correspondence clobbers candidates Commentary It is said all politics are local. If that is so, then I urge you to vote for a change of line up of the Red Bluff City Council in the coming elec- tion. We need players that are good at bat, yet can play error free ball. Our current crop of councilmen does not meet such criteria. As my recommendations are seldom heeded, and non performers remain in office, I shall refrain from candidate endorse- ment. One fine fellow, Joseph Durrer, is a rela- tive, but it might be construed as nepotism if I were to promote him... so never mind. But I do need to respond to a scurrilous anonymous let- ter making the rounds. As councilmen are required to contribute to their benefit packages, said letter states two members had not made their contributions to the city for many months. Whereas this was the case (they have since paid their share), the rea- son, they state, for their delinquency, was the failure of the city’s financial department to invoice them for same. The practice had been that the councilmen were expected to pay without invoice...to just remember to pony up every month. It was not until the two received an e mail to that effect, that they promptly paid monies due. The anonymous letter appears to have emanated within City Hall and possibly on a city computer on city time. It suggests an agen- da to unseat the two councilmen, and, if so, heads should roll. * * * There was a time when PG&E was a benev- olent provider...in fact, when calling them to report a hazard or request for service, you could call the local office at 814 Main St., and talk to a person you actually knew. Armed with such ingress, you could request a little extra attention. If a cold spell hit, and your gas meter had been turned off for the summer, you could just say, “Mary...my office is colder than a well dig- ger’s nephew...could you ask Al to turn on the meter?” Mary would usually coo and say, “Poor baby! Expect Al momentarily.” Today, sadly, such reception is less personal and certainly not as expedient. But Red Bluff is a small town and accommodations should be made. For example, on Thursday, we requested gas service for our office and were told we would receive it the following Wednesday. Fine. It was warm Thursday. Then we requested that electricity be turned on at vacant 225 Walnut St., which is a suite in the rear of our build- ing. PG&E scheduled that promptly for Monday. Mon- day arrived and it had turned cold. I asked PG&E if they could combine the Wednes- day visit with the Monday visit...but they said no, the serviceman Monday for the electric turn on would not be qualified to turn the gas on...that would require a dif- ferent serviceman. Tsk, tsk. * * * Speaking of service, some John le Carre’s real name is David John Moore Cornwell, the Blondie Comic Strip debuted in 1930, and the full name of its creator is Murat Bernard Young This week’s quiz: In a book about cowboy lore, J. Frank Dobie wrote a chapter on the cow- boy bandanna. He came up with 17 uses that old time cowboys might have used their bandannas for in a day’s work. See if you can name at least half...say 7 uses. * * * Tennis doubles partner H. things have improved. I found a note on our office door. It read, “You have had a Drive By Prayer. We have prayed for your establish- ment that God’s protecting gentle spirit will hold you stedfast and secure. If you want to learn more, call”...and they left a number. I personally am not a worthy recipient for Drive By Prayer. However, I can be a good sounding board for words spelled incorrect- ly...”steadfast” as opposed to “stedfast,” but oth- erwise I am just not a good prospect for divine intervention unless I were to get more vitriolic letters to the editor...in which case I would need all the help I can get. * * * There are apparently 10 Murphy’s Livestock Laws. Here are three: 1) No one ever notices how you ride a horse until you fall off. 2) The least useful horse in your barn will eat the most, require shoes every four weeks, and need the vet once a month. 3) A horse’s misbehavior will be in direct proportion to the number of people who are watching. * * * Last week’s quiz was answered by a pletho- ra of people. It must have been too easy. Writer Robert Minch I Say Warwick insists I bring to your attention the following facts: Herbert W. Sellner invented several “fun rides.” His most famous, found in many carnivals to this day, is the Tilt-A-Whirl, created in 1926. In 1930, Mr. Sellner built a prairie style house in Faribault, Minn. 65 years later, Ken and JoAn Warwick moved into this house and are pleased to report the house does not whirl. Ken, as you may have guessed, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Warwick. * * * Southern humorist Lewis McDonald Griz- zard extols us to never order barbeque in a place that also serves quiche...and also says that, in the south, there’s a difference between “Naked” and “Nekkid.” “Naked” means you don’t have any clothes on. “Nekkid”means you don’t have any clothes on...and you’re up to somethin’. * * * A four-year-old boy returned home from Sunday School and asked his father, “Have any men in our family ever had their thingee criti- cized?” The boy’s mother laughed and told him the word was “circumcised,” but that the answer was still yes. Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of Red Bluff and former columnist for the Corning Daily Observer and Meat Industry magazine.He can be reached at rminchandmurray@hotmail.com.