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4A – Daily News – Saturday, October 30, 2010 Opinion Brown out of 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 the loop? Editor: I am concerned with Coun- cilman Wayne Brown's state- ment that he was proud to be a member of the "Budget Com- mittee.” My question, were you not 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 given all of the proper informa- tion from Mr. Nichols? What did he withhold from you and others? I know May 7 there is a paper floating around Tehama County showing the $1.3M shortage. I do hope, if Mr. Brown serves on any other budget com- mittee their finances are in bet- ter shape than the city of Red Bluff. Una Jordan, Red Bluff Clean up city Editor: I do hope Mr. Nichols real- izes by this time, his firing of the finance director did not and will not clean up his mess he has created for the city of Red Bluff. The only way is for the citi- zens of the city of Red Bluff to clean up the City Hall is to re- elect Jeff Moyer, Jim Byrne and Rob Schmid. Please go to the polls Nov. 2 and vote. Jackson Williams, Red Bluff Save our city Editor: Please vote for Gary Strack for mayor in Corning. I have known Gary for over 40 years, and know him to be honest and fair. He has the city's best interest at heart, and doesn't have an agenda. Corning has always been a wonderful place to live, but in the 49 years we have lived here, we have never seen anything like the current campaign. Please vote for Gary Strack. Bill Boot, Corning Record straight Editor: It’s my turn to set the record straight on two issues. The rumor that my husband, Dean Cofer candidate for Corn- ing Mayor is the person who sent out an anonymous mailer regarding Jessie Lopez is bogus and totally untrue. Every mail- er that Dean has ever sent out, both from Concerned Citizens and as a candidate, has had his name and personal information included thereon. Secondly, Dean Cofer is not suing the City of Corning as the local newspaper head- line stated, and as the Mayor continues to falsely broadcast around town. Dean simply filed a Writ of Mandate asking the court to order the Mayor to give Dean public documents that the City had illegally failed to pro- duce. Thank you. Roxie Rose Cofer, Corning Propositions are straighforward Editor: Voting for or against the propositions is not difficult. If the proposition has union sup- port vote against the union lobby funds and their purchase of votes for their doubled pay and benefits versus civilians. If it increase taxes, oppose the Your Turn measure. If it increases elec- tricity costs, under the false myth of being green, vote no. If it forces companies and experi- enced professionals to leave the state, to escape the high taxes and exploding regula- tions, vote no. If the vote supports entrenched state leg- islators and politi- cians who have brought the state $20 billion in deficits, vote in opposition. If the proposition supports anarchy against Federal laws by exploding the crime of recre- ational drug use, vote no. California needs a major shakeup in the politics as usual emphasis on out of control spending and the highest taxes in the nation. Responsible vot- ers are needed to end the extreme damage done to tax- payers by the liberals who con- trol California.. Joseph J. Neff, Corning Editor’s note: Longer let- ters that could not be pub- lished prior to election day have been posted on redbluff- dailynews.com. 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. It’s a sign of my times Commentary I am writing this column on Oct. 8. Maybe I’m getting crankier, but I am paying more attention to signs and directions and finding them to be irritants. One of the rea- sons is I have to work at paying attention more than I used to, and I want my efforts to be rewarded, not wasted. For example when I go to the doctor’s office there is a large flat screen monitor that lists all of the physicians associated with the practice, office hours, phone num- bers, physician assistants, and billing information. This all very practical information, and proba- bly more useful than the two year old magazines with their address labels removed. The monitor also announces that the office will be closed on September 6 for Labor Day. I checked my calendar, and the date is correct… for last Labor Day! Then there are those signs high on the power poles, reminding me that the Horse Exhibition was last June; I find this useful information because you never know when someone will ask when the last horse show was. Of course it is also very impor- tant to know that the northbound on ramp to I-5 on the south end of town will be closed from Septem- ber 3rd through the 30th; I like to plan ahead, and with Arnold’s fur- loughs delaying projects, we need all the warning we can get. Doug La Malfa may have something going for him and the slogan on his sign, “He’s one of us.” Senatorial candidate in Delaware, Christine O’Donnell, erstwhile dabbler in witchery and other things, assures us that she, too, is us. It’s probably true because “us” is a diverse group of people. Neither candidate may be like either you or I, but each is cer- tainly one of the greater us. I am impressed by the profes- sional signs around town touting candidates for the City Council. Those signs reflect the seriousness of the candidates to seek election or reelection. We have even had handbills attached to our door which are well prepared and print- ed. It is good to see signs of pride in our community and the impor- tance of holding office. Speed bumps are a fairly stan- dard feature when excessive speed is a real danger. In an affluent neighborhood out of the area, we saw a street sign that warns of “Undulations Ahead.” Then there was the small Massachusetts vil- lage we drove through several years ago that placed a warning sign at the city limit, “Slow Chil- dren Ahead.” Given all the homes with for sale signs around town you would think maintaining the lawns and shrubs in front of those homes would add to their attractiveness, please their neighbors, and keep them from looking like a “fixer- upper.” I am sure there are plenty of young people who could mow lawns for a reasonable rate to help out our realtors. Apparently there are few signs of Wally Herger being around dur- ing the campaign season. He stiffed the debate scheduled this week in Chico, and there was con- cern he might skip the debate scheduled for the 25th. Where’s Waldo” may be replaced with “Where’s Wally.” Is this a sign of smugness, or is he embarrassed to face an adversary? There was an interesting letter to the editor about the use of cell phones while driving. I share the writer’s concern. The other day, on the way back from a Redding doc- tor’s appointment, I was passed by a man in a Mercedes, going at least 85 mph; as far as I could tell he was equipped with the normal two hands, in one of which was a cell phone and in the other some reading material. Maybe his knees work better than mine. Then there was the time I was almost hit on Walnut Street by a young woman applying make- up and talking on the cell phone, all the while turning left in front of me. Police are busy dealing with serious crimes and under- staffing, and it’s hard for them to enforce all the laws we have, yet alone be everywhere. My guess is using a cell phone while driving is more of a sign of disre- spect for the law and safety of oth- ers than anything else. After all, doesn’t the law only apply to the other guy? If you live in an area you nor- mally can anticipate stop signs. The street is usually emblazoned with “STOP” and the signs them- selves are visible. In many areas strangers are stopping more quick- ly than usual because trees hide stop signs and paint has faded. My father always told me if you drive the speed limit the signs shouldn’t be a surprise; nevertheless, the stop sign at the intersection of Potter and Walnut is no longer red, and the lettering is unreadable; except for its octagonal shape no driver would recognize it, and on a foggy night it might appear eerie. Speed limit signs are strange. For example, on Walnut Street there is about a quarter mile where the speed limit heading into town is 10 mph more than the speed limit heading out of town; I am sure there is a rational explanation for this. Joe Harrop From Main Street to Jackson Street the speed limit on Luther Road is 35 mph, in spite of the congestion around Arby’s, Jack in the Box, Wal Mart, Raley's, PG&E, the Red Bluff Health Center, Red Bluff Veterinary Hospi- tal and Walgreen’s; pedestrians are not nor- mally an issue, but lots of folks are turning onto and off of Luther in that stretch; the speed limit is enforced by the one stop signal along that route near the back entrance to Walmart and Bethel Temple. When you come to the stop sign at Jack- son it remains 35 mph for a very short distance, and it then mysteri- ously becomes 40 mph until the road ends at Paskenta. If you are heading to town on Luther the speed limit is 40 mph until you reach a carefully camouflaged sign reducing it to 35, after the most likely turn off spots have been passed. A few years ago, one of the well used streets around town had a pro- gressively increasing speed limit, but just before it dead ended there was a sign which said “End 45 Zone.” It was removed probably because someone sped up rather than slowed down. I guess I am getting grumpier. I am taking a brief holiday to bright- en up. I’ll be back around Thanks- giving. Joe Harrop is a retired educator with more than 30 years of service to the North State. He can be reached at DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net.