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4A – Daily News – Friday, November 5, 2010 Opinion You decide 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 We made it through another elec- tion and just like June’s primary, Tuesday’s polling was proceeded by plenty of mud slinging. Most of it was on the state and national level, but there was a healthy dose here at home. 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 In Corning we had false allegations and the carting of skeletons out of closets, but otherwise the campaigns were civil and it appears some good can- didates were chosen. Red Bluff’s big flap came, not surprisingly, very close to election day when an e-mail message from a city computer was distributed anonymously to the Daily News and later to other media out- lets. And that’s when the gloves came off. the payments allowed to lapse and what funds were used to make the payments to the provider, but the basic facts are as previously stated. Taken at face value, are these facts newsworthy? Probably only if one sus- pects there is more to the story than sloppy book- keeping on the part of the city and careless money management on the part of the councilmen. Chip Thompson 545 Diamond Ave. The message indicated that two sitting members of the City Council had lapsed in their payments for medical benefits received through the city. No more, no less. When the councilmen received the message, their accounts were immediately paid up to date in full. So there are the facts. These facts raise a few questions, like why were Of course, both coun- cilmen were up for reelec- tion. To some, including a councilman who was not up for reelection, this was a huge story. He called to tell me as much. What was most disturb- ing, though, is how some members of the media chose to report the anony- mous tip. One laid out the facts, payments were in arrears for two councilmen up for reelection, then jumped immediately to the con- clusion that there was obviously some sort of back room deal going on and these guys got caught. You say, “That’s it, what other explanation could there be, right?” Try this. Both councilmen were on the record as being unhappy with the conduct of a top city employee. Both had suggested the city might replace this employee. The e-mail came from a city computer, access to which was limited to this employee and one other — or to any city employee, depending upon which day we asked who had access. You say, “Seems blatantly obvi- ous that this employee was attempt- ing to sabotage the campaigns of the two councilmen in order to save his skin. Right?” See how easy that is? I don’t believe that to be the case, nor to I believe the two councilmen were involved in any shady dealings. Even if I did, I don’t have any evi- dence to prove either scenario. But these examples illustrate how easily one can fabricate accusations based on nothing more than speculation. In our newsroom, we don’t do this. We report the facts, all the facts from all parties involved, and let you make up your own mind. Sometimes this takes us a little longer to get a story, but we think it’s worth it and, if you read the Daily News on a regu- lar basis, so do you. Chip Thompson can be reached at 527-2151, Ext. 112, or by e-mail at editor@redbluffdailynews.com. Salvation Army at work Editor: Blue Shield in Redding brought over a big dona- tion of food recently and so did the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Community Baptist Christ is doing a food drive and so is the First Baptist Church. Our volunteers are sort- ing the food in category food groups and getting the bags ready for distribution to local families and indi- viduals. Many individuals and families have brought food in. They have told us, “we will be back with more in a few weeks.” This great outpouring of community generosity has supplied us with enough food that we have not had to turn anyone away. Starting on Nov. 15 we will need Thanksgiving items, including turkeys, hams, stuffing and cranber- ry sauce. Thank you for your sup- port. 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. Closing the books at the bookstore Commentary It is hard to see the forest for the trees when something as important as the Giants winning the World Series comes along...but the forest of closure and foreclosure is there to temper our elation. L. Eisner is closing her lovely Facts and Fiction Bookstore after a 28 year run. I know nothing is forever, but this is distressing. She says she is just running out of gas and wants time to smell the roses. On the other hand, she says the book business is changing so rapidly that we may be reading everything via some other venue than books in the near future. Why pack around a bundle of books when you can have multiple volumes at your fin- gertips in your computer or your Kindle. The times are a changing, but we are sad to see her fold her book. A town without a book- store is one without a literary heart. Let us pray that the County Library remains open for our perusing pleasure. Whereas the bookstore closing is volun- tary, and the owner will happily retire, the sale of a fourplex we negotiated several years ago to a broker friend, is in jeopardy as a Notice of Foreclosure in the DN so indicates. We both thought it was a good buy at the time, but the real estate bubble burst soon after the sale...and no one could have foretold the depth of the current decline. However, some of the World Series win- ning Giants players will be getting boosts in salary...and maybe they would be interested in some property in Red Bluff to shelter their richly deserved gains. Yes, and maybe pigs will fly. Speaking of baseball, Murray Clyde excused himself from his nap in front of the fireplace Monday night, and retired to his dogaloo on the front porch when the missus began whooping and hollering as the Giants surged ahead in Game 5 of the Series. Little Bert briefly lifted his head from his sheepskin pillow and then fell back to sleep with a plea for quiet...but none was to be had in this household of baseball filberts. * * * After considerable correspondence, read- ing and TV viewing I am persuaded by those who purport to understand how our country regressed into economic decline (the liberals avow the current national debt began with President Rea- gan)...and what solutions are necessary to get it back on its feet. I find it all comes down to the most recent economist one encounters. One says now is not the time to cut back on government spending to reduce the national debt. Another says taxes need to be raised if we are ever to dig out of our hole... and Robert Reich, on PBS, states that we need, for eco- nomic recovery, to reduce unemployment and get people back to work. However, they won’t be going back to their old jobs. Those days are mostly gone forever. He says the new jobs will be in technology...and health care and other service providers. Apparently Kathy Schmitz and our local Robert Minch I Say the following uses of the cowboy bandana: As a towel, blindfold a horse, to protect neck or face from the elements and from hot branding irons, as a sieve for muddy water or coffee, to tie down his hat in severe weather, as a tourni- quet or to tie a splint in place, as a warning flag. L. Brown, in a jocular mood suggested it could be used for a bank or stage coach robbery and to gag a bank employee. N. Rick sug- gested for use in a bodily function...but did not go there. This week, give full name of Giant’s catcher Buster Posey, what Giants, on the roster at the start of the season, actually played in the World Series final, and who was named the most valuable Giants player in the series? * * * Job Training Center are hip to this trend and offer just such help and instruction to get along in this brave new world. If I could have availed myself of their service when we lost the meat plant back in 1975, I might have become proficient in computer technology and made a pile of money. Then again, pigs might not have flown 35 years ago either. * * * So we have some new faces on the City Council. Bully for the newcomers! It will be a thankless job, but somebody needs to step up to the plate as the Ess Eff Giants have just so ably demonstrated. Hopefully the newly elected will review the residency problem. If one is to manage Red Bluff...it seems appro- priate that one lives in Red Bluff. * * * Last week’s quiz was ably answered by L. Brown, N. Rick and others. They found More Murphy’s Livestock Laws: 4) Tack you hate never wears out and horses you hate will outlive you, 5) If you wonder if you left the water running in the barn, you did. If you’re wondering if you latched the pasture gate, you didn’t, 6) If you approach the barn within 50 feet in your street clothes, you will get dirty, 7)Wind velocity increases in direct proportion to how well your hat fits, and8) If you fall off...you will land on your most recent injury. * * * “The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they’re O.K., then it’s you.” Rita Rudner. 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.