Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/219675
4A Daily News – Saturday, November 30, 2013 Opinion Chinese tunnels 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. Editor: Regarding the local filibuster surrounding the so-called Chinese tunnels, I have these thoughts. Went to school with Carey and Cyrus Yuen, same grade. Their father was the last Chinese apothecary. They had one of the tunnels in their basement. We used to play in them. Before the Diversion Dam was built one of the openings was along the now non-existent waterfront. In high school a bulldozer fell through the ground while building the Rey Del Plaza. It fell into one of the abandoned tunnels. In the basement at Sprouse Ritz in the south west corner was another entrance with a metal grate, unlocked most of the time. The reason they were abandoned was because when they filled the Diversion Dam in 1966 they flooded. Carey's family history was these tunnels were built because the Chinese were not allowed on the streets. Rick Lutes, Red Bluff Things I don't get Editor: Here are some more things that I just don't get. They gave the street maintenance manager a raise to $127,000 a year plus benefits? I bought my present domicile for a tenth of that. I've been back in Red Bluff for four years now and the only street work I've seen is out on South Jackson and they didn't do a very good job there. There are streets all over town, especially in the residential areas that haven't been touched since Wells Fargo drove a coach down them with a six up. Raise? Fire him and get somebody competent for half that price. When I was a young man my father who was raised in Chicago told me that soon 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. 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 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 after automobiles showed up not broken until my senior on the streets they put in traf- year by another Red Bluff fic lights. He said you could student. I forgot his name but drive at the legal speed limit you can look it up. Carl was unmasked by of 15 miles an hour and travel from Lake Michigan west- Miss Brooks at her retirement ward out of town and not get assembly. During WWI, the big war, for disciplistopped by a light nary action the girls once. Same thing Your made bandages for going north and the troops. Miss south. You're lucky if Brooks was teaching you can catch one English at RB high green light in Red in those years. The Bluff. I read your "Hall of Fame" boys, for punishment were story. Only guy I recognized assigned to dig on the swimthere was coach Sale who was ming pool. Miss Brooks statthe JV coach when I went to ed that Carl is nearly solely Red Bluff High. When base- responsible for the high ball formed it's Hall of Fame school swimming pool. After they went back to get some he managed to graduate, he initial inductees. Remember went to Cal Berkeley and Ruth and Cobb and ... Red when he graduated there he Bluff has had some outstand- came back to Red Bluff high ing athletes in its past. They and taught music until some named the tennis courts for years after his sprint record one of them. Yeah, Carl the was broken One student of his, Norman music teacher. He held the state of California 100-meter Davis, went on to play cello high hurdles record for 40, with the Julliard Quartet. Fred Boest, Red Bluff count 'em, 40 years. Record Turn Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Dan Logue, 150 Amber Grove Drive, Ste. 154, 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. Commentary Remembering to be thankful This week we celebrated Thanksgiving in Pennsylvania with our younger son and his family. Most likely we will be in flight somewhere over the Midwest en route to Red Bluff when this is delivered to your doorstep. While we were with our family we discussed the many things we can be thankful for, and those that we forget to be thankful for. This "we forgot about" list is really pretty long. For the Pilgrims who celebrated the first Thanksgiving, there was not much of a "we forgot about" list; they were in dire straits and just managing to get by. Meanwhile, those of us who have reasonable health and security seem to find lots to complain about in spite of our many blessings. When people ask me how I am doing, I often reply, "better than I deserve." I really believe that, and most days I find many things to be thankful for. Besides living in a nice community, there are the many people, heroes of a sort, who make the community a better place. Many of them labor in the background, not gathering the accolades due them. Here is a partial list of those individuals for whom I am thankful. When I think of those we can be thankful for the first person on my list is usually Allene Dering who has answered the call to aid the poor and the homeless. In spite of the numerous excuses piled on by our City Council to deny a homeless shelter, she has persevered, expanding the aid to those she serves over the years. Our community is truly a better place because of her call and her efforts and the efforts of the many volunteers who cook for, staff, and serve those who use the seasonal shelter. Dave Lamberson, Scott Camp, and EC Ross provide leadership for their efforts. I am thankful for the Community Action Agency and its efforts to support and strengthen the many non profits in our community. Their Dorothy Lindauer Capacity Building Academy has helped revitalize many worthwhile organizations and has created a new network of those who work together to better our community. Another person on my list to be thankful for is Orle Jackson. Orle has been instrumental in founding Tehama Together and the Tehama County Non Profit Roundtable. These organizations have also made a positive difference in our community. Gail Locke has been a reliable and effective mover and organizer for many behind the scenes activities in our community. The Community Concert Association has procured good, reasonably priced musical performers that we might otherwise not see in our town. They deserved a hand of thanks, particularly under the leadership of Marvin Locke. I am thankful for Clay Parker, who after losing a re-election contest did not shrink away, but continued to be an important positive part of our community by serving on the City Council and working with the police department. When it comes to hard work and reliability Joan Allen fills the bill, she is not only competent, but always has a smile, even under challenging circumstances. You can see her blowing leaves before church on Sundays or hosting events at the State Theatre, among Drake, the special education teacher who is able to take other things. Bill Cornelius and the many young people with severe disabilities and provide other volunteers who a safe and meaningare working hard to ful learning environrestore the State Thement for them, proatre and make it an ducing what many of attractive gem in us would call "miradowntown Red Bluff cles". deserve a round of We went to the applause as well. Sacramento Airport Mary and Ted in Jean Hansen's Stevens have big Ride On cab; Jean hearts, and they have provides transportavolunteered their patio tion for those of us boat for a day on the Joe over 55 at reasonable lake to help raise cost and at a great funds for worthwhile investment of her organizations; they time. Our whole also provide transcommunity is lucky portation for foster children who need medical to have such a service. I am thankful for the fact care. One day Ted drove to Yreka to pick up a youth, took that we are a relatively small him to Chico to a medical spe- community where we interact cialist, took him back to his with people in a variety of foster home, and then returned roles, neighbors, friends, workmates, club members, to Red Bluff! I am thankful for the hard congregational members, etc. work of Judy Spencer who has Knowing so many and relating been able to make a positive with them in different roles influence of many young peo- helps us treat them as worthy ple who might otherwise not people, not just some stranger meet their potential; she dedi- or mere acquaintance. Some cates more than her "paid" have said familiarity breeds time to make a difference in contempt, but I believe it nourthese young people's lives. She ishes empathy and care. There are plenty of people and her husband, Rick, are a real resource in our communi- working to make our community a better place. The Brandty. I am thankful for the Family ing effort, the service clubs, Counseling Center which pro- and many more go on that list. vides reduced price counseling Time and space do not allow services to the underserved in me the luxury of a longer list, our community; thanks to the and I apologize to those I have hard work of the Hope Chest not listed. I hope you had a Happy and the generosity of our community, the FCC has been able Thanksgiving. to come back from almost Joe Harrop is a retired closing four years ago to serve even more individuals. It will educator with more than 30 set an all time record for years of service to the North State. He can be reached at clients served this year. I am thankful for Sherry DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net. Harrop