Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/25931
6A – Daily News – Saturday, February 26, 2011 Opinion 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 Concerned Editor: I am concerned for our com- 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 munity. I have lived in Red Bluff most of my life. I grew up here, attended school and church here. I am a parent, homemaker and business owner. Today when I drove down the main street of my beloved town, I saw literally dozens of street people canvassing our streets. Recently I was told that our city receives money to allow the release of convicts in our town. Is this really true? Is this well known or is it a tightly kept secret? Additionally, these parolees are put up in a Main Street hotel for a week, and when that week runs out guess what? They are roaming our streets. Hmmmm. Doesn’t sound like something I would sign up for. For those of us who struggle to make a decent life here, to raise our kids in a safe commu- nity, and maintain a business through a tough economy, it seems to be ridiculous to inflict this kind of sell-out on us. Judging from my own expe- rience with vandalism and theft from my downtown business, and all of the ones I see in the paper, this is outrageous at best. If the powers that be can refute this rumor, I hope they can explain to me where this huge influx of persons is origi- nating. Lorna Gunsauls, Red Bluff Obstruction Editor: The front page of the Feb. 1 Daily News illustrated one large contributing factor to Califor- nia's current fiscal crisis in black, white and pink. As printed in black and white, Gov. Brown sees a need to extend several temporary fees and taxes set to expire this year in order to help balance the Cal- ifornia budget. These are noth- ing new, but things we already pay; even so, such an extension requires a special election to implement. A recent poll found that over 60 percent of Californians approve of this extension, (reported by Juliet Williams, Associated Press). Is that why both Senator Doug LaMalfa and Assembly- man Jim Nielsen seem to dis- agree — in the black and pink box — with even allowing the people of California to have their say on the matter in an election? It is sad when politicians live down to my expectations of them, which are really low, but at least these two gentlemen openly demonstrate how tude. The children respond well and each program performed is unique, fun and the music is great. The musical programs are Your Turn politicians can put obstruction- ism ahead of any actual gover- nance. Lest folks write me off as just another GD Democrat: For the record, I don’t have a lot of use for them either. I’m not in favor of killing babies or disarming the populace. Ben Bunker, Los Molinos Kudos Editor: This letter is to honor an out- standing teacher who has blessed Lassen View School with her talent for 30-plus years. That person is Music Specialist Cindy Thompson. She teaches classroom music and band at all levels with kind- ness and always a positive atti- always outstanding from song selection, motions to songs and including all the children. I cannot say enough to com- mend Cindy Thomp- son’s interest and attention to each child and the wonderful results. I’m a great grandmother who has attended many programs through the years and have left happy and blessed after each performance. Alcy Thorne, Los Molinos Law enforcement Editor: I would like to compliment our law enforcement, Tehama County Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol and the many parole agents in our county. I think they do a terrific job of protecting all of us and they serve us well. I am very proud of each and every one of them. Alice Ramsell, Gerber Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, 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. Kwashiorkor, right here in Redding Commentary “Kwashiorkor, now there is a word you haven’t heard very often, and certainly not in connec- tion to the North State until recent- ly,” said Sam as we sat down for our coffee together. I asked him if it was the name of an NBA basketball star. “No,” he exclaimed almost incredulously, “it is a near epidem- ic for senior citizens on Medicare in Redding. There is almost a one in six chance you have the disease if you visit a certain hospital previ- ously notorious for the significant number of bypass surgeries a few years back. You remember the standing joke among medical pro- fessionals was that if you tripped over the sidewalk in front of that hospital you might wake up in the recovery room after bypass surgery.” I explained my news about medical issues normally comes from my frequent doctor visits, and I had not the foggiest what he was talking about. “Do you remember the pictures of those Biafran children with the distended stomachs, spider thin limbs, and resignation on their faces?” “Of course I do.” “Well the clever staff at that hospital in Redding has been able to identify the same condition among over 16.1 percent of patients over 65 and on Medicare. For whatever reason the other major hospital has only detected the same condition at less than one-hundredth the rate.” Sam explained the disease is a severe form of malnutrition often associ- ated with early withdrawal from breast feeding; he couldn’t explain how the effects of that early with- drawal might show up over sixty years later. “Are you saying that there is a significant malnutrition problem in the Redding area? Are there a significant number of seniors from Biafra?” “I hadn’t thought of that, or maybe people with the problem are more drawn to one hospital over the other. Who knows? I am sure there is more to this than meets the eye. The same company that manages that hospital in Red- ding also manages one in a wealthy area of Southern Califor- nia where the staff has discovered another outbreak of Kwashiorkor,” he said. "Just think, if one out of six seniors who are on Medicare have this problem, there must be untold numbers of younger people who are harboring this illness as well; there could be an epidemic. We should thank that hospital for bringing this to light." “Maybe the malnutrition is from the water or other environ- mental factors. If so, perhaps we can sell some of those empty houses in Tehama County to disaf- fected Shasta County residents.” "Do you mean we should turn the tragedy in Redding into local profit?" "Is there anything unethical about that?" We paused for awhile, sipping our coffee, and then I said, “Speaking of nutrition what do you think of the study that indi- cates frequent intake of diet drinks places one at a 61 percent greater risk of stroke or a vascular event?” “I noticed the beverage indus- try trotted out their resident scien- tist to criticize the study because it did not control for a variety of variables. Those who had conduct- ed the study had already admitted as much; they admitted they do not know what might be the cause of the seeming relationship. I am sure that critique is technically correct, but I am also sure there will be more investigations. Diet drinks are not health food or an excuse for dietary lapses.” “I wonder if I suffer from malnutrition.” “Not malnutrition, over-nutrition, according to your scale.” “That was uncalled for.” We were both silent for a short time, and then, after feigning a pout, Sam opined that the Red Bluff City Council had finally run out of excuses for locat- ing a permanent homeless shelter in the City. “Everyone is guilty of the NIMBY syndrome at one time or another, but the Council took a courageous step.” “What is NIMBY?” “Not in my back yard. The vote was three to two, so there was not unanimous support for the zoning change. I hope the community will be supportive of the efforts that PATH has made to provide shel- ter.” "Well, we describe ourselves as a Christian community; this could be considered part of preaching good news to the poor. At least eight churches are already provid- ing a rotating shelter, and if the community sees PATH's efforts as a mission, it should work out well." We began to wonder about the source of the large mercury spill in the North County last month. Joe Harrop “My father used to bring mer- cury home for my brother and me to play with whenever a ther- mometer broke at his factory. We would roll it around the floor and make it do all sorts of interesting things. I never started eating it until I learned to like fish, however.” “How dangerous is mercury?” “It’s another one of those things we were not aware of until peo- ple began to connect the dots to track down its impacts. Some say we have overreacted to exposure, but they used to say the same thing about exposure to lead, and we are still paying the price for that.” “I don’t understand why those law firms that advertize for clients seeking compensation for every- thing from asbestos exposure to poor hip replacements don’t jump on the mercury bandwagon, par- ticularly with all the concern about mercury in the compact fluores- cent bulbs we will all be using soon.” “Don’t say that too loud.” “It is funny how suing is so popular; of course there may be an issue of too many lawyers with too much time on their hands. Perhaps they are suffering from a legal syn- drome similar to Kwashiorkor.” Sam and I chuckled. 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.