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Friday, June 3, 2011 – Daily News 5A 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 Repeat, but not really 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 We enjoyed the great response we received last year for our essay contest, so we're bringing it back around and this time it will be even bigger. One of the questions we had was whether to pick a dif- ferent, but still patriotic, theme for the contest, which last year asked readers to write why they were proud to be Americans. The three win- ning essays were published on the Fourth of July and the winners received gift cards for local businesses. I happen to be staying this week at the home of a good friend of my father's, a career Army man who fought in both Korea and Vietnam before retiring as a colonel. I put the question to him, what would be a good theme for a Fourth of July essay contest on Americanism. After bouncing a few ideas around, Jack came up with a winner — What makes the U.S. unique as a nation. Hav- ing lived all over Europe and Asia during his time in the service, the freedoms and rights he enjoys in the U.S. are deeply meaningful to Jack. I'm guessing, with little thought, readers will realize the same. So sharpen those pencils, fire up your typewriters and computers and put into 250 words or fewer what makes the U.S. the greatest country on Earth. A reminder of the rules. There will be two adult winners and one youth (18 and younger) winner chosen. The win- ners will be pub- lished in the Daily News with the authors' photos. Winners will each receive gift cards to a local business. Please only sub- mit original work, and the contest is open to Tehama County residents only. As a bonus this being planned. So even non-winners may garner some recognition for their efforts. Chip Thompson 545 Diamond Ave. year, we'll be able to publish several honorable mention essays in a special Fourth of July insert that's I look forward to returning home to sunny California in a few days after a week of damp Montana chill. It's been sunny, dry and warm, right? After all, it's June in Red Bluff. And I look forward to reading your essays. Chip Thompson can be reached at 527-2151, Ext. 112 or by e-mail at editor@redbluffdailynews.com 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. Way back when Commentary In these often trying times, we might benefit from a shot of opti- mism from someone who never lacked for it. My father, Dave Minch, wrote the following in his January 1958 “I Say” column “Forty years ago today, the Minch family consisting of a sick father, a mother and 6 children arrived in California with a small amount of money but with confi- dence in their ability to get along in a strange new land. Our trip out west seemed, to us, comparable to Columbus’ first trip across the Atlantic. In New Jersey we farmed for a living and had always lived with- out too much concern for the future. But out here in California, we had no relatives and no friends. As our money began to dwindle, we looked around for a place to settle down. Fate brought us to Tehama County. Red Bluff was a quiet sleepy lit- tle town when we arrived in 1918. The railroad terminal had just been moved to Gerber where a big sign proclaimed to the world that Ger- ber would have a 50,000 popula- tion within 10 years. City streets and highways were muddy in the winter and dusty in the summer as paving didn’t arrive until consider- ably later. There were still lots of horses and buggies on the streets. Mr. Landerholm was operating a successful store on Main Street where he sold whips, bridles and leather harness. The corner of Main and Oak, where the Shell Station is today, changed hands for $3,000. The few autos on the street kept two vulcanizing shops busy all the time because tires could be run only a few miles between punctures. Men who went to the barber shop in the Tremont Hotel could take a bath while waiting for a 50 ct haircut. Red Bluff was the center of a large sun dried fruit business; peaches, apricots and prunes. There were only two small banks in town. One is where Charles Dale Insurance is now located. But two banks were a plenty for the small amount of money in circula- tion. Mt. Lassen had erupted two years before our family arrived…and it was the main topic of conversation. Although miracle drugs were yet to be discovered, we learned that at Tuscan Springs, a few miles east of town, the min- eral waters there were guaranteed to cure Rheumatism, Dropsy, Neu- ralgia, Liver complaints, Dyspep- sia, ulcers, St. Vitus Dance and female disorders. Penicillin could hardly claim more. A few years after we settled down in Red Bluff, we met Walter Stoll and learned that he had done a great deal for the advancement of Red Bluff. He did most of the work in getting the airlines to stop here by developing the airport, and was also a Chamber of Commerce booster in the development of Orchard Park. But did you know that he was responsible for the first pay auto court in this area and pos- sibly in all of California? About 1919 he figured that with people traveling more and further, there should be some regular place for them to camp instead of just any- where along the road. There were a few free camps but they were not too satisfactory. With the backing of the Chamber of Commerce, he started the camp ground that is now directly across from the Bid- well School on Walnut. Our family was operating Minch’s Cash Gro- cery then, where Bayles Studio is now. Towards the end of the day we would see these tired tourists heading down dusty unpaved Wal- nut Street towards the camp ground. It took courageous men and women to travel far from home in those days. The first charge was .25 cts per car. The money collect- ed was used to build the little cab- ins that are still there. For the cab- ins, the charge was $1.00 per night. It eventual- ly paid for the building of all the cabins. Walter Stoll and A.J. Pine successfully supervised the camp for the Chamber of Com- merce until there were enough motels n the coun- try to take care of the tourists. The initiative of men like Walter Stoll made Red Bluff what it is today.” * * * We display flowers in the office. I bring roses from home every Monday and place them in vases. However, I am content to use the water in the vase from the previous week rather than starting with fresh water. The missus says this is wrong. So I pose the question to flower fanciers: Can you prove that fresh water will extend the condi- tion of same? * * * Struggling people in real estate sales will not agree that the current recession officially ended in June or 2009, but they will agree that some home values have plunged 30% over the last several years. * * * Last week’s quiz was partially answered by several readers in that they knew J.D. Salinger’s initials stood for Jerome David, that Hem- ingway’s middle name was Miller and Auden’s full name was Wystan Hugh Auden. But only K. Dillon, and later L. Brown ferreted out that my middle name is Dallas. I was Robert Minch I Say fright. From our bed, we wonder why She barks and barks at the moonless sky mand stand. I call out then my strict com- But she does not seem to under- When morning comes and her mouth is shut It is much too late to paddle her butt. Yet next day’s headline in the Daily News Reads, “Dangerous Prisoners Still On The Loose”. Then I forgive her, for what she did, kid!” And say, “Just keep on barking, R. Minch.....Poet “Lariat” 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. named after an uncle who died young, and not the Dallas Cow- boys who die regularly. This week’s quiz: What was Walter Stoll’s brother’s name, the first name of the propri- etor of Horn- beck’s Printing, and who oper- ated Floyd’s Fountain at 315 Walnut next to the Cone & Kimball Build- ing? * * * Our little red dog, in the mid- dle of the night, Barks from fear...or barks from