Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/33679
4A Daily News – Thursday, June 9, 2011 Opinion Tehama Wild Care 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 Editor: I wanted to provide further information in regards to Moni- ca Ernst's letter to the editor May 26 about an injured duck. Feral domestic and hybrid ducks and geese have a hard life in Red Bluff Park, across the river off Gilmore Road, and nearby. 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 Leash laws are not enforced and dogs attack, mutilate and cripple these waterbirds, as do some children not under the watchful eye of parents. I am often called to help these birds, but wildlife rehabilitators work- ing under a California Fish & Game permit, have been asked by the Department to avoid car- ing for these birds. The presence of these non- migratory, sometimes flightless waterbirds causes overcrowd- ing, risks the spread of disease (Botulism, Avian Cholera, New- castle’s Disease, etc.) and reduces the already stressed habitat available to native wildlife. People should be advised to take care of them themselves or take them to a veterinarian to be euthanized. The city of Red Bluff doesn't seem to have a policy on these birds. Perhaps they could put up a sign that says not to release domestic waterbirds near water- ways, not to feed the birds, patrol the park for dogs and rock-throwers and contract a vet to euthanize injured birds. They have poor immunity due to the white bread diet and have no defense against dogs and rock throwers. Other non-natives that we are not supposed to treat, and may adversely affect native wildlife, include starlings, house spar- rows, rock pigeons, eurasian- collared doves, ring-tailed pheasants, opossums, feral pigs, red-eared slider turtles and bull- frogs. Sliders bought as pets should never be released in the wild. They must be maintained in a private pond since they are threatening our native pond tur- tles. For information about wildlife rehabilitation, call Tehama Wild Care at 347-1687. Karen Scheuermann, Cottonwood 99E work Editor: I have to say I wish the com- pany redoing every bridge on 99E would return and finish the job sometime before next win- ter. It has now been nearly 2 months and the yard where they store their equipment looks deserted. I just bought a motorcycle to save gas but am afraid to ride it as I must cross 6 of these bridges each way to work and they develop some very bad pot- holes. Anyway my car now needs at least an alignment and a trip to the emergency room because of a bike wreck is not financially realistic. when? Are they coming back and John Hacker, Red Bluff Where a young life might begin Editor: Who, what, when, where and how does a young life begin? These are only a few of the questions the Board of Supervi- sors also needs to consider when voting on the issue of medical marijuana. So many people complain about not being able to medicate with marijuana. What many of them don't realize, and many more do but won't admit, is the harmful side effects of second- hand tobacco and marijuana smoke on those around them, mostly children. Yes, second-hand having the stamina, endurance and courage to do what is cor- rect - not just politically cor- rect. smoke from marijuana and tobacco are very deadly substances, especially in the life of a young body and brain. Who does it affect? Mostly the youth in their lives, their very own kids. How does it affect them? Everyone really does know the correct answers to these questions — asthma, emphysema, certain allergies, etc. — but won't admit to or deal with them. Where does this begin? Today, it begins in the home then spreads quickly to the schools and work and every- where else near the rest of us. Does anyone really want their children to grow up in an envi- ronment where too many citi- zens voted for this idea that a lit- tle bud is going to make them feel better? Being a hero takes real courage, character and integrity, not just going with the flow. All the propositions and bat- tles leading up to this is show- ing our youth something; that they don't have to pursue their dreams in life because those dreams aren't clear anymore. They're full of second-hand smoke and no motivation to excel in school, work and play. As role models we need to be showing them that being high on life naturally is going to give them clearer dreams by Your Turn It's also showing that some of the opinions expressed by columnists and others that since it was already voted on at the state level the issue is dead. Those who advocate for marijua- na do not see the big- ger picture. The issue isn't dead, legally or otherwise, because it's still an issue being discussed at the local level. By local I mean community. A drug free com- munity. Several youth organizations try to help them struggle through the mixed messages the youth see and hear all the time, every minute of every day. It's almost like psychological war- fare or brainwashing. We can name a few youth organizations here - Young Marines, PAL, Mentoring Pro- gram, Prevention Project, Fri- day Night Live/Club Live, Scouts, Venturing Crew, 4H and FFA, our schools and several more. The Daily News ran an arti- cle in December about Tehama County having the highest rate of tobacco use in the State of California. The Board of Supervisors needs to take a stance, even against what was previously voted on state-wide, to not allow marijuana to be dispensed in the county. Let's have some courage and stand alone in the state against this. Let's put Tehama County on the map once again for doing something that’s right by think- ing about the future of our youth. Apparently, the rest of the state isn’t. John Minton, Red Bluff 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. Was Weiner living above the bill he cosponsored? Commentary A recent Newsweek/Daily Beast survey found that the majority of Americans are grow- ing increasingly angry with the circus act taking place in Wash- ington. And how could they not be? The latest reports tell us anger grows as unemployment and inflation expand, the Gross National Product sputters, man- ufacturing slows and the hous- ing market weakens. As if the country's economic woes were not enough to keep American lawmakers busy, Rep- resentative Anthony Weiner, D- NY, reminds us this week that sometimes politicians have the unique ability to find time for "other" activities. Weiner's lurid behavior is not unique, however, to his party. Republicans have had their fair share of moral pit- falls, but there tends to be a dif- ference in how the two parties normally respond when their members stray from the straight and narrow. A few months ago, Represen- tative Chris Lee, R-NY, had the decency to resign from the U.S. House of Representatives, after information surfaced that Lee had emailed a bare-chested pho- tograph of himself to a woman he’d met online, which is much less than what Representative Weiner has already admitted to. Lee’s indiscretion was dwarfed on June 6 by the indis- cretions of the Democrats’ most outspoken point man, Represen- tative Anthony Weiner, D-NY, who fessed up after he was caught with his pants down (lit- erally). After lying about his online "sexcapades" because he was "embarrassed," and describing his crotch picture as a "joke," Weiner claimed he did not vio- late any law or his oath of office, and passed off the three or so years of inappropriate behavior as "just me doing a very dumb thing." Further highlighting a lack of integrity, Weiner claimed to take "full responsibility" for his behavior, but refused to resign. Maybe he could pursue a career using his newfound skills in photography. While all humans are prone to wander and have the propen- sity to do "dumb things," is it asking too much to expect a bit of dignity and statesmanship from those elected to lead? Do we want to trust national security secrets with those who expose, not only their privates, but also themselves to poten- tial extortion - when they choose to barrage pictures of their "junk" across the cyber world? Most ironically, in 2007, Rep. Weiner cosponsored a bill that made it through the House of Representa- tives called the KIDS Act of 2007 (Keeping the Inter- net Devoid of Sexual Predators) - a bill intended to protect chil- dren from online sexual preda- tors. Speaking about the bill, Weiner said, "Sadly, the Internet is the predator’s venue of choice today. We need to update our strategies and our laws to stop these offenders who are a mere click away from our children." The next logical question is: Was Weiner party to the said predatory behavior aforemen- tioned in his own bill? Where’s the sound judgment one would expect from a grown adult, less the cospon- sor of an online sexual predator bill? Susan Brown If Pelosi, who once promised to "drain the swamp" of morally- challenged lawmakers, decides to slap Wiener’s hands in order to retain a seat, the electorate will once again lose and be forced to wonder who will protect us from the lawmakers as those very same lawmakers ignore our interests and seeming- ly live above the law. Susan Stamper Brown. Susan’s weekly column is nationally syndicated exclusively by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate. Email Susan at writestamper@gmail.com.