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4A Daily News – Friday, July 1, 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 Be safe Editor: 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 Thanks to the generous dona- tions and efforts of community members, residents of Tehama County have been privileged to attend an exciting and spectacular 4th of July fireworks show at the Tehama District Fairground for the past two years. This year’s show is expected to be just as impressive. The event has attracted numerous attendees, which is an example of the dis- play’s quality and success. However, such success brings congestion and traffic related con- cerns. The Red Bluff Police Department stations personnel on Antelope Boulevard at the front gates of the fairgrounds to ensure vehicles can enter and exit the fair- grounds as quickly and safely as possible. The police personnel are also there to ensure the safety of the many pedestrians who walk across Antelope Boulevard to enter or leave the fairgrounds’ gates. Expe- rience has shown us that this event attracts many vehicles, both inside and outside the fairgrounds facility. Therefore, traffic congestion occurs before the show, but is most significant at the conclusion of the event. With this in mind, the 4th of July committee and Red Bluff Police Department would like to remind drivers to drive cautiously and to be on the lookout for pedes- trians. With everyone’s patience and cooperation we can assure this community event to be fun and safe for everyone continuing for years to come. Lt. Kyle Sanders, Red Bluff Funnel fury Editor: I just thought the great people of Northern California should hear about this one. I took my family to the craw- dad festival on Saturday. We all enjoyed the music and food and, of course, the rides. While waiting in line at the funnel cake trailer we were dis- cussing what toppings we would like to have on our funnel cakes. While talking it over, the funnel cake guy apparently was ready to wait on us, but there was some- one in front of us, so we didn’t know it. So he said “can I help you?” Thinking he was talking to the person in front of us we contin- ued our conversation. He then yelled at us, still asking “can I help you?” I told him we didn’t know he was ready to wait on us, and then told him we would like to order a funnel cake as soon as he calmed down and spoke civilly to us. He got angry with me and refused to serve my family. My 6-year-old was wondering why the guy was yelling at us. So my family has decided to boycott any event that lets this business into their events as well as all of my extended family will be doing the same thing. I know it won’t be much if only we are doing this, but still to me when this guy treats people like this and my family boycotts the events, it will be a victory of my own. Mark Jones, Red Bluff Proud Editor: We wanted to let you know Your Turn how proud we are of some special young men who are graduating this year from Red Bluff High School; Chad Harms, Mike Ryant and Tyler Ruben. Under the auspices of the “Seniors Make A Difference” program in conjunc- tion with CDF, they have committed to helping elderly people with their yard cleanup for the coming CDF fire inspections. Early Monday morning they arrived at our home in Rancho Tehama along with their supervisor, Dan Ryant, and spent the day trimming trees, weed-eating, mowing and hauling branches away and in general cleaned up our entire yard. We most definite- ly will pass the CDF inspec- tion this year! Saying thank you hardly seems like enough repayment for all their hard work but that is all they would accept so we would like to add a spe- cial “well-done!” Leland Rice, Corning 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. Ariff for the homeless Commentary A recent e mail, and then a face to face discussion of the “homeless issue” with a concerned lady , has given me pause for thought...but not a great deal of thought. After all, homeless people do not impact on my way of life. I live out in the country and am therefore insulated from the riff raff who apparently cause unrest in otherwise compas- sionate town folk. Can we still refer to the homeless as “riff raff”? There are apparently no Politically Correct advocates hovering in their behalf. The dictionary definition of the riff raff is “People regarded as worthless or disreputable”. That pretty much describes the public concept of them, does it not? They can be lumped together as dirty and unkempt drug users too lazy to work. However, if there is such a thing as the Christian ethic, it is “Therefore, but for the grace of God, go I”...and, you are right, I am in no position to espouse such a dictum. I weigh in on this subject because there is now a paid notice in the DN titled “DID YOU KNOW?” and asks if readers have “heard of the attempt to rezone 320 Breckenridge to provide an overnight Homeless shelter?” The notice states that it will not be a 24/7 shelter...that the homeless will have to leave after breakfast and be free to occupy the parks during the day. It concludes with the admoni- tion “If you are opposed to this location, it is crucial that you attend ...etc.” I might add that if you are not opposed to this location (it is, by the way, the former site of the old Manahan’s Auto Court, which is down in a hole, out of sight and out of mind) and believe the home- less should be provided shelter at night which might offer them more peace of mind than say, sleeping under a bridge, you might show up and give an often waffling City Council a thumbs up for finally finding an acceptable location. It has been a long time coming. Your presence may be more effective than drive by prayer. However, I won’t be there. This location is not in my backyard...and my personal lobbying for a permanent site will probably not influence the Coun- cil. I am usually not on their Xmas card list. * * * Nice writing department: When trying to evaluate and align with Republican presidential candidates in the months to come, there is help in the writings of Joe Klein in TIME, in which he suggests one ignore the celebrity/reality-TV talk show wing of the party...candidates more interested in promoting themselves or their books than run- ning for President. He wrote, “The Donald Trump moment, during which the sleazeball casino and construction Barnum rose to sec- ond in the horse race polls by cyn- ically questioning Obama’s nativi- ty, but then fled the field before anyone could investigate his own bon fides”. * * * After writing last week of the old Floyd’s Fountain, Marylou Adams reminded me that in those days, 1940’s, Milkshakes were .15cts, coffee or coke .05cts and a banana split .20cts. Those were indeed the days. * * * * From the DN Police Logs: “A 62 year old man reported the theft of a camouflaged disc golf bag from his pickup truck”. In my opinion, the 62 year old should sue the golf bag manufacturer. If the bag was properly camouflaged, it is unlikely it would be seen, let alone stolen. ** * I received a provocative e mail which read, in part, “This is hard for me, but I have a huge crush on you! I’ve never been able to tell you before. To help with your guessing who I am, I’ve made a few photos which are kind of risqué I made at a dating site. Go to the site and you will find me. My username is ‘Loverandme2011’. I am shy so click here and signup so we can talk soon.” However, my hopes were dashed when she con- cluded with “You are honestly one of the best things about....Red- ding!” heart. Tsk, tsk. Wrong venue., sweet- * * * And God created woman. And she was good. She had two arms, two legs and three breasts. And god asked woman what she would like changed about herself and she replied she would like to have her middle breast be removed. And it was good. She stood with her third breast in her hand and asked God what she should be done with her useless boob. And God created man. * * * No one responded to last week’s quiz! Not a soul. Maybe readers were on vacation. School is out. No time for frivolous game pursuit. Anyhow, here are the Robert Minch I Say answers to the questions: Com- plete the following saying: “If B.S. were music, Donald Trump would be? A brass band”. Identify these Professors: Higgins, from Shaw’s play “Pyg- malion”, Marvel was the itinerant salesman and later the “Wizard of Oz”, and Pierre Aron- nax is the narrator of Jules Verne’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”. This week’s quiz: What is the nearest star (except for the sun) to earth, what did a popu- lar female singer Ms. Van Kappel- hof change her name to, and what famous magician was born Ehrich Weiss? * * * A lawyer is painting his house and a hobo comes along and asks if he can do something to earn a few dollars. The lawyer says,” Sure, take this can of paint and go around to the back of the house and paint my porch.” The hobo does so and comes back 15 minutes later and says he is finished. The lawyer says, “Already?” The hobo says, “Yeah, but it ain’t a Porsche, it’s a Mercedes.” 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.