Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/36626
4A Daily News – Friday, July 15, 2011 Opinion Letter getter 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 Due to some family business, I’ve spent much of the last two months driving between Red Bluff and northwest Montana and dur- ing a recent pass through southeast Washington I stopped at a gas sta- tion to refuel and use the restroom. As I walked past the counter a 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 man was trying to sign his credit card slip – one of those cash regis- ter tapes made of slick, thin paper that doesn’t play well with ball- point pens. "Now why do they make these receipts out of paper that you can’t write on?," the frustrated customer said to the cashier. Her response? "Write a letter to the editor." At first I chuckled this off as yet another example of the many times each week I get a letter or call from somebody in the com- munity wanting the Daily News to somehow fix a problem the person has had no success tackling through the proper channels. As though I or anyone in the news- room has some magical power to produce results when all else fails. After all, I’m not in the cash register tape business. Wouldn’t this man have been better served if he was told "Write a letter to the Jinan Fuzhi Paper Co., Ltd. or Jiaxing Sun Paper Business Co., Ltd." Both are manufacturers of cash register tape. I mentioned this overheard conversation to a friend during Wednesday night’s farmers market downtown and his response clari- fied things a bit. "You are the uni- versal public complaint depart- ment," or something to that effect. He’s right, of course. When I want to gripe about something that impacts the greater public, do I call a television or radio station? Prob- ably not. But writing a letter to the editor makes perfect sense. It will be read by far more people than happen to see or hear my griev- ance on the airwaves, satellite or cable at a given time, and it will be there for all to see in perpetuity. On the other hand, sometimes we are able to fix problems that proper channels might not be will- ing or able to address. A good example is an overcrowded class- room a reporter wrote about at my last paper. A parent called to complain that the class was bulging at the seams and something needed to be done. Several parents has said something to the school, to no avail. But as soon as the story hit the paper, the school snapped into action and a second teacher was hired to split the class. There are times when we won’t get involved — usually in family disputes and criminal cases. Some- body will call or visit the office claiming a grave injustice that no local or state agency will act upon. The sto- ries often involve a dis- pute with a family member, employer, business owner or public official, and never include the perspective of the other party. Yes, we could look into the sit- you’re calling them a liar, though. It’s like having a bruiser accuse you of staring at his girl. You deny it and he wants to pop you for thinking she’s not worth staring at. Chip Thompson 545 Diamond Ave. As for the cash regis- ter tape, if there are any moves and shakers at Jinan Fuzhi or Jiaxing Sun reading this, you could make a mint by producing paper that customers can sign. *** If you haven’t noticed, I like clever headlines and have heard from quite a few of you who share that trait. Well, I missed a great uation, but what we would end up with is likely a he said she said standoff. The explanation I give is that it is often difficult to get both sides of a story. The person thinks one in Thursday’s paper when we wrote about the county’s olive crop being declared a disaster. A day late, but here goes: Kalamata calamity 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. A sheltered life is not forthcoming Commentary Last week’s effort contained 5 Haikus by E.A. Pugh. To construct this Japanese art form, a budding poet is required to use only 5 sylla- bles in the first line, 7 in the second and the 5 syllables in the third and final line. Readers are invited to construct their own haikus...but only regarding the City Council’s decision to render the homeless siteless, to coin a phrase. Here is an example: “Spineless council punts Demonstrated lack of heart No bridge sleep for them” If we can keep them coming until the next Council election, perhaps Forest Flynn will have considered retirement. He , Brown and Schmid have become, in the mind’s of many, instant pariahs. * * * I thought actor Tom Hanks was born, or at least reared, in Corning...but his bios say Thomas Jeffrey Hanks was born in Concord, California, on 9 July 1956. Whatever, he is a son to make a Red Bluff mother very proud. * * * In last week’s Passing Parade, I wrote of Mary Houghtby regarding the restaurant at the old 4 Mile House. D. Van Vegel corrected me...her name was Maggie...and the owner of the 4 Mile House was Tom Brooks. But what I didn’t know until looking in a 1956 phone directory, was that it was called “4 Mile Ranch”! Why was that? The only heifers I ever saw thereabouts were hoofing it on the dance floor.(A comprehensive report on the Four Mile House can be found in the 2005 edition of the Tehama County Memories. A very interesting tale going back to 1844) * * * We were much discomforted while watching a crucial exchange between the S.F. Giants and the San Diego Padres on television. A com- mercial appeared on the screen while the game was in progress! There were two outs and we were glued to the set to see if our pitcher could get out of a bases- loaded inning...when the screen switched to a guy selling automobiles. This happened twice in the same game...with- out warning. As we saw nothing about this incursion in the papers next day, we must assume it was just a glitch in the scheduling...but if it happens again, we will....well, we shall consult our attorney or something. Such action will not be tolerated! Who does Comcast think they are by taking such arbitrary action, the Red Bluff City Coun- cil? * * * Our County Board of Supervisors have shelved once again plans for the sale of marijuana by medical pre- scription despite Washing- ton’s Global Commission on Drug Policy assessment that the war on drugs has failed and cannot be won. So if the issue is too great for our local politicians, then it is up to President Obama to stiffen his spine and enact a bill for the legalization of the sale of the weed. Prices would plummet, overcrowding of jails would be a thing of the past...and say. This week’s quiz: Name four females with the name of “Daisy” in popular comic strips, and what kind of rifle also sported that name? * * * Robert Minch I Say with a healthy tax on such sales, our State and others would be in the black once again. But there is that moral imperative lurking above common sense. Somehow it is not right in the view of many, for people, of any age, to get high on drugs. O.K. on booze, but not on pot. A strange and costly distinction. * * * J. Angelo forwarded a 1910 Tehama County Phone Directory he found on the internet. I did- n’t know they had phones in those days! There- in I found the Aldrich Elite Studios at 806 Main, J.W. Burgess proprietor of the Tremont Hotel, John Brady at the Empire Livery Stables, W.B. Cahoone listed as cashier of the Bank of Tehama 801 Main and Wells Fargo Stage agent, Daniel Bayles listed as a farmer, a phone num- ber for the Bend Ferry, H.C. Brooks Druggist at 728 Main...and Dr. Bo Do Hong doing business on the famous High Street. What an era that must have been. * * * Last week’s quiz was answered promptly by the aforementioned J. Angelo who knew that Lt. Colombo in the TV series had no first name...and that today’s teenagers partake of var- ious stimulants in the following order: 75% have used alcohol, 46% cigarettes, 37% mari- juana and 15% prescription drugs. 65% of those surveyed have used all four, or so sources Bill Saporito concludes in TIME, that getting the rich to spend more will enhance the recovery from the recession. He writes, “There’s a big case to be made for conspicuous consumption in these debt reducing times. Can we make a deal bankers? The country has so little regard for you...Republican Senators excepted, that some extrava- gant spending will do little to offend anyone further. Busi- ness owners and leaders have gone out of their way not to hire anyone, a strategy that has created enor- mous profits and are going to pocket some as bonus money. Why not splurge now? Buy a new boat, a car, perhaps dinner at a nice restau- rant this weekend? The rest of the workforce could use a little tip money. And who knows? With your spare change maybe they’ll buy something.” I personally don’t know of any rich people in Red Bluff...but they must be out there. * * * Some women hold up dresses that are really ugly and they always say the same thing: “This looks much better on.” On what? On fire? Rita Rudner. A man was digging a hole in his back yard. His neighbor yelled from across the fence, “What’s the hole for?” The man shouted back, “My goldfish died and I’m burying him.” The neighbor remarked, “That’s an awfully big hole for just a goldfish.” The man shouted back, “That’s because he’s inside your cat!” 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.