Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/39330
6A Daily News – Tuesday, August 16, 2011 Opinion You're kidding 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: Today's article by our little small town local editor just about took the cake. What is the world is happening to our com- munity? It just gets weirder and weirder. No one ever seems to be in 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 touch anymore. We have colum- nist writing about their torment- ed childhoods while they remain absolutely clue less that a great many of us were hurt; we have people complaining about head- lines and Harry Potter? Please, have you seen the front page lately? Now there's something to get a little con- cerned about. Stabbings at McDonald's, car thieves, break ins, oh and by the way, our state and federal governments are destroying all of us; why is everyone so concerned about crap that doesn't matter? Do you even realize that the Department of Corrections has been federally mandated to release thousands of felons onto our streets with no jobs or homes? Where in the world are they going to go? Our family has been through incredible stuff and no one but our closest friends have stepped up to even act like it's happening. Everyone is going through diffi- cult times, why are we all so afraid to talk about the real issues? PATH is a real issue. Some- one in that population drowned this winter, does that even count for anything to anybody? Yes, the guy was doing something incredibly stupid, but not illegal. When homeless folks start breaking laws to survive, every- one screams, but given a solu- tion, they are still throwing fits. Will anyone ever be happy with the unending efforts of PATH? Just a suggestion, this winter when PATH once again has to rotate from church to church, volunteer just one night. Listen to those people who could be you, they have real stories and most are powerless over their circumstances. The high-horse mentality is becoming old. Has anyone noticed that suddenly there's a lot of vacancies in Red Bluff. The quality of life here has become hard, and according to economists, it's going to get much worse before it gets better. According to world news this morning, 1 in 3 people have been out of work for over one year. I'm not too great at math, but I do know enough to know that's a darn scary stat. We need to take care of our own or don't gripe when your crap gets stolen. Donna Long, Red Bluff Library Editor: As I understand it, the amount of money needed to keep the Los Molinos library open for the upcoming year is $11,583. Because state library funds of $21,583 were taken out of the budget, the librarian made a con- tract with the County Depart- ment of Education to bring in $10,000 to pay for library ser- vices. That leaves $11,583 to balance the budget for the Coun- ty Library for this year. Dividing $11,583 by the 450 hours of operation you get a cost for this coming year of $26 per hour to continue serving the Los Molinos community. The rent for the building is quite a good deal regardless of misinforma- tion to the contrary. When we had the library open more hours, the cost per hour was less. In addition to rent, two other costs are the incredible fees charged by PG&E, which charges our little library at a commercial rate. Plus the fees for the communication platform to serve phones, Internet, com- puters, etc., which are important to support the communication systems. These two costs run to about $8,500 and are the costs of doing business, as is the rent. The total cost to keep the library open is $14,250 per year. Now let’s look at the current service vs. the Bookmobile ser- vices that are proposed to replace the library. The LM branch is open 3 times a week for 3 hours each time, for nine hours a week. There are 5 com- munity computers available. A patron can order a book from another library — Red Bluff, Corning or the NorthNet library — and pick it up in Los Molinos. The Bookmobile would be move or sit. The Bookmobile would cost, at a minimum, $3,500 for gas and oil to make trips. Other costs at this time are unknown. The itinerary would include: Los Molinos, Vina, Gerber, Manton, Mineral and other places with no library services. Staff time driving Your Turn would be subtracted from time available to serve patrons in our libraries. It would be more a Bus mobile than a Bookmobile. Once a resource or service is available in Los Molinos for 1.75 hours twice a week for a total of 3.5 hours a week — a loss of 5.5 hours a week or a loss of 275 hours a year. The Bookmobile would have a total of one computer for com- munity use, not five. The Bookmobile would have to be handicapped accessible, which is very important. Howev- er, this takes away space for books and space for patrons to taken away, chances of getting it back are almost zero. If there is even a chance to replace it in the future, the costs will be much greater to get started. If there is any way to secure funds to keep the library open, it would be prudent to extend the time to investigate that. Not pay- ing the $3,500 gas for the Book- mobile would pay for at least two months more to keep LM open. If the rent is there for August, this would extend the rent to the end of October. In those three months, alternative sources could be looked at. Who knows what grants or what com- munity support could become available? Also, investigating ways to fund a Bookmobile in addition to keeping the Los Molinos Library would be quite a win-win for Tehama County quality of life in those unserved communities. Let’s look for the best for every- one instead of taking a very important community service away without seeking alterna- tives. Sue Gallagher, Los Molinos 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; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224- 0454. The hardest outs in life are the last three Commentary Three outs. Three measly outs. That’s all that stood between our Little League All-Stars and a date in Williamsport, Pa. Sometime shortly after 8:00 p.m. last Saturday night, the Delta breeze stopped and the air stood still. It’s as if the Ocean View little leaguers had sucked all the oxygen out of 96080. I know. I watched. I sighed. I have something to say to the entire team: You have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Your performance Saturday night was nothing short of bril- liant. It has been said that the hard- est outs in baseball are the last three. I know from experience. Folks may analyze those criti- cal two at bats in the top of the sixth inning for a long time. But, both Wesley Clawson and Lane Pritchard made good pitches that led to the winning runs. Both were curveballs down in the strike zone – two pitches, two swings, two runs, game over, just like that. Sometimes good hitters hit good pitches. It happens. That’s baseball. I also want to tell the team that if you dwell on this loss, you will miss the larger picture. You guys have touched the lives of those you don’t even know. Count me as one of those persons. Sure, I know your Moms, Dads and grandparents. Heck, Lacey Tweedt is a former student. Kim Clawson is my friend and col- league at the high school. Penny Wilson was my kids’ kindergarten teacher at Bidwell School. Just when I didn’t feel connected, I felt, well, connected. My best friend down in South- ern California summed it up really well after the game. He was finish- ing up his shift at the Chino Hills fire station when he called me. "I was more impressed with your Red Bluff kids in defeat than Ocean View’s in victory. Your town should be really proud of the way those kids played." Trust me, guys. That’s a huge compliment. I can’t wait until you are all seniors in high school sitting in my class. I will ask about the top ten moments in your life, and you will write about this experience. Together, we will remember and you will most likely under- stand then what you don’t under- stand now. Simply put: How you were truly great, both as players and young men. These are the things I will remem- ber more than the wins and losses. Another aspect of the tournament I found fas- cinating was the media coverage. I couldn’t help but think of John Fogerty’s words as I watched the guys play on ESPN last Friday afternoon. If I hadn’t seen it, I wouldn’t have believed it. "I know it’s true, oh so true, ‘cause I saw it on T.V.," It was amazing enough to have the Pat Gleason Simply Put chance to listen to the games on KBLF radio. Many of us gathered down at E’s to catch the first game against Ocean View. I had goose bumps sitting there, ears turned toward the speakers. The radio experience is cool because of its imagery. What real- ly grabbed my attention during the first game was how the announcer described the "standing room only crowd of close to 10,000 people. "And we can see the lights sure. I wrote in this column once that it would be wise if our community market our best resource – our kids. Pat Gleason grew up in Los Angeles and has taught English at Red Bluff High School since 1990. He can be reached at phgleaso@rbuhsd.k12.ca.us. Is anyone listening? Have a great day. ——— from cars still arriving on the frontage road leading into the sta- dium," he also said. In 1979, I played in front of that many peo- ple in the Senior Babe Ruth World Series back in Ohio. I know the vibe a large crowd can create, and I felt it again while listening to that game. Anyway, watching our guys play on televi- sion just made the whole experience that much more surreal for me. And finally, who needs a brand when your all-star team is on national television? Talk about free expo-