Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/399187
GregStevens,Publisher Chip Thompson, Editor EDITORIALBOARD How to have your say: Letters must be signed and provide the writer's home street address and home phone number. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and no more than two double-spaced pages or 500words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section will be published. Email: editor@red bluffdailynews.com Phone: 530-527- 2151ext. 112 Mail to: P.O. Box 220, 545 Diamond Ave., Red Bluff, CA 96080 Facebook: Leave comments at FACEBOOK.COM/ RBDAILYNEWS Twitter: Follow and send tweets to @REDBLUFFNEWS Thankstocandidatesfrom teachers Editor: On the evening of October 8, four candidates for the Red Bluff Union High School Board of Trustees participated in a candidate's night where they answered a series of questions relative to the overall operation of the district. Red Bluff High School's Political Action Com- mittees would like to thank the following for attending and sharing their views/opin- ions in a positive atmosphere: James Keffer, Joy Nelson, Frank Perino, and Rod Thompson. We appreciate their willingness to serve our community and dis- trict in such an important en- deavor. —PatGleason,RedBluff Concerned about Larry Stevens Editor: I have some serious concerns about Larry Stevens running for Red Bluff City Council. As I understand it, City Council members are suppose to be responsible to their con- stituents and respond to their concerns and needs. While still a member of the City Council, Stevens in April 2006 successfully sued the city of Red Bluff to the tune of $520,000 before leaving the City Council. How did this serve his con- stituents? We need coun- cil members who are going to serve Red Bluff, not sue it. —Scott Curtis, Red Bluff Support for Larry Stevens Editor: I am writing this letter to ex- press my support for Larry Ste- vens for Red Bluff City Council. Larry has spent and contin- ues to spend countless hours volunteering his time for the community. He is a member of the Red Bluff Community Cen- ter Auxiliary. Larry is also ac- tive with Tehama Together, a network of non-profit groups. He is also an advocate for the physically challenged. Because of improvements made with sidewalks, such as hand rails and curb cuts, peo- ple in wheelchairs can now nav- igate through downtown more easily. When Larry was elected to the Red Bluff City Council for his first term, the Community and Senior Center was not com- pletely finished and the skate park was still just a vision. By the time Larry had finished his term on the City Council, the Community Center was com- pleted the skate park on Dia- mond Avenue became a real- ity and we had a home improve- ment store coming to Red Bluff. The Bus and Ride in down- town Red Bluff was also a proj- ect that Larry worked on. I have now lived in Red Bluff for more than years now. I met Larry a few years after I moved here. We quickly learned we have much in common and be- came good friends. He is a hard worker and an excellent listener. We really need him back on the Red Bluff City Council. I hope you will join me in supporting and voting for Larry Stevens for Red Bluff City Coun- cil. —Mark Proctor, Red Bluff Heidi wins the battle, loses the war Editor: The recent 1st Congressio- nal District candidates forum in Redding, sponsored by the League of Women Voters, was well attended and useful in get- ting to know Democratic chal- lenger, Heidi Hall, and Republi- can incumbent, Doug LaMalfa. No question, at least from my perspective, Heidi Hall came away as the strongest candidate in the room. Knowledgeable, quick on her feet, eloquent, passionate, and aggressive when appropriate. Great attributes for someone seeking public office. LaMalfa, on the other hand, her polar opposite. Lethargic, scarce on details, and seem- ingly overly confident he's a shoe-in for another two-year term in the US House of Repre- sentatives. And, LaMalfa has good rea- son to feel his reelection's in the bag. The California Secretary of State reports, as of Sept. 5, 382,494 folks are registered in Congressional District 1 to vote. That's a total of 11 north state counties. Of that, 41.14% are registered as Republicans and 29.56% Democrat. With num- bers like that, the election's over even before it begins. Best hope for Heidi is to try and peel off some disgruntled moderate conservatives and in- dependents. It's a long shot, but relying solely on the democratic vote simply won't get you there. Unfortunately, notwithstand- ing all her attributes and strong debate skills, Heidi seems dis- interested in truly appealing to those outside her party. Af- ter listening to her on two sep- arate occasions, she appears to offer little, if anything, to mod- erate republicans looking for an alternative to what the republi- can establishment's offering. While she speaks of bridging the gap between republicans and democrats, her position on key issues tilts hard left, leaving no apparent room for compro- mise or accommodation. For example, Heidi proclaims it's proven science global warm- ing is caused by humans, seem- ingly dismissive of any other possible causes. She supports the Dream Act and path to cit- izenship for illegal aliens. No wiggle room there. And, pro- tecting the life of the unborn doesn't appear to be on her ra- dar screen. How she plans to find the middle ground on these important issues is anyone's guess. Unless Heidi can sell a more moderate message and give dis- enfranchised republican voters a reason to jump ship, LaMalfa gets another two years. Just saying you're a moderate dem- ocrat doesn't make it so. But, she better hurry. Time's run- ning out. Dare I say, Heidi wins the battle, but, ultimately, loses the war. Too bad. —Pete Stiglich, Cottonwood Shame on Tehama County public servants Editor: The Tehama County Board of Supervisors and the Te- hama County Planning Depart- ment must be exposed for the most egregious form of exploi- tation; it rears its ugly head in the form of socio-economic discrimination against select members of Tehama County. It is the elephant in the room and can't be ignored. County officials have ignored the negative impact of landfill expansion in an area of lower level incomes and property val- ues. They have failed to inform homeowners and they have failed to negotiate or make any effort to mitigate negative ef- fects. They have explicitly called on these homeowners to sacri- fice for the community; all the while ignoring that they are al- tering the Westgate Subdivi- sion, a community of more than 60 homes. This insensitivity and lack of interest in the community that is adversely effected can only be attributed to discrimination and bias towards those who are of lesser means. One of the most insidious, and in this case overt manifes- tations of evil, is when man re- gards his fellow man of lesser value, as is the clear and evi- dent posture of the county offi- cials who would move against homeowners to do them harm. The Golden Rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, is completely ab- sent in the mind set of these of- ficials who will have their way under any circumstances; but would likely be persuaded oth- erwise by homeowners of con- siderable means that would en- able them to stand up to county public servants who intended to lower their property values and destroy the environment. Not so in this case, these public servants know they can move against those of lesser means with impunity. It is sick- ening to see this play out. There was a report that homeowners have lost cell phone signal due to the increas- ing height of the landfill that is increasing to 20 feet vertically with dirt and garbage. Again we find officials unresponsive; however they will need to build or increase height of towers or antennae to restore service. This is just another exam- ple of damage caused by unen- lightened and callous officials. It seems they know no bounds in their plunder of a neighbor- hood. It is nothing less than a huge blight and shame on these county representatives who don't comprehend the devasta- tion of their exploitation of less fortunate residents of the com- munity. These county public servants are individuals who become very small indeed in light of their unconscionable behavior. —Lorrie Graves, Red Bluff Your opinions Cartoonist's take A garment that has elicited a lot of wolf whistles is turn- ing 75 years old. According to the ideas4writ- ers.com website, nylon stock- ings were sold publicly for the first time (on a trial basis) in a department store in Wilming- ton, Delaware on Oct. 27, 1939. The original purchasers of those hose can remember clear as a bell that they cost only five cents a carload, that they were perfect for walking five miles to school and back in the snow (uphill both ways) and that they didn't come off until the first wedding anniversary. Nylon stockings and their descendant the pantyhose have made quite a mark on our culture. Nilon Hoze was the punny name of a "Dick Tracy" comic strip villain in 1946. In the chorus of "May The Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose," Little Jimmy Dick- ens sang, "May your wife be plagued with runners in her hose." And how many pack- ages are as iconic as the plas- tic egg of L'eggs pantyhose? Thank goodness Alka-Seltzer was able to pull off its "Plop! Plop!" ad campaign without putting the product in a cow patty-shaped container. The sizing of nylons even has religious implications. Af- ter interviewing my wife for this column, I get the impres- sion that hell includes special circles for women who steal another woman's husband, women who neglect their chil- dren and women who always find pantyhose that fit. One of the main selling points of hose is that they hide physical imperfections such as blemishes, bruises, scars, stub- ble and varicose veins. Many a skirt-chaser has felt betrayed by the illusion of hose. I can just picture one of the guys as he sits there nursing a drink, with his belt finally loosened, his hairpiece slipping and the keys to a borrowed sports car jangling in his hands. According to USA Today, a steady decline in panty- hose sales began in 1995, level- ing off in 2006. Pantyhose are only half as popular as at their peak. The decline has been at- tributed to bare legs in fashion, changes in workplace dress codes, the increased popularity of trousers and the intelligence community failing to tell Presi- dent Obama that nylons exist. The only thing that could depress sales further would be if the Centers for Disease Con- trol suddenly advised the pub- lic that nothing could possibly go wrong. Danny Tyree welcomes reader e-mail responses at tyreetyrades@aol.com. Danny Tyree Nylon hose on a 75-year run IthoughtIwouldmakethisweek'scolumn about Bill and Hillary. Good citizens of America have a plethora of things to con- sider about them. Most people I speak with think Hillary will almost cer- tainly run for President in 2016. Bill can be of enormous help to her, but one never re- ally knows what might pass through his lips. And, forgive the sarcasm, but in case you forgot, he once even "men- tored" an intern named Mon- ica Lewinsky. We all know about, to the extreme. I feel certain that Mr. Clin- ton now wants his wife to be the 45th President. I believe Mr. Clinton has been helping his wife get to that oval office since he had to move out of it in 2008. All of this and his un- successful impeachment will be factored in decisions about Hillary as long as she has po- litical ambitions. Most people I talk with say Bill helps Hill- ary's chances. However, Presi- dent Obama said once; "A little of Bill Clinton goes a long way, etc." However, the Clintons seem to have endless shelf life. I bet even Hillary has found Bill more than frustrating dur- ing her more trying moments. I remember when Bill Clin- ton was Governor of Arkansas and running for President in 1992. He spoke publicly about his wife's help then and said if you vote for him you would "buy one, get one free." It's no strain on the brain to conclude that he definitely wants her to be our next president as much as she does. Are the Clintons boring and old, or stimulating and well-seasoned? A friend of mine, Califor- nia Treasurer Bill Lockyer, re- cently told me that we both have the "political virus." I could not disagree. Obviously, the same applies to Clintons. It probably applies to almost all of those in politics, includ- ing Bill and Hillary. How- ever, I read recently in Edward Klein's book "Blood Feud," (Klein is the former editor of Newsweek) that a lack of gen- uine friendship probably exists between Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. Page 55 tells how Bill Clinton is now contacted more by George W. Bush than Barack Obama. The lack of a good relationship between Mr. Clinton and President Obama, other than a political one, seems minimal at best. Bill Clinton already par- ticipated in a political ad for Obama in 2012 where he said; "President Obama has a plan to rebuild America from the ground up. It only works if there is a strong middle class. We need to keep going with his plan." I have to believe it was a little difficult for Bill to say that about Barack since Obama beat his wife handily in 2008. Even today, with al- most constant talk about Hill- ary's probable run, Obama has not yet offered his full support. In this weekly column I wanted to again ask for your input. Please email me and answer these questions: Will Bill's assistance and sup- port for Hillary be more of a help or hurt to her, or have the Clintons become just very old news in your lives? She now has a book and is al- ready on the campaign trail in Iowa, so she wants to be the most important political fig- ure in America. She is not go- ing away anytime soon. Please give me your thoughts. Stan Statham served 1976- 1994 in the California As- sembly and was a television news anchor at KHSL-TV in Chico 1965-1975. He is presi- dent of the California Broad- casters Association and can be reached at StanStatham@ gmail.com. Stan Statham My take on the Clintons I feel certain that Mr. Clinton now wants his wife to be the 45th President. OPINION » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, October 16, 2014 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A6