Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/44166
4A Daily News – Friday, October 7, 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 New media begins with new me Sunset Hills 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 Wednesday was a good les- son, learned late. It was a full day, with meet- ings and presentations, a special project and the daily pages to get out. Around 4:30 p.m., though, the power went out to some 11,000 homes in Tehama County. Power outages are right up there with accidents that close the interstate and bomb threats – readers want to know what's going on and they want to know it now. Several friends called to find out what was happening. What was the cause of the outage, when would power be restored, how widespread was the out- age? I took each of the calls and answered with the best informa- tion I had – including a conver- sation I had with a PG&E work- er I ran into at Raley's who said power should be back up within a couple of hours. That's where the lesson should have started. It wasn't until I was home and continued to receive calls on my cell phone about what had happened that I realized the need to get the word out regardless of plat- form. We included a brief at the top of Thursday's front page announcing the outage. Nostalgic, yes, but useless until the next morning, when the problem would likely be fixed. Breaking news on the website? Certainly the next logical step, but in the case of a power outage those most needing the infor- mation wouldn't have access. It was late in the Chip Thompson 545 Diamond Ave. evening, as I enjoyed some chicken soup for the stom- ach, that it hit me. I was check- ing baseball scores on my iPhone. Had I posted an update to our website and followed up with a note to our webmaster, the little we knew about the outage could have been sent out via Twitter and Facebook, both easily accessible on smart phones, even without immediate electricity. Would my phone still ring off the hook as friends want the scoop on a breaking news story? Probably. But all those equally curious readers who don't have my num- ber would have had their questions at least partially answered. Not that I look for- ward to another coun- ty-wide outage, but I promise to do better in getting the word out more quickly next time something of the sort hits home. Chip Thompson can be reached at 527-2151, Ext. 112 or by e-mail at editor@redbluffdailynews.com. Cemetery Editor: Have you been to the Sun- set Hills Cemetery in Corning lately? This cemetery has won award after award, year after year for its beauty. It will not be winning any awards now. The grass is extremely dry, the shrubs and flowers are dying from lack of water, nothing has been mowed and it is generally in disgraceful condition. My family is buried there, I visit quite often to make sure their graves look nice and are being cared for. The roses on the Langley family plot, which my husband planted are dying. What used to be a beautiful place is a very pitiful sight. I pay taxes that are sup- posed to help support the cemetery. Where is the money being spent? Maybe some- one in the administrative level needs to take a pay cut so we can water the grass. Patricia Langley, 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; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224- 0454. A paean to perfection Commentary There are those unfortunates who live with- out companions. Sometimes by death deprived, sometimes by choice. If the latter, I believe they may be leading a half life. Interacting with our fellow man/woman/pet is the spice of life. I write this, not as a weeping columnist but as a celebrant to the shared life. If you have read this effort previously, you know of my affection for pets, so that is a given. But what about a tribute to the missus? Without tears. She provides everything I require for a per- fect existence. When I open the wardrobe clos- et each day, I find shirts and trousers freshly pressed and am ready for another day at work. When home for lunch, my sandwich awaits, lovingly preserved in foil lest it dries out prior to consumption. She doles out money to me at selected intervals and pays the bills when due. Dinner is ready at 6 each evening without my perusing a menu. And, afterwards, she is next to me as we read or watch the telly. Over the years she has raised and clothed our four children, cleaned the house and done a yeo- man's work around the scatter, yet found time to ski, play tennis and ride horses with us as the good sport she has always been. In short, she has been, a woman of all seasons and I salute her performance daily. This testimony has not been performed under duress, threat of bodily harm or reprisal. * * * Lavar Strange went to his reward in Septem- ber of this year…4 months shy of his 100th birthday. For a number of years he has lived in Chico, but at one time Red Bluff was base for his very successful career as a real estate devel- oper. He, in one fell swoop, created an annuity for himself by leasing, from the Walton family, virtually all that land on the eastside of south Main from the bridge to the underpass, for a period of 99 years. In so doing he was able to sub-lease to such enterprises as a motel, mobile home park, Montgomery Ward and several ser- vice stations plus the complex known as River- side Plaza. I was new in the real estate business when he contacted me about a note he held regarding the Montgomery Ward building which had been developed on his leased land by the Kass Broth- ers of New Jersey. After the demise of Beverly Kass' husband, I managed said property for her and sold the majority of it to the County for the Department of Social Services. It is then a coincidence that both Beverly and Lavar both died within days of each other last month thus con- cluding a real estate venture which lasted these many years. * * * Oddly worded obituary last week read, "Plans have been completed for obsequies of Clyde A. M'Kea." I had to look it up. The word means "a funeral rite." How about that? * * * J. Quincy checks in with the only way to truly be up on current local events. * * * the fact that women in Cali- fornia got the right to vote 100 years ago, and that Susan B Anthony, a forerun- ner of the movement visited Red Bluff three times on her cross country tour. That said, two organizations in RB are celebrating the occa- sion. Democrats are putting on a dessert 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9 at the Vets Hall, and the Red Bluff-Tehama County branch of the Amer- ican Association of University Women will have a no-host, non-partisan celebration at noon on Monday, the 10th at the Tremont Cafe. Everyone welcome. Order from the menu. * * * On Aug. 18, the late Gene Mitzel would have been 83 and on October 2, Dave Sale would have been 82… and yet they live on in the hearts and minds of those with whom they had a few laughs over the years. * * * When reporting answers to a previous quiz, I cited the poem by Robert Service as "The Cre- ation of Sam McGee." That should be "Crema- tion of…" R Kelley notified me of the typo. * * * A recent poll indicated that 69 percent of Americans say the loss of their local newspaper would not hinder their ability to find news. Non- sense. Since we have done away with the town crier standing on the corner, the local paper is Robert Minch I Say Ominous letter from Dr. Alexander. The good Ophthalmologist writes that he will be passing the torch to his new associ- ate, Dr. J. Isaac Barthelow as his "eventual successor." You see, this is another example of my outliving my medical keepers. Even though Dr. A is undergoing hand surgery, I assume it is a minor operation…I've had many in my day and am little the worse for wear. I think his retirement is premature and I ask that he reconsiders forthwith. * * * This week's quiz was answered correctly by many, but R. Ramsey, electrician to the minions, was first in to com- plete the last words of lawyers: "I have filed my last brief," Train conductors: "End of the line," Elevator operators: "Going up," and atheists: "I was just kidding." This week's quiz: Let's try this again and see if you can get it right: "Pride goeth before_______,," "To_____the lily," "A little _____is a dangerous thing," "A penny for your_____," est_____flattery." * * * A graduate with a science degree asks, "Why does it work?" A graduate with an engi- neering degree asks, "How does it work?" A graduate with an accounting degree asks, "How much will that cost?"A graduate with an arts degree asks, "Do you want fries with that?" A child told her mother: "My teacher thinks I'm going to be famous. She said all I have to do is mess up one more time and I'm history." 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. and "Imitation is the sincer-