Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/56770
6A Daily News – Wednesday, February 29, 2012 Opinion Thanks 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 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 Editor: I would like to thank the won- derful, honest person who found my camera I had lost at Walmart on last Friday. It is so refreshing to know that we have such honest people in our fair community. I had called and was told noth- ing had been turned in to lost and found, but when I went in on Mon- day, and asked again, I was told no, it was not there. However another employee overheard us and said yes, it was locked up in the office as it was too valuable to leave out. So, whoever you are, you have my heartfelt thanks. Carol Enos, Red Bluff Unprofessional Editor: I am a part time employee for the City of Red Bluff for 11 and a half years. Recently, I applied for a full time position with the city. There were two of us who applied for the position. I went for my interview on Monday and have been waiting to hear if I was cho- sen for the job. Friday afternoon, as I was leav- ing my part time job, two fellow employees told me they were sorry to hear that I did not get the job. I was shocked and dismayed that they knew about my not get- ting the job before I did. I asked them how they knew I wasn't chosen for the position. I was told that a department director informed them. The employees thought it was already public knowledge since the information came from the director. I didn't know when we were going to be informed regarding the job. I feel personnel confidentiality was betrayed, because everyone else knew before the ones con- cerned had been informed. This Saturday I received a letter acknowledging my interview for a part time position that I did not apply nor interviewed for. This shows non-professionalism in the Human Resources Department. The position they thanked me for interviewing had been closed for some time and someone had already been chosen for that posi- tion. I stress, I did not interview for this position. My hope is that the Human Resources Department reviews and changes its policies and proce- dures so that this doesn't happen to another employee. I lost respect for the interviewing panel for allowing this to happen to me. Chrisandria Connolly, Gerber PETS anniversary Editor: PETS (Providing Essentials for Tehama Shelter) is celebrating its first anniversary. It is because of the generosity and support of this Tehama Coun- ty community in which we all live that we are able to do so. Serving as a non-profit, and working with the Care Center staff, we have been able to accomplish so much for the homeless, abandoned, abused, injured and neglected ani- mals that come daily into the Tehama County Animal Care Center. In the last year we have driven thousands of miles and transported many animals to adopters and res- cue groups, taking animals almost every week. PETS purchased sup- plies for the Tehama County Ani- mal Care Center: more than three dozen stainless steel water buckets for a clean, and easily cleaned, source of water for the dogs; more than 25 comfortable vinyl Kuran- da beds for the dogs so they don't sleep on the cement floor — espe- cially important for the older and injured dogs; more than a dozen gentle slip leashes for volunteers to walk the dogs; a grooming and medical table to treat wounds, remove ticks and porcupine quills and clean and brush dogs and cats. We donated to the Animal Care Center medical account to treat especially critical wounds and injuries — broken jaws, etc. PETS sponsors a pet each month on the Daily News Pet Page. PETS began the year 2012 by holding a pet adoption the first Saturday of each month at Tractor Supply and quar- terly at Aquarium & Pets. PETS participated in the 2011 Farmers Market all summer and the 2011 Dairyville Orchard Festival. And we're not done yet. We have an exciting and fun event coming up May 5 — the first annual Mutt Strutt and second annual Open House at the Tehama County Animal Care Center. Don't miss it. For more information about PETS and the event, please go to our website — petstehama.org — or check out our Facebook page (P.E.T.S.), call us at 527-8702 or pick up one of our membership brochures at the Tehama County Animal Care Center, 1830 Walnut St. in Red Bluff. Even better, when you go to get a membership form to join PETS, check out the wonderful animals available for adoption. One will surely convince you that you need to take him or her home. There are so many to thank we Your Turn can't list each one or we would need a whole page, from a founda- tion who gave us a grant to the many generous individuals who donated their time and money. Thank you everyone. Sharon Russell, Red Bluff Thank Obama for $4 gas Editor: Under Obama our annual average gasoline cost has increased from $2.51 in 2009, $2.87 in 2010, and $3.63 in 2011. Today's fill was $4 gas for our 23,000 annual miles and 689 gallons used yearly in our fuel efficient Prius and Civic. President Obama assured $4 gas by making our US East and West coast, Alaska and much of the gulf off limits for drilling. Fortunately, under President Bush, expanded drilling resulted in increased US oil supply each of the past 4 years. Without the Bush oil drilling rights, canceled by Obama, we would have $5 gasoline today. The US can be self sufficient in North American oil by accelerat- ing the Canadian pipeline, expanding drilling in Alaska, and allowing drilling along the East and West coasts. Each gas tank fill, say a silent prayer that President Obama's re election and his preference for Middle East oil ends. Joseph Neff, 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), 2595 Cean- othus Ave., Ste. 182, Chico, CA 95973; 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. Baby Boomers dying to help the economy Commentary It is my honor to present Robert's eulogy today. He was my best friend. At 66, Robert was taken way too young, but, like so many baby boomers, he lived life to the fullest -- and we will cele- brate his funeral to the fullest. I'm still in shock over the freak accident that claimed Robert's life. He'd been living at a Buddhist monastery for only one month when it happened. Instead of meditating and practicing yoga like the others, Robert, always the debater, pep- pered the monks on points of philosophy. One morning he was found dead in an alley with sandal- scuff marks on his robe and a small statue of the Buddha stuffed down his throat. Apparently, he'd fallen out a window. But that was Robert. Like so many in our generation, he always did things his way. I still laugh about the stunts he pulled in college. To protest man's massacre of the Earth, he kidnapped the dean's toupee and threatened not to return it until a local coal mine was shut down. I remember his first wedding. He and his bride-to-be got mar- ried at the top of Niagara Falls, then went over the falls in a bar- rel. When Robert had a son and daughter with his second wife - - his first wife had died in a tragic accident at Niagara Falls — he shunned traditional names. He named his son Top Soil, because the rich dirt is vital to survival, and his daughter Oxy- gen, because he wanted others to "breathe in her beauty." Well, now that Robert has passed on, it is only fitting that his funeral would also be unique. So many aging boomers are planning unusual funerals, in fact, that several media out- lets have been reporting on the trend. Some boomers are having poems and inscriptions painted on their caskets. Some are being buried with their pets. Others plan to put on big presentations and broadcast them over the Internet for others to see. Now that boomers are near- ing 70 and beginning to pass on in sizable numbers, the funeral industry is one of the few to thrive in our struggling econo- my. Smart Money says: "After five years of losses, the funeral industry is expected to see rev- enue rise almost 3 percent this year, and is projecting small but steady growth over the next five years as well." Lucky for us, Robert was happy to oblige. He carefully planned this, his last public event, well before his unexpected demise. First, you may notice that Robert's casket is unusual. It is actually a custom- made cryogenic freez- er in which Robert will be preserved until advances in technolo- gy can bring him back. Tom Second, Robert had planned a massive party after this funer- al service that he referred to as his "Earth wake!" A Bob Dylan impersonator will perform and an open bar and buffet will be provided. There will be a $10 cover. Third, Robert has purchased a complimentary monk's robe and sandals for everyone in attendance, to help each of you begin your own spiritual jour- ney. Robert hopes you will one day become as enlightened as he. Purcell Last, by dying so young, Robert figured he would save our coun- try hundreds of thou- sands of dollars in Medicare and Social Security costs. He figured it was OK to raid his chil- dren's college fund to pay for this funeral — sorry, Top Soil and Oxygen. He figured the government ought to pick up their col- lege tab as a sort of trade-off. That concludes this portion of Robert's funeral service. Could someone please help me move Robert's cryogenic casket to the concert area? ——— Tom Purcell, a humor columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, is nationally syndicated exclusively by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate. Visit Tom on the Web at www.TomPurcell.com or e- mail him at Purcell@caglecartoons.com.