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4A Daily News – Saturday, May 19, 2012 Opinion DAILYNEWS 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 Schools Editor: We moved to the Corning Elementary School District January 1, 2011. In particular is Rancho Tehama School, West Street School, and May- wood Jr High. My kids have prospered greatly from this move. Prior to moving to the Corning School District, our children were in the Red Bluff Elementary School District. To be more accurate they were in what is called Community Day School. It is where they send children with behavioral prob- lems. Most of these classes are made up of older kids, 6-8th grade that have already have juvenile records or gang mem- bers. Also this is where they put a lot of first year teacher's so the children do not get someone who knows what they are doing most of the time. The are learning on the job and with budget cuts will most likely not be next years teacher. It is not an environ- ment conducive to learning. My children were first placed into Corning's Community Day School but the teacher there quickly recognized that my kids were not juvenile delinquents but children with special needs. Corning School District did a complete set of testing on my children: mental, emotional, and intellectual testing. I was told at Red Bluff that I would have to get these tests done myself, although I repeatedly asked for them at every IEP (Independent Educa- tion Plan) meeting. I also asked for behavioral aides for them but was told that Red Bluff School District did not have that kind of money. I find it ironic that Corning with a population half the size of Red Bluff can get things done faster and more efficiently. With sup- port from Corning, both chil- dren have come a long way in their education. Thank you Corning Elementary School District for ALL you have done for my children. I want to thank each and every teacher, aide, principal, receptionist, and psychologists in the Corn- ing Elementary School District that have worked with my chil- dren. Thank you for all you have done!! Latisha Salinas, Corning What??? A teenage girl being battered by three other teenage girl was determined a minor batter (as stated in Fri- day's May 11 police report). When three girls batter anoth- er girl it's not a minor thing. That's all you hear anymore — girls barely in their teens calling other girls out because they want to their a-- . They call each other very derogatory names. Words that shouldn't be coming out of young girls' mouths. Where are the parents to these bul- lies. Do they even know their sweet little girls are mouth bullies? Battery Editor: A parent that's on the other end of a daughter that's being called out and mouth battered should start protesting. Go to police and district attorney file complaints, go to school board meetings, go to the school. Go until they are blue in the face. The school envi- ronment is where it starts. It's got to stop. The children being harassed by these bully girls are being mentally damaged. Stick and stones may break my bones but words can't hurt me is a lot of baloney. Words can hurt and do serious damage. If this doesn't stop, one of Your Turn my right to a Trial by Jury relating to my speeding infraction was an absolute Right and not negotiable. I stressed in our brief meeting that you should at least attempt to change this bill of Rights violation. I never made any demands; just please make the effort. I these bullies may end up harming another very seri- ously and end up in juvenile hall. When there they just might meet a better bully than she is. ally over a boy. Really! Act- ing this way over a boy at 13, 14. Get real girls. Wow! Lois Floyd, Red Bluff By the way all this is usu- Greetings Mr. voter trust you? When you were our 2nd District Assem- blyman, I trusted and voted for you. I requested you to carry an assembly bill that would again support our 7th Amendment right to a Trail by Jury. Sir, in my opinion you violated your "Oath." When we discussed this mat- ter at a Republican fundraiser in Red Bluff five years ago, you stated my request would cost $40,000 to begin the trek to the Governor. I replied that LaMalfa Editor: Why would any informed then became untouchable. I and some of my Patriot sup- porters will be asking you at the candidates' nights why you didn't obey your "Oath." Doug, why should any voter trust you to become our Con- gressman? Finish your term as a Senator and retire and leave the trough — which means, "Surrender your sub- sidies." Believe me Senator, "You are not one of us. You never were!" Don Bird, Rancho Tehama Balance needed. A firm handhold is needed when dueling with foils to win or survive, too loose — it's eas- ily lost. Too hard — choke. Same for government regula- tions, too little, irresponsible acts occur. Too much, free- dom is lost. Our government needs to be balanced. Regardless of party loyalty Balance Editor: now is the time to be loyal to the country by studying, thinking and voting. Steve Kelsey, 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. Commentary Youth drug demand reduction education — acommunity responsibility on how our Tehama County Young Marines won this prestigious award from the Recently, we submitted a story Drug Enforcement Administra- tion in Washington, D. C., the "Enrique 'KiKi' Camerena Youth Drug Demand Reduction Educa- tion Award." This award immortalizes KiKi's efforts to block drugs from coming to the United States from Mexico. This Marine/Police Officer/DEA Special Agent gave his life in the war on drugs. He was murdered by the cartels on foreign soil. In 2009 your local unit won the Fulcrum Shield from the Secretary of Defense. I made a vow that our unit would be the first youth orga- nization with a military affiliation to win it twice. That's not possible any longer because now the Young Marine organization is participat- ing with the DEA in these efforts. Our unit, along with the Shenan- doah ValleyYoung Marines in Vir- ginia, share this top prize for the first year. Unfortunately, our two units were the only two in the pro- gram to apply for the Fulcrum Shield last year. The Young Marines have won this award four out of nine times so the Young Marine program really is on top of these efforts more so, I believe, than any other youth organization.Youth Drug Demand Reduction education is our main focus. Training our kids to be Marines is not the goal, but they sure can take the discipline into their lives wherever they may go. We support and encourage their dreams. May living a healthy, drug free lifestyle be with them. Next year there will be a winner from each of the Young Marines six divisions. Tehama County is in the Sixth Division and Shenandoah Valley is in the Second Division. The other division are already working on their projects. The Ray Jacobs (1st) Battalion consist of nine units from Kern County to Lassen County and in the Bay Area. Plans are afoot for a national effort by the battalion's nine units to immerse themselves in a state-wide, division and nation- al effort to get the message to Cali- fornians that marijuana of any kind must be totally eradicated. We're proud that Tehama Coun- ty and the cities of Red Bluff and Corning have stood strong in not allowing marijuana collectives or clinics to take root here. We hope that the board of supervi- sors and the city councils keep this message strong by continual voting against collectives. Tehama County leads the state in these efforts. The DEA mentioned this sev- eral times last week in Reno during our annual Adult Leaders Conference. We do train our youth to be drug free, then help them with their school grades and get them involved in the community. Nearly all units across the country our involved in their respective com- munities at a high degree right now. They not only teach about drug demand reduction (DDR), they also are involved with all vet- erans from all eras and help with the elderly and handicapped. All of these activities takes a lot of energy and motivation for all Young Marines and their dedicated and passionate part-time adult volun- teers/mentors. It's a labor of love for our volunteers. Guest View Marine John Minton Our youth will be our replace- ments one day and we need them to learn from our efforts about living a healthy, drug free lifestyle. It's a require- ment of being a citizen. Join us and be our part- ners along side the Marine Corps League, Detachment 1140, Tehama/Red Bluff and Am Vets Post 2002, in Corning. The official title of the national organization is "The Young Marines of the Marine Corps League." But any business, agency, and organization can work with us to accomplish a drug free society for our future generation - the next greatest generation. Young Marine program (battalions, regiments and division) contact me either at usmcmike3zero@sbc- global.net or sgt.john.rockelmo.minton5@gmail .com or call me at 840-0345. The Young Marines - "Strengthening the lives of America's youth (since 1959)" For more information on the