Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/6806
4A – Daily News – Friday, February 12, 2010 A MediaNews Group newspaper 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 Opinion I cleaned out my garage the other day. Yep, and it felt really good. Nothing is more cathartic than getting rid of stuff and set- ting priorities straight. I'm speaking of things that we don't really need; like the extra empty boxes, and the old, worn out doors that were extracted from the house and placed into the rafters. We have old dolls and kids' stuff from when they were tots, and also outdated clothes; but I left that for another day's work. What's neat about going through stuff is that you find other things that you didn't know you still had. I found this box of books I read years ago in graduate school. I also discovered a baby book dedicated to Ethan, and two others on how to be a good mom and dad. Those made me cry. It's funny, but being a dad has really changed how I see life; and it helps me maintain my sense of perspective when things go wrong. Just when I start to obsess over something, my kids remind me just how trivial those fixa- tions really are. Like I said, there's nothing like a good garage cleaning. I took everything out of the mid- dle, tossed what I didn't need and put the rest around the periphery. I offer up this analogy because, after all, I am the king of analogies. However, the recent develop- ments with the high school foot- ball program and subsequent petition have inspired me to comment. Both the head coach and assistant head coach recently resigned. Then, a petition from off campus was circulated around town. Daily News Sports Editor Rich Greene wrote about it in Tuesday's edi- tion. I don't usually respond to something someone else wrote, but Rich was right on in his assessment. My opinion is that things like this are pretty silly, in light of the bigger picture. One aspect of concern was that the head coach not be a full- time teacher. Another was that college recruiters from D-1 schools should be encouraged to come and watch our kids play. Can I ask what they would they be watching? Not to insult our kids, for they are hard working, nice, respectful individuals. However, they are not major college prospects, and parents should not expect our coaches to miracu- lously turn them into such. It's just not realis- tic. In my 20 years on this campus, I have yet to see a legitimate D-1 prospect on the foot- ball field. And that's the truth. I even asked around with those in the know, and they could- n't think of anyone, either. Heck, Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers went from Pleasant Valley to Butte College. He then transferred to Cal, where his career took off. The point is that if Rodgers wasn't good enough out of high school, then who is? What bothers me the most isn't that these folks are obsess- ing over our football program. After all, I acknowledge their concern. However, their fixation should be directed in ways that will most benefit our kids and the program. Demanding that we find an off campus coach is, I think, somewhat reasonable. But insis- tence that we get recruiters on campus is absurd at best. I think they need to clean out their garages, and get some perspec- tive on what high school sports is really all about. The Spartan have many programs that define and embody a good athletic experi- ence. It's about responsi- ble people doing great work with the under- standing that success is not measured simply by wins and losses. I look at coaches like Dave Rottenberg, J. How- ell, Kathy Brandt, Geoff Barrow and Stan Twitchell; I think how great it would be for my own kids to play for them someday. As a matter of fact, I bet their garages are pretty clean. Have a great Friday. ——— 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. What you find out cleaning the garage Commentary N EWS D AILY RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY 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 Pat Gleason Simply Put STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 4164 P.O. Box 942849, Sacramento 94249; (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319- 2102 STATE SENATOR — Sam Aanestad (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 2054, Sacramen- to, CA 95814. (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), 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; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Your officials About what was expected There are certain subjects or issues we cover that are guaranteed to elicit a heated response from at least some folks in the community, and this week was no different. The latest issue was the recurring accusations about the residency of Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, who announced his candidacy in 2008 claim- ing residency in Gerber, where he owns a home. Not without reason — the fact that Nielsen spends the vast majority of his time living in his Woodland home out- side of District 2 — a number of folks in the district have taken issue with the Ger- ber claim, including some here in Tehama County. Among the most vocal critics of Nielsen's residency claim is Don Bird, of Rancho Tehama, who wrote letters to the editors of several newspapers in the region promising to place Nielsen under citizen's arrest for election fraud. Tehama County Sheriff Clay Parker had a memo sent to his officers instructing them not to take action if Bird followed through on his promise to place Nielsen under citizen's arrest. Instead, they were to refer the case to Parker. For critics of Nielsen and those who argue he was not eligible to represent the Second District, the memo was the smoking gun — presumed proof of good ol' boy cover ups and favoritism in Tehama County politics. The story started showing up in various North State publications, most prominently in weekly newspaper out of Chico and Sacramento. Before long, those papers showed up on my desk, courtesy of Bird. I'm not here to debate the legitimacy of Nielsen's election or Bird's claims about the law. Nielsen won the seat and Bird's assertions indicate Nielsen may have violated, if nothing else, the spirit of the law. Our job was to report the story — the whole story — including an explanation of the memo and the legal reasoning behind it and the history of Bird's attempts and failures to unseat Nielsen and recall local elected officials. The issue was thrown out of county court and referred by the Secretary of State to the Attorney General, who declined to pros- ecute. Bird was ordered to pay Nielsen's legal costs. As expected, though, a handful of readers are upset that we reported these aspects of the story, rather than siding with Bird and exposing presumed cor- ruption at the sheriff's office. The Daily News reported on the issue of Nielsen's residency multiple times prior to the June and November 2008 elections. He won Tehama County by significant margins in both. If we agreed Nielsen illegally ran for the dis- trict, an editorial would be the appropriate course. But a news article should present both sides of the issue fairly, and I believe the article this week did so. Tehama County, voters have had their say — and will again in June. What's more, those who earnestly support and agree with Bird can vote for him, as he's declared his intention to enter the race. Around the newsroom, though, we'll stick to covering the news and leave the politicking to oth- ers. Chip Thompson can be reached at 527-2151, Ext. 112 or by e-mail at editor@redbluffdailynews.com. Chip Thompson 545 Diamond Ave. Rebuttal to Sheriff Parker Editor: Regarding Sheriff Clay Parker's statements, I was in error on penal code 142. However the remain- ing code sections apply (to a planned citizen's arrest of Assemblyman Jim Nielsen). The deputies under Parker's supervision are required by oath to "serve and protect." They them- selves and the sheriff will be taken to court if I am denied their assistance. I was denied my right to a trial by jury — sev- enth amendment — by two Tehama County judges and the Nielsen attorneys. The system was and remains ripe with crony- ism. The truth will prevail. Parker states Nielsen is not above the law: This also includes Parker. I proclaim again this is not going away, even if Nielsen is elected again. Don Bird, Rancho Tehama Your Turn