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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@ redbluffdailynews.com Fax: 530-527-9251 Mail to: P.O. Box 220, 728Main St., Red Bluff, CA 96080 Facebook: Leave comments at FACEBOOK.COM/ RBDAILYNEWS Twitter: Follow and send tweets to @REDBLUFFNEWS Caution: This opinion column is not intended to be depressing. It is only my opinion on life's end. I was reflecting on that the other day. Ithought thatnowI might know more deceased peo- ple than those who are still alive. I feel cer- tain that my age of 77 has a lots to do with that thinking. I know this situa- tion happens to almost everyone sooner or later. Let me start by telling you what an ac- tress friend of mine, 94-year- old Betty White, has told me a few times whenever we dis- cuss what I refer to as "going to the other side." The last time I asked if she thought regularly of the topic of death, I got the same reply I always get from her, "Every time someone dies my mother would always tell me that now they know the secret." What a wonderful way to look at where we all go after life's hopefully long journey ends. I think Betty White's mother knew how to spin a negative eventuality. I bet her mother was a great lady too. Another close friend of mine, Ray Narbaitz of Chico, told me that he does not spend any of his time worrying about things like death. He says he does not worry over things over which he has little con- trol. That sounds like a lot of good sense to me. Ray and I were also discussing how to get closure after someone close to you dies. At that point he said, "Dead is dead. How much closure does one need?" That is brutally frank, but to a large degree I do agree with Ray. Closure is really for those who are left behind. The dearly departed are closed. I decided to write about death because since 2010 I was diagnosed with, and so far have survived, a six-way heart bypass. I also have had a bit of skin cancer, a fractured verte- bra and a brain injury. When I hear about David Bowie, Prince, Muhammad Ali and others dying I get yet another dose of informa- tion that everyone does visit Dr. Death sooner or later. My top priority is to fight to keep that doctor the hell away from me as long as I can. My target is to reach the age of 90. When someone dies, people try to express the appropriate kindness and sorrow. I have grown tired of at least two things people say on those occasions. First, they say of the de- ceased "They are in a bet- ter place now." I always want to sarcastically ask the per- son saying that if they would like to join them. Second, all those television crime shows saying "We're sorry about your loss." Nice, but no cigar. My take on discussing death is a good part of what I think is closure. And, in the two fu- nerals where I have officiated, I found humor to be very use- ful. Recently, I did a "Celebra- tion of The Life of Fred Davis." Fred was the Chico City Man- ager for a few decades and well known by me and everyone in that university town. So, my personal take on death is that I don't look for- ward to it. As a result my plan is to eat well, exercise a lot and toss in as much hu- mor in my life as possible. Please share your candid thoughts with me. Mytakeonthemovies "Sing Street" is a film worth seeing. It will help you recall some memories of the music you first enjoyed. I recommend you see this film. StanStathamserved1976-1994 in the California Assembly and was a television news anchor at KHSL-TV in Chico 1965- 1975. He is past president of the California Broadcasters Association and can be reached at StanStatham@gmail.com. Stan Statham My take on the end of life CoverageoftheTrumprally Editor: I would like to set the record straight regarding last Friday's rally for Donald Trump at the Redding airport. My husband and I attended along with family and friends and despite the extreme heat we thoroughly enjoyed the event. For whatever reason the positive side of the event was not reported. The number of people at- tending was well over the re- ported 4,000 and there ap- peared to be several thousand more Trump supporters who had to stand outside the fence in the parking area since the inside area was at capacity. The free rally was extremely well orchestrated and tickets were required for admission, metal detectors were in use and chilled water was available for free. Just before Mr. Trump's plane arrived a prayer in the name of Jesus Christ was reverently spo- ken and the Pledge of Allegiance was lead and said by all with hats off and a hand over thou- sands of hearts. The leaving out of this very positive moment in the article was disturbing and, to me, is yet another example of media bias. I'm sure the reason why this rally didn't get as much me- dia attention may be that there were no protesters to cause riot- ing, property damage and inju- ries. Imagine that, a gathering of that many like minded people who attended to give support to the man they hope and pray, for the sake of our country and con- stitutional rights, will be the next president of this great nation. — Suzie Mandolfo, Red Bluff Justthefacts,folks Editor: It's replay time from two years ago in 2014, when the Te- hama County Board of Supervi- sors asked the voters to approve a $2,750 per month, or an approxi- mate 72%, pay increase for them. At that time, in response to the issue of a pay increase for board members, and while I was run- ning for County Supervisor in District 4, I provided a presen- tation at the Board of Supervi- sors meeting that showed the to- tal compensation authorized for board members. In 2014, the total compensa- tion authorized per year per su- pervisor was approximately $37,000, or $3,083 per month. Now, in 2016, that same autho- rized total compensation pack- age is currently approximately $39,069.56 per year. This means that the county budgets annually approximately $195,348 for their salary, benefits and allowances. The 2016 annual $39,069.56 total compensation package for an individual board mem- ber breaks down as follows: Sal- ary — $12,540, auto allowance — $6,000, cell phone allowance — $1,200, county payment of de- ferred compensation — $540, county paid share of retirement — $1,983.20, county paid share of employee's share of retirement — $877.80, county paid health, den- tal, vision and life insurance — $15,628.56 and road inspection allowance — $300. Can the taxpayers really af- ford more than that for elected officials in an economy that is stagnant in this county? Or, why don't we increase the pay for our rank and file county employees, including our hard working law enforcement employees, instead? We don't need any more pay and benefit increases to the top levels of management, includ- ing elected officials who are not required to be on the job for 8 hours a day and whose jobs are not mandated to be full time. Anyone who runs for election for the office of county supervisor knows what the pay and benefits are when they take out papers to run for office and run for office anyway. Enough said. — Susan Price, Corning CoachKathyBrandt Editor: I write this letter with a heavy heart, and utter dis- belief, after just discovering the outrageous news that Red Bluff High School girls' basket- ball coach Kathy Brandt has been let go. I myself, am a graduate of the Chico State basketball program having played for the university and for coach Brandt from 1998-2001. As an athlete I am absolutely ap- palled that Superintendent Todd Brose would make such an irrational decision. My two children and I have attended the Red Bluff High games for many, many years, it was an absolute pleasure to bring my daughter, who is just turning 10, and my son who is 5, to watch the young athletes on the court compete with such poise, such sportsmanship and such a love for the game. Qual- ities that sometimes fall by the wayside these days. So often when watching young people play sports, do we see the lack of camaraderie and ethics of the game. Watching coach Brandt gracefully mold these young women into hard working, mentally strong and determined athletes was one of the highlights of the season for my family and I. I cannot fathom the rea- son any school district would consider letting someone of Kathy's caliber go. She is an amazing coach, not to mention how could Todd make such a drastic change when her daughter is going into her se- nior year of high school. This same child that during my bas- ketball career at Chico State I carried in my arms as an in- fant. Through many of the air- ports and many hotel lobbies, with my backpack filled with books to study on my back, Ju- lia on one hip, and a her dia- per bag on the other. What a disgraceful decision and with such awful timing. What a shame that these young athletes have lost a coach with such knowledge and such a passion for the game. What a shame, that such a distinguished and hon- orable coach was let go. What an absolute shame. — Mica Ross, Red Bluff Your opinions Cartoonist's take The demands of fatherhood (okay, and a cracked vertebra) have left me too distracted to string together a coherent Fa- ther's Day essay, so instead I'm sharing 14 random thoughts about the occasion: 1. A father is the sort of per- son who can't find a major na- tional park with a detailed map and GPS, but CAN unerringly find a one-inch plastic soldier with a bare foot. 2. Fatherhood is no longer the safe gig it used to be; now you have to worry about Uber under- cutting you on all the prime pig- gyback ride assignments. And where the "World's Best Dad" mug used to be a shoo-in, now nothing is sure until the super- delegate votes are counted. 3. In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson proclaimed Father's Day to be an official national holiday. LBJ was unsuccessful, however, in convincing Congress to guar- antee that all prosthetic legs for fathers injured in the Vietnam War came readymade with san- dals and black socks. 4. It wasn't until 1972 that President Richard Nixon signed into law a permanent U.S. Fa- ther's Day to be observed on the third Sunday of June. Said Nixon, "I am not a crook — just as I told those lobbyists from Acme Ugly Necktie Company and Acme Superfluous Screw- driver Company. Wink wink." 5. Only dads say things like, "Well, the FDA didn't say any- thing about banning sodium- heavy POWER TOOLS." 6. Dads occupy a special place. No, not the special place where they have us stash dirty dishes and dirty laundry while mom is away — a special place in our HEARTS. Good grief! 7. Upstanding fathers swell with pride and observe, "The ap- ple doesn't fall far from the tree." Less upstanding fathers observe, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, but it falls far enough to trigger a personal injury suit. Grab a shady lawyer." 8. Fathers can't help but have a cynical streak. After all the in- nocent-looking boxes that prom- ise "Some assembly required," they can't hear a DJ say, "Put your hands together," with- out thinking, "Swell! There will probably be at least three parts left over!" 9. According to years of re- search by the American Opto- metric Association, only a fa- ther could lose a grandmother, a favorite old dog and a pennant race all in the same day and pull that crap about "There must be something in my eye." 10. Only a father could bel- lyache, "Junior, I've heard you whine about that car payment for the hundredth time. I wish you'd just — hey! It's the MIL- LIONTH time the oldies station has played 'Layla'! Quick! Hand me my air guitar! No, no that one — the other one! And tell all your remaining friends to come over and watch!" 11. At least advances in the- oretical science are breathing new life into old fatherhood cli- ches. ("Why? Because quantum physics said so!") 12. Other dad speeches have evolved. ("When I was your age...Hmm, was I EVER your age? This Botox is some great stuff! If they could get Clydes- dales to pull it, I'd never need anything else!") 13. Dads think having posses- sion of a device for controlling the flatscreen TV is a national priority. Controlling the bean burritos they had for lunch? Eh, not so much. 14. In spite of an ongoing fascination with the occult, the world still hears fewer out- bursts of "I'm turning into a werewolf!" than "I'm turning into my father!" Danny Tyree welcomes email responses at tyreetyrades@aol. com and visits to his Facebook fan page Tyree's Tyrades. Danny Tyree Things your father never told you for Father's Day By Danny Tyree Stan Statham When I hear about David Bowie, Prince, Muhammad Ali and others dying I get yet another dose of information that everyone does visit Dr. Death sooner or later. My top priority is to fight to keep that doctor the hell away from me as long as I can. Dads occupy a special place. No, not the special place where they have us stash dirty dishes and dirty laundry while mom is away — a special place in our HEARTS. OPINION » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, June 9, 2016 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A6