Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/69109
6A Daily News – Thursday, June 7, 2012 Opinion Succor! Succor! 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 relieve your readers — this one in particular — from the incessant mutilations of words and gram- mar in the Not Quite Daily News! While I immensely enjoyed the misleading inference in a recent headline that I was a with- ered old columnist, I have railed and ranted to my kitchen coffee cup over what else appears in your publication in every edition. If I had a dollar for every mistake in spelling, style and grammar that is allowed to appear in print, this near-destitute newsie would be financially well off. Editor: Please, sir, do something to sites I opened gave me Canita, but was for a horror movie made in Mexico a few years back. Undaunted, I plunged on and found a definition: Cañita -- a drinking straw. "Drinking Straw- Style Beef Tacos?" Whatever. It is the last straw as This rant is prompted by a headline on Page 2 of the Wednesday, June 6, edition of the Daily News. It appears over a recipe from the 2005 National Beef Cook-Off which is essen- tially a space filler. It is for "Can- itas-Style Beef Tacos." Damn near spilled my coffee. Canitas? What the hell/heck is/are "canitas?" I grabbed a Spanish dictionary. No canitas to be found. I grabbed another, and nothing there. And another. And another. And another. Nope. Nope. Nope. Having exhausted hard copy, I went online. Google kept sending me to "Carnitas," where Wikipedia told me "Carnitas, lit- erally 'little meats' is a type of braised or roasted (often after first being fried) pork in Mexican cui- sine." Well, hell, the Canitas recipe is for tacos made with beef. But I'm probably being picky. Back to the web. The next four far as I am concerned. You are driving me poco loco in the coco. Alto! I am preparing to rally the ranks and make a valiant attempt to turn back these daily (except Sunday) attacks on the English language that impugn the intelli- gence of whatever readers the Daily News may still have. I implore: Put out a better, more professional product, por favor. Muchas gracias, Cliff Larimer, Red Bluff Putting our best foot forward Rough diamond Editor: and use of our existing boat ramps. The slough needs to be chan- neled out too?allowing some water to feed the natural riparian health and habitat of that area. The homeless camp needs to be removed, along with under brush, with the trail extending from the mouth of the river to the lower trail. A reservoir could be created in the main body of the slough for the variety of birds using the slough, when there is water in it. Put in some picnic tables, a viewing area and replant the natural floral. A fishing hole with planted fish could be a part of an inviting nat- ural recreation area. The area could be cleaned and restored by the Tehama County inmates and volunteers. One of the positive things com- ing from this branding project is the community coming together. However, it is shame we didn't get compensated from losing our lake. Our local leaders, who've repeat- edly dropped the ball, need to step up and ask Rep. Wally Herger, Assemblyman Jim Nielson and Sen. Doug LaMalfa why we lost our lake with no compensation, instead of blindly supporting them. The sand bar next to the River- side Bar and Grill and park needs to go. The bank is eroding on the East side. The gravel and sand can be sold for working capital. By removing it lower than the deep channel, it will make it look pretti- er, giving safe access to the river slough, invest and build up Sacra- mento Discovery Center. Perhaps a local rancher could put in riding stables and trails, along with orga- nized trips to any of the amazing places to ride in Tehama County. Everything on the slough should be natural, rustic and country ori- ented lifestyle. No off-road vehi- cles in this environmentally sensi- tive part of the our river?s ecosys- tem. On the lower, part of the vehicles is above the pumps. Put in separate BMX, ATV and motorcy- cle courses. This will bring income to south Red Bluff. Red Bluff Ford and Helser's are both great buildings and with money, I envision the Ford build- ing being a civic center, where we can have concerts and perfor- mances. The infrastructure is in — we just need someone with vision A perfect place for off-road Your Turn and money to pull it off. Helser building would make a great new City Hall, Police Station and Pub- lic Works Facility. The chamber could operate out of this area as well. Leaving city and chamber prime property to be sold for a pretty penny to help finance the move. Walmart would be perfect at South Main Street exit, where there is plenty of land and freeway access, but no reason to stop and spend. The next strip mall and gas station built should go along Diamond, but only after the city makes a road connecting Diamond to Luther. I have always said Red Bluff is a diamond in the rough, we can either develop it the right way and make something exquisite and exceptional, or smash it into a mil- lion useless pieces. For eight years, while serving on the General Plan Committee, I and others tried to address many of these concerns, only to have our ideas rejected and thwarted by the planning department and the Board of Supervisors on behalf certain good ole? boys visions. If I have not been as involved as I once was, the mishandling of the Gen- eral Plan is just one of the many frustrating reasons why. I'm will- ing to try again, because I think Red Bluff is worth it and could be an awesome place to live, thrive and promote to prosperity, if we could finally do what's right for the whole community and not just the few select good ole boys, who have run us into the ground in the past. A waterworks park, fun zone and a Super Pat Johnston, Red Bluff 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. An ode to a wonderful person and teacher Commentary I have this one great fear: that on the day I retire from teaching, I will walk away and no one will either notice or remember. Sadly, I've seen it happen to colleagues. Quite frankly, I think it is a tragedy. their favorite elementary teacher was, the echo of "Mrs. Collins" would fill my room. So my wife and I knew who our kids' first grade teacher would be long before they got there. I write this because a truly great educator is retiring from Bidwell School. Her name is Nancy Collins. She has taught children for over thirty years; most recently the first grade. Her room, 17, is a sanctuary of learning. It oozes caring, compassion, and love. And the Christmas tree that stays up year round is a symbol, to me, of hope in the cycle of life. For Nancy, I think that hope lies not only in the children she teaches, but all children. Nancy embodies what the rest of our society should: namely, our children should come first. If you asked her, I'm quite certain she would agree. This is her tribute. This is her opus. but had heard stories many years before that. Legend has it that she was the greatest teacher most of my seniors ever had. When I would ask them who I met Nancy three years ago I remember the first day I actually met Nancy in person. My first vision of her was of a grey, slightly framed older woman. Though Nancy looked aged, her spirit and enthusiasm certainly were not. The next thing I noticed was her smile lighting up her room. She put her arms out, hugging both Rena and me – and then the kids. I thought we were spe- cial, until I noticed she did the same thing to every single per- son who entered her room. Amazing, I thought. I walked away that day knowing Ethan would thrive – and he did. So did Mia this past year. I tend to worry a lot about my kids, especially Ethan in those days. But that year not a single, negative or anxious thought entered my head – not one. I have Nancy Collins to thank for that. I get emotional just thinking about the influ- ence she (and Penni Wilson and Julie Buer) have had on my kids the past three years. They have been our extended hearts and hands for six hours a day. There can be no substitute for a great teacher. But what makes these individu- als even greater is that they are tremendous human beings. I'm cer- tain many of you know someone like that. My second contact with Nancy was at Ethan's first parent conference. I had no idea what we were in for, but I will tell you this: Nancy Collins made my head spin with her wisdom, knowledge, and insight into how my son learned. In that way, she knew him better than me. She kept asking me if I understood what she was say- ing. I was so speechless, I just did my usual grin and nod and muttered, "Uh, huh." When we left the room, I knew I had just been schooled by one of the wisest, most intellectually bril- Pat Gleason Face Time liant educators I had ever met. More important to me, she is one of the most hum- ble. This, I think, is what makes Nancy Collins so truly spe- cial: the size of her heart equals the wealth of her knowledge. I know Nancy well enough to know she probably won't like this being written about her. And I also know she is not the type of person who teaches for attention. Nancy does what is right simply because it is right. I know she doesn't away without her knowing just how many lives she inspired and how many hearts she touched. 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. Mine included. ——— But, I can't just let her walk want to quit teaching, but I also think she knows it's time.