 |
|
There are currently, 6 guest(s) and 0 Staff Online.
|
| |
|
| It's Time to Say 'Enough' to Elephant Abuse posted on 09/05/2010
COMMENTARY
By Deborah Robinson
In the next few days, Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus trains will roll into Portland. On board, as usual, will be the elephants, this time in a wide range of ages from over 50 down to Barack, only a year and a half old. All of them have been performing with circuses for their entire lives, long and short, and it’s time to say “enough.”
It’s easy to understand some essentials about elephants. As the earth’s largest land mammals, everything about them is gigantic: intelligent brains, vast home ranges and extended families.
In the wild, elephants are constantly on the move, engaged 20 hours a day in exploring a rich and varied environment, looking for food, caring for offspring, and seeking out mates, friends and relatives. Extremely social, they live in large collectives that can include hundreds of elephants.
To think that elephants’ needs can be met simply by providing food, water and shelter is to disregard all we know about the complex nature of these animals. Like us, elephants thrive on family, friends and freedom.
Yet ever-growing piles of evidence including court transcripts, videos and photos, and the testimonies of former Ringling employees, show that Ringling’s elephants are deprived of everything natural to them. Though built for movement they are regularly chained in boxcars for, on average, 26 hours at a time — sometimes up to 100 hours without a break — while traveling across the country for 11 months of the year. At “home” in Ringling’s breeding center they may be chained 22½ hours each day. Standing for long periods of time, unable to move, on hard surfaces and in their own excrement, causes foot and joint problems that are the leading cause of euthanasia among captive elephants in this country.
Mountains of evidence demonstrate, too, that the elephants are constantly subjected to brutal training and management practices. Ringling’s routine abuse of elephants was put on record in recent federal court hearings as employees and even CEO Kenneth Feld acknowledged under oath and in sworn documentation that the elephants are hit with bullhooks, fireplace-poker-like instruments that have sharp points designed to inflict pain. Undercover video released last year showed Ringling’s elephants being hit with bullhooks backstage, immediately before performing. The handlers filmed lashing out at the elephants are still working with them.
The constant confinement, deprivation, and inability to make choices based on anything other than the avoidance of pain creates constant stress, causing abnormal behavior.
On more than one recent occasion elephants in circuses, including one with Ringling, have lashed out or bolted, creating grave risk to the nearby public.
Of all these abuses, nothing seems more heartless than tearing a wailing baby elephant away from his or her mother. But that’s what happens at Ringling’s breeding center, where still-nursing calves less than two years old are violently separated from their mothers and subjected to cruel training.
Elephants’ family bonds are intense. Daughters stay with their mothers for their entire lives, and sons well into their teen years. Circuses destroy those bonds. Most of Ringling’s elephants were taken from their families in the wild. Many of the group coming to Portland were born at the circus breeding center. Photos taken by a former Ringling employee show how young calves are dragged away from their mothers at an age when they still should be enjoying their mother’s coddling and protection. They are then subjected to abusive training meant to break their spirits and ensure complete submission to their handlers. For the rest of their lives, they, like all Ringling elephants, will live in constant fear, pain and deprivation.
Ringling changes its elephant line up on occasion, but recently the unit headed to Portland has included several very young elephants: Barack, another little boy named Irvin who is just five, and two who are only eight. These young animals are especially susceptible to injury, disease and death due to the crushing stress of circus life. Baby Barack, who started his life of travel and performance before his first birthday, has already survived one bout with a usually fatal virus, which could recur at any time.
It is argued by some that seeing elephants in circuses is “traditional.” History is replete with discarded traditions, now viewed with horror and contempt for the cruelties they embodied. Given what we now know about elephants’ needs, and the suffering they experience when deprived of those needs in circuses, we need to add performing elephants to that pile of discarded traditions.
(Deborah Robinson is the captive elephant specialist for In Defense of Animals at http://helpelephants.com/) |
| County Has Work To Do posted on 09/02/2010
The battle is joined in the Palmer vs. County flap over funding of the Wy’east Book Shoppe & Art Gallery for visitor information services provided by Sandra Palmer since 2008. The Mountain Times has reported the proceedings in previous issues, and another news story appears in this edition (see story, Page 11). Palmer proceeded to provide these important services on what she has admitted was a “verbal agreement” that funding was just around the corner. She has been denied — the county citing there was no written contract and that Palmer has “no legal standing.”
Perhaps the county is legally within its bounds to make such a claim. However, it is apparent that since 2008 the county has availed itself of Palmer’s services, guiding tourists to her shop. At the very least, it is evident that a partnership of some sort existed, and we feel the county has an obligation to make an effort to compensate Palmer in some manner for the expenses she has incurred.
But there is an overarching theme that has developed recently that the county’s tourism and cultural affairs office must address. The Mountain community collects lodging taxes for the county that are earmarked for visitor information services. Which side of the Palmer issue one takes, it matters not in this regard. The Mountain is not getting its tax collection dues.
The Zigzag Ranger Station provides some of the information for travelers to the Mountain — such as hiking trails, road closures and camping sites. But the rangers are not in the business of directing visitors to local establishments such as lodging facilities, restaurants and other businesses. To address this vacuum, the county issued a request for proposal earlier this year for those interested in providing these services. There were four respondents: Wy’east Book Shoppe, Sandy Chamber of Commerce, Mt. Hood Cultural Center and Museum, and Mt. Hood Adventure Park — the latter two located in Government Camp. The review board evaluated the proposals and recommended three (all but the Sandy Chamber of Commerce). Danielle Cowan, the newly appointed director of tourism for the county, selected ONE — the Museum.
The Museum does a terrific job. There is no quibble here with that choice. But a geographic anomaly was created in that choice. A traveler to the Mountain must journey all the way to Government Camp before information services are available. The fact that many visitors stay in the Hoodland area seemed of no import to the county. And since an award of $25,000 went to the Museum, that leaves approximately $35,000 left in the county’s tourism tax coffers. From the Interstate through Rhododendron, travelers are in the dark as to receiving information — information vital to our business community.
The county collects, now it must balance the disbursement. An anxious community is watching, waiting.
The opinions expressed in the View from the Mountain are solely those of the editor, Larry Berteau. |
| Leaver Must Provide a Breather posted on 08/03/2010
One has to admit, the Oregon Trail School District knows how to grab headlines. It started with the school bond that voters approved to build a new Sandy High School. Then came the design plans — by design a laborious process. Then came the appeals that brought the process to a grinding halt. The appeal issues appeared to be settled — with attendant concessions — then a LUBA appeal reared its head and the construction remains on hold. (See story, Page 1.) So it goes.
Also, the OTSD has struggled laboriously with Welches Schools. Like the high school process, Welches has caused the district to jump through unanticipated hoops trying to fill the shoes of long-time Principal Mike Sutton, who took early retirement in 2009.
First came Michael McKinney, selected by OTSD to replace Sutton. But nothing comes that easily for the district. McKinney suddenly resigned in mid-term last year — the halting reason being a desire to continue his higher education. Fortunately — like a sports team with a deep bench — Sutton and long-time Vice-Principal Debbie Borge both came out of retirement and guided Welches through the 2009-2010 leadership storm.
OTSD went back to work over the summer and selected Tim Fields as the new Welches Schools principal. Good enough, one might say, but remember, nothing comes easily these days for the district. Fields, who had been serving as assistant principal at Rosemont Ridge Middle School in West Linn, was abruptly placed on administrative leave at that school. Though many rumors flew across the Mountain as to the reason for the dismissal, The Mountain Times could not verify any of them and they never came to print. The West Linn School District, and the middle school as well, refused to reveal the reasons, citing it was a “personnel issue.”
It was back to the principal’s drawing board for OTSD. Another hiring process later, Alex Leaver was tapped from Patton Middle School in the McMinnville School District, where he was serving as vice principal. (See story, Page 7.) Adding it all up, Leaver is the fifth principal (Sutton-McKinney-Sutton-Fields) to grab a musical chair at Welches since 2009.
It is difficult to place blame. We are familiar with the dedication of OTSD Superintendent Shelley Redinger. She has a terrific staff and they work hard. Their intentions are above reproach. Still …
We hope that Leaver is the answer to the dervish surrounding the Welches principal’s chair. He inherits a helping of Mountain community apprehension, though none is of his own doing. So we root for Leaver. After all, no matter how good of a bench a team has, at some point it has to count on its first string.
(The opinions expressed in the View from the Mountain are solely those of the editor, Larry Berteau.)
|
| Kids: Let's Keep Them Healthy posted on 07/02/2010
There is a perception that if something is too good to be true, it probably is.
We are bent on presenting the exception to the perception.
There is new health care coverage that goes beyond the present Oregon Health Plan. It’s called Healthy Kids, and it provides coverage for uninsured children.
And if you fear the red tape of bureaucracy (and who doesn’t?), Healthy Kids cuts through that as well.
Healthy Kids is free or low-cost health care coverage for Oregon children who don’t have health insurance. Kids with current health conditions can also enroll. Eligibility is mostly based on income. Coverage lasts for at least one full year and can be longer so long as the child is eligible.
Coverage includes: medical, dental and vision care; regular checkups and preventive care; prescription medicines and medical equipment; and mental health and chemical dependency services.
Cost ranges from free to an affordable fee. If the family qualifies for the no-cost option, health coverage is free. Qualifying for the low-cost option means paying between 15-25 percent of the premium. If qualification is allowed due to a job loss, once the child is enrolled coverage for one full year continues even if the family level of income increases because of a new job.
For example, the no-cost option is for income less than $44,000 for a family of four. The low-cost option is for income between $44,000 and $66,000 for a family of four. If the family earns more than $66,000 there is no subsidy but an affordable premium is available.
The rules are simple. The child must be 18 or younger, live in Oregon, and be a legal resident. The income level depends on family size, so for smaller families, income is less. For larger families, income is more.
As for the red tape, forget it. Volunteers (such as Mountain resident Dick McQueen) are at the ready to assist with the application. They are available on Tuesdays, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays, noon to 3 p.m., at the Sandy Senior Community Center, 38348 Pioneer Blvd. All they require are income records, child’s proof of citizenship, social security number or residency card, and proof of identity.
That’s it. It couldn’t be easier. Let’s keep our greatest resource — our children — healthy.
(The opinions expressed in the View from the Mountain are solely those of the editor, Larry Berteau.)
|
| You'll Have to Crack Some Eggs posted on 06/03/2010
There is a scene in the movie Annie Hall where Woody Allen’s character describes the situation with his sister, who, after dinner heads out to the chicken coop and clucks her way through the night. When Annie asks why don’t you have her institutionalized, Allen responds: “We need the eggs.”
Which gets us to the Villages at Mt. Hood, the quizzical quasi-governing organization of the Mountain community. A recent example of the quizzical nature occurred at the May 15 Town Hall Meeting which was the venue for an election of three board members. There were three candidates for the three slots.
Sounds simple enough. The good news, or so it seemed, was there were actually three candidates willing to offer up themselves for the — all consuming, often thankless — volunteer positions. But at the Villages, things are seldom simple.
Rick Applegate and George Wilson, incumbents, were on the ballot, along with Carol Burk who was taking her second stab at election to the board. A pretty good turnout (more on that later) showed and cast 78 ballots. Voters could vote for one, two or all three of the candidates. As it turned out, they could also vote for none of them. (More on that later as well.) Complexity reared its head when a little-known fact emerged from the Villages by-laws. To be voted in a candidate had to acquire 50 percent of the ballots, plus one. Applegate and Wilson had never heard of the rule. Nor had board member Pat Buckley. Without doubt, it states in the by-laws that a candidate must garner “a majority of the votes cast.” The final count: Burk (50), Wilson (41) and Applegate (37). According to the by-laws, 40 votes were required to be elected. Burk and Wilson were in, Applegate was out.
The announced time of the meeting was 9:30 a.m. to noon. However, the vote count was announced well before noon. Also, there were (at least) four blank ballots, which, according to Christine Roth — county liaison to the Villages and the person entrusted with the election process — counted in the 78 total. This means that by voting for none, you are casting a NO vote for all three candidates. If you vote for one, you are casting NO votes for the other two — a strange twist on democracy. The MT is also aware of (at least) four would-be voters being turned away before the noon deadline. And, one more twist, there was no checking on would-be voters as to their residency and their right to vote.
Roth, exercising her own version of solipsism, told the MT that the polls closed at noon “by my watch.” Also, voters were turned away “after noon.” And, she thought there to be nothing wrong with the NO vote ballot. But, she said there probably should be some verification of residency, and that things perhaps “should be tightened up.”
We need the eggs.
The opinions expressed in the VIEW FROM THE MOUNTAIN are solely those of the editor, Larry Berteau.
|
| There's an Ill Wind A'blowin posted on 04/03/2010
'He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind.' -- Proverbs
Wow! Oregon’s been taking it in the shorts lately. Literally and figuratively.
The University of Oregon athletic department is in complete disarray. The football team lost more players than Harrah’s Club in a power outage. Ernie Kent, the basketball coach who made the Ducks a PAC-10 powerhouse, was shown the door like John Boehner at a Nancy Pelosi fundraiser. And who let him go? Yep. Mike Bellotti, the athletic director — oops, then he stepped down like a runway model with a broken 5-inch heel.
Inching a bit closer to the Mountain community, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Department has had a worse year than the housing market. An off-duty deputy, Jeffrey Grahn, shot and killed three women (including his estranged wife) before ending his own life with a bullet to the head. Brandon Claggett, the Mountain’s “own” Weed & Seed detective, has been sentenced to seven years in the pen. The county forked over $1 million in a civil suit to the family of Fouad Kaady, who was shot seven times and killed more than four years ago by a Sandy police officer and, you guessed it, Dave Willard, a county deputy sheriff. A former employee of the sheriff’s office, Annette Smith, of Estacada, has been arrested for theft, forgery and official misconduct and is in county jail on $40,000 bail.
Welches schools has not avoided the pall that hangs over us. Certainly of a lesser extreme than the aforementioned items, nevertheless the revolving door which has become the principal’s office is of concern. Many were disappointed by the departure of Principal Mike Sutton at the end of the last school year. There was more disappointment when, after six months on the job, his replacement Michael McKinney issued his resignation at the end of this school year to pursue a higher education degree. Weeks later, the school district and McKinney agreed he should leave immediately because since his announcement he had become “ineffective.” Enter Tim Fields, newly hired for the upcoming school year, while Sutton has returned as interim to finish out McKinney’s term.
What does it all mean? We don’t think it has anything to do with 2012 end-of-the-world conspiracies. Hopefully, the UO will plow through its uprooted fields and plant anew. Hopefully, the sheriff’s office will take a look at its own woeful laundry and hang out a few clean sheets. And hopefully, Fields will take on the job at Welches Schools and provide the stability that was so carefully carried out during the Sutton regime.
Despite the howling, we are hopeful.
(The opinions expressed in the View from the Mountain are solely those of the Editor, Larry Berteau.)
|
| Chug-Chug of the Cell Towers posted on 03/02/2010
There is a pot boiling on the Mountain, the issue is bubbling over, and a proper solution is difficult to ascertain.
A group of individuals, dubbing themselves “Don’t Cell Us Out” has taken on communications giant AT&T (see story, Page 9) to stop the erection of a cell tower on Benchwood Lane. The owner of the property has agreed to the tower. The neighbors stand in opposition. A land-use hearing was held Feb. 18. The issue is stalled at the moment. There is more to come.
For background, 10 years ago there were 24 million cell phone subscribers in the U.S. Today, there are more than 200 million cell phones in use. To keep up with demand, during the same period cell sites have increased from 18,000 to more than 200,000 — and the numbers are increasing.
As inexorable as the growing need for service is the opposition to the towers. Opposition ranges from the aesthetic to health risks. However, under the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, only the location and appearance of the towers can be debated in such land-use hearings — not the potential health factors. The law cited studies on the subject have shown inconclusive evidence that radio-frequency emissions are harmful. Consequently, the law prohibits rejection of a tower based on health risks.
Progress is always prickly. We built a transcontinental railroad that linked east and west. The benefits of the railroad are undeniable. But it didn’t come without consequences. Land grabbing in the name of manifest destiny was, at times, unconscionable. And don’t forget that without the railroad there would never have been train robberies. We can make similar analogies with the automobile, wind turbines, even the kitchen microwave.
Which gets us back (finally) to cell towers. There will be cell towers on the Mountain, because there is a need for them. The benefit outweighs the consequences. The safety factor alone trumps all other arguments. Ask any firefighter, rescue person, ambulance driver, mountain rescuer, or elder living alone in the house.
“Don’t Cell Us Out” made excellent points at the land-use hearing. AT&T blinked and agreed to drop the height of the tower and to camouflage it as a Douglas fir. And maybe Benchwood Lane is not the best location. But don’t take this hearing as gospel that cell towers don’t belong on the Mountain. They are coming, as certainly as the railroad before it.
It’s a question of “when,” not “if.”
|
| Deadline: Feb. 26 posted on 02/01/2010
We have certainly been among those who have taken shots at the Villages at Mt. Hood Board of Directors. That’s the stuff of politics. And our readers have not been bashful at bashing them — and that includes this issue’s public opinion offerings that have helped spur a Board response.
The Board celebrates its fourth anniversary in May. We know there are still those who believe the Board was created under a cloak of secrecy and has no standing. Nevertheless, we are not so foolish as to deny its existence — nor are we so arrogant as to call for its demise. Remember, whatever amount of antagonism you mount against the Villages, the county and state agencies will continue to make decisions about the Mountain community. Our only source of influence — of any kind short of attending meetings in the reverberating halls of Oregon City and occasionally howling at the moon — is the Villages. We can take a seat at the table, or sit on the porch and spit seeds.
Bingo.
We had the good fortune of a good friend reminding us on an unrelated matter, that, you don’t get to play unless “you have some skin in the game.” Here’s your chance. There are three positions on the Board up for election May 15 at the Town Hall Meeting. Applications are due Feb. 26. You can go online at the Villages’ new Web site and download an application. Go to: www.TheVillagesAtMtHood.com. That’s a FEB. 26 deadline.
That’s all it takes to get some skin. Those who refer to the antics of the Board as just that, antics, can get involved. Talk to your fellow complainants. Pick someone. Rally behind them. Get to the Town Hall Meeting and vote.
Because we assure you, the dedicated members of the Board will be looking for candidates as well. They will talk it up. They will rally. That’s what volunteers do. |
| A New Year, and then ... posted on 01/01/2010
Any man’s death diminishes me, because
I am involved in Mankind; And therefore
never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
it tolls for thee. — John Donne
As the New Year crunches across the Mountain it brings with it hope, resolutions and sadness. Perhaps it is fitting, if not fair. Certainly it is not unexpected, but also not completely comprehended.
Mount Hood, that stern sentinel, has taken more lives. There is much talk as to the foolishness of the climbers, the taxpayer cost of the recovery attempts, and the senselessness of it all. But the cloud that emanates from the snowy flanks of the mountain is one of loss. There are three deaths. And less we think we are unscathed, be reminded of John Donne’s words that precede this editorial.
Another tragedy unfolded on Welches Road. A young woman is gone. So full of life one day, the next moment plucked from us. We are all the lesser for it.
Also, this editor’s sister went suddenly. It came out of nowhere. No illness. No slow descent into that good night. Robust one day, so vulnerable the next. She has left a hole in the editor’s heart. It will never completely heal.
Times like these it is especially important to trust in the better angels. Surely they will now guide us into this new year, armed with the resolve heaped upon us by tragedy, and aided by the hope that 2010 will shower us with grace and kindness.
So let us lift our chins a bit and add a jaunty skip to our step.
Let us gather every glint of sunshine and make it twinkle in our eye.
Let us touch as many hearts as we can, remembering all that has passed and rejoicing in all that is to come.
All of this while keeping a wary eye on that witch that circles the Mountain.
And a final reminder comes from the pen of George Eliot: “It’s but little good you’ll do watering last year’s crops.”
We are all doing this New Year bit together.
Peace.
(The opinions expressed in the View from the Mountain are solely those of the Editor, Larry Berteau.)
|
| Where Do You Stand? posted on 12/02/2009
VIEW FROM THE MOUNTAIN
It’s one thing when the Mormon Tabernacle Choir outnumbers its audience. It’s another when The Villages at Mt. Hood does the same.
It wasn’t quite that bad, but it was close.
At the Nov. 21 Town Hall Meeting of the Villages, the board of directors was there, along with two guest speakers. An election was held for the open position on the board and a new member was voted in — unopposed. The recent survey conducted by the Villages was reviewed, commented on, all in preparation for an action plan to be implemented in the future. A free pancake breakfast was thrown in. The result: 19 community members showed up.
There is plenty of controversy on the Mountain regarding the legitimacy of the Villages. However, to fault those committed individuals who have stepped forward to represent the community would be unfair. The board has its accomplishments: Remember the quarry showdown with ODOT? And don’t forget without the board — spearheaded by chair Bob Reeves — we wouldn’t have MEL, our local bus service.
But when a tree falls in the forest, and there’s no one there, does it make a sound?
Which gets us to the point. What does the Mountain community want? There are many camps of opinion, enough to have their echoes called back to the Byzantine era. From here, they fall into the following categories:
1. The Villages is a bogus organization, voted in by a whopping 52 people who showed up at its formation. They are, simply, irrelevant.
2. We don’t need the Villages, or any other group, telling us what to do. We want to be left alone.
3. The Villages has no teeth. It is an advisory group only. It accomplishes nothing of substance. The board members are lackeys of the county. The only answer is to incorporate.
4. We need better direction, more involvement, the apathy must somehow be overcome. The board members of the Villages are our best bet. Show up.
Where do you stand? Is there a group we left out?
As for us, we know there is work to be done. The people’s work. There are issues. Water. Roads. Environment. Economy. Law enforcement. A Mountain is at stake. And right now, the work, for whatever reason, is pleasing to a very few. We will explore alternatives.
(The opinion expressed in The View from the Mountain is solely that of the editor, Larry Berteau.)
|
| This Bark has a Bite posted on 11/09/2009
That rattle and roar that courses through Mount Hood National Forest may be getting muffled soon — or at least more isolated.
In late August the Forest Service released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Mount Hood Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Plan. In September two open houses were hosted (Portland and Hood River) to explain the DEIS and answer questions. Written comments were accepted through Oct. 28.
The plan is an attempt to balance recreation opportunities for OHV use with other recreational uses of Mt. Hood National Forest. From the comments the Forest Service has narrowed the choices to Alternative 3 and Alternative 4.
Alternative 3 — Includes eight areas, 325 miles of routes, 69 sites of new construction and is adjacent to 30.4 miles of wilderness areas, including Salmon-Huckleberry, Roaring River, Badger Creek, Mount Hood and Mark O. Hatfield. This route will cross 161 streams and cost $330,000.
Alternative 4 — Includes three areas, 100 miles of routes, nine sites of new construction and is adjacent to .5 miles of adjacent wilderness area, including only Badger Creek. This route will cross 46 streams at a cost of $90,000.
Bark is a non-profit watchdog group from Portland which for 10 years has been in the business of protecting the natural resources of Mount Hood and the surrounding forest. Bark believes that everyone has a right to use the forest, but no one has a right to abuse it. At the Rhododendron CPO meeting Oct. 17, Bark attorney Lori Ann Burd told those gathered that Bark was not an acronym, rather “the stuff on the outside of trees.” Then, she said wryly, it’s also a noise that tends to be heard.
Burd got our attention with her research on the subject — as well as her sense of humor. Burd cited a lab survey that 53.5 percent of visitors to Mount Hood are day hikers and for 22.8 percent it is their primary purpose. In contrast, only .16 percent say their primary reason for visits is for OHV use.
This information, plus the fact that Alternative 4 is less costly, more balanced, protects drinking water and rivers from the environmental impact of OHV use; and recognizes the needs of quiet recreationists such as hikers, anglers, hunters, picnickers and equestrians; AND the fact that the Rhody CPO and Mt. Hood Corridor CPO have endorsed Alternative 4; it was an easy call for us to throw in our throaty endorsement as well.
Vroom-vroom. Hold it down. |
| The Saddest Show on Earth posted on 10/02/2009
COMMENTARY by Frances Berteau
The Greatest Show on Earth, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus was at the Rose Garden in Portland last month. The “Greatest” part applies to the trapeze artists and clowns who are talented and entertaining to the crowds.
But, the “greatest” part stops there. The Saddest Show on Earth belongs to the elephants and tigers who are forced to perform silly and unnatural acts to “entertain” the public.
Elephants are enormous and heavy animals, and being forced to balance on their front legs on an upturned tub, or rear up on command on their back legs, is often painful for them. If their performance is not up to par, beatings and punishment with sharp metal bullhooks will follow.
Tigers are terrified of fire, why on earth would they jump through a hoop of fire unless they were forced to?
Of course, the public is unable to see this ugly element of the circus, it all happens behind the scenes. Circus animals are not volunteers, and they don’t perform because they want to, they perform because they are afraid not to.
Moments before entering the ring, adorned in their head dresses, the elephants are struck with sharp metal bull hooks for seemingly no apparent reason. They are all in line and behaving themselves. Don’t believe this? Click onto www.circuses.com and see what really happens.
Some members of the public have also captured the abuses on video as the circus arrives in their town and posted it on the web. Check it out for yourself. There are numerous sites on the web to tell you the truth about circuses.
Ringling Bros. is currently involved in a federal lawsuit which alleges mistreatment of its animals, and over the years their animal care record is riddled with tragic animal deaths and USDA investigations.
Many countries no longer allow animals acts (there are nationwide bans in Costa Rica, Finland, India, Singapore, Sweden and others), and there are many localities in the USA that have banned circuses, our closest neighbor being Port Townsend and Redmond in Washington.
Green and progressive Portland should get with it too, and animal circuses should not be made welcome any longer in the city.
Traveling across country from show to show, Ringling elephants are transported, chained and confined in cramped boxcars for the length of the journey — maybe more than 26 hours at a time, and performing tigers are confined to cages their entire lives. No green grass or trees for them, just good old concrete.
When the public pays to see animal acts, it is paying into a practice that is cruel and outdated. Surely we can derive amusement from other sources, not watching wild animals perform ridiculous and painful tricks for our entertainment.
It is sad to see the children file into the circuses to watch the performances. Children don’t realize what really happens, they probably think these are all happy animals doing this by choice, but we as adults should know better. What does it teach our children when they see submissive wild animals performing silly tricks. It’s akin to a bully in a school yard and suggests that this sort of behavior is OK. Shouldn’t we be teaching compassion?
It’s tragic that circus animals have to spend their entire lives on the road, chained or caged for public entertainment. Clowns and trapeze artists in the circus a definite yes, elephants and tigers no. Please patronize only animal-free circuses such as the Cirque du Soleil, or the Pickle Family Circus.
PT Barnum once said, “there’s a sucker born every minute.”
He was right.
|
| Am I Still on Hold? Hello? posted on 10/02/2009
VIEW FROM THE MOUNTAIN
At some point the excuses start sounding hollow, and the specter of skullduggery rears its head. This is the case with Jim Jones, owner of Cascade Telecom Development and publisher of the Villages of Mt. Hood phone directory.
The original publishing date of the directory was November 2008. In June 2009, Jones told The Mountain Times it would be published by the end of the month (story in July MT). That deadline has come and gone, and still no phone book. In August (story in September MT), Jones responded to a rally of disgruntled advertisers at Meinig Park in Sandy and, after confessing to the crowd, “I know my integrity is in the toilet,” proceeded to write refund checks to a handful of clients. At the rally, Jones promised the boutique directory would be on the street by mid-September.
It’s October, and still no directory. You’re sensing a pattern here, we suspect.
So what’s the big deal? It’s just a phone directory. Most of us still have the 2007 book, right? OK. It may be a tad dog-eared, perhaps hog-chewed, but we still have it. Or, perhaps we don’t.
Here’s the big deal. Jones collects in advance of publication from his advertisers. For any new advertisers (since 2007), Jones has their money, but their ad is still floating around on a computer at CTD. To a business community like the one that exists here on the Mountain, this is a very big deal. To wit:
“He was always saying he was going to the printer at the end of the month … I don’t expect to get my money back.” — Andrea Galusha, Andrea’s Wine Gallery.
“(It’s) a lot of money to me. I’m a new business and it was really important to me to get the word out. You might say I’m just a tad upset.” — Sally Schneider, Weddings and Other Bloomin’ Occasions.
“You pay for something, you expect to get what you paid for … I’ve been ripped off.” — Kelley Mackenstadt, Mogul Mountain Pizza.
The list goes on.
Jones claims he has been ill. There is no reason to doubt this. But former employees have told the MT the illness is not as grave as he has let on. No matter. He showed up at Meinig Park, he can certainly return phone calls. Advertisers need to know his plan — his real plan — as to how he figures to make things right. An immediate 12-month phone directory would be ideal. Giving back the money would be helpful. Playing it straight is mandatory.
(The opinions expressed in the View from the Mountain are solely those of the editor, Larry Berteau.)
|
| The Education Express posted on 09/09/2009
As we welcome our children back to school we are required to examine the yearly progress reports recently issued by the Oregon Department of Education as mandated by the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
At first blush, the sincerely titled Adequate Yearly Progress standards should bring us to our feet and we should start a Mountain version of the “Wave” for Welches Middle and Elementary schools. This should be tempered, however, by a Mike Myers finger to the side of the mouth reaction to the report for Sandy High.
Here’s what the report says: Welches Elementary and Middle schools have “repeatedly met all targets.” Sandy High has “repeatedly missed targets and are on the troubled list.”
There are five standards for the state ratings: 1. unacceptable; 2. low; 3. satisfactory; 4. strong; and 5. exceptional.
The tested categories are: 1. test administration; 2. student performance; 3. attendance dropouts; 4. four-year trend; 5. overall.
Welches Elementary, with 283 enrolled students, received a 5 in test administration, 4 in student performance, 3 in attendance dropouts, 2 in trend, with a 3 overall. Welches Middle, with 146 enrolled students, netted identical scores. Sandy High, with 1,337 students enrolled, managed nearly identical scores of 5-3-3-2-2, but was deemed “troubled.”
If this suggests to you there may be something wrong with the system, we agree. And we are not alone in this assessment. Nearly everyone in the business — administrators and teachers — agree.
NCLB is no way to run a railroad. The flawed directive defies description in this limited space. But imagine the system to be an actual railroad. The federal government put down the track. The state and the school district are commissioned with running the railroad, staying on schedule, all the while coaxing a few more miles out of a poorly designed engine.
There is some hope. The Obama administration and a task force at the state level are hammering away at the tracks with a program called Rise to the Top — funded by federal grants. The program provides motivation, including teacher incentives and merit pay for student progress, according to Debbie Johnson, Director of Teaching and Learning at the Oregon Trail School District.
“There will be changes,” Johnson told The Mountain Times. “It will not be so punitive.”
Let’s hope Casey is at the throttle of the onrushing Education Express.
The opinions expressed in The Mountain Times are solely those of the editor, Larry Berteau
|
| A Dickens of a Time posted on 08/03/2009
‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way …’
A Tale of Two Cities — Charles Dickens
It may not be Paris and London, as in the Dickens story, but as metaphor, it could just as well be.
The Page 1 story of the Youth Corps is a certain reflection of the “best of times.” These are hard workers, provided jobs by federal stimulus funds, and as their crew chief said, they like to get their hands dirty.
At the same time — an image of the worst — is Brandon Claggett’s Page 1 story. He claims he has a mental problem and can’t take it any more. We hope he gets help. We also hope the psychiatric assistance renders him capable of standing trial. A reckoning is due.
It is also the season of light. A lot of it. Fire danger is at a peak and we need no other reference than the probability of an August like last year. Oregon suffered under the terror of 5,000 lightning strikes. The Gnarl Ridge fire was the closest to us — and we were lucky. We urge all the Mountain community to exercise caution.
There was despair as well. The passing of Kayla Shultz shocked us all. We understand the inevitability of our tour on earth, and it is always sad when it comes to an end for family and loved ones. But it is especially difficult when one is taken so suddenly, and at such a young age. We offer our sincere condolences.
In the incredulity department, it is bewildering why we still see dogs left in cars. With the summer heat wave it is a deadly dose for our canine friends. We have a Dickens of a time understanding this most simple of concepts.
View from the Mountain is the opinion of the editor, Larry Berteau
|
| Happy 4th posted on 07/03/2009
On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, launching 13 colonies onto a turbulent sea — a voyage to freedom.
The heroism of the patriots of that daring era are well documented. The time between then and now is a history lesson gorged with great deeds and misdeeds, the fabric of a people yearning to be free, even though we can’t truly define the term.
So, 233 years later, how are we doing? How is this experiment in freedom getting along? Are we free? Or, if not free, are we at least reasonable?
Every time is difficult, but we can probably all agree that this time is especially challenging. We are still: fighting two wars on foreign soil; smarting from the ignominy of 9/11; reeling from the collapse of our 401Ks and retirement dreams; concerned, angry, baffled, or doubtful over climate change; wondering if pestilence, plague, and every Old Testament horror is just around the corner. Spare us the boils.
Hell, as The Mountain Times reported in the June issue, even the cost of whiskey’s going through the roof.
Hey, it’s the Fourth. Get out your flags, even though they were made in China. Light up your fireworks, even though — you got it — they were made in China. Maybe it would be best just to stick with the hot dogs (most of them came from Iowa), and the chicken (Georgia, Arkansas or Texas), and the baked beans ((North Dakota), and potato salad (Idaho, Washington). Even though they make us sound geographically challenged, at least it’s America.
But we are free to choose. That much we have been able to preserve. Nothing is mandatory. Everything (including reality TV — wince) is possible.
In our opinion, we haven’t done too bad. There are a few items we’d like to ellipse from the young Republic’s resume, but we have persevered, if not completely overcome.
So let’s make a deal. Let’s make this Mountain community a better place in another year’s turning. What do we have to lose? Pride is a fine potion — and is best served with a slice of patriotism. Be safe. |
| View From The Mountain: BE VIGILANT, PITCH IN posted on 06/04/2009
"It's a fine mess you got us in now, Olly."
It doesn’t matter how you phrase it. The gory truth is that the budget for our children’s education has been slashed. Cut. Garroted. We are feeling the effects on the Mountain, at Welches Schools and Sandy High. It is safe to say that our school district has been proactive and probably done all it could. But the numbers are as awful as an American Idol marathon – the reality as stark as a Joan Rivers infomercial.
There is no easy fix. But a quick review of how we got ourselves into this imbroglio might provide some clarity – based on the assumption that knowledge is power.
Unfortunately, that clarity comes at the expense of having to type the dreaded words: Measure 5. Before Measure 5, property taxes accounted for 60 percent of the K-12 budget. Voters could determine the tax base at the local school district level, allowing for a permanent tax base for school funding. This method had its advantages, but inequities arose due to high tax bases in affluent and industrial districts at the expense of rural districts like our own.
When the anti-tax mavens reared their heads (Measure 5) the ensuing property tax cuts shifted the major burden of school financing over to the state. (The general fund’s share of K-12 education doubled after Measure 5.)
What has happened in this century is that the state has gone belly-up. There are many reasons for it, but before you get your reactionary rods glowing, it hasn’t all been due to wasteful government spending. Consider: (1) tax breaks for corporations shifting the tax base disproportionately to homeowners; (2) loss of manufacturing jobs; and most importantly that (3) the overwhelming tax beneficiaries from Measure 5 were big business and corporate lackeys from out-of-state who paid no taxes.
None of this solves the problem. When good times return, it will get better (more revenue). But in the meantime it is important we do two things. One, be vigilant. Don’t be taken in by the anti-taxers. Evaluate ballot measures and get smarter. We all want better schools and lower taxes. But there’s a pitfall there that must be avoided: we don’t get something for nothing. And, two, help out. There is no substitute for adult substitutes. Pitch in. Help at the school. There is much we can do. No excuses.
Our children are our greatest treasure.
The opinions expressed in The View From The Mountain are solely those of the Editor, Larry Berteau. |
| View from the Mountain: Let's Play Ball posted on 05/02/2009
“Everyone complains about the weather, but no one does anything about it.”
The original source of this quote is much in dispute. We lean toward Will Rogers, but the source is not relevant to this editorial. What is relevant is how it pertains to the Villages at Mt. Hood and its board of directors.
Three positions are being contested at the Villages Town Hall meeting at 9:30 a.m., May 23 at Welches Elementary. (We were incorrectly informed in last month’s issue that the meeting was to be held on May 17. More on that later.) Incumbents Pat Sharp and Shirley Dueber are candidates, plus new hopefuls George Wilson and Doug Salvidar. Former board member Robert Baker decided not to run.
A lot of people complain about the Villages board, but few do anything about it. We certainly do not always agree with them, but we heap praise on those who serve, and those who show up. We always keep in mind that these are volunteers. No one makes a career out of serving on the Villages board. And we do not abide those who throw stones from outside the political stadium. To the latter we say: Stop tailgating in the parking lot. Take a ticket and grab a seat. Or better yet, suit up.
To the candidates and the other six sitting board members we urge, above all else, a dedication to communicate with the Mountain community. This newspaper is a source. (And correct, timely information is critical.) The Villages Web site is another — though we lament its labyrinthine style making it virtually impossible to navigate. There are sites around the Mountain to post flyers.
It feels, at times, that the board is cloaked in secrecy and prefers to remain that way. This may not be the intent, but in politics perception is paramount.
Despite the lack of involvement, people in this community care. We have learned this in our one year on The Mountain. There is work to be done on both ends. The Villages must reach out. The citizens must reach in. We are confident we will be best served by an informed and involved community, and a responsive Village board.
With everyone in the game, the outcome may not always be a win, but the contest will have been well played — rain or shine.
And when we express ourselves through the use of baseball metaphor, you know how serious we are. The editor is a hopelessly earnest baseball savant.
|
| View from the Mountain: Revolution in the Air posted on 04/02/2009
For many of us in the Mountain community, we feel powerless. We are the unincorporated, forgotten, backwoods stepchildren of the county. The only time we get attention from government agencies is when we’re in the way and must be stepped over, stepped on, or scraped off. We are the woebegone. But something happened on the way to the wobbly pile. Suddenly, in a matter of hours, Prometheus pilfered fire from the ashes of Olympus. Victory was snatched from the jagged jowls of defeat. OK. We exaggerate a bit. It probably won’t make the history books. But it is at least chronicled in this edition of The Mountain Times (story, Page 1), and if it happens to get lost in the musty halls of the Oregon Department of Transportation, we will be here to remind them. Here’s what happened. When the ground shifted on Hwy. 26 in Sandy during the winter storm ODOT’s response to the slide was to let out a bid for the excavation of rock and gravel to restore the embankment. ODOT moved swiftly — some may even say stealthily — but it caught the eye of Villages board member Rick Applegate. The environmentally sensitive Miller Road Quarry was the designated blast area and disposal site for the restoration effort. No one asked us. Worse, no one even told us. But Applegate, in his best impersonation of Paul Revere, sounded the alarm and called for an emergency meeting of the Villages board and did his best to notify the community. It all came down in a day. But the board agreed to the meeting, and an overflow crowd showed up at the meeting place. A beleaguered ODOT spokesman stood under fire from the locals and did his best to respond. That mostly came down to "I apologize" — a phrase that was uttered five times during the meeting. Applegate was followed by others, including George Wilson, Keith Schacher, Michael P. Jones, Dick Bauer, Sheryl Robinson, Jim Hench, Randall Paul, the list went on. Bob and Margaret Thurman had handouts reminding us of the historical importance this area holds for the community. These Mountaineers carried water for us all. ODOT blinked. The transportation titans decided not to blast rock from Miller Road Quarry. Once again, it should be noted this wasn’t exactly a bunch of wild-eyed revolutionaries plotting against a king over pints of ale at Tun’s Tavern. But it sure as hell tasted like it.
The opinions expressed in the View from the Mountain are solely those of the editor, Larry Berteau
|
| Letter to the Editor -- Frances Berteau, Welches posted on 03/16/2009
As Bob Barker reminded his viewers to "have your pets spayed or neutered," on "The Price is Right," the time has never been more serious than now. U.S. animal shelters must put to death nearly 4 million dogs and cats every year because there are simply not enough homes for them all.
You can help prevent this and it’s as easy as ABC — Animal Birth Control.
Your beloved pet’s offspring could end up in a shelter, euthanized, abandoned to slowly starve to death, or live a life of neglect and loneliness on the end of a chain.
Surely this is not what responsible pet owners would want. Often these litters are the result of cherished pets, but sometimes efforts to find good homes fail.
There are benefits that come with spaying and neutering too. You won’t have the mess that comes with a female being "in heat" or the wandering habits of unneutered males. Or a cat wailing outside your bedroom window all night is no fun — just the result of an unneutered tom trying to find his date.
Millions of pets being put to death each year through no fault of their own is a tragedy.
Please help curb pet overpopulation and make that appointment with your vet to have your pet spayed or neutered.
It’s as easy as ABC.
Frances Berteau
Welches
|
| View From The Mountain, editorial: FOR'UM and AGAIN'UM posted on 03/01/2009
We have received a letter and a couple phone calls excoriating The Mountain Times (more explicitly, the editor) for publishing the commentary written by Steve Graeper, president of the Rhododendron Community Planning Organization, on page 5 of the Opinion section in the February edition.
We have been taken to task for not reporting all sides of the issue. Further, we’ve been deemed untruthful, unethical, disrespectful and thoroughly lacking in integrity.
It should be noted, like many attacks of this kind, the letter was unsigned, the callers unidentified.
The letter suggests we didn’t do our job, and that many in the community are offended by Graeper’s op-ed article — and our printing of it. We feel an explanation is owed to those who may share the anonymous writer’s complaint.
The Opinion page is not a News page. It is not reporting. Our masthead spells it out clearly: Letters to the Editor (and commentaries) are welcome and encouraged and will be printed except for those that incite hate or reflect bigotry. The Opinion page is reserved as a forum for our readers and we do not interfere with or discourage their input. We do not seek out opinions. We do not necessarily agree with them. But we print them. This is the community’s newspaper.
It seems our anonymous writer and callers believe we should have reported the other side of this issue. As we didn’t “report” it in the first place, it’s not even a discussion piece.
We have also been accused of having a bias on the matter. Our bias appears in this column only: View from the Mountain. It’s called an editorial. Mr. Graeper’s bias is his own — it’s called an op-ed — and so it goes to all our contributors who wish their voices to be heard. If someone has a different opinion on the issue brought up by Mr. Graeper, consider this an invitation.
To our anonymous writer who accuses us of bad journalism: that’s not bad journalism. That IS journalism.
Lastly, the number of letters and commentaries sent to The Mountain Times that have not been published by this editor: ZERO.
And in every case, the writers had the clear purpose and conviction to sign it.
|
| VIEW FROM THE MOUNTAIN -- Community rallies in time of need posted on 02/01/2009
In times of great difficulty communities are like ships at sea. They either rise with the tide, or sink. The recent winter storm blast that hit the Mountain community was a tide of significant proportions.
We are pleased to report the boat is afloat.
There were many tales of citizen response, selfless acts prompted by nothing more than a spirit of helping neighbors in a time of crisis. These ranged from an individual’s snow blowing efforts in Twinberry Loop, a logger’s snow plowing on Deer Park Road, food deliveries to marooned families, Red Cross vans roaming through remote neighborhoods to lend a helping hand, and HEART and scout volunteer sandbagging crews.
And hats (and ski masks) off to the intrepid work force of PGE. Their trucks covered The Mountain like trenchant crocodiles at a moat convention.
To all our extraordinary citizens, The Mountain Times salutes you.
* * *
DITCH THE NITCH
Oregon Republicans are deciding who to lead them through the rubble of defeats suffered in the November election.
To the Grand Old Party (GOP) we offer some Grand Old Mountain (GOM) advice. There hasn’t been more need of a sharp turnaround in the Northwest since Lewis and Clark pitched a tent at Dismal Nitch, hard on the banks of Cape Disappointment.
There still may be enough Republicans in America to follow the (dismal and disappointing) diatribe of hidebound harangues emanating from the Hanni-tease of the world, but they are seriously out of step with the clear thinking, frontier flavor of most Oregonians. Then-Senator Gordon Smith, in 2006, made a (seemingly) serious attempt to distance himself from the neoconservative ideologies of Washington. But it was too little, too late — and too many lockstep votes from the previous six years.
Think Tom McCall. He was the 30th governor of Oregon and dedicated himself to environmental clean up, marshalled the Oregon Bottle Bill and fought successfully for public ownership of Oregon’s beaches. He was progressive. He was a Republican.
So, to the GOP, from the GOM: Think.
The opinion expressed is that of the editor, Larry Berteau
|
| VIEW FROM THE MOUNTAIN - Separating Weeds from Seeds posted on 01/03/2009
In October Clackamas County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Claggett, 37, resigned, ending a 14-year career with the department. It was alleged he had inappropriately touched a woman while she was riding in his patrol car. According to a sheriff’s report Claggett had taken a teenage girl on rides while he was in uniform and driving his patrol car – at least five rides over a three-year time frame. An internal investigation report also indicated the deputy had sent sexually explicit photos of himself to the girl via his cell phone.
Claggett was placed on administrative leave in July after the department received allegations of misconduct from the Department of Justice. In September a criminal investigation was completed and presented to the District Attorney. The DA’s office chose not to pursue the allegations. "The elements just weren’t there," said Jim Strovink, information officer for the sheriff’s department. Next, the sheriff’s department took up an internal investigation. That investigation ended in November when Claggett resigned.
This event may have passed over the Mountain community without much notice, except that Claggett had been working the Mountain as the department’s chief drug enforcement officer – a program known as "Weed and Seed." As these things go, any good that may have come out of Claggett’s work on the Mountain has been buried in an avalanche of opinion about his misdeeds. Stories have spread throughout the community, and although they are anecdotal in nature, they do not flatter Claggett’s career. We are of two strong opinions on the matter. First, we are aware of the difficulty of the work of law enforcement. To protect and serve is a sworn oath not shared by other professions. On that note we urge all members of the community to be cautious to not tar other law enforcement officers with the Claggett brush. To underline this point we need look no further than the December tragedy of two heroic Woodburn police officers who gave their lives in the line of duty. Second, it is the perception of many that Claggett’s actions have been tossed off by the department, and that regular citizens – unfortunate enough to have been investigated under the umbrella of similar misdeeds – would not have been afforded the opportunity to simply resign and walk away. We share that perception. Law enforcement is a tough business. We want law enforcement to be as tough as the law demands — on everyone — in order that we can support it completely.
View from the Mountain is the opinion of the editor, Larry Berteau
|
| LETTER TO THE EDITOR by Thomas Rutledge posted on 01/03/2009
Having no objection to constructive criticism, I appreciate Mr. Koberstein’s input to clarify the issue of former-Deputy Brandon Claggett.
I apologize if the intent of my letter in the November edition of The Mountain Times was not clear.
I will summarize the thrust of that letter by saying the population of this county has no patience or tolerance for amoral or crooked cops. The circle-the-wagons mentality and protect-our-own-attitude of some members of that enforcement department leaves the taxpayers wondering what kind of law enforcement they are paying for. It also fuels the perception of an unbridled culture of corruption within that department.
I stand charged with being "out in left field" and "having an emotional view of the Brandon Claggett situation." Whether left field, right field, or in the dugout, I view everything with a wide-angled lens before making judgments.
As for being emotional, I’ve lived through one jungle war and a half-dozen bar fights. At my age I don’t get emotional about anything except this country I fought for and the destructive power of the corruption that I see tearing this country apart. Thomas R. Rutledge
Welches
|
| LETTER TO THE EDITOR by Charisse Tooze posted on 01/03/2009
I work in Rhododendron. I depend on the Internet a lot for my work.
Currently I’m stuck with slow dial-up. I’ve been calling Wave Broadband almost every month since they bought Charter Communications to get an affirmative answer as to when they will be installing broadband service here.
However, every time I speak with a representative, they push back the installation date. They first told me they would install the service September or October 2008, now I hear it’s scheduled for spring 2009.
I called Verizon, with whom I already have phone service, and they are planning on installing broadband in the area, but they are keeping the installation dates quiet, said a representative, since they don’t want the competition (Wave Broadband) to know when or if they will be installing.
So, are Wave and Verizon going to be waiting for one or the other to start service?
Each could be waiting for a long time if no one makes the first move.
It would be nice if both companies would simply give us the truth, telling us if or when they will be installing so their customer service becomes a first priority rather than their engagement in secretive competition.
Whatever company dares to start first, I will be loyal to them.
Charisse Tooze
Rhododendron
|
| LETTER TO THE EDITOR from Mail Carriers posted on 01/03/2009
To all our good friends that are on the Mountain Postal Rural Route, a friendly reminder:
For your safety and that of your mail carriers please be aware that your carrier is NOT responsible for the maintenance or clearing of the approach to your mail box.
Please keep your mail box approach free of snow, trash cans, cars and other obstacles such as high weeds etc. Remember, your carrier is not required to get out of his vehicle to deliver your mail to a blocked or an unsafe box.
Your mail box must be in good condition. The address numbers must be clearly visible from the street. Your mail box must be easily accessible. The mail box must have a latching door, set to the proper height and your box must be one that is approved by the Post Master General.
If you have any questions there is a printout available at your local post office of requirements for height and type of approved mail boxes.
If you have an MBU (multiple box unit) again please be sure it is safely accessible and cleared of snow and weeds and other debris. This is for your safety and that of your carriers. Your HOA should be responsible for this. If you do not belong to a HOA then please take pride in your neighborhood and make sure you boxes are clean and clear of all obstacles.
Remember, your mail box is a reflection of pride in your home and of your neighborhood.
Thank you. It has been a pleasure serving you.
Your local Mountain mail carriers
|
| LETTER TO THE EDITOR by Mike Washburne posted on 01/03/2009
This is in response to the letter written by Mark Koberstein published in the December Mountain Times.
The issue is that ex-deputy Brandon Claggett was allowed to walk away after the internal investigation started. As Mr. Koberstein wrote "Once the internal investigation began, Brandon quit."
Gee. I wonder why.
It is all well and good for Mr. Koberstein to defend a one-time fellow officer whom he may have been friends with. However, the perception will always be that while Brandon Claggett will be lucky to get a job as an unarmed security guard, he still did not have to pay the piper.
Mike Washburne
Welches
|
| LETTER TO THE EDITOR by Bob Decker posted on 01/03/2009
Had a few thoughts on a couple of subjects if I may; the first being the topic regarding the Oregon Trail District Bond that narrowly passed.
So there is no misunderstanding, I’m not against schools. But I have to be honest and say that in my opinion the tax increase we are facing in support of the new school is an abusive one; not only in the amount of increase it will represent but the duration as well.
This is for me as a taxpayer and homeowner the single largest increase I’ve ever seen at any one time in my life, so far. It tends to support the liberal, entitlement kind of mentality we see far to often in today’s world.
In retrospect it would have made more sense on the part of educators, the School District and the State to have invested and saved over the past 31 years for the future needs of repairs and new buildings than to have saddled the taxpayers with this enormous, all-at-once tax.
I’m also not expecting the cost to come in as expected nor should anyone else. Teachers will be back for increases in their contracts and new bonds will no doubt be sought along the way.
Regarding teacher contracts: It was interesting how the Oregon Trail School District resolved their desires during the summer as opposed to the fall and winter time frame for all to see. They wasted no time settling. I’m not against teachers but it would have been more Democratic and transparent for the community to have had some input into the matter.
Collectively as we go forward people are going to be in trouble trying to meet their tax obligations and keep their homes, pay for health care, save for the future and provide for their families. Irrespective of the goal to provide new schools for kids, this tax is an irresponsible one whose constitutionality is questionable. This could have been accomplished in a more common sense approach with less hardship had there been some planning going on over the years.
The other topic of interest is that in case no one has noticed we are rapidly losing our so-called capitalistic way of government with the new wave of socialistic bailouts deemed necessary to salvage our economy. Some prominent voices are saying that the sooner we get rid of capitalism the better because it doesn’t work.
Certainly, giving in to socialism would insure that we would in fact achieve universal health care which is in place in other countries such as Canada and France, to name a couple.
In closing, one thing is for sure as represented by a political cartoon I noticed in a past Reader’s Digest. One of the figures is saying to the others "That’s the real genius of democracy. The voters are ultimately to blame."
Bob Decker
Welches
|
| View from the Mountain...Sail Away posted on 12/30/2008
On a resolute day in 1619 a Dutch ship escaped a battering storm and pulled into harbor at Old Point Comfort – now Fort Monroe, Virginia.
With sides heaving from the weight of slaves – and dripping with irony – the White Lion tied up at a paltry port populated by colonialists. The local population was short on laborers, the White Lion’s captain was short on food and supplies. A deal was made.
The slaves from Sierra Leone were swapped for precious goods and the seeds were sown for the dark period in American history of indentured servitude of blacks from Africa.
The era would weave through the framing of our Constitution – which allowed slavery – and continue through the times of Nat Turner, Dred Scott, Harper’s Ferry, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Civil War, Jim Crow, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, the Civil Rights Act, before grounding itself November 4, 2008.
When it woke up November 5, the world was changed. Barack Obama, an African-American son of a Kenyan father and white mother from Kansas, was elected the 44th president of the United States.
All our problems have not suddenly disappeared. There is much to do. There is a "fierce urgency."
But just as certainly, after 389 years of sadness, the White Lion has jerked free of its mooring, its rudder in tatters, and is aimlessly drifting out to sea.
* * *
While we are on the subject, author and TV personality Dick Cavett wrote recently that Sarah Palin "is a person with no first language." On that note we offer a direct quote from the Alaska governor on the campaign trail:
"Sitting here in these chairs that I’m going to be proposing but in working with these governors who again on the front lines are forced to and its our privileged obligation to find solutions to the challenges facing our own states every day being held accountable, not being just one of many just casting votes or voting present every once in awhile, we don’t get away with that." — Sarah Palin
We couldn’t have said it worse.
(View from the Mountain is the opinion of the editor, Larry Berteau)
|
|
|
|
|
|
