Letters to the Editor Feb. 7, 2010

HISTORY: Yeager broke the barrier The World Features Syndicate statement that Gagarin broke the sound barrier with a broken rib is possibly the result of faulty research or an incredible coincidence. History books credit Captain Charles E. Yeager, USAF, as being the first person to break the sound barrier at Edwards AFB, Calif., in a Bell X-1 rocket plane on Oct. 14, 1947. And, yes, Capt Yeager had a broken rib having fallen from a horse at the Happy Bottom riding club at "Poncho's Place" near Lancaster, Calif. Although very uncomfortable and swathed in tape, he proceeded with the flight. He used a short piece of broom handle to help reach various handles to seal the cockpit and later trip the mechanism releasing the X-1 from the bomber at an altitude where he could start his run. "Poncho's Place" was the favorite watering hole for the "rated" pilots (those with wings and halos), owned by the very colorful Poncho Barnes. Us peons (no wings or halos) confined our off-base revelry to the Red Barn in Lancaster. JOE DION Lt. Col., USAF, Retired Coeur d'Alene

Editor's note: Caller Mike Satren and writer Lt. Col. Dion are right. World Features Syndicate sent this statement on Feb. 1: "Our apologies to you and your readers (in particular the sharp-eyed Lt. Colonel): that clearly should have read "Chuck Yeager." Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

HEALTH PLAN: Don't ignore positive impact It seems to me everyone is ignoring the benefits of universal health care that will surface when young people 18-50 begin paying a nominal amount every month for universal healthcare. They currently pay nothing and rely on taxpayers or bankruptcy to pay for their health care.

SHIRLEY THAGARD Hayden DOG GONE: Pity isn't key emotion Are we supposed to feel sorry for John Hopper? I don't. I wish his dog the best and hope he has found a good home. John Hopper is an irresponsible pet owner and should not be allowed to own a dog. Mr. Hopper allows his dogs to run loose and bother the neighbors. He pays no attention to where the dogs go and in what yards they are leaving a "deposit." Worse yet, the dogs can get hit by cars, etc. I don't believe they have been taught to cross in the crosswalks. I might also add, letting your dog run loose is against the law. I also notice that Rem is "allowed" to ride in the back of a pickup. A very dangerous act for dog or child. Good luck Rem. I hope you have found a better home.

ED HOBBY Coeur d'Alene HIGH COURT: Don't agree with ruling I'm truly amazed that the Coeur d'Alene Press has chosen to ignore one of the most controversial Supreme Court decisions in my lifetime. On Jan. 21 the Supreme Court opened the floodgates to corporations by allowing them to pour unrestricted funds into America's elections. The PEOPLE of the United States and the Congress are now prohibited from regulating how much money corporations can funnel into our elections! Corporations have been elevated to the status of personhood with regard to the First Amendment to the Constitution. Even the conservative former Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist warned that treating corporate spending as the First Amendment equivalent of individual free speech is "to confuse metaphor with reality." Whether you are a Democrat, Republican, Independent, Conservative or Progressive - it should be of great concern to all of us that our elections, which are already overly influenced by money, will now be a virtual CORPORATION free-for-all. Is there anything that can be done? Maybe: An amendment to the U.S. Constitution stripping Corporations of personhood status. Go to http://www.freespeechforpeople.org/ to find out what you can do.

JUSTIN STORMOGIPSON Coeur d'Alene DUGDALE: Unions source of problems I agree that it is great to have people like Brad Dugdale and Darin Hayes who give wise financial advice. Fringe benefits can get out of hand and bankrupt cities, counties and states. Look at California and Indiana and Michigan. In the automobile manufacturing areas, the excessive union contracts bankrupted GM and Chrysler. The problem was the government did not let them go bankrupt because of their union buddies. Now, these areas will not recover for a long time as the contracts will suck the life blood out of these auto manufacturers and add thousands of dollars to each GM and Chrysler car they produce. Gov. Butch Otter is also one to be praised for his budget cuts. I am proud to live in Idaho where common sense still prevails and people get paid for their abilities and hard work. I used to be pro-union and against the "Right to Work" law, but now I see the logic for the "Right to Work" law. Keep up the good work, Brad, Darin, Butch and all other sensible people who know there is no free ride.

DAVE BOERNER Coeur d'Alene DUGDALE: Another side of the story I could not let Mr. Dugdale's comment on state employees' benefits pass without comment. I don't know any state employees who get three months' worth of vacation, sick leave and holidays. If they exist, they must be at the executive level in Boise. No one in my office uses their sick leave for vacations. I have worked for the state for 18 years. I am a college educated woman. I have never had a bad evaluation in 18 years and last year I got an "Exceeds Expectations," or, the highest possible rating. I got no bonus this year. I have not received a bonus for 16 years. I did not get a raise last year or this year. What I got was extra work because one of our colleagues was laid off. I am well below middle point of my pay grade. Hardly anyone in my department is anywhere near the middle. The middle is significantly under what private industry pays. Also, Mr. Dugdale, we pay for our own Christmas parties. They are almost always potluck. Yes, Mr. Dugdale, did YOU get a bonus this year? Did YOU get a raise this year? Did YOU pay for your own Christmas party? Are YOU significantly below the median pay for your classification? Are you below the poverty line in Kootenai County? If I were single, I would be below the poverty line and would be eligible for property tax relief. Yes, some engineers work for the state and elect not to make as much money as those in the private sector in order to have more time with their families. To some people, time with their families means more than wages. That is what the state has to offer. More time. Most people, at the very most get four weeks' vacation and it takes at least 15 years to work up to that point. In our office we don't use sick leave for vacations. Sorry, Mr. Dugdale, we are not the problem. The problem is with a legislature which refuses to address the problem - too little revenue due to the huge number of tax exemptions the legislature allows.

DONNA HARVEY Hayden CAR: Don't leave children unattended To the person who left two small children in the car: I saw your two children sitting in your car at the Rathdrum Super 1 on Jan. 29, 2010, around 1:40 p.m. I probably should have called the police. The little boy in the front seat couldn't have been more than 5, the child in the back seat was younger. I am sure you meant no harm. What you did was not only careless and unwise, it was, by definition, child endangerment. I am afraid for your children. Wrong place, wrong time and your children will disappear. Did they wander away? Did they go with someone they thought they knew? Was your car locked? It really wouldn't matter!uc!2026 I could have convinced one of those kids to open their door in a heartbeat no matter how many times you have coached them not to!uc!2026 Please, people!uc!2026 Don't leave your children in the car, not even for a moment. In the time it takes to pick-up your dry cleaning, prescription or mail an abduction will happen.

LAURA TOLIN Rathdrum BUDGETS: Comments irrelevant, misdirected Mr. Krockmeyer's letter of Jan. 22 reflects a long list of presidents and their respective budgets. He also refers to my letter (Jan. 13, 2010) as "misinformation" from a "victim" of FOX News, however Mr. Krockmeyer neglects to mention that my letter addressed the issue of "UNFUNDED LIABILITIES." Accordingly Krockmeyer's comments are irrelevant and misdirected toward "Budgets" and fails to address the massive "Unfunded Liabilities" that we all face. Obamacare proposed to increase this monstrosity. As a matter of information, I do get most of my information from The Wall Street Journal, the Spokesman Review and the Cd'A Press, however as he suggests, I do listen to FOX News regularly.

AL OLIVER Coeur d'Alene CAT: Thanks for offering cage So many generous, caring people offered me a cage to take a homeless cat to the veterinarian, thanks to all of you. We live in a very special community. Post Falls Animal Control loaned me a cage, and do hope this sweet ole guy will go in. Have my doubts, he's smart. He has spent the last three winters outside and survived.

MARTHA BLAKE Post Falls SONG: Forbidden during service My ex-husband Danny Morton, who has lived in Post Falls for more than 20 years, recently passed away at a Coeur d'Alene hospital. A memorial service was held for him in a Rathdrum church (Rathdrum Bible Church) on Jan. 28, 2010. Danny's grandchildren were forbidden to sing a song at the service because it was published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This unchristian-like action was very hurtful to Danny's family including his six grandchildren, children Greg Morton and Kelley Hembree, and sister Kathleen Morris, who lives in Post Falls and attends this church. It is a sad commentary on the leadership of this church that it would deny the request of the family to include a children's song "I Am A Child of God" in the service. I am also hurt and disappointed that the church leader, a man of God, would display such a lack of charity and compassion to the family of Danny Morton. This man is not a relative of Danny, and did not participate in the memorial service. I wonder how this church leader would feel if he was not allowed to grieve for his loved one in the way he chose. I wonder if the congregation of this church would approve of this hurtful action taken by their leader. Danny was baptized in the LDS Church more than 30 years ago. I am sure he would have loved knowing that his grandchildren would be singing an LDS children's song at his memorial. It is very sad to think that the wishes of the family were overridden by a person who was neither a relative, nor a participant in the memorial service.

JOYCE MORTON BERRY Grantsville, Utah FIGHTIN' CREEK: Toast in memory As the years pass, our residents, both newcomer and old-timer, are thankful for the many projects that have benefitted our North Idaho area and contributed to our comfortable lifestyles. The progress that has occurred in so many venues - recreation, health, transportation, housing, charities, business, downtown developments, etc. - has provided pleasure to so many of us whether native born or here by choice. Some unique, old "stomping grounds" facilities have perished these past few decades. Places where people gathered to enjoy a beverage and/or meal, and who would know almost everyone in the room. Gone are the Fish Inn, Mad Mary's, Gibbs Tavern, the Chuckwagon, and one that I always enjoyed particularly, the Fightin' Creek Tavern out on Highway 95 south. It closed its doors permanently Feb. 12, 2005, on President's Day. Torn down right to the root cellar like so many of the other old stomping ground dwellings, I plan to still celebrate the anniversary of its demise with a toast to wonderful, warm, irreplaceable memories and the recognition of friendships that I still hold dear today. And of course, a toast to our notable past presidents, celebrated on that day as well.

DICK WANDROCKE Coeur d'Alene Hear ye, hear ye! Letters to the editor are posted at www.cdapress.com, and readers rarely hesitate to add their views. Click on the COMMENTS link at the top of the home page.