Letters to the Editor Feb. 14, 2010
MEN: Here's a special challenge
Gentlemen, today is Valentine's Day! I am writing to challenge us all to make it the beginning of a lifelong habit to treat ladies of all ages in a very special way, because they are special! My Mother gave good advice, "treat every girl and woman with the same respect that you would give to your Mother or sisters." Wouldn't that be a change! No more dirty talk, no more unwanted fondling, no more scowling, pouting or disrespectful back talk, etc.
My challenge is that we treat every lady we know with courtesy, respect, consideration, wholesome regard and love every day, all day! You know, none of us would be here without the love and care of our mother and would it be too much of a burden to tell her that we love her? Or perhaps put it into action by helping around the house, keeping our room in order, etc?
In recent years various feminist groups have shown disdain for some men because they wanted to be chivalrous, and perhaps we deserve or have caused some of these feelings, but will you join me to show a different, honest and permanent concern for ladies?
Let us treat ladies as special with kindness, courtesy, helpfulness, appreciation and deference, putting their needs ahead of ours and telling them that we love them and that they are special! A kind word, even to strangers, lifts people's spirits.
Think of all the good that would come from this, and all the heartache and disease that ladies would be spared - and our lives would also be more fulfilled if we showed sincere respect.
Please join me in this effort to treat our ladies with special respect. Have a happy Valentine's Day. Ponder these things in your heart. Show love and respect, not disdain or disrespect.
GEORGE W. RODKEY, M.D.
Post Falls
OBESITY: Common sense for school kids
After watching report after report on the evening news regarding the growing policy of childhood obesity I can only wonder how much the Coeur d'Alene school bus policy contributes to the problem. Obviously not eating correctly is part of the problem but the other half is a lack of exercise.
Yesterday I followed a school bus through my neighborhood dropping off what appeared to be middle school students. In a two-block stretch the bus stopped eight times to discharge passengers. Some of these students apparently had to walk the great distance of two or three houses to get home.
Planning stops every two or three blocks would at least generate some exercise not to mention the fuel saved by the buses by not stopping every few hundred feet.
AL GOODWIN
Coeur d'Alene
STAFFING: County not up to the task
This letter is a follow up to the Feb. 9 Coeur d'Alene Press article regarding the level of staffing at the Kootenai County Building and Planning Department. Although the level of staffing is a concern, I believe it is a symptom rather than the problem itself. The problem in Kootenai County is the mismanagement of departments that are the responsibility of the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and the lack of leadership provided by the BOCC. In the article the BOCC argues that the level of permitting in 2009 is only slightly below the 19-year average of 1,458 permits, and that staffing levels have remained constant over that period. This argument misses the point.
In 2009 Kootenai County with a population of 46,499 in the unincorporated areas for which it is the sole service provider, issued 1,451 building permits, with a staff of 32.
The city of Coeur d'Alene with a staff of 17, and serving a similar population of 45,161, issued 1,771 permits. The city of Post Falls issued 1,051 permits with a staff of nine, while serving a population of 25,286.
2009 Comparisons
Entity Permits Issued Staffing
Cd'A 1,771 17
PF 1,051 9
Kootenai 1,451 32
County
It is my belief that the BOCC does not have the management skills or experience to recognize that the Building and Planning Department or any other department under their direction may be overstaffed.
It is my opinion that Kootenai County will be better served if the daily operations of the county are overseen by a trained professional and the BOCC returns to a policy making body, rather than a management team.
I urge the BOCC to work toward restoration of the County Administrator position with the haste that the current economic downturn requires.
R. BRUCE NOBLE,
PE/PLS
Post Falls
PRESS: Good job with reporting
I want to offer my thanks for the professional manner in which Tom Hasslinger has prepared and handled several articles in The Press about cell phone use while driving. His research went beyond what I had prepared, and he interviewed many people.
The way the articles were written took several different viewpoints, and still let the readers draw their own conclusions. I want to thank Tom for the work he has done about this badly needed (yet ignored) legislation.
STEVE BELL
Coeur d'Alene
CURSE: We're right in the middle of it
There is an old curse: May you live in interesting times.
There are now five gang signs on the walls of the building across the alley from my home.
Acts of neo-nazi violence are on the rise in America.
Ultra-conservative TV and radio commentators are intentionally goading extremists to kill President Obama.
America is walking along the edge of a major economic depression.
Self-serving politicians are threatening a civil war of secession if we don't run our country by their political party agenda.
Seventy-six percent of their party membership believe gay Americans should not be allowed to be school teachers.
Forty million American businesses are going out of business each month.
Forty-four thousand Americans die each year from lack of insurance while the U.S. Congress kicks to death health care legislation.
We do live in interesting times. Let's hope all of us survive until times again become dull and boring and safe.
CECIL KELLY III
Coeur d'Alene
METH: Project worthy of support
As a longtime resident and police officer in the Coeur d'Alene area I can say from firsthand experience that the use of methamphetamine and its production has been a significant burden on our community and state.
Prevention campaigns such as the Idaho Meth Project are making a difference, but we all must remain committed to stopping our citizens from using this dangerous drug even once.
The use of methamphetamine affects all of society and has a devastating effect on families and our young citizens as well as society as a whole.
Partnerships with a wide variety of groups, government and the Idaho Meth Project can make a difference in halting the use of this drug.
Recent commercials by the Idaho Meth Project has given awareness to this problem and hopefully will promote discussion, awareness and understanding how this drug destroys lives.
The police department remains committed to these efforts to keep our citizens safe.
WAYNE LONGO
Coeur d'Alene
Chief of Police
WOLVES: Problems for hunters, everyone
For our wolf lovers out there, you do the math. They spent millions re-introducing them. Eight hundred and forty-six now, plus multiply how many litters they have each year. Save them all, until they come in, eating your livestock, pets and children. Plus the messes they make, for all to walk in and spread into the air causing respiratory problems, etc.
Like letting our forests burn, rather than forest management, creating jobs. Unless they get attacked by wolves. Poor, poor wolves!
I just don't see it! (Nor did Red Riding Hood.) Get real! They like good meat also, and it's not vicious and cruel, bringing down your animals and keeping hunters from getting their food for their own families? Lucky to have them?! When they come into your back yard! It doesn't seem all that lucky to me.
To each his own view! I've seen them too!
LUCILLE WESTGORD
Rathdrum
OPINION: Letter, Press biased
That letter you published on Feb. 5 from Jimmy Pappas is a disgrace. I feel sorry for him, but I am disgusted with you for spreading such dribble. It is still abundantly clear your position on political matters. Too bad. It would be nice to have an unbiased newspaper in our community.
DIANNE MAHAN
Coeur d'Alene
THANKS: Help from Samaritans
Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 3, 2010, my husband during his two-mile walk fell at the corner of Harcourt and St. Michele. He suffered cuts above and below his right eye. Two young angels on their way home from school quickly came to help him as he struggled to get up. They suggested that he should stay put for a while. An angel called 911; a blanket to cover him came from another angel. When unable to contact me by phone, another came to our home to get me.
The paramedics were so kind, considerate and comforting. We are happy to report no broken bones, no stitches and the cuts are healing very well.
The following Friday we returned to the location and did find one of the angels to thank, but were unable to locate others. I am sorry that we did not get any of your names so I hope that this thank you reaches your eyes.
The blanket will remain in our car. Maybe there will be a time when we shall be able to cover another person with warmth and love. Thank you all.
KATHRYN EDDY
Coeur d'Alene
DIRNE: Something to smile about
Imagine this scenario: You are employed and are making just enough money to provide the basic necessities for your family. You make too much money to qualify for public assistance programs, but you do not make enough money to purchase medical or dental insurance from your employer. Your rent is due; the refrigerator is running low and your child woke up this morning complaining of a toothache. Immediately you think that she has a cavity.
The family budget will not support a trip to the dentist today, so you give your child some Tylenol and hope she can make it through the day at school. Your child arrives at school, but can't focus on the material in class because her mouth hurts. You deal with this for a week or so, but soon realize that this is not going to go away. After several phone calls you find out that a trip to the dentist could cost you several hundred dollars. The rent is still due, the refrigerator is now empty and your child is still in pain!uc!2026
Tragically this scenario repeats itself over and over in our community. The 2009 Smile Survey identified that more than one in five third and fourth grade students suffer with untreated tooth decay. It is tough to be a kid when your mouth hurts.
Fortunately there is help for the children of our community. Dirne Community Health Center partnered with the American Dental Association on Feb. 5 to provide free dental care to 55 children through the Give Kids a Smile Day project. Children that attended the event had their teeth cleaned and their cavities filled. It was a great opportunity to dramatically impact the lives of children in our community.
Each year the dental community across the nation provides free care to nearly 20,000 children during Give Kids a Smile Day. During the rest of the year, Dirne Community Health Center provides medical, dental and behavioral health care to 7,500 people locally during 28,000 visits. Care is provided in a comfortable atmosphere with charges that are based on income and family size. Dirne CHC is grateful for the continued support of the community as it works toward improving the health of its patients.
MIKE BAKER, CEO
Dirne Community Health Center
Hear ye, hear ye!
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