We got this LTE from a reader in NH.
The views expressed are those of the writer, and not necessarily the views of anyone associated with the Prospect.
We are quickly running out of other cheeks to turn!
According to an AP article titled “Foreclosure rate steadies as banks hold back”, written by Alan Zibel, and published June 10, 2010, “323,000 households or nearly 1 in every 400 homes, received a foreclosure notice in May”. That same article states, “The number of homeowners who lost their homes to foreclosure hit a record of nearly 94,000 in May”. As the title of the article implies, the banks are dragging their feet in assisting struggling homeowners.
While the initial estimate of how much the bank bailout would cost was approx. $700,000,000,000. There has been discussion within the government that the actual cost may be closer to $3,000,000,000,000 (that is Trillion with a capital T folks) before all is said and done. The details are as follows: $700 Billion for the initial shoring-up, another $300 Billion for additional shoring-up of late-coming bank-failures, $500 Billion to $1 Trillion for toxic loans, and $1 Trillion to kick-start the credit markets. There is no guarantee that all of this will have to be spent . . . there is also no guarantee that if spent, this is where it would stop!
Let me see if I understand this correctly: The banks foreclosed on 94,000 homes in May and sent notices to an additional 323,000 households that they intend to foreclose . . . but they expect these same families to contribute a percentage of their taxes, probably for the rest of their lives, to bail them out of bad investment decisions they made. Hm-m-m-m . . . am I the only one who sees something wrong with this picture?
As if that were not bad enough, these same banks that were failing because of bad investment decisions (that are now called toxic loans) turned around and gave the same executives who made those bad decisions tens of millions in bonuses! For what? For doing such a great job? So, the President and Congress decide to reward these banks and their executives and then pay for those clearly undeserved rewards via your tax dollar. Then they say “Oh, and as you are completing your tax return, don’t let the fellow from the bank who is putting the foreclosure sign on your front lawn disturb you”.
I see this and can’t help but ask if the lunatics are running the asylum. Maybe it is time to vote the lunatics out and populate Congress with individuals who believe that people are more important than political parties. Has the heart and brain of our government finally decomposed to a point where it cannot function? When work-a-day homeowners or mom-and-pop entrepreneurs are asked to bailout the same banks who laugh when these same folks ask for help, something is drastically wrong in the highest levels of our government. I think we should all kick-in a buck apiece to send every member of congress to the chiropractors to have their heads twisted 180 degrees, because they clearly don’t have their heads on straight . . . but, that is just my opinion!
Robert M. Collinsworth
119 Hancock Rd.
Harrisville, NH 03450
603-827-3097
060610
I am writing in support of Christina Billeci, the California Democratic Party's endorsed candidate for Assembly District #3. Christina is by far the best candidate for this seat and the one who can beat Dan Logue in November. She has a proven record of outstanding service to all the citizens of Yuba County and enjoys bi-partisan support there. Christina served as the Yuba County Public Guardian for 31 years. While in this position she earned a gold medal from the board of supervisors for outstanding service and was the founder and chair of the Yuba County Senior Action Team. She has served on the Marysville City Council for 8 years and been instrumental in revitalizing the downtown, expanding parks, restoring historical housing and the regional arts center. She also earned the Outstanding Partner Award 2001-2007 from the Yuba Co. Office of Education. She is about serving the public interest, not just that of a selected few. Fellow Democrats, a vote for Billeci for Assembly District #3 is a vote to win in November. Please send this email to all your personal Democrat friends.
Margaret Joehnck
Chair
Nevada County Democrats
053010
Digaeditor:
Having, in some rare instances, been less than supportive of your Os and 1s enterprise, I must admit there is some good to it. Late last evening I was huddled over my computer in the darkened room, reading your miserable missive. In walked a young woman of my acquaintance, and ho, boy, I'm busted. Fortunately, I was able to convince her I was only looking at pornography, and so my reputation is intact and my standing in the community remains.
yrs truly,
A nevertime reader
Dear Nevertime,
You join the many who never read our newspaper but still manage to complain about the content.
Your story is completely believable except the young woman entering your environs. We’ll assume it was a beggar and you were in your cups.
Pornography is an acceptable category for our enterprise. First, there can scarce be a more pure form of liberty and self-determination than the production and enjoyment of recordings of human coupling. Surely it must be protected as free expression, because if we are forced to lie about our inner nature we’ll be forced to accept lies about the limits of our liberties.
Pornography lays bare not only the human body, but our fragility as a species. The simple and pure expressions of our frantic desire to inseminate and be inseminated acknowledges what, without these desires, there would be no humans, not even self-righteous ones. Only Jesus, it is claimed, is born free of the grunting, hairy, sweaty grasping which pulls the rest of us into this world.
The Prospect can’t lay claim to such perfect and honest exposition of the human condition, but as pornography we still reveal persons stripped naked. We try to lay bare the social person, revealing their vulnerability, their fear and greed, the touching character of their piety, the commonality of their longing, and seeing others so disrobed you see how you would look, if you had the courage to expose yourself in public. It scarce matters, when you look at others so displayed you have revealed that fragility in yourself.
So, dear Neverreader, you can honestly claim to be looking at pornography when reading the Prospect, and you need not shame in switching to the silicone goddesses you have open in other windows.
Live long, be humble!
Ed.
RE: allegations from a candidate for Board of Supervisors from District Two. You may have heard allegations during candidate's night in Downieville or you may have received a letter from this candidate recently in the mail. The candidate is mistaken and I resent his allegations toward myself, Peter Huebner and toward the County in general. The Board of Supervisors committee did not intentionally put off action on the solid waste program "until after June 8 so that the 12 year incumbent will have a better chance to be re-elected." The Board of Supervisors adopted a final 2010-2011 solid waste budget at its latest meeting which included a $40,000 expenditure reduction and no increase in any fee or assessment. The Board of Supervisors and its committee take the issue of solid waste disposal services very seriously and have conducted over a dozen public meetings and discussions on the future of the County's landfill and solid waste services. I appreciate the opportunity to comment and set this record straight. Most sincerely, Lee Adams, Supervisor, District 1 Sir, I suppose I must congratulate you this time. You're half right: However, you call for an improvement of the system, at the expense of "calling caseworkers to task" (or however clumsily you put it). Nope. Caseworkers are public employees. Our employees. They most certainly They have taken, often usurped, vast power and authority often unto tyranny. Practitioners of this tricky art or craft should be taught to run scared. I remind you, as at least one will anon learn, social workers do not have the immunity of cops. Accountability is one of the glues of family, of society, and most certainly government. As our Clamper friends are wont to say: Hang the Bastard! The only difference, right now, betwixt myself and that Clamper is that I'm sober. Alas, I shan't have the opportunity to redress that personal problem for some time yet, but we can go about fixing our government right now. A half-proud occasional reader in the County Seat where journalism is still a fine art, brought to perfection in the local rag.
05/21/10
Editor and District 2 Voters:
05/16/10
a remarkable improvement.
should be called to task when they run amok.
4-18-10
My dear misguided Sir:
05/21/10
I take as an article of faith you are merely misguided, not the devious lying SOB that you appear to be. As I’m reminiscing over my good life I spot four children walking toward me, in shorts and cotton tee shirts with cheap pool toys under their arms. The oldest is perhaps 12, in a thin life vest and a plastic circular inflatable in her hand, the others are younger with similar attire, the last child is 6 or 7 years old, no life vest and carrying a small beach ball. My trained eye immediately detects candidates for a drowning. With instant alarm I ask them how far they will be going. Four miles they answer. Holy s’mollies, Yikes, not good. They are with some kayakers upstream. I reach a woman that is walking her boat around the first rapid. I approach her with my concerns. They are planning on the kids walking the riverbank between rapids. She says "don’t you think it will be safe after the rapids?" I say an emphatic "No". stating there are more rapids and the water is way to cold and much to swift to be safe for the children. There is a high risk of hypothermia. I explain that with the weather warming rattlesnakes are starting to move along the rocky shore, that while some places can be walked others cannot. Help, in case of an emergency, is not easily available. My professional experience in teaching river safety and of assisting the general public out of near drowning settings made me try to do a quick introduction to river safety. I say I know they don’t want to lose any of their children. The river is much more dangerous than it looks and I strongly encouraged them to rethink their plans telling them of some roads they could hike out if need be. I left feeling grave misgivings. My quiet day to relax in the flourish of spring flowers had been destroyed. I could not enjoy my surroundings as my adrenaline pumped and imagination surged. Abandoning my plans I returned to my car, crossed the bridge and drove a mile down stream where I hoped they would have terminated their trip at least for the two Moms and the children, thinking I might help with transportation. I saw they were beyond that spot and heading away from the road access. I climbed down a steep bank and crossed a fork of the river on foot to check on them while they were pulled over on the bank. They said they were all right and were going to continue. The pool toys were gone so perhaps they had taken my warning into account. It appeared they fit the kids into their kayaks and canoe. Did their day end in tragedy? I don’t know. Did they make it to their destination and think what they had done was safe? Did they understand the risk taken or did they think their poorly planned outing with inadequate gear and little knowledge or training for the conditions was okay? There is a saying, "God protects fools and children" but I know from experience don’t count on it. Don’t be a fatality or lose someone you love. Owning a raft does not automatically mean adequate training or experience is onboard. There is no risk free activity on the water or in life, however a quality commercial trip with a well-known company improves the odds of a safe fun trip down the river.
So, in the spirit of friendship, goodwill and camaraderie, I hereby endeavor to lead you to the light of truth and beauty.
You have a serious problem when you suggest potential commercial gain to hard working merchants through "exposure" in your quasi-medium. As you well know, your screeds are delivered in a series of ones and zeros, to be translated by machines that may yet prove untrustworthy.
In fact, you offer nothing but bent and warped electrons flowing through the ether.
Print media lay around the house, under parakeets and puppies for, often, a long, long time, giving the advertiser many more chances that his message will be perceived and received.
Print media are translated by the eyes and brains of the recipient, with no intervening forces of potential mischief.
Print media, as you have admitted, have uses beyond its initial impact: recycling, if you will; green power, not coal-generated electrons wasted forever.
Now, assuming as most of your readers probably do know that you in fact exist, I urge you to get an honest job, or at least one on a newspaper, before trying to cheat the unsuspecting out of their hard- earned advertising dollars.
I hope this letter, and consultations with your spiritual advisor, assists you in becoming a better person, although naturally I am somewhat cynical about that possibility.
Humbly yours,
Don Russell, media empire magnate
My Good Man,
My 100101101 goes to every corner of the globe. Further, do either puppies or parakeets have Visa; for that matter can they read, with the part that mostly faces the paper? If so, sir, that is news.
I nod to the carbon footprint of dead trees.
I had an honest job, or near to one as I could get, working for you. I lost money.
Finally, if you aren't my spiritual advisor what was all that crap with the robes and the laying on of hands?
Yours,
DeVita, Humble Servant of the Readers
04-14-10
It’s a beautiful sunny spring day, bright green grass, tall in the breeze, purple Lupin scenting the air beside orange poppies. I’ve got the whole day before me to soak up the season along the Yuba River with its spring runoff water. This is how I enjoy rivers now, along the riverbank with trekking poles a picnic and a book; beached with a back injury. Gone are my days of youth as a whitewater river guide, eleven glorious years of commercial boating on California rivers.
04-14-10
Sincerely
Susan Jorjorian
Sierra City
3/31/10 Kathy Kelley 3/24/10 Editor: I would like to take this opportunity to pledge my support for the re-election of Peter Huebner to the position of District 2 County Supervisor. Peter and I have worked together for over eight years, and I continue to be impressed with his abilities as a supervisor and his dedication to the job. While Peter is one of the most pleasant, hard working and effective individuals I have met, his strongest attribute is that he cares. He cares about his family, he cares about his community, he cares about his county, but most of all, he cares about his fellow man. Peter has taken on many important, time consuming projects over the years. As a member of the Sierra Economic Development Council, he helped secure start-up funding for a number of small businesses in the county, and he helped secure a grant to repair some on the residences in Alleghany. He volunteered to be on the Loyalton Business Park Committee, even though it was out of his district, and played a significant role in its establishment. Recently, working on the County Health Committee, Peter helped identify lower cost health insurance for our county employees. In addition, Peter was instrumental in the building of the Sierra City Visitor’s Center, and the establishment of a community park in Sierra City. No project has ever been too big or too small for Peter. Sierra County is very lucky to have Peter Huebner as one of its county supervisors. The Board of Supervisors is also very lucky that he is on the board. I therefore strongly urge the citizens of District 2 to vote for Peter in the upcoming election. Arnie Gutman Former County Supervisor Editor: The purpose of this letter is to enthusiastically endorse incumbent Peter W Huebner in his effort to continue his duties as our County Supervisor in District 2. We were introduced to Peter when he first established his residency in Sierra County and have since become his permanent neighbors. As Peter's neighbors, we have had the opportunity to witness many of the events in Peter's life as a truly dedicated public servant. Peter is a man of accomplishment whose bodies of work in the fields of business, philanthropy, advocacy, and public service are remarkable. He is an example of what someone with perseverance, a positive outlook, compassion, and determination can do in a land of opportunity. He learned a new language, moved to a new country, succeeded in business, and has passionately served the community he loves since his arrival. Peter has not been elected repeatedly because he is a "career politician". He has been elected as a result of his performance in office. He is an extremely hard worker who treats his position as a full-time job. He prioritizes--and commits his effort to what he feels is best for Sierra County and its citizens. Our county is fiscally better off than many because Peter has been willing to do the necessary legwork outside the county to gain available funds, and has been willing to roll up his sleeves within the county borders to promote its business opportunities. He also has a deep appreciation of the natural features, resources, characters, history, and cultural aspects that make Sierra County a special place. Possible Peter's best quality is his loyalty to the constituents of District 2. He answers the phone when called, and will go to great lengths to solve problems. We are especially grateful for the support and advocacy he provided our aunt, Babe Lewis, while she endured difficult times in the last few years of her life. He will get our votes. Sig and Joni Ostrom Sierra City
Over the last 4 years, I have had many interactions with the Sheriff's Office staff. This experience, as traumatic and unfair as it has been, has taught me several important lessons.
The most relevant of these lessons is the relative merits of the three candidates for Sheriff.
I must cast my whole-hearted support for John Fatheree in his quest to become the next Sheriff of Sierra County.
Officer Fatheree has proven to be fair, professional, objective and supportive in his relationships with the citizens of this County. He has demonstrated his intelligence and his concern for every member of every community in the County. He understands Community Policing and believes in Protecting and Serving. He is respected by the other members of the law enforcement community.
Please join me in voting for the next Sheriff, John Fatheree.
Go Peter!
BRAVO PETER 032110
Peter Huebner's participation on behalf the county. 032110
Editor,
I forward this letter as a means of supporting Peter Huebner in his endeavors outside of Sierra County, activities that benefit his County. I am on the Board of Directors for the California State Association of Counties-Excess Insurance Authority (EIA). This joint powers authority provided a myriad of insurance and excess insurance programs to 54 of the State’s 58 Counties as well as a large number of other public entities, such as cities, special districts, and schools. The key to good governance and stewardship of funds in this organization is member participation. Without engaged and active members, the tens of millions of dollars that entities pay for access to these critical programs would be subject to ineffective management. This critical participation includes participating in three board meetings a year and, even more importantly, participation at the committee level. Peter has been an active member in the EIA in this manner and, having sat on the EIA Legislative Committee for two years, his participation has resulted in excellent stewardship of the dollars Sierra County and all other member Counties contribute to a very effective organization. Peter has been an EIA leader and his activities have positively contributed to all EIA risk pool members’ bottom lines. Whether a critical piece of legislation that could add millions of dollars to workers’ compensation costs for public entities or acting as a proponent for change and progress in establishing EIA policy, Peter’s selfless attendance at EIA Board and Committee meetings has greatly enhanced his public service contributions, not just to his County, but to public entities throughout the State. There has apparently been some criticism of Peter’s participation in these types of activities, but, as a taxpayer, I see an inactive and disengaged Supervisor as someone who is not fulfilling his commitment to taxpayers. I just hope that critics will research the mission of the EIA and its importance to good local fiscal management and the importance of having members like Peter that are willing to spend time away from home and family in order to positively contribute to public fiscal stability in a time of instability.
Gregory S. Borboa
February 2010
Dear Editor and Citizens of Sierra County
It does not seem fair that our county supervisors stepped forward to guarantee maintenance on the state funded purchase of the Yuba Theatre in Downeville a few years ago ,with no vote needed from the voters for maintenance on the building.We had to go thru the work of convincing our neighbors, by a two thirds majority vote on the June ballot, to maintain the Loyalton pool for twenty years. We were denied this simple right just to put this measure on the ballot.
Thank you,
Sierra Valley Hay
sierravalleyhay.com
1/17/10
Letter sent in by reader Tom Dotta, about the "Roundup Group".
Dear Tom,
1/17/10
Dear Editor,
Robert Thran's letter in the Prospect is the same "piece" published in the BOO in November. It's not completely accurate. His parcel numbers, ownership record, and maps are public record. Here it is in a nutshell:
-The 250 acres is West of hwy 49- on the valley floor.
-He owns and has sold other properties adjacent to the 250 acres.
-I think he subdivided the original property he purchased into four parcels. This is easily discovered.
-Sierra County is NOT bankrupt
-There is NO limitation on the size of a residence on Williamson Act properties.
-HSRA people do live here.
.
Mike Freschi
1/13/10
Letter from: Bob Thran
Reg: tentative parcel split of 250 acres in Sierra Valley
I have been working with the county of Plumas on a tentative parcel map for a 250 acre parcel in Sierra Valley that is zoned 80 acre minimum, the 250 acres we are talking about are in the foothills with rock outcroppings. This land is well above the high water table of the valley floor. If this property is split into 80 acre parcels, it will still remain in agricultural preserve. The argument I have been given by the County Agricultural specialist is how you could split this property in 80 acre parcels and have an economically viable property. They are saying that keeping it 250 acres will make it an economical viable property? According to long time residents and neighbors of this property, the ranch was never economically viable even when it was 1000 acres. I have been given photos of the property before the wells were all "sucked dry", by large irrigation operations in Sierra Valley, there were springs and ponds on my property. Has anyone taken a look at the success of the Sierra Valley Farms owned by the Romano’s , it is less than 80 acres and has been a viable food producing operation for 14 years.
And now we come to High Sierra Rural Alliance. This group of people and groups like theirs, seem to have caused more damage to rural life in America than all of the floods, storms, and droughts to have ever hit this land. These groups don’t live here, they contribute to our economy in very few ways, if any. Yet they want to tell us what we can do with our land. Groups like this have caused 95% of my family members that farm or ranch, to move to other states, or just give up on a business that has been going on for five generations on my fathers side, and six generations on my mothers side. . What’s next for these people? Maybe when they knock on your door and tell you to turn off your lights because they can’t see the stars, or tell you not to build your house or barn on your property because it blocks their view of the sunset, maybe then you will know what these people are all about. When the High Sierra Rural Alliance and their members are done with Plumas County it will look just like Sierra County, economically bankrupt, no jobs, no business, no people. I believe these people have already infiltrated our county offices, and also the local newspaper. How naive of me to think the county employees would be impartial and do their jobs with fairness and unbiased, every step of the way in this process, they have said they will do one thing, and months later when I ask about progress, they change what they’ve said. Each time I ask "What do you need?" they say "Just this"…..and each time I complete a task, they say they need something else.
This process should have taken a few months to complete, instead it has been years. The county has never said anything about a planning change until now, wouldn’t you think someone would have stepped up and said something to me before now? Before I have spent thousands of dollars on this parcel map? I have been in the planning department numerous times, my land was zoned 80 acres in the master plan that was in effect when I purchased the property. I am not asking to change the zoning, my property is in the Williamson Act, according to some members of the High Sierra Rural Alliance, the fear is MCMANSIONS will be built on these parcels, have they read the Williamson Act? It is very clear that no dwelling can be more that 2400 sq. ft. that isn’t much of a McMansion. Their line of defense is to use words like "subdivisions" and "McMansions" to hit nerves with the public who don’t know otherwise.
This project was started in good faith by my son and I, we have compled 85% of the clean up of the land, we have removed 42 old cars, 28commercial chest type freezers, two mobile homes, 46 TV’s stoves and refrigerators, wire fencing, tin roofing, box springs and everything else that the people of beautiful Sierra Valley chose to dump on this property. I almost forgot the tires, I’ve been trying for four years to forget the tires, we had over 800 of them, 400 of those were still on the wheels, these had to be cut off with a sawzall, we went through over $200.00 in blades. You can see from the pictures, it has not been an easy job. You may now know why I get upset when someone calls me a developer. I am not here no rape the land and move on, I ask where were are all these people when my son and I were cleaning this place up? I hear them call themselves stewards of the land, and environmentalists, they are only paper pushers, they know how to lobby and put pressure on politicians, like you supervisors. I don’t envy any of you for the job you have to do, these people don’t live here, and they won’t get their hands dirty here, they just want to dictate what others should do with "their" land.
These properties can contribute to the economy of this State. Maybe only in a small way, but in a positive way. I know these three parcels can contribute more to the county and state through taxes, jobs and of course agriculture, than if left in one parcel. If the people of High Sierra Rural Alliance want to stop all progress in Plumas County, they should have bought this land,. If they owned it, I wouldn’t be standing here today telling them how to develop it, if they had started this process years ago, Plumas County would be just like Iraq, stuck in the 12th Century. When you go home tonight, make some cookies and thank a farmer, when you have friends over for a bar-b-que, thank a rancher, and if you succeed at putting us all out of business, thank yourselves.
I am currently in Iraq, supporting my country and hope this letter reaches some people who understand my frustration and perhaps help me with some answers, is there anyone else out there that feels the same way I do? If so, now is the time to speak up for your rights as property owners, don’t wait until it is too late.
Thank you,
Robert Thran
1/13/10 From Reader: Angela Ronson It started December 16, 2002, when I was 32 years old. I had a bleeding stroke at work, an AVM (arterio-venus malformation) burst. I didn't know about it and drove home for lunch. I lost consciousness for a bit and had an accident. I was taken back to work. I got a bad headache at my office and walked with help to the clinic. 1/10/10
At the clinic I stopped breathing. They took me to a hospital where they put me on a helicopter and flew me to a trauma center. There they did brain surgery to stop the bleeding. That surgery was risky, something like 30% survival. Afterwards, I was in a coma. I remember my family being told I would always be in a coma, and if I came out, I would be a vegetable.
I did come out of the coma, but couldn't talk or move, which made me appear to be a vegetable, although I could understand what was being said. I was alive, but had something in my head that could kill me at any time - from something as simple as shaking my head "no."
The AVM was large and too deep in my brain to be removed. It was just left there though the bleeding stopped. I was only able to move my left side after some therapy. I taught myself to talk. I taught myself how do things with limited movement on my non-dominant side; I was right handed but could only move my left. I taught myself how to manipulate the control on my electric wheelchair with my left hand, how to type on the computer with my left index finger, and how to write left-handed. I had worked with babies as an infant development specialist, so I already knew a lot of what to do. It was good that I could talk again, then I could tell others what had to be done. I still wondered what kind of vegetable I was, and I would ask others.
In 2004, doctors at Stanford were able to remove the AVM, and I was able to move my right side again. Since then I have been learning to use my right side and do things like typing with both hands. In therapy, I'm basically doing everything to my right side that was done to my left. Because of my infant training, I was already familiar with how to get development started. Now I just repeat what I remember what was done to my left.
As great as it was was to move my right side, the most important thing about surgery is that I no longer have that thing in my head anymore. Nobody expected this kind of recovery: What kind of vegetable can think, talk or write? I still don't know what kind of vegetable I am.
Dear digieditor,
Your current where's it at photo is, as you note, a federal facility.
I believe it unreasonable to ask Sierra County residents to be
familiar with such gummint houses, as we live in these back woods to
evade and avoid the awesome power of the Federal authorities.
Or are you just trying to find out how many sympathizers there are
for the usurping, over-reaching, tyrannical bureaucrats who would
lash us into serfdom, who would crush us with their might? Or make us
visit them where our visages and presence will probably be
photographed, fingerprinted and DNAed?
Just whose side are you on, anyway?
A RED white and blue reader in the styx.
PS: having just read more of your digirag, I am delighted that
Sierra County's mediums have a nutcase such as yourself.
If nothing else, you make Messenger editor Russell appear pretty
goddamn normal.
A thankful, if occasional, reader who really doesn't like electrons
in any form (except maybe pornography and morning toast)
Dear reluctant reader,
I was dropping the netflix in the chute when I thought “oh, shazblat, we don’t have a new ‘where in Sierra’”. I took a picture of what was in front of me. That’s the methodology we generally use.
The last thing we here at the Prospect would do is to encourage people to participate in anything govern-mental. The next to the last thing we would do is ask you to give up some DNA, which might well result in the scrapping of the whole idea of evolution. We have already publicly acknowledged that the Mountain Messenger’s Don Russell is pretty goddamn near, but by no means completely, normal.
It is rare to find a reader with such a nimble command of the language, or such a facile sense of rhythm; might you be one of the unclaimed children of said Russell; have you any idea who your pa might be (don’t fret, it’s a wise child…)? Was your ma fond of drink?
Finally, please send the link to the porn site that will toast bread.
P.S. It must be hell living in the styx.
January 6, 2010
Dear Editor of the Sierra County Prospect,
I have been meaning to write you for a many a moon (twelve) now. Congratulations on your online newspaper! It is really “cutting edge” or perhaps ‘over the edge.” (Doesn’t that sound sharp?)
As you toil, dear editor, and chisel words for no compensation and feeble hopes of fame, who would of guessed that you would become a member of the “fourth estate” and I would become a member of the “second estate.” (Twelve moons now.) It appears that many “estate” things are going on, but alas, no money to be found. These estate holdings, puts us at polar opposites. You know, I say “tomato”, you report “potato.”
Truthfully, I must admit, that I only read the “Prospect” to check on “Cooter.” You say he is a “good boy?” He must be if you are his master and what he has to put up with in that respect.
We can always use more opinions and voices rising out of the pines, the gold mines, the rushing rivers, deep canyons, clear creeks, mountain tops, and alpine valleys. As Julie Andrews once wailed, “The hills are alive.”
She meant music, but opinions are like music to us small town politicians, especially when they tend to favor and roll our way. (Hint, hint!)
Keep doing what you are doing but please stay on your side of the Sierra and don’t come over hill and dale to listen to our “govmint” meetings, I don’t want to read about myself in that gosh dern, prospecting for dirt, cyber horse and pony show, that you have so lovingly created.
Happy New Year!
Lori A. Simpson
A Citizen of Plumas County
Quincy, CA
December 27 09
December 11, 2009
December 1, 2009
Editor:
The Miss Jody Community Thanksgiving Dinner was a great success once again. Thanks to the efforts of many wonderful people the event was a joyous, happy occasion for those who came to dine and the many volunteers who made it happen.
We thank everyone who helped and the following are those we know, there are many who donated anonymously and I may have inadvertently left out someone’s name that helped but we are so grateful for your help.
We especially acknowledge the efforts of Dan and Ingrid Larson at Downieville Grocery, Larry and Kathy Breed at the Sierra City Country Store, Don and Mary Kay Potter of the Grubstake, Don Russell of the Mountain Messenger, sierracountyprospect.com, E. Clampus Vitus Downie Chapter #1849 and Cindy McCreary of Sierra Hardware.
The dinner was wonderful thanks to the efforts of Nancy and Lou Phillippi, Irmke Schoebel and Glenn Deibler, Anne Hutchison and David Hutchison, Frank and Betty Jo Lang, Lee Adams, Emily Kidwell, Amanda Sanchez, Frank Sanchez, Kaydee Haldsted, JoAnn Kies, Steve Kies, Tom and Susan Hopkins, Steve Behrens, Pat and Larry Hudson, Doris Carpenter, Liz Fisher, Kathy Whitlow, Danielle Burr, Linda and Paul Guffin, Nancy Carnahan, John and Liz Luster, Miriam Dines, Will and Jean Clark, and Justin and Hannah Ryu, Mary Jo Rust and other volunteers who I may have missed.
Some of the many donations were received from Marian LaFollette, Gary and Lora Lee Grutkowski, Michelle Anderson, Gunnar & Cindy Ellsmore, Michael and Karen Galan, Dr. Hiroyasu Hataoka, Patricia Lawrence, Docia Bostrom, Marian Kinzler, Barbara Seley, Laura Marshall, Mike Fogli, Bailey Edgeman, Evan Dailey, Jean, Julie and Jeff Newfarmer and many donations were left anonymously at the check stands at the grocery stores in Sierra City and Downieville. Thank you all so very much.
Over $2,200.00 was received in donations. After paying expenses for the Miss Jody Dinner which served 132 including 12 home deliveries more than $1,800.00 will be given to the Western Sierra Food Bank to use for providing food to those who need supplies and the Christmas Baskets delivered in time for Christmas meals.
Although this is a wonderful amount from this community, it does not begin to fill the need for year round food assistance. The Western Sierra Food Bank helps anyone who needs food. No prequalification needed. This year has been especially difficult for many families, people with loss of income and fixed income seniors and the WSFB has been hit hard. We thank everyone for helping so much and we ask that those who can donate remember hunger happens all year long.
Happy Holidays to you and yours and once again, Thank You.
Downieville Lions Club
Gold Circuit United Methodist Church
Assembly of God Church
Thoughtful and Intelligent Reader Writes:
Dear Digiteditor,
Besides, the aforementioned literary endeavor probably needs the money, and knowing how your type loves a warm and fuzzy feeling, you'd cop one, knowing you are buying local and supporting Sierra County businesses. I believe the transaction can be accomplished at mtnmess@cwo.com
yours truly, Dear Aged Colleague, I believe if you’ll put your glasses on you’ll see that all those 1s and 0s in the bathroom are actually your hair. Your suggestion that the hoary reputation of the Mountain Messenger should be sullied with my ranting for the sake money is shocking, sir. There is a name for people who do such things for money, and it isn’t a polite name. I also scoff at your suggestion that the Messenger might need the money. It is known up and down the state that the Mountain Messenger, California’s oldest weekly newspaper, is also the only newspaper of record in the county. Everyone knows the old miners in the county don’t make a movement without the Messenger. No, the Messenger’s place as the receptacle for county and other business is secure. On the other hand, publishing the Prospect in the Messenger would kill more trees. If they were Sierra County trees and biomass, it would almost be worth it. Anyway, getting that warm, fuzzy feeling you allude to is easy when you’re the editor of the Sierra County Prospect! Ed.
a concerned sometimes reader and news-know-it-all
We reserve the right to edit all submissions for space, content, or the use of naughty words.
Here are a few simple tips for your "letters to the editor:"
1. Don’t drink hard liquor or do meth before writing to your editor. Writing rambling, pointless text is my job. We’ll snip your rambling to a paraphrase, and you don’t want that. We’d like to see letters no longer than 250 words. You can send more, but we might leave some out.
2. Don’t insult anyone by name. Law suits give me prickly heat. If you want to call someone out into the street, go out into the street and do it. (If you’re going to do that, we’d appreciate a heads up: 448 9092.)
3. Hate. We have freedom of expression in America. If you really want to air your mindless hatred against this group or that, send it in, we might publish it, BUT we will also critique it and make editorial remarks about it and above all have fun with it. Think it over.
Some "do’s:"
1. Do write in to thank people for helping you or making a contribution to the community. We should, and will, fill pages with that. It is the ten thousand acts of selfless kindness that our people do that keep our communities alive.
2. Do write in to inform your neighbors and cousins about what is going on with your group, your family, or yourself.
3. Do use the Letters to complain about specific problems with government representatives. However, to avoid looking like a loon, be sure to get your facts straight. Your first complaint should be to the department of the person or decision of your complaint. Once your facts are straight and you’ve given the department a chance to correct the problem and they haven’t, by all means, write in. We will contact that person or department for a response. Do it, it’s good for the community. Encouraging violence against the government, not so much. We don’t condone that, and will edit or ignore such letters.
4. This is also the correct forum for remarks about public policy. Be specific, share how bad policy has caused problems, and how good policy is helping.
5. Do use the Letters to complain about OR compliment local businesses. Be specific and factual.
If you’ve read this far, and still want to write to the Editor, please email to: lte@sierracountyprospect.com
OR actually write with pen or crayon on paper and send it to:
LTE
Sierra County Prospect
POB 155
Calpine, CA 96124
