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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us July 8, 2005 Knick-knack bingo nixed Ever since Wal-Mart opened its Talent store, the staff and management have been incredibly kind and generous to the surrounding community, particularly to the senior citizens who play bingo at the Radio Grill Snack Bar every Wednesday morning. For some of these elderly men and women, it may be one of the few times they get out of the house and socialize. There is no charge to play and Wal-Mart provides the prizes — a plant, a roll of paper towel, kitchen gadgets, knick-knacks, whatever the prize, the winners appreciate it but more important, for one hour on a Wednesday morning they socialize and have fun (you should hear the laughter!). Last Wednesday the manager broke the sad news. Because some people somewhere have accused Wal-Mart of encouraging gambling, a corporate decision has been made to discontinue Senior Citizen Bingo in all of the participating Wal-Marts. Not just in Talent, but across the entire country. Now, wouldn't you think some holier-than-thou busybodies would have better things to do than to fuss about a free bingo game? If money were involved it would be one thing, but there's no pay to play and the prizes are donated. What could possibly be the harm in that? There's a war raging in Iraq, our young people are dying, and they want to ban bingo? Priorities are definitely skewed somewhere. Tell you what, stop the war and I'll gladly give up bingo. Chris Amorelli Ashland Bush’s simplistic explanation Commander in Chief President Bush spoke to the world from the safety of a military base well named “Fort Bragg.” Many people will compare his simplistic explanation of the war with the facts of war costs in lives and billions of dollars expended. Many others will reject his maudlin appeal for support due to the horror stories of torture of prisoners and their incarceration without recourse to legal assistance. Older citizens will reminisce over memories of World War II and wonder if we will hear echoes of “Today Iraq, tomorrow the whole world!” And finally, it is tiresome to hear of 9/11 as responsible for the invasion of Iraq. Is there no limit to the number of deaths this irrational invasion is costing? A.C. Germann and Margot C. Howe Ashland When silence trumps justice The grand jury sent down an indictment of Jonathan Guevarra, who is responsible for the tragic death of Leah Melendez in the drinking driver accident June 3. It is troubling, however, that a similar jury has been unable to find evidence to prosecute so-called “responsible adults” and other individuals who supervised and/or otherwise facilitated the tragic Kevan Thatcher-Stephens accident, which reports have linked to both drinking and drugs. Of course, Guevarra did not have politically connected friends, and his witnesses did not have eight (or more) lawyers to shield them from justice. Authorities often find the underlying cause of these cases by offering rewards and immunity for responsible citizens willing to do the right thing. But that has not happened here. Where is the DA? Silence trumps justice, it seems, when a politically connected Ashland family is involved. (On April 28, the Mail Tribune reported that Thatcher-Stephens was “hanging out” prior to the accident at the Ashland home of judge Rebecca Orf, whose husband is a “local criminal defense attorney.”) What may be most troubling about this case, however, is that the Mail Tribune and the Daily Tidings have not located and reported on those facts through independent investigation. In fact, it seems as if they are complicit in sweeping the whole thing under the rug. Help me out, please. Why do we have a free press? In the future, when I read about some journalism award given to our local press, I will remember this dismal failing to provide closure for the families of Charles Bench and his passenger, both innocent victims of Thatcher-Stephens. Where is your shame? Charles W. Jaeger Rogue River Celebrities would get more turnout The disappointing turnout for World Wellness Weekend could be partially attributed to a day of dismal weather. But, no matter how compelling the careers may be of the Jrs. Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy, let’s face it, these were not speakers with a following the likes of Dr. Chopra, nor could people relate in a more personal way to their messages as they seemed able to do last year. The importance of their work notwithstanding, the perception may have been one that was too political, and furthermore, as we do not have a racial problem in Ashland, why would people attend? I think kudos should go to all the people in the community who worked so hard to make this a success. Should there be another weekend, however, maybe next time the organizers could bring in the producers and celebrities of all the reality shows on TV; then, the lines to get in would go clear to Medford. This statement I make, without tongue in cheek, and that is to say, consider personalities with a huge following such as Dr. Phil, Richard Simmons, Dr. Richard Schultz and Suzanne Sommers, all people who deal with health and wellness on a grand scale and it would be tremendously successful. Peter J. 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