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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels July 24, 2004 Facts of Reagan aren't the myth Now that the "Gipper" has been laid to rest, a funeral fit for a king, we saw the planes take off and land a few times, we saw the casket moved from place to place, thousands of people going through the viewing line, people remembering him as one of the greatest Presidents in history. Maybe we could discuss a few of his accomplishments during his political career? As governor of California, he cut school lunches using ketchup as a vegetable, closed Mental Hospitals putting many patients on the streets, causing numerous murders. Then closed Veterans Hospitals, leaving many Veterans with no place to go. The savings and loan scandal, including Neil Bush. The Iran contra scandal: Fourteen were indicted, 11 found guilty, and 8 were pardoned by Bush I. A few are in Bush II's administration. We lost more than 200 boys in a car bombing in Beirut. Also the invasion of Granada killed a number of innocent people. President Jimmy Carter had solar panels installed on the White House in 1977. Reagan had them removed, saying they didn't function properly. They were purchased for $1 each by Unity College of Maine. Twenty years later they are still saving money. Mildred M. Furlatte Rogue River Ban Fireworks to save lives As we approach a season that is predicted to be one of the most dangerous fire seasons ever, it is a wonder that Ashland still has not taken one of the most elementary, easy and cheep fire prevention steps imaginable. Ashland is one of the only remaining towns in the area that has not banned the use of private fireworks within the city limits. As a direct result of this outdated policy, our local fire department is forced to extremes every July 4. On this one night alone, Ashland Fire Department estimates they receive 15 to 20 fire alarms, two-thirds of which are caused by fireworks, any one of which could quickly escalate into a major disaster. One house has already been lost due to a firework-started fire. We have a public fireworks display and ample opportunity for people to enjoy this traditional form of celebration. Sanctioning risky private fireworks is unnecessary and dangerous. Celebrate independence, of course, but shouldn't community safety come first? For those who agree, a prompt word to the city council could save both life and property. Peter Gibb Ashland Cut SOU sports, women's center Southern Oregon University can be run in a more effective way. Currently, taxpayer and tuition money goes to fund various programs that are not educational. A couple of examples are the sports departments and the Women's Resource Center. There are many others. At the same time, there doesn't seem to be enough funding to keep the school library open on Sundays, even during the school year, or to keep the same open for ideal hours during the rest of the week. Also, the sports programs have the effect of bringing some students to SOU who are not academically inclined and make the campus a less civilized place. The Women's Resource Center pushes an extremist feminist agenda, which isn't even feminist in the higher sense of the word. They harass prospective students, give SOU bad press and post fliers that are disrespectful to the male population of SOU. I advocate closing down of the Women's Resource Center, the sports programs, and all other expenditures that are not related to higher learning. The funds saved should be used to keep the library and computer labs open more and otherwise help our school live up to its fairly new title of "university." Sean Nelson Ashland Clean up, don't log, watershed Four years ago, Linda Duffy signed a decision to complete a fuels reduction project in the Ashland Creek Watershed. Only about 25 percent of that project has been completed. Instead of prioritizing this noncommercial work that needs to be done to protect the watershed and homes from fire, the Forest Service has funded expensive environmental analysis to promote another logging project and the Ski Ashland expansion proposal. With another fire season beginning the Forest Service is now preparing to release the Ski Ashland Final Environmental Impact Statement and Decision. The level of negligence is astounding. The Forest Service clearly shows that they are not concerned about protecting homes or water. Their only concern appears to be promoting development and logging. Why hasn't the noncommercial work from the Ashland Watershed Protection Project been completed? Please call the Forest Supervisor, Scott Conroy at 858-2200 and demand that this noncommercial work is prioritized and that commercial logging and recreational development in our watershed is unacceptable. Eric Navickas Ashland DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams