Document text
June 19, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels May 20, 2004 Change Oregon's logging reputation Oregon's reputation as a logging state needs to come to an end! Haven't we moved past exploiting our natural resources, not excluding old growth forests, in order to make a name for ourselves? Well into the year of 2004, don't we have other successful businesses and industries to rely on? As an Oregonian, I love the forests we have been able to preserve, and I don't think I'd be jumping to conclusions in assuming many others feel the same. When in other parts of the country, or even other parts of the world, isn't it great to tell people of the wild forests we still have here in Oregon? Our wild forests are an important part of Oregon's landscape, and there is no excuse for exploiting them. The Roadless Area Conservation Rule, set into action in 2001, has played a key role in Oregon, protecting two million acres of Oregon's pristine national forests. The Bush Administration, not surprisingly, has been trying to chuck the rule out the window since it was set into action. As Oregon citizens, we need to do something to protect the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Without the rule, 87 percent of Oregon's finest national forests would be unprotected from logging, mining and road building! Our forests, some of the finest left, need protection, protection that the Roadless Area Conservation Rule gives them. Sharon Bywater Medford OSF should play role in housing Perhaps as the Ashland City Housing Commission looks into the lack of affordable housing for single families, they will investigate how many little single apartments and tiny houses in Ashland are rented by out the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. It was unknown to me and I'm sure to many people that used to be able to live in Ashland that the Theater rents apartments and small houses from local owners whether they are needed or not. Just in case an extra actor needs a place to be in a hurry, these spaces are held, often empty, often for months. Perhaps OSF could build a little affordable housing too, so that local folks could also live here, and take care of all those tourists for them in the restaurants and hotels that serve them. Kim Cower Talent History vital to kids' education I was pleased to see reporter Bill Choy's story on the winners of the National History Day competition at the state level (April 26). I want to second his statement that "history doesn't have to be stuffy or boring," and to congratulate the local students who showed such dedication, hard work and imagination in their History Day projects. The students, including those who did not go on to win but who did wonderful work nonetheless, and teachers such as Kathy Williams at Talent Middle School, are really the heart of this program. Although it was not mentioned in the story, the Southern Oregon Historical Society since 1993 has been the regional coordinator for the National History Day competition, and in partnership with Southern Oregon University holds annual competitions and exhibits for our region. The winners then go on to the state and national competitions. Last year, our region had two big national winners. Since 1998, SOHS has coordinated this program with the financial assistance of the Harriet Winton Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation. This year, with our portion of national three-year federal grant obtained by SOU, Southern Oregon Education Service District and SOHS to help teach history teachers, SOHS will be working to expand National History Day participation in Jackson County and in Klamath and Josephine counties as well. History Day can be integrated into statewide curriculum standards, and is a rewarding and fun way for students - and teachers - to make history come alive. John Enders Executive Director Southern Oregon Historical Society Divorce analogy misses the point All analogies break down sooner or later, but Susan Wilson's analogy, namely, that the Palestinian/Israeli tragedy may be likened to a messy divorce (Guest Forum, May 1), falls apart immediately. A better analogy would be that of a home invader who breaks in, throws most of the inhabitants out, consigns the others to sub-basements and out houses, and then proceeds to take over the neighborhood. But even that analogy fails to encompass the ongoing tragedy of the Zionist dream turned into a nightmare. When dreams turn into nightmares, the sleeper usually wakes up. If there is ever to be peace between Israelis and Palestinians, it is increasingly obvious that it can come about only through a unitary state in which all of the citizens share equal rights and duties. Gerald Cavanaugh 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