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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us June 28, 2005 City is no longer Mayberry RFD When I came to Ashland in 1968 it was, at least to me, sort of a “Mayberry, RFD” on a somewhat larger scale. With the influx of the counter-culture and big-city Californians, many of the Berkeley radical and Haight-Asbury type, the face of Ashland changed. Is it any wonder today it is known as “The People’s Republic of Ashland”? This downward spiral has been devastating to one-time peaceful Ashland. The saga of the horrific accident involving Kevan Thatcher-Stephens has revealed to many observers the character of a cross section of the Ashland elite! A wild irresponsible youth, supplied with alcohol by apparently equally irresponsible adults, drove recklessly ending in the death of an innocent man, leaving behind a widowed wife and fatherless children. Instead of integrity, honesty, and good citizenship to uncover the truth, we find instead deceit, coverup and the Fifth Amendment. This despicable, beneath-contempt attitude by parents and lawyers stands in shame before the victims and decent citizens of this community. God knows who you are, and so do others. May your collective consciousness leave you no peace or restful sleep until you come forth and reveal the truth. Carl J. Sandberg Phoenix Congress must face the problem Last Tuesday’s comments by Sen. Dick Durbin about the torture of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and elsewhere have brought a storm of criticism from the White House and key Senate leaders, much as Amnesty’s comments on the same issue did. White House spokesperson and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner accuse Durbin of insulting the troops. I believe Sen. Durbin should be commended for his courage. It is the White House that insults the troops, by court-martialing young soldiers at the same time it promotes those who set torture and abuse policies in motion. It’s past time Congress attacked the problem, not those who try to fix it. Torture is not an American value. No amount of partisan political attacks will change that. Pamela Goodwin Ashland Bianca deserves time to restore I was disturbed with the tone of the article on Police Chief Mike Bianca from June 17. The subtle, but very clear, insinuation as to why Bianca has chosen to take an extended leave was inappropriate. The fact that this story, which lacks significant factual information, made it to the front page is curious. In my opinion, Bianca’s many years of service as a positive male role model in this community have earned him the benefit of the doubt. It is his business why he is taking this time off. And instead of speculating or printing quotes of anonymous rumors, we should trust that his decision is in the best interests of our city, the police department, as well as those of the chief and his family. Over the past year and a half I have had the opportunity to know Mike on a personal level. Before meeting him, I have to admit, I did not have a lot of respect for the APD. But because of this relationship, that opinion has dramatically changed. I now have the utmost respect for the chief and the department he runs. I can also say that I have had conversations with several fellow citizens who feel the same way. I urge those who are curious as to why he has taken leave, to be patient and give the chief his space. I just hope that this article does not give the chief pause as to why he chose to take the huge responsibility that is the chief of police. I look forward to many years of his courageous leadership. Devin Mahoney Ashland Photos don’t belong in front It certainly must been a slow day, worldwide, by media standards. I can’t believe the news policy at the Ashland Daily Tidings including such sensationalist photographs as were exhibited on the entire front page on June 21. If young men want to poke holes in their bodies, fine, but don’t insult your readership by putting such objectionable material on the front page (and especially don’t include the lurid photographs!). There have been several instances of bad judgment since you’ve been hired in which I’ve wondered whether you were here to ensure the demise of the Ashland Daily Tidings. I think jaded “Big City” folks would be much more appreciative of your latest fiasco. Sandra L. 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