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Letters to the Editor, Feb. 21 Tuesday Feb 21, 2017 at 12:01 AM Unprotected tires Special attention to Medford Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State Police: A dangerous situation has finally made the evening news, Channel 10. Gravel, mud, sand, etc. hitting the windshield from unprotected tires. Oregon Revised Statutes require vehicles to have and maintain adequate mud flaps and fenders. You cannot drive anywhere in Jackson county without seeing several offenders. You and I both have seen jacked up cars and trucks with the entire rear tires exposed. As a deputy sheriff in Jackson County, now retired, and a deputy sheriff in Los Angeles, I would look for any legal reason to stop a car and talk with the occupants. You can find outstanding warrants, driving while suspended, contraband in plain view, and at least, get the tires covered. In my opinion, these “fix-it” tickets are not being written now because they generate no money for the courts. A law enforcement officer’s main function is to protect the public. Rocks and debris on the windshield from these tires cause expensive damage and possibly injury accidents. Harry LeVine Central Point Fighting back A for-profit health care CCO named All-Care, aided by nonprofit Options for Southern Oregon, has attempted a power play and ruse on our citizens. State-funded All-Care contracts for mental health services with Jackson County, but desires more than last year's $11.3 million in profits. Options wants to expand their mental health services from Josephine County and dominate Jackson County, too. Jackson County service quality is much higher ranked than Options, so All-Care reasons they can lower quality considerably and make more money using Options. Combining forces, they sprang a sudden ultimatum on Jackson County at contract renewal. Take a 40 percent pay cut, potentially forcing county taxpayers to supplement the $5 million loss from county reserves, which can go into All-Care’s pockets now, as well as giving Options time to build capacity and take over services next year, or face disruption of these vital services. The county saw a better path. Fight back. Jeers to All-Care and Options. Cheers for Jackson County for standing strong and fighting back. Cheers to our taxpayers for seeing through the ruse of blaming the county. Cheers to the mental health employees of Jackson County and their union, who are also fighting back. Buck Eichler Medford No balance I could not have written a better more accurate letter describing the constant and continuing left wing agenda then today's letter submitted by Jim James. Our subscription is expiring shortly and will not be renewed. Hopefully with new ownership this newspaper will institute balanced news reporting. Until that happens you have lost another daily reader. Dawn Bove Medford Who would know better? Now, folks, let's not have a hissy fit over Trump calling U.S. District Judge James Robart a "so-called judge." After all, maybe he is. I mean, who would know better than our "so-called president?" T.J. Pappas Jacksonville Speech has consequences Free speech is not free. It comes with responsibilities. You cannot yell "fire" in a crowded theater, for example. In a fundamentally Christian nation you cannot spout obscenities without consequences. In a fundamentally diverse nation you cannot spew racism, bigotry and prejudice without encountering fundamental and strident opposition. To not oppose such speech is as wrong as the speech itself. Steve Bull Medford