Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Neighbors evacuated in southwest Medford SWAT standoff ... Human bone found northwest of Shady Cove ... Costly repairs may force Jacksonville Highway Water District to dissolve ... Neighbors evacuated in southwest Medford SWAT standoff ... Human bone found northwest of Shady Cove ... Costly repairs may force Jacksonville Highway Water District to dissolve ... LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor: May 9 MailTribune.com Writer Posted May. 9, 2016 @ 12:01 am Posted May. 9, 2016 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Flunking the smell test Oregon State Sen. Doug Whitsett filed for re-election last October along with his wife Gail Whitsett an Oregon state representative. Literally minutes before the filing deadline in March, Dennis Linthicum and Werner Reschke both filed as Republicans for these seats. The next day Doug Whitsett and his wife Gail both announced they would not seek re-election. By that time it was too late for anyone else to file. This doesn’t pass the smell test! C.W. Smith and I have been lifelong friends and although I’m a Democrat, I fully support him in his write-in campaign. He has been a Jackson County commissioner and Jackson County sheriff but most of all he is honest and always looking to better Southern Oregon where we both grew up and still live. Please join me in supporting C.W. Smith for Oregon State Senate District 28 as a write-in candidate. Tom Dew Medford Crain is one of the best Patricia Crain is one of the best judges that we have, or have had, in my 43 years of practicing law in Southern Oregon. She is patient, attentive, unbiased and well versed in the law. Anyone appearing before her will receive a fair hearing. The drug court program that she pioneered has been successful in helping people turn their lives around, while saving taxpayers the high cost of incarceration. I strongly recommend the re-election of Circuit Court Judge Patricia Crain. Allen Drescher, attorney at law Ashland Taxes are too high Thank you, Wayne Graddy, for your Opinion letter April 30. You took the words right out of my mouth! My property tax has gone from $3,300 to $4,400 per year, and the market value of my home has decreased $70,000 during that same period. We are super senior citizens on a fixed income, where CD interest rates are one-quarter of 1 percent. We don't have any government pension and live on our savings. Yet, our home property taxes are expected to pay for everyone else's non-emergency services. Surely, there are other ways to subsidize these non-emergency services. I am all for subsidizing needed police and fire protection and their stations. Also, it is a waste of money to have the Al Densmore Bridge to nowhere, going from Highland to Barnett. We rarely see anyone using it, and I travel that corner several times per week. Matt Belzano Sr. Medford Change corrupt bylaws Should Mr. Breidenthal be re-elected as a county commissioner, one of the first things he needs to do, when he attends the annual meeting of the Western Interstate Region of the National Association of Counties where he is scheduled to ascend to the presidency, is to sponsor a by-law change that prevents the conduct of their elections in the present corrupt manner, where votes are bought and sold for treats of crab legs and free drinks, apparently financed by the regulated constituents of these elected county officials. Should Mr. Breidenthal fail to get re-elected, the Jackson County Board of Commissioners should withdraw its membership and financial support of this organization until such a by-law amendment has been put in place. David Argetsinger Medford Library supports RVTD The Library District Board unanimously supports the Rogue Transportation District ballot measure. A recent demographic study told us that using the Internet to find job listings, and receiving assistance to complete job applications is one of our major services. Talk about attracting jobs is uninformed if our less-than-adequate transportation system is not considered and improved. Many residents lack personal transportation, therefore are unable to access jobs and college classes. Low-income people and those with disabilities cannot access healthcare and food without public transportation. The average value of a house in this county is $230,000. To support the proposed transit levy would cost $30/year per household. That’s the cost of one or two books, a best buy ticket to most concerts and plays in the valley, a tank of gas at today’s prices or a bag of groceries. We ask all citizens to vote yes for improved transportation services. Carol Doty, member Jackson County Library District Board Saved by Breidenthal Our neighborhood was a friendly, peaceful place where most of us had lived for decades. Then last summer some out-of-state people moved in and started a marijuana dispensary. There were multiple problems from the very first day. All of us residents were unhappy, and some made plans to move away. It seemed like there was no hope. It was suggested that we talk to Commissioner Breidenthal. He took the time to listen to our concerns. And he said we could count on him to look out for us. Weeks later the county implemented Jackson County Ordinance 3.13.6, A-3: A marijuana dispensary retailing facility may not be located on property adjacent to any residentially zoned property. Thanks to Commissioner Doug Breidenthal, every family under the jurisdiction of Jackson County will live free from the threat of a drug dispensary moving in next door. Nick Lee Phoenix MailTribune.com Writer Posted May. 9, 2016 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501