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October 21. 2014 12:01AM Letters to the Editor, Oct. 21 Drug problems accelerate I frequently listen to the police scanner for the Rogue Valley and have to say — the drug problem in the Rogue Valley is out of control. Heroin and prescription pills seem to be the drug of choice here in the Rogue Valley. Prescription pills get expensive, and now the hospitals and clinics are cracking down on "frequent fliers." Now that pills are harder to obtain, heroin has taken its place as a cheap, quick and easy drug to get a hold of. That's in addition to the meth and cocaine we already deal with. Along with the drug problem comes crime because, after all, you usually need to lie and steal to obtain the funds to fuel the addiction. I don't know what the answers are or how to fix the problem myself, but we need to work on it. Fail to act and the Rogue Valley will eventually become a place where businesses no longer want to come and families no longer want to raise their families. So, any ideas? Steve Ryan, Medford   Measure 91 is dangerous This is in response to your editorial column recommending a yes vote on Measure 91. Apparently, you don't think we have enough deaths and injuries caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol. The passage of Measure 91 would only add to it. As reported by ABC news in Denver, the number of people killed in marijuana-related accidents has increased 100 percent over the last five years. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission can't keep alcohol from being obtained by underage people. What makes you think they would do any better with marijuana? Measure 91, if passed would create a multitude of problems too lengthy to list here, but it would be a huge mistake. Richard Cody, Applegate   Roberts is no Democrat As chair of the Jackson County Democratic Party, I am shocked that Colleen Roberts and letter writers claim Roberts represents Democratic voters in Jackson County. She received a few hundred write-in votes in the Democratic primary due to either a deliberate attempt to mislead voters or a misunderstanding by some voters about her positions. But her positions are clear now, and they do not represent the values of the Democratic Party or voters. The Jackson County Democratic Party has enthusiastically endorsed Kevin Talbert for county commissioner. Voters who read about both candidates in the Voters’ Pamphlet will have no problem recognizing Roberts as an extremist. They will have no problem recognizing that Talbert will bring problem solving, inclusive and forward-thinking leadership to our county. Don’t be misled. Vote for Kevin Talbert, county commissioner, Position 3. Lynn Howe, Medford   Moro has what it takes I support Tonia Moro for county commissioner! I first met Tonia when I was selected to serve on the OnTrack Board of Directors. She was the board president at that time. I have observed her since then, she listens attentively, never failing to ask questions, she seems to digest the information carefully and makes decisions or statements appropriately. She has a great sense of humor, which I am sure has been an attribute to her in her profession as an attorney. Tonia has the citizens of Jackson County as her primary concern, our community as a whole, with many concerns, environmental, creation of jobs, the need for continuing education, job skills and the list goes on. Tonia is punctual and eager to serve. Aside from this, Tonia has the skills and knowledge and desire to serve the residents of Jackson County as your commissioner. Joan T. Middendorff, Medford   Sergi supports Falls Vote for Falls! I recently retired from the sheriff’s office and was part of the command staff. On trying to stay on the positive side I will not comment directly about the current sheriff or his administration. I will say Jackson County needs a new sheriff and Corey will do a great job. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has great, professional and dedicated employees and they need effective leadership and management; I believe Corey can fill that role. Please make sure you take the time and vote Corey Falls for sheriff. Bob Sergi, Jacksonville   Tired of our direction? Dissatisfied with the direction our government is heading? Tired of the Kitzhaber, Obama and Reid fiascoes? I believe we need to send a strong message to both the state and national legislatures this November. We definitely can't do worse than the dysfunctional bunch running the state and nation now. Please join me in voting Republican this election, and let's hope that it will help. A little common sense should go a long way to get us through the next two years. We all need some positive progress out of our government representatives. Eric C. Hunt, Medford   Heads in the sand Historians, especially conservative ones, have long admired Winston Churchill’s vision and courage in the 1930’s, warning of the existential danger to Western Civilization of Hitler’s Third Reich. They criticize those who refused then to acknowledge and act on the threat. Unfortunately today there are few conservatives who exhibit comparable courage and vision regarding the existential threat of  our  generation. Few acknowledge the danger that faces world civilization today: man-made climate change. Notable exceptions to this conservative failure of perception have been three past Republican EPA administrators. Ironically, the threat developing in the 1930s was especially hard to foresee given the complexity of political affairs. That was in stark contrast to the clarity and multiple lines of scientific evidence we have for climate change. It is disappointing to see many folks working so hard to keep their heads in the sand, despite that overwhelming scientific evidence. It is especially regrettable to see those who should be leading efforts to  conserve  our civilization not only ignoring the issue, but actively sabotaging addressing it. This is true despite the most powerful proposed strategy being a market-based solution, i.e. a carbon tax and dividend. How many climate disasters will it take to wake up? Robert John Scheelen, Medford   Roberts is anti-government Colleen Roberts is not a Democrat. And she’s not much of a Republican either, if we can trust the judgments of the current GOP county commissioners, who have endorsed her Independent opponent, Kevin Talbert. She or her backers were skillful enough to get both party labels behind her name on the ballots we receive in the mail, but don’t be fooled. She represents neither party as we have known them in our lifetime. She is committed to dismantling the government that we grew up respecting and supporting. Why would you vote for a person to lead an arm of government she is committed to destroying? Would you give a barn burner the keys to the barn? Jim Martin, Ashland   Dotterrer's misrepresentations In a letter we received at our home over the weekend, Kerry Dotterrer, tells us why she is voting for her husband, Dave, for state Senate: because when she and Dave returned to Southern Oregon over 13 years ago, she found out that her grandchildren “don’t have the same freedom” to “hike the hills and walk downtown Ashland by ourselves, until the sun went down.” And it’s all Alan Bates’ fault. I think the 150,000 yearly tourists and the townspeople of Ashland would be surprised to learn that they can’t freely walk down Ashland sidewalks. They seem pretty safe to us. So we’ll not be voting for Dave and supporting Kerry Dotterrer’s misapprehension. We’ll vote for Alan Bates. Vincent and Patricia Wixon, Ashland     http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20141021/News/141019612 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->