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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Mt. Ashland Ski Area set to open Saturday Mail Tribune 100 Deputies, volunteers rescue Talent family trapped by flooding Sharing black culture Defendant: Near-death experience a wake-up call Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Deputies, volunteers rescue Talent family trapped by flooding Defendant: Near-death experience a wake-up call Tree crushes car, part of woman's house in Ashland Forensic evidence leads to arrest of Golden Wok robbery suspect Power out to 1,400 Pacific Power customers Politics and Elections Kent Bush: Fraud kept alive by the left and right Walden sets town halls on Friday Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Ashland aims for diversity, but numbers show shortfall Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address Education Sharing black culture SOU board names officers, committees SOU students targeted in Drive Less campaign Parent files discrimination complaint against Ashland schools Some gains, some losses Environment GMO opponents can join Jackson County in defending ban Jackson County won't set up wolf kill compensation program Commercial users can get rid of pesticide waste for free Jackson County looks at compensation for wolf kills Commissioners won't object to BLM road closures State News Letter says Kitzhaber official fired after Hayes criticism Attorney general says Kitzhaber's ethics allegations 'troubling' Willamette football player pleads not guilty to manslaughter 'In God We Trust' leads to Klamath County debate Bill calls for relocation of Washington state wolves Nation - World Obituaries Scott E. 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Four companies will be pitching their plan to you Agriculture 1-800-Flowers dumps Harry & David execs Nine companies pitch investment opportunities in Medford Darigold to shutter Medford plant, putting 29 out of work Opinion Latest Other Views: Overhaul the national firefighting budget Letters to the Editor, Feb. 6 Matthew T. Mangino: Searching for alternatives to solitary confinement Our View: Waiting is best approach to wolf damage Guest Opinion: How long will we look the other way? Editorials Other Views: Overhaul the national firefighting budget Our View: Waiting is best approach to wolf damage Our View: Our growing disagreement with science Our View: A gesture, but one worth making Our View: No reason to hurry pot-tax vote Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Feb. 6 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 5 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 4 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 3 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 2 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: How long will we look the other way? Guest Opinion: Health professionals don't always act that way Help wanted: The Medford School District needs you Guest Opinion: Market forces work against LNG project's success Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose gas pipeline Lifestyle Latest stories Restaurant Inspections Joanna McQuillan Weeks: Warm up your winter with Hearty Vegetable Barley Soup Looking Up: Venus, Mars passing each other Fishing Report: Friday, Feb. 6 Get Out: Friday, Feb. 6 Food Restaurant Inspections Joanna McQuillan Weeks: Warm up your winter with Hearty Vegetable Barley Soup Community blog: Cupcakes can be good for sweetheart's heart Cupcake love affair Fish stew is a winter delight Home and Garden Landscape lighting for beauty, safety and value Dear Monty: First time home buyer seeks differences in housing lifestyles Home Help: 3 upgrades sure to turn kitchen time into quality time Dear Monty: Is a home ‘trade-in’ a good idea? Buying a home? Consider its walkability Health Health Watch: Simple swaps for a healthy lifestyle Community blog: Five "Must Haves" Health Watch: Don’t let your fitness resolutions fizzle out Community blog: Toxic Love: How to Identify an Abusive Relationship Community blog: A Higher Walk To Better Health Hiking Biking Faith RELIGION BRIEFS, Feb. 6 Religion News: Church of England consecrates first female bishop Religion briefs Religion briefs, Jan. 23 Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements 50 years and counting: Bulebar Wedding: Lindsey-Maria Rios New arrivals Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom Live Music in Local Clubs Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Steep Ravine, T Sisters play the Unitarian Fellowship Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Theater Camelot presents Playwright Richard Manley's 'A Question of Words' Classics, premiers highlight '15 season for OSF Randall Theatre presents playwright Charles Ludlam's comedy "The Mystery of Irma Vep" Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Thanks for the Memories Theatre presents 'Cardenio' Music Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present 'The Passing of Time' Live Music in Local Clubs Charles Guy & Linda Powers play Belle Fiore Steep Ravine, T Sisters play the Unitarian Fellowship Here it is! Live Music in Local Clubs Community Events Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Paula Poundstone performs at the Craterian Len Dickson's 'Fall Harvest' to grace Belle Fiore wine label Dining Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom Sandwiches and burgers are hits at The Rogue Chef The Vine offers a taste of Italy Cheeseburgers on the cheap Valley View — It's all in the family Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Mt. Ashland Ski Area set to open Saturday ... Get Up & Go: Saturday, Feb. 7 ... Deputies, volunteers rescue Talent family trapped by flooding ... Mt. Ashland Ski Area set to open Saturday ... Get Up & Go: Saturday, Feb. 7 ... Deputies, volunteers rescue Talent family trapped by flooding ... KLAMATH COUNTY 'In God We Trust' leads to Klamath County debate Comment By Samantha Tipler Klamath Falls Herald and News MailTribune.com By Samantha Tipler Klamath Falls Herald and News Posted Feb. 5, 2015 @ 4:58 pm Updated Feb 5, 2015 at 5:50 PM By Samantha Tipler Klamath Falls Herald and News Posted Feb. 5, 2015 @ 4:58 pm Updated Feb 5, 2015 at 5:50 PM » Social News KLAMATH FALLS — Not everyone agrees with the motto "In God We Trust." And a contingent of Klamath County residents doesn't want to see it on the commissioners' hearing room wall. "If 'In God We Trust' is going to be placed on that wall, shall we then place 'Allahu Akbar' on this wall for our Muslim citizens? Or 'Yahweh is God, you shall have no other god before him' on that wall for our Jewish citizens? Or 'We bow down to our Mother Earth at this time of solstice' on the back wall for our Wiccan citizens? Then we have the Buddhists, the Baha'i, the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Orthodox Catholics and so on. "God knows what we'll do with the atheists," said Trish Seiler, Klamath Falls City Councilwoman. "Choosing one faith over another by placing the proposed plaque in this room is not only unconstitutional, it is morally wrong. It is not the American way." Seiler joined about 40 other citizens who attended a town hall Tuesday evening hosted by the county commissioners. The commissioners didn't set an agenda or topics for the meeting, but the majority of people spoke about the "In God We Trust" issue. At the end of December, commission chairman Tom Mallams suggested putting the words "In God We Trust" on the wall of the public hearing room. It has come up several times in meetings since, mostly with citizens speaking in favor of the motto. At Tuesday's meeting, the tune changed, and more spoke against it. "I am a Christian. I love my God and I love my government for giving me the constitutional right that it gives me. I don't want my government — federal, state or county — to tell me how to love my God, or tell others to do so or do not," said Austin Folnagy, a homeowner in Klamath County and member of the Klamath Community College board. He said he wanted to attract more homeowners to the area, and he thought the "In God We Trust" sign would hinder that. "I want young families and young people to come and fall in love with this county," he said. "I want that regardless of their race, their religion or creed." Seiler also urged the commissioners to focus on economic development, job creation, efficient government and other issues that would help unite the community, not divide it. "This issue is dividing our community," she said. "We need to work on issues that bring us together." Commissioners said they were surprised the "In God We Trust" issue became the dominant topic Tuesday evening. They had anticipated talking about the county budget, or public safety. But "In God We Trust" came up again and again. The issue brought forth arguments about the First Amendment and the separation of church and state. "The Founding Fathers felt very strongly we need to have a moral compass of some sort. They didn't say 'In God We Trust' the God of the Bible or the God of the Muslim faith," Mallams said, adding he believed the motto didn't violate church and state division. "Even atheism is considered a religion by many now." Bellet said he didn't see a problem with putting the words on the wall. "It's on all our money, it's on all our coinage," he said. "I don't see anything wrong with putting it on a government building." By Samantha Tipler Klamath Falls Herald and News MailTribune.com By Samantha Tipler Klamath Falls Herald and News Posted Feb. 5, 2015 @ 4:58 pm Updated Feb 5, 2015 at 5:50 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » 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 Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs 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. 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