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The opinions you are about to read were submitted by individuals in the community. The Weekly Mailer does not write Sound Off nor have we verified the submissions for accuracy. They are the opinions of the individuals that sent them and do not represent the opinions of the Weekly Mailer. Read at your own risk.
Dear Editor,
I try to ignore the left wing letter writers in this usual educational paper, but at times like this it’s impossible. Kinda like a poop fly that keeps buzzing around, Thank God in this part of American we have very few thinking our government owes them a living. We have few of those who would accept the government telling them how to live their lives and trade freedom for a Socialistic way of life. Take a good look at any and all socialistic countries and compare them to our United States of America. Look closely you few who want to change our American way of life. Listen to the socialist anti American Walsh crapola: those of you who would ignore the Constitution of our great United States of America.
There is a socialistic horizon in our future as things progress in congress, that’s for sure. I wonder why this former Brit, Walsh, decided to come to a country that didn’t have socialized medicine. To a country where freedom is a reality, where a man can protect his family with freedoms that include the right to bear arms and to run at the mouth and get away with it. A place on God’s green Earth where his only limits on what he does with his life is up to his abilities. Even the right to write stupid things in the paper, about the greatest country in the world and be protected by law.
I find it ironic that this Walsh dislikes Limbaugh, Beck, and other truth mongers. Mister Walsh, they’ve got you and most other Democrats zeroed in like a deer in the headlights. They’ve got the facts, the constitution and Heritage association backing them up with the Truth. I’d as soon have them backing me than Dingy Harry Reed and that self centered, ego maniac queen Palosi. To include the incredibly bad president Obama. I refer to as the three stooges. With your attitude and political thoughts Mr. Walsh, you should be living in Sun Valley or maybe San Francisco where other liberals thrive, (and are slowing bankrupting their very backyards).
And while I’m at it, I’d like to add that I am a veteran, ten years in the Marine Corps, two tours in Korea and I don’t draw one dime from any medical freebees. I know there are others like me that were fortunate enough to make the trip unscathed, just older and wiser, and never ask for help we never needed. Those that are getting free medical care earned it the hard way in most cases. They sure didn’t get second rate socialized medicine like Obama wants us all to have now. That is all but congress, state workers, and the elite of the political socialist party union workers system. Mister Walsh, if England is so great why don’t you go home. America would never miss you.
Ed Pace
Malta
Dear Editor:
I have been reading all the letters on health care. I am a single (read “divorced”) mother of two kids. Both of my kids are covered by Medicaid. Who pays the bill? Everyone of us pays the bill. I do not have health coverage. I work two jobs to keep our heads above water. I also clean houses on the side. An insurance health care policy would cost me $435 each month. Where would I ever get that kind of money when I earn minimum wage at both of my jobs, pay $450 in rent, $190 in utilities, $247 in a car payment, $92 in car insurance each month? The only veteran who has made any sense in his remarks is Mr. Driscoll. He didn’t kick people around and he didn’t try to defend the system. He said that changes need to be made. Yes! I am the daughter of a Mexican-American who served in the Army and I’m glad he had benefits. I would like to see all of us have benefits.
Lots of stuff going on about health care. Here’s my two bits. The whole system is messed up. We need something new in place. The vets deserve everything they can get with service related problems. Here’s my big question. Why is it that police officers don’t get the same type of benefit. A police officer can put in ten, fifteen and twenty years of service and if he moves on to a different type job, he doesn’t have any health insurance going with him? I’m telling you the truth and it comes from family. The political parties we have today are a sham and a scam. We really do need new leadership. At all levels. Burley now has some so maybe there is a light at the end of a tunnel that isn’t a fast moving freight train.
Jim Bortz
As we all know, most regular Americans are struggling our way through these tougher economic times. Last weekend I saw a motivated and creative individual who had set up a Hot Cocoa stand at the bottom of the Albion grade. I have also noticed that there is a business who is hiring and paying individuals to stand on Overland Ave. dressed in a Statue of Liberty Costume to advertise their services. Seeing people doing ‘whatever it takes’ in order to help themselves rather than sitting home and complaining they have no money is an inspiration to me.
This is why I have a felt need to respond to the person who wrote to complain about the Coupon Shoppers at Albertsons. Firstly, I can not understand why an individual would refuse to patronize a store due to the actions of the customers patronizing that store, while trying to stretch their dollars. Secondly, would the time lost waiting in line for the Coupon Shoppers to conduct their business be saved by making a round-trip journey to Twin Falls in order to shop?
I respect the fact that there are people who can afford the time, money and fuel to make a 90 mile round trip in order to do their shopping. I am happy that not everybody is struggling to make financial ends meet. In the same respect, there are many who rely on coupons, sales and other smart shopping techniques so as they may afford to pay their mortgages, power bills, doctor bills, car insurance and other necessities. Of course, there are others who can, and are willing to pay the shelf price on their purchases who may not be struggling so much. Whether their motive to scrimp their funds is based on greed or a necessity is nobody’s business.
There are several large chain stores located in the Mini-Cassia area. Even though they may not be locally owned, the employees who provide services, greet you at the door, stock the shelves, and take the time to help customers save money do live in our community. They are our friends, relatives and neighbors. Supporting their employers affords these people the opportunity to have jobs, pay their bills, purchase gas, tires, food and other services that probably provide a positive direct or indirect economic impact on the person who wrote to Sound Off complaining about “coupon shoppers”.To those who are setting up Cocoa Stands, standing in the cold wearing Statue of Liberty outfits and finding other ways to survive during these hard times, please know that this money you are working so hard to earn will last longer if you clip coupons, watch the sales at Albertson’s, and if they are out of ads near the front door, please feel free to ask a cashier for help, apparently they are very eager to assist you in saving money.
First of all, we too are frustrated with the coupon abusers. They ruin it for all of us! As for the class, have you been? If so, you did not listen. One part of the class is spent on respecting other shoppers and not taking more than what you need. Here are a few facts about why stores coupon and why manufacturers put out coupons.
Stores are:
Reimbursed the full face value of the coupon
You have a .50 cent coupon- the store will get paid 50 cents from manufacturer
Plus they get 8 cents for each coupon for processing but it only cost them about 4 cents to process the coupon, so they make an additional 4 cents per coupon. It may not seem like much but nation wide it is a huge profit.
Some people including cashiers have said that someone must “lose out” when a shopper uses coupons. Manufacturers mark up products to pay for advertising and marketing. Coupons are just another way “to market” their product. Do you feel bad watching the Super Bowl knowing the company pays a couple million for a 30 second commercial?
Happy Couponer Saving $$$
Why is it that when our local boys and girls try out for the basketball team and make it, that only a select few play? If they are good enough to make the team, then they should be able to play every game.
They are all required to go to all the practices, get the grades required, pay the same amount of money, and follow all the rules; not to mention, giving up the extra things they like to do, such as skiing, attending church and community activities, family time together, plus sleeping in.
We go to most of the Burley games, local and out of town. We’ve noticed that there are some players who never play. We understand the concept of the “starters”, but come on! Even they get tired and make mistakes. Why not spell them off with the non-starters and let them play? We noticed the longer these starters play, the more it shows on their performance. Why not use the ones who don’t play to spell them off? Wouldn’t that be the “sporting” thing to do?
How unfortunate they don’t get to play and get more experience on the court instead of warming the bench with their behinds!
We’ve noticed that when they do play, the little bit they do, that they do a great job and are excited for the opportunity.
Come on coaches, let them play the “team” sport of basketball. Why not make the worth of each team member who makes the team feel worthwhile.
Maybe your wins would improve, after all, that’s what seems to be the priority – winning!
Two concerned fans
I am writing in response to the comments in the February 2nd paper about biker Santa. This is also going out to all the people writing about the car crash that took a man’s life.
The main thing I want to do is hopefully open a few minds and hearts. What I don’t think anyone is thinking about are the families of these people. Innocent people, who every time they pick up a paper, go to town, or turn on the TV are forced to go through so much torture.
The families of both men in the car wreck have been put through enough so please stop making them have to deal with all this childish opinion slinging. It doesn’t matter what happens somebody is not going to like it, but sometimes it is best, for the families, to keep your opinions to yourselves.
I know this for a fact because I am a family member of biker Santa. Am I saying everything he did is right? No! However I want to set something straight. Yes he was convicted of rape. The law prevailed and he did his time in Boise. He did not get probation, he did his full time. Even as a family member of a rapist, it is my “opinion” that if you’re convicted of a crime you should do your full time.
On to the recent charges, the person in the earlier paper said she knew someone in prison because of accusations, no DNA match no evidence just the word of a minor. Well guess what, these are the exact same terms as biker Santa. You also made the comment that he was a child molester, I just want to let you know it was determined that the child was not molested. The child said later that she had seen an x-rated video at his house. The truth of it was she didn’t see it on TV, she saw it laying on a shelf under his TV. He has never been charged with child molesting.
The thing about all this that is really bothering me is, what about this mother? I am related to biker Santa and so is she, the difference is, because of his past, and really if you think about it that is the reason this is all being blown out of proportion, the difference is I would not take my child over to his house and just leave her for the day. She did this knowing about his past. I’m not saying that justifies anything, it is just that I believe she is just as guilty of child endangerment as he might be. That is what the charges ended up being.
I will not sign my name because of all the thoughtless, heartless things that might be said or done to hurt me or my family.
It has been almost three months since our husband and father passed away. I am amazed at the love and support shown by this community. There have been so many kindnesses expressed. We want to thank all who have helped in any way, starting with the people who delivered a Thanksgiving basket, my coworkers who gave monetary support before my husband passed away and then provided Christmas gifts to us as well as meals for several weeks, United Electric for their Christmas gifts, my children’s schools as well as other anonymous donors who provided support in some way. These expressions of love and service show what a great community we live in. They illustrate the true meaning of Christmas. I hope that my family can in some small way repay these kindnesses by serving others in need.
Cheryl Howard and girls
It’s time the American people woke up to what our national government is doing to our country and take a stand to preserve all that this country stands for. I’m not talking about “the Democrats” or “the Republicans”, I’m talking about “The Government” which is supposed to be “by the people and for the people”, but is run by unscrupulous politicians that are out to line their own pockets.
First, “The Government” gets our country so far in debt by their outrageous behavior (perks, pork barrel legislation, unregulated payments to Iraqi government, even though they have plenty to fund their own war, and bail-outs to banks that pay their people billion dollar bonuses, etc) that we have to take loans from foreign countries that have been enemies to our country for decades. Now, this “great stimulus package” that is supposed to help us recover from the recession, and has added billions more to the deficit, that we, the American People are going to have to cough up in the future, is being used to support foreign countries such as China. It was reported on the national news last night that $8 of every $10 used to finance the so called “green power” projects, like the one Idaho Power & Rocky Mt. Power are trying to force on us, is being paid to workers in China to produce the turbine engines for the windmills, and such things, while manufacturing plants in our country remain idle, unable to hire any employees here in the U.S. The projects in Texas have put 300 U.S. people to work, but 2000 workers in China, and the administration says there is nothing wrong with this! This is obscene!!
Wake up people, this is our future and our children’s future that we are talking about! Quit bellyaching about petty things (our servicemen and women deserve what benefits that they do get), and see what can be done to curtail the selling off our country to foreign interest.
The Community Concert Series performance on Friday, February 6 may have been the best ever. The music from Broadway shows and the movies, brought to the audience on King Fine Arts’ very good sound system and abetted by a talented pianist accompanying the action onstage, was fabulous.
The ten performers not only belted out the songs as if they were onstage in New York City, they were extremely accomplished dancers. The simple stage set of stairs in a horseshoe leading to the elevated platform kept all the action moving effectively. And the costuming! There were at least 30 changes of costume and props. How did they manage the changes so swiftly.
The show opened with “Charlie Chaplin” moving around the auditorium engaging the audience, and moved on through early movies and their music. After intermission we were treated to more choreograph from movies and Broadway. My own personal favorite was “My Heart Will Go On” from “Titanic” sung beautifully from the elevated platform while a duo danced balletically, ending in the now-famous pose of the heroine leaning into the wind on the prow of Titanic, in this case being held in this pose by her dancing partner.
The Community Concerts are a bargain at $40 for five performances by various troupes. Mini-Cassia is fortunate to have these touring professionals performing during the season. The Association is offering an opportunity to attend the March 12 concert featuring Buffalo Roam. If you have a friend who attends these concerts (probably better titled “shows”), they can take a friend with them on March 12 at no charge. I recommend that you get season tickets next year for the series. They are first-rate!
Gwen Erickson
I am writing a note of appreciation! In today’s society it is not often that we get to hear how great people are. When looking at the papers we hear all about when people do the wrong thing. I wanted to take a moment to point out that not everyone chooses to do the wrong thing. A fine example of this is took place on Feb. 9th. My son and I went to recycle papers at the recycle bin in the Ridley’s parking lot in Rupert, Idaho. While there my son’s wallet fell out of his pocket, though at the time we did not realize it had fallen, it wasn’t until we got home and had been home for about 20 minutes that he realized he had lost his wallet. The first place he thought of was the recycle bin; we went back and found no wallet. My father had given this wallet to my son, it had belonged to my great-grandfather so my son’s great-great grandfather. Needless to say my son was very upset. We decided that we would say a prayer that whom ever found the wallet would be an honest person and return it. My son didn’t even care if he got any of the contents of the wallet back, just the wallet because of the special meaning it has to him. Well for you non-believers out there, God is GOOD!! Mr. John Ziulkowski found my son’s wallet, and returned it with all the contents intact. Not only did this man find the wallet and return it to us but he had to go out of his way to find the owner of the wallet. There was no identification in the wallet other than a fishing license and a note that read “Last Wallet of Tom Makinson.” Mr. Ziulkowski found the only Makinson in the Rupert area and called them. They knew my father and called him. Long story short the wallet was returned to my son one day after it was lost. Mr. Ziulkowski would not even take a compensation for his trouble. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH MR. ZIULKOWSKI!! You have helped my son and I appreciate the Power of Prayer. The kindness you have shown us has reaffirmed our belief that people of high-quality still exist. Again THANK YOU MR. ZIULKOWSKI FOR YOUR TIME, EFFORT, AND KINDNESS.
Jacoby & Tricia L. Buckley
I am happy to glance over the sound off section and it makes my day when I read about some of the good deeds people do for each other in this town. Unfortunately, I am not so lucky to be writing about one of those incidents. I just had to mention about something that happened to me when I was in town shopping with my three children. It was last Tuesday and I was at our local Wal-Mart to do some grocery shopping around 4 p.m. I was trying to cross to enter the store like many pedestrians do, and mind you I was going about as fast as I could with a three-year-old, five-year-old and my oldest who is eight. I saw a “red truck” approaching and it wasn’t slowing down, but the person stopped and I didn’t even get about a few feet away when this person revved up their engine behind us to speed away. Usually, I am not the kind of person that would say anything but it did upset me because it scared us. One of my children glanced at me with a terrified look because they actually thought this person was going to run us over. When I saw the fear in my child I got upset and yelled out “whatever slow down”. As this person drove away they “kindly” gave me the finger, obviously this person was agitated that they had to wait for a mother trying to cross her three children safely. To that person I just want to say how sad I feel for you. Incidents like this just reminds me that for all the kind things people do everyday for each other there is always someone who is willing to do the opposite. The next time you are driving in that area and you don’t want to wait for a family to cross “Go Around” and also to think twice before you decide to use your middle finger in front of a mother and her three young children. I don’t ever use obscene gestures and would never do anything of that matter in front of children or even ever at all. Thank goodness my children didn’t see what you had to say because what would I tell them or maybe I should ask what would you have told them? You won’t get the opportunity to explain yourself, because in not so much words you already did. I want to end this with a little bit of advice let’s try to be more courteous towards each other.
A mother bear just trying to protect her cubs
Some call prisons “Hiltons”, “Holiday Inns” or other similarly stupid sarcastic names in order to guide ones visions of the criminal institutions in the direction of fairly luxurious, fully accommodated housing. I for one know first handedly that that is an inaccurate, rude and utmost ignorant statement. Prisons are hurtful, lonely, miserable, and often violent places. The loss and pain one must endure when your freedom is ripped out from underneath you can’t and will never be understood by anyone that’s never experienced it. Personally, it should never be underestimated.
An average prison cell is close to the size of a washroom in a normal sized home. It’s also uncommon to see less than two men living in a single cell. I wish I could say I’ve walked at least a hundred miles of concrete while incarcerated, but in reality I’ve only repeatedly paced my 8x12 foot floor and viewed the scenery of 362 cinder blocks. I guess it’s quite similar to the thought of a hamster running on a wheel on his path to nowhere. I wake up in the morning to the sound of a huge intercom, ordering me to join other “offenders” to line up for “chow”. This is one of the few very simple things us “offenders” look forward to. Others consist of showering, mail and clean laundry. I sit hours on end enveloped in my own thoughts. Each night I force myself back to sleep knowing that this is just one step I have to take in order to one day live a happy life.
Many of the men in here are angry and bitter at basically everything in life itself. They feel as if they were unfairly judged or prosecuted, instead of accepting this cold reality, using this time to prepare for the changes that lay ahead of them, and focusing on how to approach life from a more positive angle in order to succeed in today’s society. I’m unsure of my reason for writing this “article” or “entry”. Maybe I’m writing it in hopes to help some people look at their sentences with a stronger desire to succeed in life by overcoming this obstacle, help them understand that places like this can be used as self-reconstructing units, a tool for our benefit.
Don’t get me wrong, I most definitely do not enjoy this place and that’s exactly why I see things the way I do. I’m tired of missing everything I love and willing to do whatever it takes to earn those things back. If you’ve gone through the trouble of listening to, or reading this and are letting these words sink in, I would say your consideration is a good start to your journey home. Don’t give up, keep your mind clear, head straight, soul strong, know that the misery within these walls and all 362 of the blocks that build them are gonna be here long after we’re all gone. Use that thought to build your foundation of self control. Never forget the memory of how you feel on the inside as you travel through the outside world.
Maybe I’m writing this to help outsiders realize what my life consists of due to my own carelessness and reckless behavior. It’s not worth it. Losing your freedom is the most helpless feeling imaginable. Imagine feeling the loss of a loved one. Now multiply that by the number of people you love. That’s the equivalent of pain an inmate lives with everyday. If you’re out on the streets and happen to read this, in the process of risking everything I lost, try to understand you cannot beat the system and crime is not a game! At one point in time I was the last person you’d have expected to hear say those words. And also another quite possible reason for my writing this might just be one way of trying to occupy a small fraction of my time!
You decide, and good luck in all you do.
Wade R. Osterhout #86789
In the “Sound Off” of February 9, 2010, I am not sure why the submission beginning “Five important points observed by Norman Rockwell” was attributed to Mr. Rockwell, as the quotes that followed were actually made by Adrian Rogers, a Southern Baptist pastor who was born in 1931 and died in 2005. Attributing these quotes to the American artist Norman Rockwell seemed suspicious to me, as this article had the flavor of so many e-mails circulating on the internet which are falsely attributed to well-known public figures, presumably in an attempt to legitimize the contents of the e-mail, while hoping that the recipient does not question the author and/or factuality posited by the originator of the e-mail. Again, I am unsure why Norman Rockwell was used in this particular instance, unless it was thought that the sentiments expressed therein would be more palatable coming from a widely loved painter of Americana than from a pastor who is perhaps not so well known, and whose quotes were actually part of a series of sermons titled “God’s Way to Health, Wealth, and Wisdom.” (http://www.answers.com/topic/adrian-rogers).
As Mr. Rockwell is not alive to defend whatever his views might have been on the relationship between religion, wealth, poverty, and government, I think it is extremely cowardly of the originators of such articles or e-mails to practice this deception, and I would encourage the recipients of the wide number of similar articles and e-mails in circulation to dig deeper and discover the facts for themselves, especially before passing them on unexamined, as established fact either as to authorship or content, as was apparently done in this instance.
P.N. Temres
I would like to comment about the city of Burley, using tax payer’s money. Several people wrote in and complained about them having to water the new flower pots this summer. That is the first time Burley has done something wonderful to make our city more beautiful. If they want to complain about something, make it worthwhile. I hope we have the flowers again. I would like to know why the city is wasting gas money on the street sweeper. This winter when the road had ice on both sides of the street, you guessed it, the street sweeper went down our street, twice every week. And would you believe it, the brushes were six inches off the ground, he was just putting in his time to get paid. Now the ice is gone, but he is still going down each street twice a week, and not picking up anything. I have watched him, there have been a few leaves left from last fall, and they are still there. There is nothing in the street he needs to run the sweeper for. Yet in the summer when there were lots of leaves and etc. on the street you were lucky if you saw him once every two weeks. Then in the fall when there were lots of leaves, he would go through the middle and leave some on each side of his brushes, and never back up and try again. We used to have a man running the sweeper back up until he got them all, what ever happened to him? I would like to know why don’t they sweep only when it is necessary. That would save the city a lot of our money. Give this poor driver something else to do, like helping in the parks or watch out for all the graffiti that is going on in this city.
Concerned citizen
Carla Mortenson calls John Walsh an obscene bore. She might be correct. She is the one woman in our area with first hand experience on the subject. Keep it coming Carla, but next time talk to us regarding the issues.
Annie W.
To all South Side Electric members:
I attended the annual meeting on Tuesday, February 9, 2010. South Side Electric is a non profit origination with an elected board, elected by the members. In this meeting we were asked if the members would like to donate money to youth groups. The members were asked to raise their hands if they would want it and if they didn’t. There were very few that wanted it, but this did not stop a certain person from attacking the board for not supporting the youth of the community. As a member I took this as an insult to every member including the speaker. The community of Declo supports their youth in every way possible. School is even let out for the ball games, the scouts are helped with their projects and parents and friends support the 4H and FFA at everything. At a time when there are people that we all know that are getting pink slips because they cannot pay their bills, I thought this to be a little much. When the increase of 8 to 10% is added this summer there is going to be more pink slips.
It is not the board that makes the decisions, they are obligated to put it before the members and vote on it. That is what happened at the meeting and it was not voted in to use what, if any, money that is in reserve to donate. If, like it was brought up, the members wanted it, who do you donate the money to and how much, and when do you stop?
I have another concern; I hope the new member that was voted on the board is not a puppet for the ones that put his name in the running. I don’t know him but with him winning by one vote brings these feelings to light. I wish him the best and hope he honors, what is said in the board meetings stays in the board meetings. Good Luck.
I was the leader of the Nampa Jr. Livestock 4H Club in Nampa before coming to Declo. There were 60 kids in the club, the kids were required to go out and get their own supporters and buyers. That brought many buyers in for the sale. If the kids needed help, then there are fundraisers.
Sharon Haskell
Some people are understanding and some are not. Some people are tolerant and some are not. In reading sound off, one will see all of the above. That is life, and we must be tolerant with all types of people.
Being understanding of the way some people think can sometimes be difficult. The letters written generally indicate such. Criticism of the county and city leaders, some is deserved and much is nothing more than nitpicking. Criticizing the flower pots along the Burley city streets is a great example of nitpicking, they livened up the city. The most disturbing of all, is the criticizing of our nations veterans. These are men and women whom made a sacrifice of their time to serve OUR country, whether stationed stateside or forward deployed. Those that are complaining, what were they doing at that age in their lives? While many sit on their duffs, others are out their making accomplishments that we all enjoy.
As far as health care, I do believe we need reform, with something as important as this, it needs to be done right. There is nothing on the table as of yet that is right. As far as those that want everything given and guaranteed, all I can say is, well, go to France. They seem to be very Socialist.
Boise has the distinction of being the City of Trees. Let’s have Burley throw the flower pots in the river, tear out all the trees and shrubs and become the City of Tar and Cement.
Never yet sent a letter unsigned,
Rick Neff