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On Your Mind is the Herald/Review’s telephone opinion line and is intended as a public forum for our readers. Comments represent the opinions of callers and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the newspaper or any specific knowledge that we have. Readers may share their opinions by calling 458-0332, or by e-mail to svhoym@transedge.com or regular mail at 102 Fab Ave., Sierra Vista AZ 85635. Please keep comments less than 90 seconds. Comments are edited.
April 7
Why do we have 75,000 occupation troops in Germany, 36,000 in South Korea, and many more throughout the world while we’re rotating the National Guard and our regular Army into Iraq, some for the third and fourth time?
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The Herald is to be commended for its efforts in bringing an awareness of the critical issue of water conservation. An article in the February National Geographic magazine indicated the research predicts that the Southwest will have a dust bowl condition by mid-century. That could mean that by then our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will not have a sustainable environment. What a legacy Sierra Vista will be leaving for future generations. The present destruction of desert vegetation by developers with the blessing of city government will hasten that day. Why don’t the final plans from the Planning Commission include desert plants, flowers, and trees — vegetation that can sustain itself with minimum amounts of water? Not only will the city become a beautiful desert environment, but drip irrigation can also be eliminated. It’s very important that we not have those irrigation systems. They are a waste of our water supply and would not be needed if Sierra Vista would have a mandatory desert vegetation plan for the developers.
I’m calling in reference to the OYM comments about taxicabs. I own the largest taxi company in Sierra Vista. It’s called Transportation Express. The phone number is 459-7778. You can reach me at 520-249-4768 for more details.
April 8
It was a chilly, cloudy day in Washington. And it was just as chilly and just as cloudy inside the Senate hearing room on Capitol Hill, where David Petreaus and Ryan Crocker delivered their long-awaited mid-year assessment of George W. Bush’s surge in Iraq. The grim-faced Petreaus summed up things succinctly: “We haven’t turned any corners. We haven’t seen any lights at the end of the tunnel. The champagne bottle’s been pushed to the back of the refrigerator.” Perhaps what was most in evidence on Tuesday was the nation’s sense of exhaustion over Iraq. It was on the faces of every legislator, even those who have been most avidly supportive of the president. It was on the faces of Petreaus and Crocker, the military-diplomatic “dream team.” No one seemed to have the fight in them — even Clinton — to take the two of them on. McCain, who had the most at stake in the lack of good news, wore an even grimmer visage than Petreaus. Scratching for good news, he settled on the most positive note he could muster. ”We’re no longer staring into the abyss,” he said before launching into detailed questioning. Mission accomplished.
I’d like to sincerely thank whoever found my black checking wallet in a Fry’s shopping cart last Wednesday night and put it in the passenger side of the car closest to the cart corral fully intact. Even though the car was not mine, the owner of the car got a hold of me and let me know the wallet had found her. Even after a day of frantic calls to cancel credit cards, etc. (and a sleepless night) to receive that call, needless to say, “made my day.” Thank you to two honest people.
To the individual who thought the Herald is publishing OYMs, critical of Barack Obama, as phoned in by the local Republican Party, I hope you aren’t in the habit of having hallucinations. I, for one, do not work or phone for the local Republican headquarters. The Herald does have readers who can think for themselves and put two and two together — that Barack Obama is appearing less than authentic. His promise of government largesse can be intriguing. But after analysis, it all amounts to the usual Democratic mantra we hear every four years. The largesse carries a price tag. And Obama’s math is questionable. Too many economists are at odds with him about how such an astronomical bill will be paid. The usual mantra, that the top 1 percent — those earning more than $250,000 — is going to pay for it with higher taxes, falls miserably short of the amount required. If he’s really sincere about all the government handouts he wants to give us, then he should at least tell us the truth. Economists are agreed the only way he can pay the gigantic price tag is to raise taxes on all of us.
There is a shoe store in Sierra Vista that apparently has gone out of business. They are still listed in the phone book and still have an ad there. But when you call you get a busy signal or no one answers. When another shoe company on Highway 92 went out of business they would at least answer their phone and say, “I’m sorry, we’re going out of business.” What is wrong with answering your phone so you can let people know that? No wonder you’re going out of business if you treat people like that.
I’m calling in reference to the AMVETS organization of Sierra Vista. I just received a solicitation call from a young man who started out very politely. When I told him we already contributed, we were retired and could only contribute to one organization at this time, he promptly hung up on me. I would like to say I would never, ever give anything to them now even if I could afford it. I was very polite with him, but when I denied him a contribution he slammed the phone down.
I believe that the collective bargaining process being conducted by (Assistant Superintendent Bill) Roach as human resources director of the Sierra Vista public schools should be investigated by the school board. I do not believe the transactions being made are in the best interest of the district. Also, I do not believe there is sincerity on the administration’s part to best represent the interests of the public schools in Sierra Vista. Investigation by the school board and possibly attendance at these meetings would be recommended and I whole-heartedly hope this will further influence the board to double check all figures that are represented as the meet-and-confer process goes before the school board shortly.
Wind farm on Mule Mountain: I can’t wait until the hypocritical “not in my backyard” people start writing about this. Remember the Kennedy clan of Massachusetts who wanted “green energy” pushed until a wind farm was to be placed 23 miles away from their compound? They objected to it because it would interfere with their sailing on the bay. Let’s talk of the oil lying under the Dakotas that is more economical than those few noisy wind turbines.
Kudos to Trudy Berry and her staff for a beautiful teacher of the year award banquet. You made us all feel honored and special. We appreciate everything that you do for the teachers in Cochise County, Mrs. Berry.
All religions without exception are cults. The situation in Eldorado, Texas, is just another shining example of this concept. Let’s all practice spirituality, not religion.
This is in regard to today’s newspaper on the guest worker program. It seems like everybody is so up in arms about illegal immigrants not being able to have these jobs and that these businesses will not have workers. Why don’t we require our welfare recipients to get jobs? That’s why they’re on welfare most of them because they can’t find a job supposedly. The jobs are out there, so let’s just give them the jobs and we won’t have to worry about illegal immigrants.
This is for AA Cab owner Rick and driver Papa John. Where are you? Do you have a new phone number? If so, please call OYM at 458-0332 and give them your number. We desperately need you.
April 9
Reference the recent fatal motorcycle wrecks is Sierra Vista. Firstly, my heart felt condolences go out to the friends and families of the fallen riders. Having said that, I am tired of the press making an issue of whether a rider involved in a wreck is wearing a helmet. Arizona law is clear a helmet is optional if the rider is over the age of 18, therefore it is irrelevant to the wreck. I am more interested in what the driver of the van involved in Saturday’s (April 5) accident was doing that caused her not to see a 700-pound Harley in broad daylight on a clear, four-lane divided road. Why was she only cited with a relatively minor traffic violation for killing a man through her negligence? It appears that a biker’s life isn’t worth a whole lot in this town if they aren’t wearing a helmet. Almost gives the impression the biker’s death is his fault since he chose to obey the law. I am sick and tired of burying my brothers and sisters who have died in defense of the public’s right to drive like idiots.
To the boss of the young woman who was working in a fast-food restaurant in the mall at approximately 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9. Do you know that she is constantly on the phone while serving customers? Do you know how unsanitary that is and how rude that is? Perhaps if she got off the phone and attended to her business the counter would not be so filthy. Suggest you, as her boss, have a heart to heart talk with her about sanitation and manners when serving the public.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Any time a customer has a problem with service, he or she should contact the manager directly.
LOOK FOR more On Your Mind in Monday’s Herald/Review.
Billy Hill wrote on May 3, 2008 4:34 PM: