Finigan off-base on Smith River

What is wrong with Supervisor David Finigan? As reported in the Triplicate, (“Coho plan has county up in arms,” March 31), Finigan went out of his way recently to publicly bash the draft Coho Recovery Plan presented to the Board of Supervisors.

Finigan made statements demonstrating willful ignorance of matters of critical importance to Del Norte citizens. He alleged, for example, that “nobody is looking at what is happening in the ocean” — suggesting that ocean conditions are responsible for the coho’s decline. Oh really? If ocean conditions are responsible for the lack of coho in our rivers, why are chinook and steelhead plentiful this year while coho remain rare?

Supervisor Finigan alleges that “there’s a bullseye on ag.” I guess that means Finigan thinks it was the environmentalists and not the creator who ordained that coho would live in the Smith River estuary. Coho need small, low gradient streams; in our county those streams occur mostly adjacent to estuaries.

Sheriff’s Dispatch, Fort Dick firefighters to the rescue during precarious situation

Kudos to our fire services. On Friday, March 30, during the high winds, we had a dead redwood tree that was breaking away from its roots and threatening to crash down on our propane tank.

I didn’t know who to contact, so my first thought was the Del Norte Sheriff's Dispatch. The dispatcher stated that she would handle who needed to be contacted and in no time the Fort Dick Fire Dept was on the scene and evaluating the situation.

Need place for 50 seniors to gather to improve nutrition

One day in Safeway, my friend Patty Abbey saw an elderly woman counting the items in her cart to see if she could pay for them.

She told Patty that she had $40 to last three weeks. Patty shared her coupons with the woman, who then had enough good food to last.

Patty was moved by this experience and went on to talk to the manager at Safeway about helping seniors get more for their food dollars. Safeway jumped on board and gave us boxes of food items plus bags to carry them home.

She and I have been looking for a free place to hold a coupon workshop and to hand out these gifts from Safeway. The city said it had no free space, the fire hall wants $100. The Del Norte Senior Center wants a use fee.

We are two individuals who are deeply committed to helping our older community members have better nutrition with the help of couponing.

We need a welcoming place for 50 seniors to learn the art of couponing. Is there somewhere in the community that we could use for two hours for this much-needed service to our seniors?

Sharon McKinney

Crescent City

No tax dollars were used in purchase of pizzas for inmates

Regarding the March 31 letter, “Appalled at buying pizzas for inmates,” one should get the facts straight before sounding off on the conditions of these prisoners.

Yes, these pizzas were ordered, and paid for, by the prisoners themselves. On the weekends, family members come from afar and prisoners are allowed to order food to share with them.

In this economy, any business that will help out local businesses to stay afloat is good for Crescent City.

No tax dollars were used for this, and in fact the prisoners are helping us all here in Crescent City. So before stones are thrown, think of the positive of a prison town.

Josie Ruiz

Crescent City

S.R. Association put on nice ‘Spring Fling’ event

It was lucky to be Irish, if for only a day this last St. Patrick’s Day in Smith River.

The Smith River Heritage Association put on a really nice “Spring Fling!” Vendors had beautiful things for sale and others were “flinging” away their “collectibles.”

The real hit was Juanita’s Reuben and corned beef sandwiches served with her “secret” recipe of Chinese Cabbage Salad. Then it was fun to walk down to the Methodist Church and buy its baked goodies and enjoy some more bargains at its spring rummage sale.

Thank you to all who came and supported our events, the Triplicate for helping with the advertising, and Ray’s Food Place in Smith River, which helped with a lot as usual.

This small town has lots of big hearts.

Carolyn Westbrook

Smith River

Time to prepare for important decisions in primary election

The seemingly never-to-end campaigning, which has given us little information about plans to improve our sick economy, continuing aggression around the world, unaffordable health care and a tax code that does nothing other than enrich accountants is drawing to a close

In about 10 weeks we will go to the polls to vote in the primary for the person we feel will lead our country out of this dismal morass in which we find ourselves.

LRT does more than put on a good show, it brings the community together for a cause

Having had the recent pleasure of attending Lighthouse Repertory Theater’s production of “Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory,” I am compelled to express my appreciation for a job well done.

I would also like to point out the wonderful benefits LRT members provide to our community: Their hard work and dedication stimulate community spirit and fellowship highlighting the benefits of living in a small town.

Proud to see play performed here

I am proud of Del Norte County for supporting the local presentations of “The Vagina Monologues” (March 31, April 7, April 14).

Communities that care about what are often called “women’s issues” (domestic violence, sexual assault, health care, child care, education, etc.) are always stronger and more successful.

Daughters’s broken hip a warning against unleashed dogs on beach

In recent days I have been reading about unleashed dogs running looking for whatever devilry they can find.

Last July 17 my daughter took our dog for a walk on Pebble Beach, it was about 7 o’clock in the evening, not a person or dog on the beach. I stayed in the car but could see them at all times.

About 20 minutes later a car pulled up, the man got out and let two dogs out of the car. The one dog looked like a Chow mix. The Chow took one look at my daughter and our dog and took off running right for them. I was so scared, not knowing what was going to happen.

Clearing air over false rumor about Jordan Recovery Ctr.

For those who have heard some disturbing things about myself and the residents of Jordan Recovery Center and Trillium House, I want to respond in the only way I know how.

Recently the residents did a car wash to raise money for an ill child. They did a great thing and did it with every honorable intention. When someone came to my office to collect the $400, I did not know her and she did not have a receipt or a bank account number for a charitable account, only a number for a private account.

I explained that I was not comfortable handing over the money, which was not mine, until I talked to the residents. This made her angry and with that she said she knew people and she would be sure to let them know what happened. That’s okay except it is like the old children’s telephone game where you pass around a message except these are not children and the consequences are people’s reputations and livelihoods.