Smith R. meeting raises concerns about costs, English language

Regarding the Nov. 19 article, “What does Smith River need? Stay tuned,” it appears what Smith River really needs most is a reality check.

It’s great to want these things, but we actually have to live in the real world. Wouldn’t it be great to have sidewalks, more street lights, a deputy, etc.?

Unfortunately, these are taxpayer projects. I believe most of the property taxpayers in our little area have reached their limits. Drive around the block and see the foreclosed homes.

Country overrun with immigrants; ballots should only be in English

With an election year coming upon us, the news is keeping us well informed and updated.

One thing I’ve noticed is the horrendous amount of paperwork involved for what should be just a simple ballot.

Why? Because they’re being printed in numerous languages.

This is America, where the primary language is English.

Obesity in Del Norte County not just health problem for children

A front-page story in the Triplicate of Nov. 12, “Bad news on youthful obesity,” reports that a new study shows that 45 percent of children in Del Norte county are seriously obese.

The report carefully and tactfully says nothing about adult obesity in Del Norte, but I suggest you visit your local supermarket, observe the people around you, and make your own estimate. I believe the state of Mississippi still leads the nation in obesity, but Del Norte seems determined to be hot on its heels.

The growing problem of obesity has been known and reported on for years. While the anti-smoking crusaders among us have been wringing their hands about cigarette butts on the beach, apparently the much more serious and widespread problem of obesity has exploded all around them.

Targeting dispensaries wastes tax revenue, law enforcement

With regards to the Nov. 10 article “County may target pot dispensaries,” doesn’t the county have better things to do with its time and money than to go after the dispensaries that are helping people?

They need to do something about the crimes that are happening around town and I am sure they’re not being committed by people that use the dispensaries but by people that are high on meth or taking illegal prescription drugs.

I am a user of the dispensaries and if it were not for them I would not be able to get the medical marijuana that helps me live a productive life. I am a normal, law-abiding 45-year-old mother that owns my own home and I have never been in trouble with the law but I would not be able to grow my own or to help grow in a community garden and I don’t want to break the law and buy it from some stranger on the street so I need the dispensaries to get my medication.

Employment services, RHS doing great job putting people to work

The Rural Human Services Work Force Center has done an incredible job by correlating services to put women and men to work in short notice (known as the Tsunami Work Force Crew) since June to restore our harbor, city and Del Norte County.

Rural Human Services and Redwood Coast Employment Services are professional groups who regard their patrons and employees with the highest respect in a safe, positive manner. Their project managers, assistant project managers, supervisors, safety managers and RHS crew members alike have worked at full force to restore Del Norte County and beat winter’s wrath.

Redwood Coast Employment Services have exceeded any temporary employment services that I have ever worked for in the past. They excel in professionalism and job standards. RHS and Redwood Coast Employment Services educated workers in OSHA safety classes and with CPR classes.

Don’t forget or neglect veterans of recent wars

First, a very sincere thank-you to the entire community for the tribute given to our Bruno de Solenni (killed in Afghanistan in 2008) and the condolences given to our family. We believe Bruno is in a better place,  free of strife. We miss him terribly, but feel he is still with us in spirit.

My concern is for the surviving veterans and their families. Many of them have physical signs of their wounds that we can see. Others have inner turmoils and scars that still haunt them. Many have both. Their families are challenged by the ongoing  demands  of caring for them.

I know there are some services available, but I recently spoke with Jerry Cochran to see how we  can reach out to these veterans  and have community support to see how we can be of some help to them. These persons should not be ignored, nor their needs neglected.

Perhaps homeowners should get more aggressive with burglars

Recently there has been a rash of burglaries in the Fort Dick, Hiouchi and Washington Park areas.

As usual, the suspects in these crimes cause a large amount of damage to the homeowner, steal their hard earned valuables, and invade their privacy, not to mention that the items are usually pawned for pennies on the dollar or traded for drugs.

I wonder how many of these crimes would occur if the front page of the Triplicate read, “Burglary suspects shot by homeowner while attempting burglary.”

Rick Barry

Crescent City

Editor's note: Rick Barry is a California Highway Patrol officer.

If it had been anyone else, the police would have jailed Riese

The Nov. 1 article “Riese faces criminal complaint”  by Anthony Skeens opens up a number of questions that were not answered in the article.

First, I believe District Attorney Jon Alexander did the right thing by turning this case over to the state Attorney General’s Office. But I believe Mr. Alexander should be asking a number of questions of Chief Douglas Plack and of the Crescent City Police Department.

My first question: Why wasn’t Mike Riese booked into County Jail on the evening of Aug. 22?

Letter writers mischaracterizing handling of Eileen Silvey case

Now let me get this right. The district attorney gets word at the last minute that Eileen Silvey might have an excuse for some of the food purchases she allegedly charged to the weatherization program and does the ethical thing and voluntarily dismisses them (“28 Senior Center charges dropped: 18 counts remain agains the former program manager.” Oct. 25).

And letter-writers who support her say this is a bad, bad thing and Jon Alexander’s a bad, bad man?

Oh, and this is Martha McClure’s fault as well for being one of Senior Center Board members who has commented on this case?

Occupy Wall Street is about capacity to reach full potential

The Occupy Wall Street movement’s message is “hope.”

These are people are trying to contribute additional constructive solutions to people’s capability to freely realize their own potential. Participants are acting upon an intuitive sense as to what is needed in America (not just for a few, but for many).

These are patriotic people who feel that by creating awareness there will be hope for future results (a useful productive end) such as in areas of a peaceful direction to U.S. foreign policy, health care for all, decent housing and the ability to earn a living wage.