Awhile back, letter-writer Carter Swart took The Triplicate to task for what he saw as its liberal bias.

“Your newspaper consistently publishes anti-Republican (political) cartoons at a rate I’d describe at about 30-1 in favor of the Democrats,” he wrote. “The Triplicate also pushes the hoax of global warming, persistently presents the leftist opinions of liberal newspaper editorials, and offers little comfort to the one-half of your constituency that happen to be Republicans.”

On Wednesday, letter-writer Linda Ehrisman took The Triplicate to task for what she saw as its conservative bias.

“This county is not nearly as right-leaning as the casual reader of our paper would surmise,” she wrote, noting the recent front-page article about Sheriff/Tea Party leader Dean Wilson and my Aug. 20 Editor’s Note column detailing some of the results of a very unscientific Tea Party survey of people who stopped off at its booth during the county fair.

Middle school language arts teacher Janice Mize reviews Oceans Day poems and art work that more than 100 Crescent Elk seventh-graders produced. The Daily Triplicate/Michele Thomas

Teachers Joe Gillespie and Janice Mize shared the work of more than 100 seventh-grade students who wrote poems or drew Oceans Day-related pictures. Their talent knocked my socks off.

I’ve never been able to draw, but I began writing poetry when I was in middle school. The first time I saw one of my poems in print I experienced a rush of self-worth and accomplishment. It made me so proud, and made my folks proud too. And it inspired me to continue writing through college and seek a career where I’ve worked with the written word for nearly four decades.

Gay history is a part of who we are and should be taught

What is it about having gay history taught in schools that bothers people so much? (“Time to stand up against requiring teaching about gays in history, Sept. 17.”)

This is not some conspiracy to try to turn all of our children and grandchildren into homosexuals. That’s not how it works!

Are people concerned that if we take “a look back” at gay history we will become pillars of salt? How can people point a finger at someone and say that they will face fire and brimstone?

The Sept. 15 letter to the editor, “Shame on those who opposed fire assessment increase” by Al Muelhoffer, was, in my opinion, misguided and narrow-minded.

I too believe the Klamath Fire Protection District is woefully underfunded and personally voted my two parcels in support of the proposed increase.  I also believe that its handling process and communication efforts (before and since the proposed benefit assessment increase vote) has been both confusing and lacking in future budgetary specificity.

The Klamath Fire Protection District states it hasn’t asked for a benefit assessment increase for the past 21 years. Okay, but let’s be honest. Whose responsibility was that? Correct, the Klamath Fire Protection District was and is responsible.

Chilldren can be whatever they want, regardless of their gender

In regards to “Gender restrictions for youth sports a problem in Del Norte,” Sept. 15, I agree with letter-writer Kelly Lynch.

I too have girls who want to ride the bulls during the fair and want to play football. If we lived in a big city they would be able to play whatever sport they want. My oldest was even in boxing in Fresno County.

Their size doesn’t matter, if they want to do something we should help them. We teach our children that they can be or do whatever they want, no matter what gender, and if they are not allowed to it is against their constitutional rights and against the law to be prejudiced against one gender.

It seems like I spend my summers preparing for winter, never being quite ready when the first storm sweeps through. But this year I’m on top of it.

It could have something to do with the fact that I’ve finally caught up with the structural needs of an old house that sat empty for a decade. The pump house was the last of the big jobs, and every year it got kicked to the bottom of the list by an urgency — new toilet, new roof.

This means I can actually take care of birdhouses while the weather’s nice. The last of the summer visitors are gone and the Juncos will be home any day. They don’t use the birdhouses, but before we know it, somebody will be looking for a place to lay eggs.

There’s a new effort afoot to get rid of the Del Norte Solid Waste Management Authority, and there are a couple of important points to consider at the outset.

The first is that at least two county supervisors, Mike Sullivan and Gerry Hemmingsen, are clearly determined to dissolve the authority if they can. After all, they appointed an ad hoc committee in 2009 to study the possibility of doing just that. But the committee completed its work without recommending dissolution, so now Sullivan and Hemmingsen are looking to form a new ad hoc committee in hopes of a different result.

Sullivan was being disingenuous when he said this week: “The first ad hoc was to evaluate the authority and this second one will be to make some changes.”

Astonished at lack of effort to prevent future harbor damage

With millions of dollars being spent to restore the harbor boat basin, over and over again, I am astonished that no apparent effort is going into a prevention of future damage.

Example: A well planned and designed surge gate installed at the entrance to the boat basin, one section or two, electrically, hydraulically or manually closed, vertically “floating” sections resting on the bottom and tested monthly, would keep the entrance clear of sand/mud and prevent any heavy surge from impacting the boat basin.

The goal would be to slow the surge, not a water-proof barrier. Seems as if locals could design one, then engineer it and seek funds to build it.

A slow rise of water in the basin would be harmless. Prevention is far better than expensive cures!

Bob Douglas

Smith River

From the pages of the Del Norte Triplicate, September 1951.

These are the days of the heavy thuds, short grunts and long moans. The first, as you may guess, is the sound of bone and flesh coming into solid contact with the ground.

The second is the audible expression of those involved in such contact. The third is the sound made by Coach Chuck DeAutremont as he talks about the team’s prospects.

It’s football season you know, and Coach DeAutre­mont, true to the coaching of tradition, seems to be more pessimistic than optimistic. But after talking with him the other day, we think Del Norte High’s grid chances are as good this year as they have been for many a year, maybe even better.

Work crew made Elk Creek look best it ever has, is worth a visit

I would like to comment on the work crew that has been working in the Elk Creek area.

There has been a tremendous amount of work done there. Berry vines, brush and grass have been cleared from the trail and you can see Elk Creek and the old log ponds again. This is the best I’ve seen the area look.

I would encourage those that like to walk and enjoy the beautiful area we live in to go to the end of Second Street and walk the Elk Creek Trail. You will see a beautiful area of Del Norte County right in your back yard.

Thanks to the work crew who was friendly and accomplished something extraordinary.

Philip Dailey

Fort Dick