Fur Peace Ranch does it again with amazing concert last week
Thursday, 19 November 2009 10:17
To the Editor:
Last Saturday I was lucky enough to see some of the best musicians in the world just 20 minutes from Athens!
Jorma Kaukenen, Jack Casady, G.E. Smith, Barry Mitterhoff and Skoota Warner jammed the night away showing such great musical skills that everyone lucky enough to see the show was left slack-jawed and dumbfounded.
Many students and townspeople don't appreciate area's natural resources
Thursday, 19 November 2009 10:15
To the Editor:
I am a sophomore at OU studying environmental and plant biology, and I have to say, I’m glad I came to school here. Not every small college town can offer tourist attractions that people come from out of state to visit. Of course, I’m not talking about Athens itself, but the area around it — the protected forests and parks lumped together under the name Hocking Hills. Admittedly, the Hocking Hills did not factor into my decision to come here, but it should have. I came here once before, for camping, and loved it. This region is so different from the Ohio I grew up in to the west. Now, I’m lucky. I can visit the parks any day I want. I can grab my camera and spend an evening enjoying some of the most beautiful scenery in the Midwest, if not beyond.
The Wayne National Forest has burned areas along Utah Ridge for a number of years now. These fires have removed some woody invasive species, though they may not have significantly reduced fuel loading or encouraged oak-hickory regeneration. However, there is another very important reason to burn along Utah Ridge. Historically, some of the high ridges in Athens County and Hocking County had patches of prairie habitat. You can see the evidence in the species that grow in places in the Wayne and in Strouds Run today – blazing star, hoary puccoon, little bluestem, rattlesnake master; all these plants need periodic burns to persist.
Woman who didn't get promised cruise probably will survive
Thursday, 19 November 2009 10:08
To the Editor:
I was disturbed to read that the Athens County Democratic Party owes $5,000 to Ann Lavelle for the cruise that she paid for. I hope that the Democratic Party works swiftly to return the money. That said, I was more disturbed to read Mrs. Lavelle's remark about the delay in getting her $5,000 back: "My concern is I'm losing (financial) interest. I could have had that money invested. How long is it going to take? How many years?"
Have mercy on those short of sight; use larger print ads
Thursday, 19 November 2009 10:07
To the Editor:
Technological innovations now come at us so fast that we hardly have time to evaluate their social consequences – for good OR for ill. Cyber bullying is but one of the more obvious. Another, although less obvious, is tiny newsprint.
I am astonished that Gwynne Dyer, usually quite clear-eyed, should be as blind as he is in his column (The NEWS, Nov. 12) telling us "the real reasons" the U.S. invaded Afghanistan: "panic and ignorance, reinforced by militaristic reflexes... laced with liberal amounts of racism." He doesn't see that the Taliban government was sheltering the group that killed nearly 3,000 Americans on 9-11 and would not give them up.
The recent case in which a Hocking College student allegedly killed a cat by stomping on the animal, then cut out the cat’s liver and used it as fishing bait and left the body on another student’s car, is a chilling reminder of why animals must never be allowed outdoors unattended.
Having read the article about Brian Able, the boy who stomped a cat to death (presumably), then gutted it to use its liver for bait, I was sickened to think he was charged only a misdemeanor for his actions, and further horrified to note he was a Hocking College law-enforcement student (The NEWS, Nov. 12). Some studies indicate that animal cruelty is a often precursor to the abuse of women and children. So, where does Able go from here? I think Hocking College should discontinue his student status and return his behind to Xenia, Ohio where perhaps he can find his lost values. We have enough pet abusers in our area. If he can't be charged realistically for his crime, then send him packing.
Last night I had the pleasure of watching the most moving live performance – ever! ARTS/West hosted Actors Moveable Theater’s production of “A Piece of My Heart.” Written by Shirley Lauro and directed by Carol Patterson, it told the story of five female Vietnam era nurses, one female entertainer, and a lone male – who represented everyman.
Parade, ceremony fitting tribute to all those who perished in Vietnam
Monday, 16 November 2009 09:43
To the Editor:
Greetings: Once again as I stood at the corner of the Athens County Courthouse, I read the list of Vietnam Veterans of Athens County who died in the WAR. At the bottom of the marker, it reads "Forever Young."
I then began to think of all the friends who took part in making the marker, those who now have also passed on.
Despite all the hoopla about health reform, we need national health care
Monday, 16 November 2009 09:41
To the Editor:
Well, we may be on our way to health reform. But why am I not celebrating? Because either way, as things are being set up, the insurance companies win. If reform passes, everyone will have to buy insurance and very likely the “public option” – if it exists – will be hogtied and ineffective and will end up enriching the insurance companies. Just like the Social Security drug program does now with the drug companies.
Get off your duff and tell Congress that school funding isn't working
Monday, 16 November 2009 09:39
To the Editor:
Public School Funding Reform: Go to Congress.org, enter your zip code, then send a letter, e-mail or call your state and local ELECTED officials. Let them know the current system of funding public schools is NOT working, is unacceptable, and needs to be reformed. Whether you are "for" or "against" school tax levies, the current funding system will not change in our state unless our ELECTED officials hear from the citizens and taxpayers. I think we can all agree on that.
Theater troupe and director deserve praise for tribute to U.S. veterans
Monday, 16 November 2009 09:37
To the Editor:
Congratulations to Actors Moveable Theater and Carol Patterson, director, for presenting "Pieces of My Heart" at ARTS/West this weekend. It was a wonderful tribute to our servicemen and women, and a message that needs to be sent in these troubled times.
Here's an idea: Penalize coach for not doing what he's paid to do
Monday, 16 November 2009 09:35
To the Editor:
Let me see if I have understood the ICA incentive system correctly (as reported Thursday in a local newspaper). Mr. Solich is paid $330,000 plus other perks just for showing up for work and winning six games or fewer (that is at least $55,000 per win). Should he get beyond a 50 percent success rate, he begins to rack up big bucks in bonuses. I find it puzzling, even a little disheartening, that an OU teacher (Solich's charges are "student"-athletes, as we are told time and again) must be offered cash incentives to do what one hopes we are all paid to do, that is, get the very best possible results out of our students.
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