Editor: I would like to applaud the City Council’s decision to stand firm in their decision to deny the grant and the waiving of the building fee for Dirrell Harper’s new house. There is no need for me to belabor the valid reasons for the denial of the grant and building fee. The mayor, City Council and city attorney have outlined them clearly. As a member of the community, I appreciate the objectivity of the council’s decision and the maturity behind it. I think it great that we in America have the right to voice our opinions and lobby for a cause, but just because you ask doesn’t mean your request must be granted. Sweet Home has more than 7,000 people in it, and believe it or not, we don’t all agree with Ron Moore, Mike Melcher and Dave Holley. I am all for volunteering, and if people want to come together to do a project, I think it is outstanding. However, any such group does not speak for the community at large, and it would be a gross example of individual favoritism and good-old-boy corruption of our city’s governmental system should the council go against policy for any individual regardless of how the council may be browbeaten or subjected to self-serving, ego-based political theater. Volunteerism is its own reward. Kudos to all the volunteers. Great job.

Editor: I am sure by now that most Americans are now brainwashed enough to think that it is their constitutional right to have free health care. I am not one of those. I do believe that we can do better than what we are doing but the cost needs to shared by all. I think if the Democrats really want to have a fair and balanced health bill then they need to get rid of the present 1,018 pages. It’s mind-boggling; no one has the time it takes to understand, it’s full of contradictions and it’s just a plain garbage bill that is now being passed off as “health care reform.” Give me a bill not more than 30 pages, with clear guidelines on who is covered, for what, for how long and who is excluded. If you are not an American citizen or here legally, then go back to where you came from for medical help. I want something that I can understand, please no more: refer to section 8 article 6, then to section 7 article 28. Oops, sorry. Look at section 97 article 109. I could live with a bill that is paid for by a percentage of everyone’s income. Even if you are on welfare you need to kick something back into the system. No free rides! I’d like a bill that will not pay for on-demand abortions, sex changes, nose jobs, face uplifts, tummy tucks, hair transplant and other personal procedures. What’s wrong with a bill that gives people a chance at a recovery program, but only once? If you don’t want to be rehabilitated, then don’t expect me to keep on paying for your stupid decisions. I’d vote for a bill that would wipe out Medicare, Medicaid, and all state health care programs. The people paying for those programs could use the money to help pay for free health care. Every one will have to be on board no matter who you are. No more using the children to blackmail people into supporting tax increases to fund free health care for “the children.” If you want better health care with more coverage, then you should have the right to get an additional health insurance policy to pay for items not covered under free health care. With more money in your pocket from not funding all the health programs we have now, you can afford additional insurance. Yeah, I know. Dream on dreamer, dream on.

Editor: Edgewater RV Resort & Marina would like to thank all of the Artists and Musicians that participated in our first annual Art Festival on Labor Day Weekend at our new marina. Although the weather did not cooperate like we wished, everyone who attended seemed to have a good time. It was wonderful seeing so many talented people come together and display their art and their crafts. The musicians gave their all and it was greatly appreciated by everyone. We had 21 artists and crafters along with three bands. A special thanks to Mr. Lucky’s Deli for serving up delicious food and Marks Ridge Winery for providing tastes of their fine wines. Next year promises to be even better as we try to expand and double the exhibitor space. We are also planning a similar event on Father’s Day weekend in June of 2010. So thank you to everyone for your support.

Editor: Recently the Sweet Home Veteran’s Club and Double D Karaoke hosted their third annual karaoke contest. The contest is held each year in July to find new members and to let our veterans know of benefits they are entitled to. Even in these tough economic times, our amazing community made the contest a huge success. Through the tireless efforts of Allen Jewell, who spent several weeks and many hours going business to business, friend to friend and even to family members, we were able to surpass last year’s donations. The contest is totally nonprofit. All cash donations, $5 entry fees, gift certificates and donated prizes go to the contestants. The club donates the building and dinner for our judges as a thank you, and Double D Karaoke donated its time, $100 cash, the trophies and t-shirts. Just like before, the contest lasted over a three-week period. We started with 31 contestants. The top 15 were chosen then the top 10. This year’s winners were Chilly Mancuso, first place; Kelsey Agee, second place; Terry Shank, third place; Amber Barnes, fourth place; and Dean LeBret, fifth place. Not only do we want to thank those who participated, we would like to thank our judges. They were Dennis Funk, Kris Ostrom, Cindy Haggard, Vicki DeLong, Gail Gillespie, Marty Forbes and Lori Lee Barnes. We had some really incredible talent this year, so their jobs were not easy. We had 39 Sweet Home and Lebanon businesses and individuals donate to the contest. We want to thank you for your support. We would like to say a special thank you to the Skyline Inn Restaurant. They were our top cash donor this year and received a plaque from Double D Karaoke to show our appreciation. The contest was a huge success, and whether they were participating in the contest or sitting in the audience rooting for their favorite singer, everyone had a great time. Each year, it gets bigger and better. It’s open to the public, so for those of you who like to sing, keep us in mind for next year. First place won $500 this year.

Editor: Sweet Home has a vast number of people who are willing to serve others and help out when needs arise. What a wonderful community we live in where people can come together for a variety of causes they believe in: restoring the Weddle Bridge, beautifying the city with a new median project, feeding and clothing the hungry, building a new Senior Center/Boys and Girls Club, cleaning up the downtown, fundraising for burn victims and now, most recently building a new house for a local disabled man. All of us should be proud to live in this community – a community that continues to give because we know it is the right thing to do. That being said, I’d also like to thank our City Council for making tough decisions when so many community efforts come their way asking for fees to be waived. The City Council represents over 9,000 citizens, many of whom pay property taxes to support municipal efforts such as fire/life safety, public library, roads and drinking water. Not all of these citizens may support individual causes that some of us are passionate about and unfortunately, Councilmen have a difficult task to make sure public money is spent prudently, ensuring the cause benefits the majority of the community and not a particular individual. The “Harper Project” is most definitely a worthy cause and I’d like to personally thank Mike Melcher for leading the way to help Mr. Harper; doing so with class, I might add. To those who stomp their feet and curse when they don’t get their way, it is unfortunate that your behavior overshadows this positive project. City Council is doing their job to represent all citizens to the best of their ability and it’s our job as individuals to raise money and awareness for the projects we personally feel passionate about; not demean our local representatives and/or individuals because we don’t get our way. Those of you who would like to financially support this project, there is an account set up at our local Key Bank. My donation is in the mail.

Editor: Just finished reading about how the “Insurers will pass along tax hike” in one of our local papers. It should come as no surprise that the insurance companies would pass the tax increase for health care on to the policyholders. It is interesting that there is a section of this bill that allows the cost to be passed on to policyholders. No kidding, gosh, I wonder who put that in the bill. It should not take a rocket scientist to figure this one out. No matter what tax is levied against any product or service, it is always paid by the consumer. If you tax gas, the gas companies do not pay the tax. When you add an additional tax onto license plates, the state does not pay this tax. When you tax a motel room, the traveler pays this tax – not the motel. If you add another small tax on phone service you can bet they pass it on to the consumer. Levy a tax on beer and wine – yep, that’s right, the customer pays. Cigarette taxes are not paid by the tobacco companies. Payroll tax, I’ll pay one way or another by the way of higher prices on everything. Higher minimum wage, I’m paying for it, not the fast food industry. The consumer always pays in the end. That is why there is no such thing as: free lunches, free health care, free mortgage bail out, free rebates on a new cars, free welfare check, free food stamps, free child care, free housing, free bike paths, free college grants. or free anything else; someone somewhere is paying for all these entitlements and you can bet “your bottom dollar” (if you have one left) it will be the consumer.

Editor: At the regular meeting of the Sweet Home City Council on Tuesday, Aug. 25, the council refused to revisit an earlier decision on the waiver of fees that had been requested by a volunteer group in their efforts to help a disabled Sweet Home man. The group, spearheaded by Ron Moore and Mike Melcher, had put together an impressive group of local contractors and volunteers to build a home for the wheelchair-bound man after a tree had fallen on his trailer and made it unlivable. The group has volunteered materials, labor and the expertise to make the project go and had asked the City Council to waive the permit fees in order to save money that was badly needed to help with the construction. In an earlier meeting the council had stated it was against council policy to waive fees and advised Moore and Melcher to apply for a grant, through a newly formed grant fund, to help offset the fees. Since the group had no formal name, they found a local organization to actually file the application; this was done on advice of the City Council. After the grant application was filled out and filed, the request was denied with the reason given that it benefited an “individual” and did not show a benefit to the community. As I get older and a little slower, I will admit that perhaps I don’t keep up with the latest “politically correct” things, but isn’t it “individuals” who make up a community? What is the magic number that must appear that makes things qualify in the eyes of the City Council? Ironically, an application is working its way through the system of the grant fund that will waive fees connected to the remodeling/construction of the Booster Club food booth used at football games and other events. This will, no doubt, be granted as it fits the criteria established by the council in the formation of the grant fund. Before the Booster Club comes down on me, let me say that my support for local athletics goes back many years and I was part of the Booster Club back when we had trouble getting enough people involved to even hold meetings. But it strikes me as a sad statement of the times when the remodeling of a snack shack takes a priority to the helping of a disabled man. To all the volunteers who are helping with the project I will say that I stand up and applaud you for your efforts. To the City Council I will say that while you may have the $2,000 in permit fees, you have lost much, much more. It was within your authority and discretion to alter your policy and grant the waiver request – you admitted as much in the Aug. 25 meeting – but you chose not to do so. As for me, in my more than a dozen years with the council and as mayor, I cannot remember a decision that strikes me as being so wrong. My only hope is that those connected with the project have long memories, as I plan to have. Respectfully,

Editor: Generally, I would not write a letter to the editor, but last night I attended a Sweet Home City Council meeting and was bothered by the reason the mayor gave for denying a grant request for $500. Local volunteers, building a handicap-friendly home for a local resident through the Sweet Home Community Chapel, applied for the grant. The volunteers indicated they would be using the grant funds to offset permit costs for the $65,000-plus project. (However, that was not a stipulation of the use of the money should the group have received the funding). The reason stated by the mayor for denial of their grant application was “it only benefited an individual.” Let me explain why I think this project, just like any project that improves someone’s quality of life, is beneficial to not only that individual but also the entire community. This world is definitely not a perfect place, and many people and communities need help. I know that is why I, and many others, volunteer. As volunteers we can make a difference, through giving a little of our time, money, or talents, we help make our community a better place and life easier for all. This “home building” project is a perfect example of community volunteerism. The project, in addition to increasing the property tax base for the city of Sweet Home, is (1) helping the community to raise awareness of the need for adequate housing for handicapped individuals; (2) will improve the quality of life for a member of our community by providing the opportunity for the resident to better help himself at daily tasks as everything will be built according the ADA Standard – lower cabinets, wheelchair ramps, wider doors, bathroom access and more; (3) will provide satisfaction to the volunteers in knowing that they are working virtually with strangers on a team project, helping someone else achieve a dream and helping the volunteer feel needed and purposeful; (4) promotes volunteerism within the community and sends a signal to our youth about what we value as well as teaches others about diversity, thereby reinforcing acceptance of the handicapped; and (5) will have a positive impact on our community. We sometimes take for granted the community that we live in. People and societies co-depend on each other for survival. This project is ultimately about helping a fellow resident and having an impact on his wellbeing. What better way is there to work with your community, give a little back, and return to society some of the benefits that society has given us? The outpouring of volunteer help from this community to build this home is amazing. This new handicap accessible home means that this individual will soon leave behind an inadequate living space and new opportunities will be available to him. Yes, this team is building more than just a house for an individual. Moreover, the request for the grant was not just for an individual; it is for a community. It is my hope that the City Council will re-evaluate their grant process and award this dedicated group of volunteers the $500 grant. Thank you.

Editor: One could easily write much in favor of Rep. Sherrie Sprenger, about her concern toward and for the people of Oregon, most importantly families who have difficulty in supporting their children and perhaps elder parents who live with them, and how Sherrie’s efforts ended in vain because of a “Green-Controlled Machine,” which showed no concern nor interest in the clear lack of jobs, which people need. the jobs are more important than Al Gore’s greenhouse illusion, but make-believe rules in the ignorance of the legislator. As for any worthwhile comments for Phil Barnhart, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Gov. Ted Kulongoski, forget it. Elsewhere, it is a disgrace and shame the way Obama is treating Hillary Clinton, the secretary of state, letting Hillary do nothing important, just more wild goose-chasing. Oh well, such are the results of “change.” Hillary should leave her job and start a second campaign for the winning of the 2012 presidency. Hillary could run as an independent, giving her total freedom from the socialists who control the Democratic Party, whereby permitting Hillary to become the first female president – something long overdue. I do not doubt that Hillary would surely be elected since female voters would have to support her because of the opportunity to achieve that lifelong dream. Back to square one. Question: Whose side are you on when it comes to the government of the people? To whose views among Rep. Sherrie Sprenger, Rep. Phil Barnhart, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Gov. Ted Kulongoski do you follow? Are you - With the lambs or the wolves? - With the people or the government? - The hardcore oppressors or the defender? Surely, there isn’t any reason that you would refuse to respond to the above questions in an upcoming newsroom shot, would you?

Editor: I was very pleased to see a letter from Pete Porter in last week’s The New Era. As I read our weekly newspaper I’ve often wondered how our beloved (gone, but not forgotten) sports reporter is these days. I’m glad that, although he’s not as spry as a teenager, he’s still as sharp as ever. As a former subject of Pete’s Pot-Shots (water polo), I can only wish for the days when all sports were covered evenly and the average player had his/her day in print. It seems as though the coverage nowadays only caters to the same high school sports (football, volleyball, wrestling, swimming and baseball). It would serve the current editors well to look back on some of the old editions of The New Era and take a page out of Pete’s coverage and try to cover a little more of the lesser-known sporting events here in town. Pete, you write of your numerous awards tarnishing. Keep them polished because you earned each and every one of them.