Killing prairie
dogs isn’t sport

In response to the prairie-dog article and Gary Harmon’s beyond-ignorant column on the species:
Did you know prairie dogs have a high-pitched, bark-like call? Studies suggest that prairie dogs possess the most sophisticated of all natural animal languages. They issue different sounds identifying various predators, including hawks, owls, eagles, ravens, coyotes, badgers, ferrets and snakes.
Prairie dogs can run up to 35 mph for short distances. But they have only one defense that works — raising the alarm and disappearing quickly.
The prairie dog has been a part of the West since way before we ever settled and established the land. They have whole communities. These communities provide predators a way to eat and survive in an ever-changing, shrinking landscape for wildlife.
It is sad that we would allow the foolish free-for-all hunting/target practice on our public lands of a species with such intelligence that is providing a food source for predators that roam our landscape. There is no sport in killing defenseless prairie dogs.
SAM BAGLEY
Palisade

Editorial was wrongabout CSU claims to fame
While I may be inclined to agree with the general premise of The Daily Sentinel’s May 5 editorial, “CSU creates a PC hurricane,” I take great exception to the assertion that Dr. Gray’s forecasts are “among CSU’s few claims to fame.” The statement is rooted in either ignorance or laziness.
The Sentinel has featured many articles about the wonderful contributions of CSU extension agents and research stations in the Grand Valley over the years. The work done by these CSU associates is certainly a “claim to fame.” And, it is hard to understand how anyone who lives in Colorado could not be aware that the university’s veterinary program is widely recognized as one of the best in the nation (ranked second by U.S. News and World Report).
CSU is also recognized as a world leader in infectious disease research and has a top-ranked engineering program. The Sentinel’s editors could find out about dozens of other CSU “claims to fame” simply by looking at the CSU Web site, www.colostate.edu. Or, it could probably identify and interview CSU alumni in the Grand Valley who would be happy to enlighten.
In addition, the snide comment about Dr. Gray being the only recognizable name on the CSU staff other than the football coach doesn’t add anything to the editorial. The same could be said for numerous major universities across the nation.
The editors should consider printing an apology to the university and the thousands of CSU alumni who find the Sentinel’s choice of words offensive. Editors should be ashamed of being so lazy and callous. They could make amends by highlighting a few of CSU’s claims to fame in well-researched and well-written articles.
MITCHEL W. LITTLE
Windsor, Colo.

It’s time to eliminateboth pennies and nickels

With tedious media exaggeration and overkill on Democrat primaries, the recession, global warming and oil prices, it’s challenging to find anything really meaningful to ridicule, but I found a no-brainer.
News reports say that, “It now costs more than a penny to make a penny. And the cost of a nickel is more than 7 1/2 cents.”
With the government operating on our money, this sort of inane information is dumped on us poor souls to keep us informed, since we finance this, among other lost causes.
In private enterprise, which provides the basis for our nation’s survival, when a product costs more than it is worth, that product is discontinued. Why do the wizards in Washington ignore the obvious?
With inflation, caused by rampant government spending, the penny and nickel have absolutely no relative value. It makes only common sense, as well as good business judgment, to discontinue production of both coins.
As far accounting is concerned, appropriate tax would be added and the total rounded off to the higher next quarter. Why not round up to the next dime, you may ask? Because, soon the dime will become the next coin too expensive to produce.
Why? Because we are represented by a tax-and-spend loony Congress, totally out of touch with reality.
God Bless America! Thanks to private enterprise, we will continue to thrive!
RICHARD DORANParachute

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 13th, 2008 at 9:03 am and is filed under Printed letters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.