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Water threatened
by gas drilling
As a hunter and a fisherman, I was very concerned about the discovery of conatminated well water near Parachute, and I’m even more concerned that four separte energy companies operating in the area are under investigation for allegedly dumping or spilling wastewater that likely caused the water contamination.
Thankfully, only one individual was poisoned by the contaminated well water, but I hate to think what could happen if this becomes a bigger problem, both among the people who live in the region and the wildlife in the area so valuable to sportsmen.
I hunt and fish all over northwestern Colorado, and I’ve followed the Roan Plateau issue closely. With the public lands on the plateau set to be leased next month, this latest news scares the heck out of me. It seems that the so-called isolated incidents that occurred over the winter are not so unique, and that haphazard water treatment and discharge practices are actually the norm.
Frankly put, this is not acceptable to the people who live here and will continue to live here long after the oil and gas industry has moved on. I would hope the industrial practices we’re seeing give pause to the Bureau of Land Management as it prepares to lease public land on the Roan to the industry. Sacrificing our land and water for short-term gain is not something we should be willing to accept.
KARL VAN CALCAR
Palisade
Solar gets short shrift
from federal agency
The BLM is swamped with applications for drilling permits from the gas and oil industry, given the hurry-up by this administration. The number of applications has more than tripled in the last three years, and is now well into the thousands.
So many applications have been ordered rubber-stamped that trained geologists, hydrologists, etc., who should be working in the field or at computers, are sitting in BLM offices filling out paperwork for drilling that they often oppose.
But solar energy, a viable, renewable source, has not been given the same green light. In fact, the BLM has abruptly placed a moratorium on the backlog of a mere 130 applications for solar energy, pending an environmental impact study mandated by the same administration. That study will take 22 months, greatly slowing if not ending that aspect in the search for alternatives to fossil fuels.
Hurry up with gas and oil (with no impact studies), put a stop to solar (with lots of restrictions). Could it be that having two Big Oil men running the country could possibly have anything to do with such a preposterous display of arrogance, disdain and bone-headedness?
DAVID COOPER
Clifton
Old-time values needed
to stem teen pregnancy
Recently published data and statistics by “The Colorado Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Parenting and Prevention” indicate that in 2006, 55 percent of all births to teens between the ages of 15 and 19 were among Latinas. Among young girls, ages 10 to 14, 71.4 percent of births were to Latinas.
What are we — parents, educators, pastors and families — not doing to impress on this demographic the perils of unwed teen pregnancies?
And we are not just concerned with females but with the men who are also involved.
The outcome is rarely positive for teen mother, child or society. Mesa County alone has paid out nearly $170 million a year in public assistance and much of that is to single-parent households. Increases in STDs, especially chlamydia and gonorrhea, are also staggering.
Throwing more condoms at these young women is not the answer.
Perhaps a return to self-respect, having responsible parents, a desire for a physically and emotionally healthy lifestyle, and an emphasis on education and greater moral values would be a good start.
JOYCE LICKERS
Grand Junction
County will continue
fight against fraud
First off, let me thank The Daily Sentinel for playing a vital role in educating the citizens of Mesa County about welfare fraud. Primary education is our main focus in helping people understand the seriousness of committing welfare fraud.
Our goal is to provide benefits to individuals who are entitled to receive them, but also to ensure we maintain the integrity of our public-assistance programs. People should not be fearful to apply for public benefits.
I wanted to take this opportunity to emphasize the importance of accurate reporting when applying for public-assistance benefits. It is critical to accurately report household composition, income and resources, including bank accounts, vehicles, property, etc.
While we realize a portion of the welfare- fraud allegations we investigate are unintentional client error, people should be aware that it is a crime to knowingly provide false information in order to receive public-assistance benefits. It is also a crime to aid someone in falsely obtaining benefits by providing false verifications.
This community has this department’s full commitment to continue to investigate all allegations of welfare fraud and recover benefits that have been inappropriately obtained. We take allegations very seriously and encourage people to report if they suspect welfare fraud is occurring.
To report suspected welfare fraud, please call the Welfare Fraud Hotline at 256-2421. Callers can remain anonymous, if they choose.
Thanks again to The Daily Sentinel for the willingness to highlight such an important subject.
LEN STEWART, Director
Mesa County Department of Human Services
Grand Junction
Local assistance eased
loss of family member
I want to express my feelings about this day’s events in the lives of my family.
Recently, we observed the burial of my daughter’s husband, Dean Daley. From the first moment we began making arrangements, Chris Blackburn of Callahan-Edfast Mortuary made us comfortable and at ease about everything that needed to be done. He moved us through all the decision-making without rushing us and was available with answers to questions then and through the burial.
The spirit of excellence was evident everywhere in the mortuary.
At the veterans’ cemetery, the members of the Grand Valley Honor Guard presented all their maneuvers with confidence, compassion and excellence. They helped the family through a very emotional time of their lives.
Teri and the children — Tom, Marc and Roxanne — are truly grateful for the wonderful people who served them at the mortuary and at the cemetery. Our thanks to them and to all others who participated in the services.
We give honor to whom honor is due.
HELEN CAPPETTO
Grand Junction
Cabaret Theatre was
a community treasure
I was deeply saddened by the closing of the Caberet Dinner Theatre. My husband and I were season-ticket holders and thoroughly enjoyed the popular Broadway musicals and comedies, year-round.
The theater, which I understand was founded in 1998, has been an attribute for Grand Junction and surrounding areas. A cultural treat has now been closed because of the economy.
The theater was dramatically hurt by the Seventh Street construction and never recovered. It appears that the Cabaret should have been compensated for the lost revenue during construction.
This is a great cultural loss for the community. The financial amount lost is nothing in comparison to the loss of great entertainment to the community.
What justification is there in reconstructing Seventh Street at the cost of the businesses located on Seventh Street? Call it progress, if you will, but in the meantime, a cultural entertainment center enjoyed by many has been lost on the Western Slope.
Hats off to Kirk McConnell and his wonderful staff and performers. We are still hoping that someone will come up with an answer for their continuance.
GLORIA REES
Grand Junction
Editorial about founders
should be taught in schools
Thank you for the editorial, “Jefferson Survives,” in the July 4 issue of The Daily Sentinel. It should be studied by every American history class in the schools. It is a truly inspired account of the action taken by our forefathers in resisting tyranny and of the incredible courage they showed in taking such action. We owe them a debt that will never be paid.
ELIZABETH WOLLIN
Grand Junction
Fourth of July event shows
rights are in jeopardy
What has happened to my country?
While attending an excellent Fourth of July celebration at Lincoln Park, I, as a veteran, was asked to stand and be recognized for my service. I was touched and thankful for the gesture.
After this recognition, I went to step out of the facility to have a cigarette. At the entrance, I was confronted by a very smug and arrogant individual who informed me that, not only could I not leave the stadium for this purpose, but if I were to leave, the police would be called to the location to issue me a citation and fine. Furthermore, if I wished to get back in, I would be charged the full admission price again.
I chose to not press the issue, and returned to the stands for the remainder of the program. As a veteran with three tours of duty in Vietnam, I was greatly offended by the treatment, especially on a day we were celebrating freedom.
JIM PATTERSON
Grand Junction
One Response to “July 11 printed letters”
Posted July 11th, 2008 at 11:10 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
Mr. Patterson had every right to be ‘grossly offended’, not only as a veteran, but as a citizen. Such is what happens when we allow the ‘do-gooders’, most of whom have never done anything but for themselves, to ‘dictate’ the behavior of others which is, to all purposes, none of their business.
Perhaps some of these ‘virtuous ones’, those who believe that they have the ‘right’ to dictate the personal behavior of others, would care to learn their own boundaries. They might not have so much time to stick their noses into the personal lives of others.
And, prior to pointing fingers at any particular group (political or otherwise) as being responsible, they might find that it applies to members of all. The only thing that does change, is what they believe is their reason for ‘knowing better’ and why ther are ‘entitled to dictate’.
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