Dear Editor:

The May issue of a U.S. national magazine quoted some interesting facts concerning  consumer goods, and the “Chinese Connection” that I thought might be interesting to The SUN’s readers.

Made in China: 70 percent of  the world’s umbrellas; 60 percent of the world’s buttons; 72 percent of U.S. shoes; 50 percent of U.S. kitchen appliances; 85 percent of U.S. artificial Christmas trees; 80 percent of U.S. toys

Percent of Chinese goods exported to the U.S. that end up on Wal-Mart’s shelves — 9 percent. (Perhaps Wal-Mart isn’t the big corporate demon we all thought it was. There are, apparently, other collective “U.S. Corporate Meanies” accounting for buying and peddling the other 91 percent.)

Percent of unsafe toys recalled in U.S. in 2007 that were made in China, including the Thomas the Tank Engine train set — 100 percent.

Time a Chinese factory worker would need to work to earn the cost of a Thomas the Tank Engine train set — six months.

Guess who’s not getting the benefits from the huge Chinese export enterprise?

Roy Boutwell

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Dear Editor:

How many of you have been pulled over by the sheriff’s department for a dirty license plate? Incidentally, he admitted later that the plate was completely legible. Of course this is after a line of irrelevant questions, “Where are you going?,” “Where are you coming from?,” “What were you doing there?,” “Where do they live?,” “Why are you out so late?,” etc. Or stopped for driving 37, momentarily, in a 35 zone? When was the last time any of you were pulled over because your license plate light is out, only to find out that it is working just fine? And the officer’s response to this is, “You must have a short circuit, get it checked out!” Then it is followed by the standard, “where have you been?” “where are you going?” harassment. Has Undersheriff Weiss informed all of you about the apparent 10 p.m. Pagosa curfew, as he did me? To quote undersheriff Weiss, “You have no business being on these roads after 10 p.m. If you are, we will do this to you every time … what are you complaining about?”

Let me guess, if any of you get pulled over, your license plate light is always working and they don’t care where you’re going or why. You get the polite, “Good afternoon. The reason I stopped you today is because …” As it should be. Have any of you ever been harassed?

Deputy Saltzman, I noticed you signed the letter. Have you ever been pulled over by county law enforcement in your personal vehicle for stopping at a stop sign? Then yelled at you as you pass the deputy’s DUI test two times. He says you can leave (no citation was issued and there is no official record of this stop, when I called to file an official complaint for harassment the following day), then he shouts at you to get out of your vehicle, walk backwards with hands in the air, frisks you, points a finger in your face and yells, “you have a concealed weapons permit!” But you don’t. Then shouts, “why didn’t you tell me you have a permit? Because he never asked you! Isn’t it legal to have one? I believe the sheriff’s department is the issuing agency. Then you find out the deputy is unable to give your name accurately to dispatch and yours is confused with a similar name. By the way, is it legal for a citizen who is not a resident of Archuleta County to have a concealed weapon permit issued by Archuleta County? This was the case in this instance. Deputy Saltzman, has this ever happened to you? Of course not. As you well know, you did the above to me while my wife watched from the car, horrified, for 45 minutes. “Loyalty and Respect?” How about our respect?

To all of the signers of the above referenced letter, please give me a response to my letter as I have given my response to yours.

Initially I hesitated signing this letter due to probable intimidation and further harassment (for the first time in the three years we have lived here, I recently noticed a sheriff’s vehicle parked in front of my home). But I have decided to take responsibility as a citizen of this community to make things right.

Michael R. Lindholm

Editor’s note: A check with Undersheriff John Weiss confirms the fact there is no 10 p.m. curfew in Archuleta County.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Foolishness

Dear Editor:

We supported and campaigned for Peter Gonzalez because we believed in his law enforcement expertise, intelligence, integrity and administrative abilities. Nothing we have read or heard so far has dissuaded us from our view of the excellent job that we expected him to do and that he is doing in his capacity as sheriff of Archuleta County. Nor are we anything but pleased with the results of those he has chosen to serve on his team to protect us.

It is amazing to me that an individual who was elected by the vast majority of the voters of this county could be so maligned by so few with no evident proof of their accusations. The disruption their frivolousness must be causing to the daily business of our county, and the view extended to our visitors, is paramount to advertising a system here which concludes a person guilty until proven innocent.

Hopefully, we are nearing the end of this ill-begotten foolishness.

Henry and Jane Lomasney

Thursday, May 15, 2008

China syndrome

Dear Editor:

Yes, Mr. Boutwell, I am very well aware that many people love to shop at Wal-Mart, apparently including yourself. And that, for the most part, the manufactured products that we can buy are made in China. What is disturbing to me are the consequences of the above. We have over the course of the last 35 years exported our manufacturing base, and have become a debtor nation whose gross domestic product is to a very large extent (67 percent) dependent on American consumers. Partially to blame are the unions in America in the 1960s and 1970s who demanded wages and benefits that were not in line with what global markets could afford. So we lost our competitive edge to countries that could make products cheaper. This was perfect for the titans of our corporations, namely cheap labor, high profits, and a middle class hooked on debt. But even more important, Mr. Boutwell, we now had made the big sleeping giant, China, dependent on our ravenous consumers. I believe that the powers that be, including Mr. Alan Greenspan, former chairman of the Federal Reserve, decided the following: “Instead of fighting China in a war, let’s have them work for us.” We can kill three birds with one stone. Diminish the power of labor unions, make China dependent on our markets, and as a final consequence, flush the indebted middle class down the toilet. So when you buy some of these wonderful imported Chinese products, you need to realize that you are subtly hurting yourself and our country. Our founding fathers didn’t want lords and serfs, they wanted a strong and vibrant middle class.

In your last letter to The Pagosa SUN, you questioned which planet I lived on, since I didn’t appear to have a clue about what shopping was like in this country. I can assure you, Mr. Boutwell, that I live on planet Earth. However, I am not sure which planet you live on; Uranus comes to mind.

Marty Margulies 

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Fresh air

Dear Editor:

Did you feel it? A huge gust of fresh air blew through Pagosa Country last Tuesday (May 6) when both the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) and the Pagosa Springs Town Council unanimously adopted the same Regional Parks, Recreation, Trails and Open Space Master Plan. This Master Plan is the result of an extensive study by Greenways, Inc., a highly respected community development planning firm, of the area’s parks, trails, access to national forest lands and other aspects of public recreation.

The plan also incorporates the results of surveys in which residents expressed their opinions and desires about local recreation opportunities. In addition to presenting all the demographic and recreation-needs data, the plan makes specific recommendations for locations of new parks, routes for a linked, county-wide paved trail system, preservation of specific scenic areas, and creation of a year-round indoor recreation facility.

As a testament to its thoroughness and carefully considered layout, the plan has recently been nominated to the Colorado chapter of the American Planning Association for an Outstanding Planning award. Adoption of this Master Plan by both the town and county provides the two government entities with a common set of goals, strategies to reach those goals, and an ideal platform for collaborative funding efforts. Thank you to the leadership of the town and county for demonstrating your joint commitment to a wise, long-term vision for a healthy, thriving community. May that gust of fresh air that blew in on May 6 become a gentle breeze at your back while riding the new trail system between Pagosa’s beautiful parks.

The three segments of the Greenways Master Plan can be viewed from www.PagosaRec.org.

Sincerely,

Gwen Taylor

Dear Editor:

I would like to add my voice to the chorus of strong support for Sheriff Pete Gonzales and the entire sheriff’s department. These are good, hardworking people (who also happen to be friends and neighbors) doing an excellent job on a shoestring budget. I have had the opportunity to work directly with the department on several projects and I have only the highest regard for the sheriff, his deputies and staff. Sadly, their reputations and morale are being injured by a few disgruntled individuals with unsubstantiated complaints.

Rather than make a genuine effort to substantiate and resolve their complaints, they would rather taxpayers fund a $40,000 recall election for their own personal satisfaction. It is the nature of law enforcement in any community that not everyone will be satisfied with the outcome of every case. This is no cause for recall or for a community’s loss of faith in a department. For those of you who have not had the opportunity to get to know Sheriff Gonzales or the members of his department, I encourage you to do so. I am confident you will find Archuleta County well served.
 

Sincerely,

Lesli Allison

Relationship

Dear Editor:

Regarding article on “U U fellowship to consider wisdom of transcendentalism.” Believe me when I say that I know little about Unitarian Universalism. But I have studied the Bible. It would appear that, if I understand Ms. Robinson in this article, she believes in relativism, she states her belief that there is no true way, no one way. Jesus stated just the opposite and He backed up His claims by not only fulfilling Old Testament prophecies but His own as well. Consider His miraculous healing that He performed in public over much of Israel. Even His arch enemies acknowledged his healing since they could not deny the evidence walking around in front of them. I’m sure Ms. Robinson truly hopes her theory is correct.

Her eternity rests on her assumptions. My eternity rests not on a religion but on a relationship with a living Lord, Jesus Christ. We’re told that after our physical death comes the judgment. And one question that God might ask of Ms. Robinson might be: why did you not believe in my Son and what more could I have done to gain your trust and your faith? I do not judge anyone but I do acknowledge Jesus Christ and try to present the good news of His free gift of salvation to whomever will accept Him. God Bless.

Dynamic duo

Dear Editor:

Attention: Pete Gonzalez.

A huge thank you is due to your officer and staff for responding to my 911 call April 20. My toilet’s water flow gushed on the floor while I was sleeping. Tim Walter came quickly, rolled up his sleeves and was able to shut down the toilet without using the malfunctioning plastic shut-off valves. My new neighbor, Tim Van Pett, a master plumber from California, gladly came over and checked Tim Walter’s work as requested by Tim W. Tim V. installed new stainless steel parts in the morning.
I am very appreciative of the quick responses of the dispatcher, Carl, and the dynamic duo of the two Tims.

Sincerely,

Joyce Howay

Made In China

Dear Editor:

It is true, WalMart does not have the monopoly on selling cheap crap made in China. Nor does China have the monopoly on making cheap crap. The distinction is that, regardless of founder Sam Walton’s intent or vision, WalMart has single-handedly and deliberately set out to be the biggest promoter of cheap goods made in China. WalMart’s corporate practice has been to move into new communities, buy up land and existing local stores, open more WalMart stores than they know demographics can support, wait until the local stores go out of business because they cannot compete with WalMart’s pricing, then close the stores they do not need.

The other important distinction is that other countries, such as Honduras and Bangladesh, which U.S.-based companies farm out labor to, do not have an army of one million or more, and do not currently hold much of the United States’ debt in trade deficit and investments.

The other, perhaps most important thing to be aware of, is that China is practicing a long-standing and currently intensified, practice of genocide against the Tibetan people living within borders China claims. Protests in mid-March made international news headlines for a few days, but unfortunately, in keeping with media practice, Tibet is no longer in the spotlight.

Detention and torture of Tibetan monks, nuns and civilians continues. Please, visit www.savetibet.org; www.phayul.com; and www.rfa.org to keep yourself informed about what is going on: Tibetans are being murdered, jailed, beaten, deprived of water and food, and are unable to plant crops they will need for food later in the year. Monks and nuns in particular are targeted for the most severe beatings. Their family members are detained and tortured, and since Tibetans consider it an honor to have a family member who is a monk or a nun, most families are missing at least one immediate family member. Communication lines have been cut, foreign visitors have been deported, and the only media or other foreigners allowed into Tibet have only been escorted on a strictly controlled, sanitized tour.

The Chinese government stated in late April it would meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s representatives, but to date nothing has come of this, and detentions, killing and torture continues. I do not believe the Chinese government cares about human rights, environmental preservation, or what other people think, any more than our current government does. I do think both governments care about money, and about getting as much of our money as they can.

So, let us stop buying cheap goods made in China. What might this do? Perhaps return manufacturing jobs that include living wages and environmental standards to North America? Would that stimulate our economy? Even more than the forthcoming tax incentive that most Americans are likely going to use to pay a month’s fuel bill? Locally-produced goods and food would also reduce or eliminate shipping costs.

Of course, some goods are simply not available today that are made in America. While we re-direct our purchasing dollars and turn things around, in the meantime, when we find we “must” buy something made in China, we can donate an equal amount of money to organizations that are helping Tibet. We can also call our political representatives and ask them to continue to push for diplomatic efforts between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Chinese government officials.

Lisa Jensen

Clean-up effort

Dear Editor:

Piedra Road litter report.

Now that my wife, Margot, and I have finished our litter clean-up the length of Piedra Road, permit me to share our results. Fortunately, we received some serious help from the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association; so, a tip of the hat to the PLPOA, and our sincere thanks for the much-needed contribution. My wife and I collected 41 bags of trash in addition to however many the PLPOA collected. I can tell you that “Pagosa Smiles” on Family Dentistry, Giant and Piedra Automotive for succeeding in keeping their properties litter free. Although “Yukon Jack” and his good buddy Hiram Walker continue to discard their trash, the roadway is much improved, and that’s what’s important. As Jim Miller, our town parks director reminded me, only 10-percent of us are causing the litter problem. That’s the group of folks we have to reach with our message.

Much of the trash we found could have been recycled. Beer cans and bottles are the most common litter, by far. A little discipline will make a huge difference to the amount of litter on our roadsides. Note that glass never breaks down in the environment. So, please, if you’ll wait until you get home to “crack” that beer, you can rinse and recycle the can or bottle, and worrying about drinking and driving will cease to be an issue for you.

Unfortunately, decomposition of recyclables slows down when they accumulate in a landfill. Here’s the picture, with the number of years it takes an item to decompose: cardboard, 1-3 years; newspaper, 3-5; cigarette filter, 13; plastic bag, 20; steel can, 100 (note that the decomposition of the steel can we toss alongside the road today would eventually be witnessed by our great-great-grandchildren); aluminum can, 250; plastic soda bottle, 450; glass bottle, never; rubber tire, no known disintegration.

We are encouraged by the resource of concerned citizens and organizations to help combat Pagosa’s litter problems. We are on the right course. Thanks to all for your interest and participation, to make Pagosa Springs clean and green once again.

Please, don’t be a “10-percenter.” Recycle every time. Refuse to be part of Pagosa’s problem; be part of our solution.

Dave Linfoot

The Mayor’s Green Panel on
Litter Awareness and Control

I can’t help but notice all the controversial comments written lately about the Humane Society. I’m not interested in getting into that fray. As a local resident of Pagosa Springs, I have only admiration for the wonderful work that our Humane Society does for the homeless animals. I wish that the same people who are criticizing this organization would roll their sleeves up, drive over to the new building, and take a few of the fabulous dogs for a long walk. Then stop and play with the cats and give them a cuddle.

I volunteer at the shelter and every week walk a few dogs and play with a cat or two. Our focus needs to be back on the animals and finding each one a good, loving home. The staff at the shelter do exceptional work with the animals, offering them care, love, medical treatment and training. It is up to us, the public, to give the dogs and cats good homes. I know of a wonderful pair of dogs right now who are crying out for a permanent home. Their names are Duke and Max, and they are 5-year-old brothers. Duke and Max have been at the shelter for over three months. They used to have a loving home until their owner lost his job and had to move into a relative’s home to survive. Unfortunately that relative would not take his dogs, and so these two beautiful well-mannered boys were taken to the shelter. Both of these dogs love each other deeply, and this has been their demise. It is difficult for the shelter staff to find anyone will to take home two dogs, instead of the usual one.

From my volunteer standpoint, whomever gets these boys will be lucky. They are well-mannered, housetrained, fun loving, loyal and beautiful. Both Duke and Max are mixed breeds, being half German Shepherd and half Golden Lab. They are healthy and would make wonderful companions.
So, here’s my point. Can we take the focus of our attention back to finding excellent homes for the many deserving animals like Duke and Max? Isn’t that what it is all about? And as for the critics of the Humane Society, how about they put their efforts into placing and getting to know the homeless animals? I would humbly suggest that this type of involvement with the shelter animals would prove more satisfying for the critics, and would greatly help the animals, in a mutually beneficial way.

Dear Editor:

Let it be clear that Sheriff Gonzalez did not solicit us to write this letter. We felt it necessary because of the recent negative publicity by a few disgruntled members of our community — citizens who did not receive the outcome they expected, for problems the sheriff could not solve for them to their liking.

Before Sheriff Gonzalez took office in January 2007, the working conditions at the sheriff’s office were tolerable, at best. The supervision staff created an atmosphere of poor morale and high turnover in the department. This was not a pleasant place to work for a long time.

When Sheriff Gonzalez took office, he made it clear that things would change. He did not tell us an untruth. He made sure that he met with all of his employees, individually. He asked us to talk freely of our concerns, then took quick action to address those problems. His vision was that all of his employees would come to work confident they knew what was expected of them, and gave us the tools to do our jobs. He also created an atmosphere of teamwork, and we like that. Morale is currently at its highest it’s ever been.

We have the deepest loyalty and respect for our sheriff. We also believe he is loyal to us, and he believes that we will provide our community with the services they deserve. Unfortunately, given the profession we are in, we cannot be all things to all people and, from time to time, there will be people who are not happy with the outcome of their particular problem. We are required to work within the law, and are strictly guided on how to proceed with these problems. In a perfect world, we would be able to satisfy everyone’s needs, but that is not the case.

We will continue to support our sheriff unequivocally; he is a fine leader and a fine man. This community should be proud they elected such an honest, forthright and consciousness man.

Signed,

Archuleta County sheriff’s employees that include investigations, jail staff, patrol, dispatch and support staff:

Mencor Valdez, Iris Warren, Jennifer Barter, Carl Smith, Antoinette Martinez, Gloria Macht, Richard Valdez, Jackie Hovda, Joe Buzby, Victoria Perales, Michael Randall, Gregory A. Gallegos, Jeremy Martinez, Rosemary Bollig, Lynn C. Fredrickson, Kirk Shoneman, Robyn Lucero, Michael Bishop, Lilly Orr, Kenneth Cowen, Mark Norris, Carl Nevitt, Norman Frazier, Chris Crump, Michael Riggs, Terri Miller, James M. Boyle, Anna Barrett, Leslie Lattin, Kristine Gibbs, Greystone Abbott, Sean Curtis, Lando Garcia, Brian Saltzman, Erica Albers, Brandon Bishop, Lezlie Powers, Diane Rieck and Paul Draper

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Perserverance

Dear Editor:

I am wondering what Mr. Beasley finds so positive in the president’s perseverance or the nations path?

However, we find agreement in one thought: the terrible price paid in young lives from death in vehicles.  I have never been able to watch that ad by the insurer regarding the death of 6,000 teenagers each year without grimacing.  How close we came to losing a son three times before he finally moved to the city and gave up a car.  I have no real idea what the answer is to halt the slaughter of our young.  Having said that, I find the idea of age restrictions as another abdication of parental and social responsibility.

In thinking back, I can’t recall a teen death in Wichita in all the three years I drove pre-service, from the age of 14 (Kansas allowed this as the kids were needed for harvest equipment). Certainly, the cars were less safe, alcohol was available (and we abused it) and street drag racing was an obligation.  So, what is the difference then and now? Best I can guess is two things: first, we mostly bought, paid the insurance and maintained our cars and, second, there was just a different set of expectations on the part of all.  By that I don’t mean the paintbrush slur term “values.”  No one then was any better than the folks of today; in fact, you could make a good case the kids of today are much more mature.  No, I mean the expectations that included a set of obligations for almost all aspects of family, career, community and national service.  I’m not sure I can make the case for why expectations matter — it just seems we had very few lost souls, as almost all had an expected “path.” 

Similarly, I have expectations for presidents’ honoring their oath, and a loathing for dishonest and illegal personal actions and profit associations.  G.W. Bush has totally failed my expectations; maybe not yours, but then I believe that each child should have a shot at what he/she wants in life and favors for the few are nationally destructive.  Perseverance has no “value” when it destroys the charter, fabric, well being and competitive stance of a nation. Enough is enough.

Dave Blake 

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Lack of charity

Dear Editor:

Your correspondent Earle Beasley (Letters, April 24, 2008) takes issue with all “Bush haters” and invites those so characterized to “get over it.” Beasley expresses a certain level of comfort that Bush will remain in office to the end of his term while he “continues to do what he thinks is right.”

I’m glad Mr. Beasley self-identifies with the 28 percent or so of Americans who still approve of Bush’s job performance, but perhaps he will understand that there are those of us who feel a lack of charity for the performance of the Supreme Court-anointed, Al Qaeda ignorin’, 9/11 presidin’, Bin Ladin escapin’, Iraq war mongerin’, intelligence fixin’, world opinion dissin’, Chalabi believin’, wmd hypin’, Pandora’s box openin’, mission accomplishin’, wmd missin’, Valerie Plame outin’, Scooter pardonin’, waterboardin’, warrantless wiretappin’, habeas corpus emasculatin’, Abu Ghrabin’, mercenary hirin’, back-door draftin’, army hollowin’, flag-draped coffins hidin’, deficit spendin’, government growin’, church-state borders fuzzin’, Justice Department politicizin’, China borrowin’, dollar sinkin’, gas prices risin’, houses foreclosin’, great-grandchildren mortgagin’, income inequality enablin’, robber baron coddlin’ compassionate conservative product of Andover, Yale, Harvard Business School and the Midland Country Club.

Get over it?

Not now. Not ever.

Sincerely,

Ben Douglas

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Two reasons

Dear Editor,

I, too, like Mr. Jim Askins, searched for the Humane Society’s financial reports on the Web sites cited by Mr. Schwartz. I had no more success than Mr. Askins.

I have great respect for both the Humane Society and Mr. Sawicki. It troubles me to see the Humane Society and Mr. Sawicki airing their grievances in public. As some of you may know, over the past 20 years, Mr. Sawicki has called me about every name he could think of. My favorite is “The Arboles Troglodyte.” I have had very pleasant dealings with the Humane Society and that’s where I met Mr. Sawicki in person.

It is beyond my comprehension why a charitable institution, like the Humane Society, denies any reasonable request for a look at their financial records. Of more concern to me, is the county commissioners and treasurer do not make public the financial records of the county. I have written several letters to The SUN about this matter, to no avail, of course. As a taxpayer, I am interested to know how much the county is spending on maintaining roads in the Arboles area as compared to the airport in Pagosa.

In my opinion, there are only two reasons for any public organization not to make public the appropriate financial records: either the management is incompetent or they are crooks. When a public official withholds public information from a citizen, the message comes through loud and clear. Namely, we are smart and can’t be bothered with morons like you. This is not a good message to convey to guys like Mr. Sawicki and myself.

Sincerely,

Bob Dungan

Arboles

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Teen traffic deaths

Dear Editor:

According to a recent study by the Colorado Department of Transportation, the number of teens killed in traffic crashes in Colorado dropped by 34 percent in 2007 from what they were in 2006. The good news is that teen traffic fatalities in Colorado have dropped. The bad news is that car crashes are still the No. 1 killer of teens in the United States.

On average, 6,000 teens are killed each year on America’s roadways, and another 300,000 are injured. According to the National Highway Safety and Transportation Agency, no other kind of hazard comes close to claiming as many teenage lives, including homicide (14 percent) and suicides (11 percent).

CDOT cites that more than half of the teens killed on Colorado’s roads in 2007 were not wearing seatbelts. Seatbelt usage is a proven indicator of saving lives during car crashes. But in addition to wearing a seat belt, The Allstate Foundation feels that it is also important to remind teens and their parents that the majority of car crashes involving teens are preventable, caused by driver error, distractions and speeding.

According to “Chronic,” a teen study, speeding and driver error account for the majority (75 percent) of teen driving fatalities. In a national survey of teens conducted by The Allstate Foundation, 56 percent said they make and answer phone calls, and 13 percent send and respond to text messages while driving. 

CDOT and Colorado’s law enforcement agencies should be commended  for increasing awareness and enforcement on seat belt usage, but we need to encourage teens to turn off their phones, limit the number of passengers in the car, buckle up and to slow down while driving. Through continued education and awareness, we can help reduce the staggering statistics that plague our teens and help bring more teens home safely.

Sincerely yours,

Cathe Hill

Thursday, May 1, 2008

HSPS Web site

Dear Editor:

I’ve been the volunteer Humane Society of Pagosa Springs Web master since 2004, when my wife and I were Pagosa residents, and have enjoyed working with the HSPS staff and volunteers to keep the Web site updated as expeditiously as possible, especially now since I’m a “remote” volunteer in Broomfield, Colo.

For the record, the HSPS “Financials” Web page (http://humanesocietyofpagosasprings.com/new_financials.htm) has been on the Web site since April 13 at the request of Linda Lawrie, president of the HSPS Board of Directors, by e-mail on April 11. The Web page was first implemented as a submenu link of the main menu button “About Us,” then updated to a main menu button “Financials” on April 25 at the request of Robbie Schwartz, HSPS executive director, by e-mail earlier on April 25. Robbie stated in her e-mail request that “We are having people saying they can’t find our financials on the home page. Could you add a separate button on the left side of the home page that said Financials? ”

As a Web master, I strive to make a Web site as user-friendly as possible and appreciate any suggestions to improve Web site navigation. A backup way to navigate the HSPS Web site is to access the “Site Map” Web page (http://humanesocietyofpagosasprings.com/new_sitemap.htm), which is a submenu link of the main menu button “About Us” and is an outline of direct Web page links of the entire HSPS Web site.

 At some point, I would hope that all of the good citizens of Pagosa Springs will get past the public grousing about the HSPS and refocus on the homeless dogs and cats of Archuleta County by supporting the dedicated HSPS staff and volunteers with your contributions and volunteer time. And in the meantime, visit the Thrift Store and the new animal shelter to see for yourself how things are doing.

Coye Jones

(cmptj@comcast.net)

Web master, HSPS

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Volunteers

Dear Editor:

Did you know the American Cancer Society is a nationwide community-based volunteer health organization?

This year, more than 3 million men, women and youngsters nationwide will volunteer their time and talents to the mission to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. I am proud to say we have our share of these terrific individuals right here in Archuleta County, and with National Volunteer Week now upon us, what better time to recognize and honor them.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of the American Cancer Society. Here in Archuleta County we depend on our many volunteers to help plan and staff our Archuleta County Relay For Life, Daffodil Days fund-raiser, and our many advocacy, educational and patient service programs, such as Road to Recovery and Support Groups.

Cancer continues to be defeated, primarily through the advancements in research being accomplished throughout our nation.

One week a year is not nearly enough time to express our gratitude for what you do.

Linda Lovendahl

Community relations manager

American Cancer Society

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Responsive

Dear Editor:

I liked Mr. Mark Garcia’s managerial style. No matter when I called, he consistently returned my calls at 8 a.m. the next morning in response to voice mail; his affability fostered confidence; his departmental staff effectuated his meticulous instructions, and his public relations skill punctuated each call with his signature, “We’re going to stay on top of this.”

I still don’t know wherein lay the rub.

Sincerely,

Arlene Marcus

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Support

Dear Editor:

As a lifelong resident of Pagosa Springs, I have seen many people come and go, from county commissioners to sheriffs. With the recent recall of Sheriff Gonzalez, I felt I needed to write a letter on his behalf.

I have known Sheriff Gonzalez for about six or seven years. In that time, I have found him to be an honest and hardworking individual. He has always treated me with kindness and respect and there were times he gave me good advice on how to deal with problems I was facing. I feel he has good people working for him and I feel they are all doing a good job. I feel we need to support our local law enforcement, not put them down.

In closing, I just want to tell Sheriff Gonzalez that he will always have my support.

John Perea

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Fees and growth

Dear Editor:

I was disappointed in Chuck McGuire’s statement that few people wanted to blame the slowdown on growth for the high price in the PAWSD impact fees. We have little control over wasteful government spending that could be focused on alternative energy sources instead of providing big subsidies to oil companies who have made big profits to help with their lobbying and energy alternative campaigns on TV. And anyone can figure out why the price of food and building materials has gone up ... more fuel costs and the conversion of crops to bio-fuel (a joke in itself with more government subsidies). We have had little control over the out-of-town investors as well, who artificially inflated real estate values. And we discovered that Archuleta County has misspent money for years and now sets assessments based on obscure reasons, like the fact that every lot, no matter what its size, is assessed according to what all lots in close proximity sold for. I tried being honest when I appealed my assessment by acknowledging I had a deck instead of a patio, but no finished basement. That netted me a valuation of $10,000 less than the $29,000 I was assessed for a finished basement. So yes, the people of this town ignored those other facts and focused on one they felt they might be able to do something about. I was at one of the board meetings. The discussion was about needing impact fees to build a new reservoir. Not once was there mention about water conservation as a means to control water use until I brought it up and that was all but ignored, especially in your article about that meeting. I am sure the board and numerous others would never want a rate increase based on the number of gallons used, because that would mean conserving water, like going to natural grasses like I was encouraged to do by the SWCD, not by PAWSD.

Water conservation is a viable solution to building another reservoir for future needs that may never come about due to the economic downturn. If this board really wanted to help the community get back on its feet it would focus on that issue. I was surprised to learn that many people had no idea there was a rebate for replacing old, high capacity toilets. Maybe PAWSD forgot to make it a priority. Holding impact fees, water and sewer rates down to produce debt is only the fault of PAWSD, especially when times were good and people could afford the increase. It is amazing that PAWSD is able to project future needs of the community now, during a recession, but totally failed to see it on the horizon a number of years ago when growth really began.

The kicker to this is that I have just been charged a $450 impact fee for wanting to build an office and bathroom (existing plumbing already in place). I’m not renting this bathroom out and my wife and I (at nearly 60) have no plans to increase our family size, but just in case I was to use more water and sewer I must pay this fee. The simple reason for the bathroom (office has been eliminated) is that upon reaching this age we have discovered that our urinary tracts do not work as well as they used to (a mistake we made when building a home that required us to climb steps so we could hopefully get to the bathroom in time). Now, the project must be cancelled, or put on hold while I find the money to pay this fee. One means would be making a list and driving to Durango or Farmington to purchase everything I need, not the best way to support the local economy, but in hard times we are forced to make cost cutting decisions, something PAWSD should consider. By the way, PLPOA just raised our annual fees because of repairs needed for the reservoirs. I thought that was one of the reasons PAWSD gave for raising fees. What a coincidence?

Sincerely,

Michael Schneider

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Amazed

Dear Editor:

I am continually amazed by what goes on in this county.

We have county commissioners who are so busy with infighting and personal issues that nothing gets done. There was a movement to recall all of them.

We have a county on the verge of bankruptcy and no one really seems to know where the money went or why some records may have been burned.

The town manager just resigned.

How long has the same mayor served? Maybe we need new blood.

Why did the town hire a tourism director? I thought that was the chamber’s job. It seems to me that we already have all the tourists we can comfortably manage. Just try to turn towards town from Put Hill.

We have a water district which may run out of water in the not too distant future and doesn’t implement proven, simple, inexpensive conservation methods. Yes, they have a toilet change out program and a few other things, but there does not seem to be any real effort to make even this simple program work.

Archuleta County, and the town, is a beautiful place to live and raise children. But, it is dying, I believe, due to the inability of our elected officials to come together and create a plan to attract industry, create jobs and encourage rather than discourage controlled development.

We need Planned Unit Developments that combine retail and residential in controlled and beautiful settings scattered throughout the county, not just along the main corridors.

We need someone (not a tourism director) to encourage and offer incentives to companies and small manufacturers to relocate to our county, creating new jobs and attracting younger families to the area, not just retirees. We will need affordable housing for these families.

We need a water company that understands that just replacing two flush urinals with waterless urinals will save enough water for the average three bedroom home for a year.

We need to dispel the idea that Pagosa is a great place to retire. Instead, we need to promote the concept that Pagosa is a great place to live and work and make it happen.

I think we need to rebuild downtown, and make it a destination.

I believe that if the county and town pulled together and the elected officials would quit bickering and promoting themselves and their agendas, we could become a model county for the state. We need to recycle Pagosa not just back up to the transfer station and dump the truck.

A well developed county would have the tax base to fix the roads and water to drink. It would have a young growing population to take over when the Mayor decides to retire. It would have industry and controlled growth. In short it would have everything we don’t have.

Doug Sharp

Editor’s note: The “records” you assert “may have been burned” were a number of items found stored in a restroom at the road and bridge building. Many of the documents had been damaged by rodents; items that were salvagable were saved.Other items were determined to be duplicated in warrants.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Home Rule

Dear Editor:

Home Rule facts.

Yes, Dave Richardson is right on in his comments for county office holder requirements.  But, Dave, the only way to do what you want is to have a Home Rule charter for the county. Your good suggestions are just what a charter could contain. Until we write a charter, we are under the state constitution and it says “No ... do what is said here.”   We can’t impose any restrictions not allowed in the state rules.   

Come to the presentation May 6, Town Council, 5 p.m. Better yet, call me 731-0343 to set up a discussion with your circle of friends.  Having a Home Rule charter for Archuleta County is the only way to bring local control into our hands. 

 Bev Warburton

Thursday, May 1, 2008

White tournament

Dear Editor:

In past years, the Lauren White Memorial Golf Tournament has been held in May. Due to the heavy snows, the 6th annual tournament will be held on Saturday, June 7, in Pagosa Springs. Letters with information will be mailed at the end of April to previous sponsors.

Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Lauren White Scholarship Fund. In 2007, seven scholarships were awarded to Pagosa Springs High School students.

More information will be available at the golf club house and in The Pagosa Springs SUN as the tournament nears.

Hope to see you all soon.

Burly, Cindy and Chris White

Tulsa, Okla.

Dear Editor:

My wife, Julie, and I have been Humane Society supporters for many years. I read with much interest Larry Schwartz’s “factual” answer to the adverse publicity currently plaguing the Humane Society of Pagosa Springs.

At Mr. Schwartz’s suggestion, I logged on to the official Web site of HSPS. I looked all through the home page and all the listings and shortcuts. To be certain, I called my wife to peruse the same material.  Neither of us found any mention of financial records or tax returns as promised by Mr. Schwartz. If there is a link, it is well hidden from public view.

Then, acting on the second item in his response, I attempted to access the other Web site, www.guidestar.com to view the tax returns. Bummer, no such Web site. If we were playing baseball, Mr. Schwartz would have two strikes. I did find a guidestar.org and apparently it does maintain financial records on non-profits, but you have to register, give them your life story, open your account up to jillions of e-mail solicitations in the future, but what the heck, I continued to play the game.

After registration, I still could not access the site until I received an official notification from them via e-mail. Once this hurdle was cleared I thought I had finally reached the promised land, only to be disappointed once more, being advised that the type of information that I was seeking was available only to “Guidestar Premium Subscribers.” I’m a good sport, so I clicked on the “subscribe” button, only to find out that this premium subscription was available for $1,000 per year or $100 per month. Bummer, foiled again!

That’s strike three and Mr. Schwartz needs to be sent to the showers. It seems that the charge of “misinformation” Mr. Schwartz leveled at the “past employee” may well apply to Mr. Schwartz himself. How does the old saying go, something about rocks and glass houses?

Sincerely,

Jim Askins

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Erosion

Dear Editor:

Forty-one years ago, while serving in the 17th Long Range Patrol, a special operations unit, myself and 29 others went through an insurgency training course. Our trainers were Special Forces. After only one week of training in demolition and attack and evasion in a mountainous region of Europe, we were let loose to raise hell with 5,000 regular army infantry searching for us in vain for a week. We had a ball attacking their convoys and blowing up their newly-built bridges. We were constantly on the move, and slept during the day and attacked at night. We forced-marched up to ten miles at a stretch to avoid being captured; the locals hid and fed us; we used no vehicles.

As I look at the insurgent warfare in Iraq and Afghanistan, I understand what our troops are going through, especially when the modern insurgents are far better trained and equipped 40 years later. The insurgent has the advantage whether he’s fighting the Romans 2,000 years ago, or Apaches under Geronimo in the 1880s, or in Iraq in 2008. A small unit of men will always be able to move faster and do more harm to a larger mass of troops, especially in the mountainous or urban environment. In 2004, I watched a 12-year-old boy insurgent in Iraq take out an Abrams tank with a $100 rocket; that was a defining moment.

Million dollar helicopters and drones do help, but it’s rare to see the enemy from the air at night, and the successes we do see on the news are propaganda anomalies. The fact is for every low-tech insurgency unit we destroy, another will replace it within hours; we can reduce the insurgency only to a point, but we can’t stop it. The sheer amount of used military equipment available and the arms merchants willing to resupply them, the insurgents will always be able to resupply at a far cheaper and faster rate than we will be able to; they are now fighting us with our own captured equipment, including sniper rifles and night vision goggles. It takes an army a month to adapt to what an insurgency can do in a day.

Iraq’s the perfect training grounds for insurgency; enemy states such as Iran and Syria are close by and our being in the region is a direct threat to them, so, of course, they are more than willing to supply the troops and equipment just like China did during the Vietnam war. Long-term insurgency wars fought halfway around the world don’t succeed, for if success isn’t attained in a short time, the insurgents wear their adversaries down financially — end of game. I have no doubt this was the final assessment of the training exercise I went through 41 years ago.

Ron Alexander

Gypsum, Kans.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Dear Editor:

 It is impossible to tell which is the most negative: your editorial, “Have we had enough” or Dave Blake’s letter, “Glass half full,” The SUN, April 17.

 Blake’s letter is Bush bashing from the first sentence to the last, as usual. President George W. Bush is going to be president of the United States of America until about noon January 20, 2009, unless he dies, becomes incapacitated or resigns; none of which is likely. I am very pleased that he is going to continue to do what he thinks is right during the remainder of his term. I would hate to see his successor deprived of the opportunity to keep those great promises being made now during the campaigns. To Blake and all Bush haters I say, “Get over it.”

 Your editorial has about two dozen questions, some not punctuated as such. The subjects of your questions are what you consider as problems; and I agree that at best they all are less than desirable situations. But not everyone would agree with us. The closest you come to offering solutions is question No. 15: “When are we going to get out of our chairs and say ’Enough,’ and demand that we, as a society take some basic action?”

 One of your questions is, “When will we recognize that control of population is fundamental to improvement of all other aspects of  human beings?”  Many thoughtful and powerful people already recognize that; and many of us not-so-powerful also. But many religions, cultures and traditions oppose contraception by any and all means.

 Judging by the news, individual gasoline users are already beginning to use the most effective weapon against increasing prices: reducing their consumption. That will reduce both demand and cost. Government mandated price controls don’t work.

 Judging by all the hoopla, the looming flood of home foreclosures is a frightening situation. In her excellent ad on page 9, The SUN 4/17, Frances Martinez of Rio Grande Savings & Loan has the simplest and best explanation of the root causes of the problem I have seen. It is fair to say it was a rip-off of millions of home buyers and could well cost the Federal government a trillion dollars before the bailout is completed. Would you agree that Frances has gotten up out of her chair?

 I have a question of my own. Both you and Blake mention the cost in lost lives of our troops in Iraq, as do most people when they criticize our being there. The rate is about two per day for the five years. The rate of deaths by accidents on our highways is about 110 per day, year after year. Yet we hardly ever hear that mentioned. Why is that?

 Earle Beasley

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Dear Editor:

I can’t thank The SUN and Dave Richardson enough for pointing out the very great need for education on the subject of Home Rule through the Whaddya Think? column and his letter in this column, April 17.  Both show how little is known about how county government is structured in Colorado.

First, it should be understood that under the State Constitution counties are arms of the state government, not local governments.   Although county officials are elected in local elections, they are not elected to perform duties prescribed by the people who elected them.  Instead, their roles are spelled out by the State Legislature.  In other words, the local citizens are not their boss.  The Legislature even sets their salaries and we, the local citizens, must pay that amount whether we agree or disagree  to its appropriateness.  Our only option where there is dissatisfaction is the recall procedure, which in most cases is not an option due to the petition requirements mandated by the State Constitution.

Therefore, Archuleta County citizens have no legal right — and, therefore none at all — to demand any action or establish any level of performance by these elected officials, except for one:  that a petition to establish a Home Rule Charter Commission for the purpose of creating a charter to present to the electorate for their approval or rejection must be accepted and  honored.

I don’t disagree that several of the things Mr. Richardson suggests would be very beneficial for operating an efficient county government, but the fact is that none of them are possible under the structure mandated by the State Constitution for counties that have not adopted Home Rule.  As Archuleta County grows in population and problems multiply, the need for some of  his recommendations becomes blatantly evident, but all of them are virtually impossible within the present structure which does not grant the citizens the right to initiate legislation. 

The Home Rule Study Committee will continue to hold public meetings from time to time for education and input on this very important subject.   Everyone needs to be informed.

Henry Buslepp

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Dear Editor:

During the last four months since my father, Fred Martinez, passed away, the mounds of paperwork still seem endless in getting his estate in order. With every step and in a time when there should be grieving and healing, there is a finality, an ugliness, and a brutal reminder that he no longer exists.

My father was proud to serve his country, and he even displayed his set of veteran’s license plates on his car. About the only solace my mother thought she had in trying to endure the loss of her husband was being able to continue the yearly tradition of renewing his veteran plates. After coming from the courthouse the first time and maybe even smiling a little, she was elated to know that she was able to keep my father’s veteran’s plates — a minor victory and celebration in light of the fact of having to take care of so many more trying, not-so-pleasant things. One day after she came home from work, she had a message on the answering machine from the courthouse saying that they had received a phone call from the state telling them that she had to surrender my father’s veteran license plates. That was only the first blow! In taking his plates to the courthouse, they charged her a fee to dispose of them. After that, they made her get a whole new set of plates and charged her more money for them. How much more does she have to take? Why couldn’t they have replaced my father’s veteran’s plates with a different set free of charge? Of course, we all know the almighty dollar still holds more clout than any person’s existence and integrity, and there is no compassion left in the world. This issue should never have been about money! It should have been about paying respect to my father’s memory!

Certainly there are widows and widowers in our community and throughout the nation who have encountered this situation or will do so at some point. They are just as deserving of being recognized as the surviving spouses of their loved ones who have honorably served their country. This country was supposed to be founded on justice. Is what happened to my father’s widow “justice?” Should the government be allowed to take the only thing left of my father’s right in serving this great country and making a mockery of it? I don’t think so!

My hope is that people in high places become advocates of those who proudly serve their great country like my father did, and that they will put something into law that will protect widows and widowers who so deserve to keep their spouse’s memory alive even if it is through using these veteran plates. I encourage everyone to write to our state representative, our state senator and our state governor on behalf of my father in support of “allowing spouses of deceased honorably discharged veterans to keep their veteran license plates.”

Respectfully submitted,

Maria Martinez-Gallegos

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Dear Editor:

I remember a few years ago when The Pagosa SUN used to print Dr. Handy’s drawings of the local mountain peaks and their names.

It was always a treat for newcomers to be able to not only see our beautiful mountains, but to also be able to name them.

Not being a newcomer any longer — depending on whose definition one uses — I must have “Ole Timers,” as I can’t seem to remember all the names either.

I have talked with some real Old Timers, but I find they give the same peak different names depending on who you ask.

So I humbly ask that you appease us newcomers, ole timers and Old Timers by printing the drawings again.

Sincerely yours,

Jim Knoll

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Dear Editor:

Colorado is arguably the most beautiful state in the Union, and we are fortunate to live in and around Pagosa Springs, with all its natural splendor. All around us, there is so much beauty. Yet there is a dark side which, like it or not, is a reflection upon all of us.

Unfortunately, beautiful Pagosa Springs is awash in litter. And, it isn’t just our own litter; we have a lot of non-resident sportsmen that contribute, as well. We all see it in the drainage ditches along the sides of many of our roads. There is so much litter that it offends my senses. I know others are offended, as well. I see the piles of trash concerned citizens have been collecting alongside North Pagosa Boulevard, especially. We all appreciate and thank you for your contribution to the community.

Now that most of the snow has gone, I have begun my personal litter roundup on Piedra Road, (CR 600). I started with the trailhead at the end of the road, (where it becomes CR 631), and have been slowly making my way south along Piedra Road, to eventually end at Route 160. Piedra Road has a serious litter problem; 10-plus trash bags of litter to the mile! The road is 6.2 miles long, which will translate to around 62 bags of trash! I’ve cleaned up 3.0 miles thus far, to Cameo Road. It’s a daunting task; it feels a bit like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. No doubt, some folks are dropping litter behind me as I go. What’s encouraging is how great the roadway looks where it has been cleaned up. Drive out that way and see if you don’t agree.

Here’s a general idea of what we’re up against:

• Construction materials blown out the back of pickup trucks.

• Broken car parts; tail pipes, hubcaps, tools, etc.

• Soda bottles and cans, fast food containers, Styrofoam cups and coolers.

• Beer cans and bottles; liquor bottles — Yukon Jack’s a favorite!

• Cigarette filters and butts by the hundreds — It’s a wonder we haven’t had more fires.

Progress is slow, but encouraging. I would welcome all the help I can get on Piedra Road. Perhaps some local companies would care to adopt portions of downtown, Piedra Road and North Pagosa Boulevard for a few scheduled cleanups per year. (Call the town to discuss the situation, 264-4151, Ext. 236.)

Pitch in Pagosa; dare to care. Help us take back and maintain our pristine environment. Take the pledge to keep Pagosa Country clean and green. Together we can do it!

Sincerely,

Dave Linfoot

Mayor’s Green Panel on

Definitive “fact”

Dear Editor:

I’m certainly thrilled that Larry Schwartz is not a blood relative to Robbie Schwartz and quickly chose to make that quite clear in his April 17 letter to The SUN. At least that’s “factual.”

However, Larry: I’m now wondering if you’re also at the same level of management skill as the executive director? I believe it was at your very first board meeting in February 2008 that one of the shelter employees asked to see the monthly financials and you snapped back immediately with, “Why do you want to see the financials?”

What a positively childish and asinine challenge to sling at anyone who might want to investigate the monthly financial report at a public meeting of any organization.

Maybe I can help you out, Larry. The question was asked because the employee wanted to know. The employee thought he was part of a team and doesn’t owe you any further explanation. Who did you think you were quizzing, a 6-year-old?

Your actions mimic Ms. Schwartz when she ripped the financials from a Humane Society employee’s hands at a previous HSPS public meeting and said, “You cannot see those financials, you can only see the meeting’s agenda.”

Mr. Schwartz: Since you signed your SUN letter as the new “Treasurer” of the HSPS, I sincerely hope that you would not throw the same retort at a large contributor to the HSPS that you did at that exemplary shelter employee. Such action would then seriously jeopardize future donations. The HSPS has already lost thousands of donated dollars due to executive director incompetence. It would be foolish to exacerbate an already severe problem.

Let’s put all the cards on the table, Mr. Schwartz. There is absolutely no need to be evasive and not name the individual that you say is “ranting and raving with misinformation” about HSPS management. Jim Sawicki is not the personality to shy away from factual accountability. So let’s not be coy about revealing a name. Of course, you would only think that I need the “glorification.” Should you feel that I have invaded your now non-sacrosanct domain ... tough!

Believe it or not, there are some things that this “misinformed ranter” and Larry Schwartz can agree on, because it’s a given. Unfortunately, Mr. Schwartz hasn’t been in Pagosa Country long enough to realize that it’s been this way for many years.

We can acknowledge that there have been and are many HSPS board members and volunteers that are hard-working and very much concerned with the welfare of the county stray and abandoned animal population. The only problem with the HSPS is a dire lack of competent upper level management. Nothing will improve until the board gets smart and deals with that fiasco. And that is a definitive “fact.”

Jim Sawicki