Opinion

Newspaper insists on the public’s right to know

Feb. 12, 2013 — The Lassen County Times seeks the details of the settlement agreement of a recently resolved wrongful termination lawsuit filed by a veteran Lassen County employee.

The county declined to release a copy of the settlement agreement between the parties — which is not included in the court file — when the newspaper asked for it last month. Then the employee’s attorney also declined to comment or reveal the terms of the deal.

Why should the newspaper and its readers care about this? Neither party has disclosed the details of this settlement so no one knows for sure, but it’s reasonable to suspect the employee may have received taxpayer money to resolve the dispute and dismiss his lawsuit. Clearly the public deserves to know how government entities spend the public’s money, and without a transparent response, the newspaper must ask the question and seek an answer.

Coyote songs on a cold desert morning

Feb. 5, 2013 — Thursday morning I woke up to one of my favorite sounds: coyotes howling in the predawn. It began with a single mournful wail, and then others joined in until the desert sounded alive with the yipping chorus.

It’s a beautiful, eerie song that evokes something ancient and primal, almost like a genetic memory stretching back to the beginning of time.

Coyotes are opportunists and well deserving of their trickster reputation. A single coyote will lure in its prey while others hide in the brush, waiting to pounce. They don’t discriminate when it comes to food. A rodent, lamb or pet cat is all fair game; therefore, many people see them as vermin and nail their pelts to fences to warn off the rest of the pack.

Community needs to keep pool project moving forward

Feb. 5, 2013 — Lassen County’s Board of Supervisors’ plan to find a way to build a public swimming pool takes a giant step forward this week when the Lassen County Swimming Pool Steering Committee meets for the first time at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7 at the Lassen County Administrative Conference Room, located at 221 S. Roop St. in Susanville.

The committee — created by a unanimous vote of the board Oct. 9, 2012, includes representatives from Lassen High School, the Susanville Elementary School District, the Lassen County Office of Education, the city of Susanville, the Lassen Municipal Utility District, Lassen Community College, the Lassen County Chamber of Commerce and the Lassen Economic Development Commission — is an advisory committee of the board. Lassen County’s Administrative Officer represents the county and also holds a voting position on the committee.

Veterans Memorial Hall: A community jewel

Jan. 29, 2013 — No one driving down Main Street in Susanville can miss the Veterans Memorial Hall that sits directly across the street from Lassen High School, and now the stately old building can be a jewel of the community of which residents can be proud for many years to come.

Through its 2012-2013 capital improvements budget, the Lassen County Board of Supervisors allocated nearly $200,000 to the repainting project, which called for stripping the building of its old lead-based paint and giving it a facelift that would last well into the future.

The county owned building not only occupies a very visible spot on Main Street, it also represents the county and its many veterans as well.

We ought to stand up to the NRA

Jan. 29, 2012 — Of late, gun control seems to be the topic one hears the most about whether at home, at work or out in the community and I have to admit, it’s a tough topic for anyone to take on regardless of his or her stance.

It was also an interesting discussion between my husband and son during a 35-mile drive to the theater in Susanville.

Multi-generational due to a 34-year age gap, life experiences and my husband’s service in the military made for a lively conversation.