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Opinion

The supervisors should make a cool, calm and reasoned decision

May 17, 2011 — Two strong opinions have surfaced recently at Lassen County Board of Supervisors meetings regarding the future of the Local Reuse Authority properties acquired by Lassen County during the Defense Department’s Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) process. The first and louder view is we’ve already spent too much money, gotten too little return and now’s the perfect time to just jettison the excess property and walk away. The second, quieter view is we should look forward rather than backward, stay the course and continue to explore the many economic development opportunities in the South County.

Truth be told, District 3 Supervisor Larry Wosick’s frightening cost projections probably aren’t too far off the mark — since about 2003 the county has spent something like $800,000 in an attempt to develop the properties into something positive near Herlong.

 

What constitutes conflict of interest?

May 10, 2011 — The Lassen County Grand Jury is a judicial body of 19 citizens impaneled to act as a community “watchdog.” The rules governing the makeup, organization, powers and duties of grand juries in California are found in the California Penal Code §888-939. The rules to be on the grand jury can be found at lassencourt.ca.gov.

Lassen Union High School Board member Skip Jones resigned Wednesday, May 4 from the Lassen County Grand Jury in a preemptive action before a noon LUHSD meeting held to discuss in part the conflict of interest of Jones serving on the high school board and grand jury simultaneously.

 

Print is going green

May 3, 2011 — With people going more green and a recent celebration of Earth Day, we thought now was a good time to look at what the printing industry has done to decrease its environmental footprint.

Print values trees: Most paper now comes from sustainable forests — not old-growth trees. These forests are essentially “tree farms,” where trees are grown as a crop, just like broccoli or wheat. When these trees are harvested, new stocks are planted. Print on paper gives landowners a financial incentive to renew forests rather than convert them for other uses, such as development.

  

Can a line of questioning lead to direct results?

April 26, 2011 — Over the course of the last couple of weeks, we have been covering a meeting that was to take place at 6 p.m. today, Tuesday, April 26, at the Post Office at 65 North Lassen St.

The meeting was to solicit community feedback on whether or not the U.S. Postal Service should close the Eagle Station Post Office on Johnstonville Road, in order to consolidate the services within Susanville.

That meeting’s been cancelled.

 

How should our county students be educated?

April 19, 2011 — Recently, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges visited the Lassen Union High School District schools of which there are three, and reported on the school’s friendliness and facilities, but it also said Lassen High School needed to focus more on state standards.

Teachers often hand out a syllabus at the beginning of the school year listing how they will follow the state standards so not only the student but also the parents know what the objectives are. From looking at some of the outlines there is not much wiggle room for spontaneous teaching that comes from daily news events. Swaying from the state curriculum could take the class off course.

  

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