How much we should tip

For many of us, tipping etiquette in restaurants is a no-brainer, the standard 15-20 percent tip for your server is the norm. And figuring out what is 15-20 percent of your bill is not that difficult either. Simple math will tell you that 10 percent of an $80 bill would be $8, 20 percent would be $16, and 15 percent would be halfway in between. Leaving a tip of $3 to $4 on an $80 meal is just plain rude.

And even more rude are those who go into restaurants and enjoy drinks and meals and leave no tip for their server whatsoever. All of the etiquette and tipping articles that I can find say appropriate etiquette is at least 15 percent for your server.

If your food takes longer than it should, or if your restaurant is out of what you want to order, that happens not to be the fault of your server and he/she should not be penalized by you with a reduction of the tip.

If you are in a large group of people and your restaurant does not add the tip automatically to your bill for large groups, please be sure that your server receives 15-20 percent of the total bill for tip; throwing a couple of dollars into the center of the table for your part of the tip often ends up in a server receiving $4 to $5 on a $150 total bill (3 percent). Serving that large of a group is a lot of work and your server should be compensated at the high end of the 15-20 percent at minimum.

It is a luxury to be able to go out for a meal and be served, and servers work very hard for minimum wage and rely on tips to pay their bills. Please, in planning your next meal out in a restaurant, be sure that your budget includes an appropriate 15-20 percent tip for your server.

Stacey Lary, Albany

Officer earns driver’s thanks

Recently I found myself in a terrible predicament when I made a misjudgment and turned on a one-way street, going the wrong way. I immediately realized my error and redirected my car across the intersection, in the right way. To my chagrin, a police officer in a patrol car was just approaching that same intersection and observed the entire episode.

I pulled over to the side of the street with the red and blue lights whirling above the patrol car behind me.

To my surprise, Cpl. Robin

McKnight approached me in a calm and gentle manner, which immediately put me at ease. After showing him my driver’s license, I admitted my mistake in judgment, which he acknowledged. Instead of a reprimand and a ticket from Mr. McKnight, I received understanding and kindness after a very embarrassing and humiliating experience.

I expected justice for my mistake, but instead I received grace. What an amazing and surprising gift!

As a good samaritan, Mr. McKnight went the second and third mile, for which I owe him a debt of gratitude. He showed great respect to me as a fellow citizen and treated me with dignity.

We, the people of Albany, are very fortunate and blessed to have a corporal of Mr. McKnight’s stature and caliber on the Albany police force, patrolling our streets and protecting our people day and night. He deserves a golden star in his crown!

Louis A. Lehman, Albany

Mental health and the jail

The Linn County Jail should take more interest in the mental health of their inmates. They do too little too late. Even if Veril Phelps was an inmate, he obviously was in need of help.

Linn County Jail is not the place to be if an inmate has mental problems. They will not get the help they need. Money is all important, not inmates.

Leona Giffin, Lebanon