See the resemblance?

Could they be related? Paulson plus a diamond stickpin equals Big Daddy Warbucks.

George LaBarge, Albany

Why I support recall

The Lebanon School Board recall is about the indefensible actions and antics of Rick Alexander and Josh Wineteer. Contrary to what some people want you to believe, it has nothing to do with the current administration.

This recall effort would not have been necessary if Messrs. Alexander and Wineteer had followed the basic policies and procedures of the Lebanon School Board. If they had followed those policies and procedures I would not have felt compelled to be involved in this recall. I may or may not have liked the decisions they made but I would have accepted them so long as they were made professionally.

I feel compelled to recall them because they seem to feel they are above the rules of proper boardsmanship and fair play. They both took an oath of office when they were elected to the board. They signed this oath July 5, 2005. They said that “I will faithfully discharge the duties of a member of said school board to the best of my ability.”

If this is the best of their ability it is time to replace them with members of this community who will follow the policies and procedures and will not have an agenda other than doing what is best for the students of this district. Too much time has been wasted pursuing their personal agendas and vendettas. We need to move forward.

It is time they leave office!

Vote YES on your recall ballot.

Joyce Weatherly, Lebanon

Sand Ridge, a real gem

Education in Lebanon seems to be a very controversial subject these days. When there is good news, it either receives little notice or, in the case of Sand Ridge Charter School, is twisted around to make it look like more bad news.

There has been a lot of misinformation floating around about Sand Ridge, and I think the public deserves to know the truth. While there have been a few issues in the past with teacher certifications and minor paperwork omissions, those are past issues, not present. All of the teachers at Sand Ridge meet the “highly qualified” requirements by the Oregon Department of Education.

Classes are capped at only 18 students, with a full-time teacher and assistant in every full classroom, meaning students have much more personal assistance and instruction in every subject.

Sand Ridge is a public school, and therefore does not cost the family whose child is enrolled a dime. Sand Ridge operates at only 80 percent of the funding that the other schools in the district operate on. This means that for every $100 the state has allocated for a Sand Ridge student, the Lebanon School District actually profits by $20, because only $80 of that amount goes to Sand Ridge.

Federal money is allocated for bus transportation for every student in the district, but Sand Ridge receives no bus services from the district, despite requests. Every dollar allocated for the non-existent transportation of Sand Ridge students is collected by the Lebanon School District to use for whatever it wants.

The fact that Sand Ridge exists actually brings money into the school district, contrary to what the superintendent would like you to think.

Parents should note that Sand Ridge was the only school in Lebanon that was awarded the designation of “exceptional” by ODE last year. For parents who want a really quality education in Lebanon without paying private school prices, Sand Ridge is a real gem.

Kaynor Heineck, Sodaville

Someone new to pick on

Have you ever noticed that more liberal letters written in the opinion page seem to pick certain people (such as Ted Gay and Larry Crompton) and ridicule their opinions? The last time I heard, everyone has the right to express their beliefs. So leave Ted and Larry alone. Maybe you would like someone new to ridicule. So here it goes:

“God Bless America!” All of the politicians end their speeches with this phrase. If we ask for God’s blessing, that means we must believe in God. If we believe in God, we try to follow what this God asks of us. He gave us Ten Commandments (not suggestions) to help us follow him. When I hear a politician say “God Bless America” and that same politician says abortion and gay marriages are fine, I wonder how they think God is going to give us his blessing.

Abortion is to kill and marriage is a union blessed by God between one man and one woman for the purpose of procreation. The government of the United States of America was based on Judeo-Christian beliefs by our founding fathers.

Our God is good and merciful and we will receive His blessing according to His judgment. I hope you will give this some thought when you vote. We only live once. We should try to get it right.

Genevieve Auman, Albany

Trouble getting into class

In the Sept. 20 article “Hard time getting into class,” the Van Hoosen family of Lebanon wonders if anyone else has experienced the scheduling problems that their daughter Devin faced this term as a senior at Lebanon High School.

Yes, unfortunately this problem is all too common. With the “small schools” system in place required classes as well as electives are not always available.

My grandson also had problems with classes being “too full” or not offered in his academy. This went on for all four of his years at LHS. Even as a senior he could not get the required classes he needed to graduate. He could have stayed for a fifth year and hoped to get what he needed, but chose instead to get his GED from LBCC this summer. He was very disappointed that he did not have the opportunity to graduate with his class from Lebanon High School.

Larry McAllister, Lebanon

Confused about tolerance

After reading Jeani West’s Sept. 20 letter, “Tolerance out the window,” I am confused by her interpretation of the word “tolerance.”

As one of those “liberal judgmental hypocrites” she belittles regularly with apparent glee, I find her reasoning as suspect as those she condemns for a variety of reasons.

She professes to be a Christian like Bush, McCain and Sarah Palin, but with certain stipulations. She states “it is easy to be loving, caring, understanding, nonjudgmental when someone walks the walk, talks the talk and has the same core values that I do.” So? Is this what she calls tolerance? I would ask her, “How do you treat those who would disagree with you? If you are as opinionated as you seem, the word ‘tolerance’ is not in your dictionary.”

In your final paragraph you state that when you die you hope to be held accountable to the God of the Bible and not some liberal judgmental hypocrite. I always thought that your God employed all of us to love one another unconditionally.

Lots of luck, Jeani.

William C. Medlock, Sweet Home