Correction

The editor regrets that in Friday’s Mailbag, the last name of letter writer Tom Capel was misspelled.

A matter of housekeeping

It has come to my attention that there is a concern on the part of some citizens regarding financial reporting practices by the Good Government Council to the secretary of state. We share a desire to see that things are done in a correct, transparent and professional manner, and this has always been the foremost goal of the committee.

The Albany Area Chamber PAC’s mission is to work toward a solid economic base, with a focus on job retention and job growth for the Albany community. In the 10 years of the PAC’s existence, our record speaks for itself. Our reporting and disclosure practices have always been conducted with the highest level of integrity and responsibility.

Reporting requirements by the state have changed considerably this year and we have done and will continue to do everything within our control to comply with the new reporting requirements.

The reported errors are housekeeping in nature, and did not represent a serious infraction in state policy. The errors were not related to those who have contributed to the PAC, nor did they reflect on the slate of quality candidates endorsed by the PAC, as this aspect of the PAC’s operations is separate.

The election should be decided based on the issues facing our community, and the candidates who can best move Albany forward in a productive and positive way. The idea that a minor reporting error by the PAC discredits its endorsed candidates, or is a reason to vote against these candidates, reflects an attempt to shift attention away from the issues at hand, and instead resort to political maneuvering.

Bill O’Bryan, PAC Committee Chairman, Albany

How case became public

When I read the Oct. 28 letter in regards to Deputy Lovik, I stewed about it for days. Now there is another one in the Nov. 1 edition. Deputy Lovik may very well be a decent man. But he is a deputy. He has to be held to higher standards than most of us citizens.

Yes, he had some minor trouble, which the victims do not wish to pursue. However, someone called in the incident, making it a public matter (no longer private). That got the ball rolling. Common sense would tell me that there is some sort of protocol that, by law, has to be followed when any incident (no matter how minor) is reported and involves a law enforcement officer. I’m sure Deputy Lovik could probably confirm that to you.

As for Sheriff Mueller, he is doing his job. He had to handle this and not brush it under the carpet and make it go away. I don’t want a sheriff who looks the other way when it hits too close to home. Do you? Sheriff Mueller is not responsible for this, in fact it was turned over to Benton County for investigation so there would be no bias. Any charges stem from the FACTS of the investigation and the fact that John Lovik is a deputy. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office is in no way responsible for the start or the outcome of this incident.

Maybe you who don’t understand should do your own investigating into how our laws work. It isn’t always the way we want it, but they are there for a reason. You don’t like it? Get out of the back woods and work to get them changed!

Shari Moody, Albany

What diversity?

I moved here five years ago from a large city after finally retiring. I have lived in many large cities during my life being in upper management for a major company. Albany appeared to be a very diverse community, or so I thought.

I have quietly volunteered in city functions and have had contact with many public servants, even with the fire and police departments. A diverse bunch of professionals, but I was a bit dismayed. Through my dealings, I found no diversity in supervisory positions. Researching a little further, I found all supervisors throughout the city to be of caucasian descent. It just goes to show the good ol’ boy system is going strong. Time for change? Albany is changing rapidly and the powers that be need to catch up.

Dave Henderson, Albany

Thefts mar Beaver spirit

Beaver spirit and pride rings through and through every game day with orange and black. Current students, alumni and fans come from all over the state to support the Oregon State University football team. Fans participate in the game festivities to have fun, support and unwind from the crazy week.

Tailgating is a pastime at each and every football game. It has become something that we all love to do and have done for years and years. I myself am an alumna of Oregon State University and having been participating in tailgating for more than nine years. When I was in school and up until that last year we have enjoyed tailgating. We where able to leave coolers filled with food and drinks, canopies, games, barbecues, and other items unattended while enjoying the game, returning at half time with our stuff left the way we left it.

Now you can’t even leave out anything without it being vandalized or stolen. Over the last few games this year we have had coolers stolen, but this last game against Arizona, somebody went too far.

We had decided to attempt to protect or stuff from thieves by chaining our coolers, barbecue, propane tank, and storage box together. Well not only did these individuals take all three coolers filled with more than six cases of beer, but they took our propane tank and storage box filled with a tailgating game, lantern and other items. And they also had the nerve to take all of our food (chips, dip, tortillas, paper plates, napkins and plastic silverware).

Why? I have no idea, but with our slowing economy we all know that money is tight and the theft of all of those items has put us out over $600. I hope this letter sends out a warning for all of you who tailgate to prevent this from happening to you, but also to send a warning out to those individuals who think that this is “funny.” We are watching for you and karma will seek you out. Stop stealing from others and participate in rooting our Beaver football team on. This is not what we want Oregon State University to be known for.

Katie Wetherford, Scio

Olsen and forensic patients

Mr. Olsen’s Oct. 30 tirade against forensic group homes was a great indicator of the kind of representative he would be if we actually wound up selecting him to represent us. Using his words, he would use strong-arm tactics and insensitive muscling to prevent the capricious state from placing forensic patients in a group home in your neighborhood. That’s all we need, someone who is willing to charge into any issue, guns blazing, completely unencumbered with the facts.

OK fine, Mr. Olsen is going to keep our children, small animals and wives safe from whomever might be lurking in the neighborhood bushes. If Mr. Olsen did a little research he would discover that the criminal lurking in those bushes was never someone from a forensic group home. He doesn’t know anything about what it takes for a patient to qualify to live in one of those group homes. He doesn’t know the discipline a forensic group home patient has to live up to in order to remain qualified to stay in that home and not be hauled back to the State Hospital.

Randy Altstock, Albany