Troopers work for safety

Regarding the recent saturation patrols on Highway 34, I commend the Oregon State Police for taking some action on a very dangerous highway. The people who are annoyed by this are more than likely those who often get away with breaking the law and putting not only their own lives in danger but others' as well. They seem to be in too much of a hurry to take common sense into account, and now it has been proven that some were not even aware of the move-over law that went into effect in 2003.

Unless it is you who loses a loved one or yourself become a victim, it is impossible to begin to understand how, in a matter of seconds, something can go tragically wrong and is totally out of your control.

It was two years ago that I was an innocent law-abiding driver, when someone going the opposite direction and in a hurry, lost control and swerved into my path. I was extremely lucky to have received only minor injuries because of the safety features of my vehicle, which was totaled. I am sorry to say the young person who chose to drive as she did never made it to her destination.

Hopefully, this "inconvenience" that so many are talking about may some day save their life or others because of their choice to no longer drive recklessly. Being a few minutes late to work is far less inconvenient than not arriving at all. Or better yet, how about leaving a few minutes earlier?

Because of my past experience of having to drive Highway 34 to get to work, I changed jobs so I would no longer have to deal with the fear of being crashed into again. And now, because of the state troopers' presence, maybe everyone will be safer, including the officers who have to stop those who make bad choices.

Leslie Ann Howard, Albany

In good hands at cemetery

In May 2007 I called and talked with Mike Terwilliger of Twin Oaks gardens.

I discussed with Mike how I could make my funeral arrangements. I didn't want my children trying to decide what I would have wanted.

Mike scheduled an appointment for May 25, 2007. My daughter-in-law asked if she could go with me. We didn't realize that it was Memorial Day weekend.

Mike showed me what caskets were available. I chose one. A contract was done with the cost of everything involved.

Mike asked for the blank check, which he made out to Funeral Consumers Alliance of Oregon, and the check and a copy of the contract were sent to them.

I have $26 a month automatically deducted from my bank account.

Funeral Consumers Alliance of Oregon sent me a card with my account number. They sent me a statement in December 2007 showing what had been paid on my account.

The grounds of Twin Oaks are beautiful. Mike does all the work keeping them this way.

It's a relief to me to know a complete file with funeral arrangements are left with a capable person such as Mike Terwilliger.

Lida Fraly, Albany

A travesty at Twin Oaks

In the coverage of Twin Oaks cemetery, owner Mike Terwilliger may appear to be the guy who is trying so hard to do the right thing but I must emphatically insist he has lied to my family, avoided contact, and neglected to return phone calls for close to two years.

When will the government, whose main job it is to protect its citizens, step in to rectify the situation swiftly? Did I read the latest Terwilliger quote right? Are there actually thousands of "pre-need clients" who are destined to be put in the same unjust situation as my family and many, many others now face?

Note to the authorities: This is a train wreck that can be seen coming for miles. What are you going to do about it? Simply allowing it to happen is not an acceptable answer.

My mother is 88. She deserves the chance to visit my father's resting place as it should be. Unlike government investigations, life does not go on forever. Will Twin Oaks' theft of my father's funds include the unconscionable theft of my mother's emotional well-being? What a sordid and disgraceful travesty.

Patrick Burke, Tigard

Poor choice in library colors

How surprised I was to see the colors of the new Albany Public Library! My bridge friends had talked about the library's questionable paint choice and color placement. Since I had not driven by the library, I couldn't comment on the color at that time. However, when I saw the new library, the color was even worse than I had imagined.

Maybe there is a good reason to paint the library the colors that were chosen? There may be some people who like the colors, but so far I have not talked to a single one. My husband thinks it is an ugly color combination. Personally I would have liked the painting to be more calm, inviting colors, not something that sticks out like a sore thumb. I think the new library should be a place that Albany can be very proud of in the city. In my opinion, this color combination is not a good choice.

Mary Kay Conser, Albany

Living free? Just try it

Jon Brewer (Mailbag, Nov. 3) longs for a time when people were "living free." Of course they also died free - of doctors, dentists, hospitals, etc. A lot of them died free of teeth!

If you really want to live free of public help, turn off everything electric in your house. That juice comes from BPA, built by the feds, started by FDR. Also, the stuff you buy at the store comes to you on an interstate built by government money. And be sure to refuse Social Security and Medicare if and when you qualify.

If your people came here in the 19th century, they got free land. That was a giant handout - 160 acres free for each person, 320 acres for a husband and wife if they filed separately.

Also, the railroads were built with substantial government help. Northern Pacific was given 40 million acres in a 100 mile-wide strip running 2,000 miles, from the Great Lakes to Puget Sound! Weyerhaeuser wound up with a lot of that land, and clear-cut most of it.

So yes, Jon, those who made it big usually had big help. They didn't regard it a handicap. Ranchers in Eastern Oregon still get practically free grazing on public lands for a few dollars per cow. Mining companies still take fortunes out of public land and pay little or nothing for the privilege.

With billions going to rich farmers, miners, timber and oil barons, banks and car companies, do you begrudge crumbs from the rich folks' tables going to the sick and disabled, the homeless, the aged and feeble, and the undereducated unemployed? What kind of value system is that?

Money is like manure: for it to do any good, you have to spread it around.

John Goodwin, Lebanon