Posted: Tuesday, December 11, 2007 10:00 pm
Supervision would be safer
Reactions to the Shangri-La group home have brought out many suggestions - almost none of which have offered much in the way of constructive alternatives. This was highlighted by Margaret Hansen's letter (Dec. 10) suggesting that area residents would be in danger of being the victims of homicide committed by residents of the group home. She cited her experience of having been married to a mentally ill man who committed suicide.
My experience is a little different. My mother was stabbed to death by a mentally ill man whose lack of professional supervision placed many people at risk throughout his troubled life. Tragically, my mother was attempting to get him into treatment where he simply required monitoring for taking his medications.
I don't know whether Shangri-La completed due diligence in identifying acceptable locations, but I do know that we have a large population of mentally ill living among us without adequate supervision. I would much rather have them located in small licensed and monitored group homes than living alone or in unhealthy environments.
We need to face the reality that warehousing our mentally ill population is not humane or practical. To make matters worse, the Oregon State Hospital facilities are a disaster.
The mental health system of the '90s failed my family and the murderer who still haunts our dreams. We must find better treatment options. Supervised residential care is far safer for all of us than the alternatives of homelessness and dysfunctional family environments.
Steve Bryant, Albany
Worried about ethanol
Oh, this is great news from our legislature. They worked three years on HB 2210, doing this to you.
On Jan. 15, 10 percent ethanol is the law in Oregon gas. What is wrong with that? We all want a cleaner environment.
Well remember the dumb school-one missteps, this is a take-off on that kind of thinking. First of all the expensive gas you buy will not take you as far. But you're not supposed to go anywhere, that is not a mortal need anyway.
It will cost more. But they want the price higher so you don't buy what you don't need.
Ethanol will in time soften up seals and other parts of your engine's fuel system. Then, because ethanol attracts and suspends water, your fuel system is under attack from corrosion. But you're lucky unless you own a boat. But you're still luckier than people that have to run chain saws or generators or jet skis or lawn mowers.
All those little engines are going to have big trouble with their fuel systems. The little primer bulbs are going to get soft, the carburetor gaskets are going to come apart.
They better make a deal to buy their parts by the crate.
Everything that is screwed up could be fixed, but the legislature will not revisit this until 2009. Why? They're too busy.
Daniel A. Miltenberger, Albany
A man of his word
Scott Zimbrick was proud to have been awarded the Linn-Benton Community College Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2006. At LBCC, we were honored to have him serve on our Foundation Board of Trustees, just one of his many community leadership responsibilities.
Scott was distinguished by his character, distinguished by his compassion for those less fortunate, distinguished by his integrity, and distinguished by his loyalty to the institutions and causes that touched his heart. He was a man who honored his commitments; a man of his word.
Sometimes we hear people say "what can one person do?" Scott's life and his significant contributions to his community give us the answer - one person can significantly improve the lives of others and can make his city a better place to live.
Scott Zimbrick lived a full life of service, leadership and civic engagement.
We will miss him.
Rita Cavin, President, Linn-Benton Community College
A reading for this season
An inspiring read is "Walden," by Henry David Thoreau. Contrasting consummate consumerism with Thoreau's persuasive argument for self-reliance and frugality is worth pondering - especially during the Christmas season. The civil disobedience Thoreau espouses is in sharp contrast to the uncivil disobedience in abundance today.
Larry A. Smith, Shedd