Highway widening overdue

Should Interstate 5 be widened to six lanes from Salem to Highway 34?

Absolutely! I-5 should be widened to six lanes from Salem to as far as Eugene.

I sill cannot understand, while the state was improving the I-5 four lanes some time back, why they didn't do the widening to six lanes at that time. Considering the expense of that project, it would seem the state would have done a proper six-lane job then.

The Highway 20/I-5 overpass interchange needs left-turn lanes or signals at the Highway 20 off/on intersection, at exit 233. Trying to make a left turn onto Highway 20 from the I-5 southbound off-ramp or from Airport Road is hazardous. Maybe someone can notify the state about this problem. That was another state project that was revamped some years back, and left-turn lanes should have been considered at that time.

Larry and Faye Swain, Albany

A young farmer's death

The senseless death of a young farmer, Nathan L. Gourley, is not only tragic to the Gourley family and friends but it is also a tragedy for this nation.

The nation's highways and byways are built on the wagon wheel ruts created by the farmer, yet the farm vehicles in this country are rarely recognized or respected. It is my understanding that every American farmer feeds 143 families (that's at least 143 times four). Our country is built on the backbone of hard-working individuals. Every time we fill our gut we need to thank these selfless men, women and children, as it takes them all to feed America.

Yet we thank them by speeding down the back roads, passing at intersections; we honk, we holler and intentionally intimidate them, cursing them for interrupting our fast-paced travel.

All of us need to be aware of the farmer and the farm vehicles he must drive on the roads, the roads some of us treat as personal property. It is a rare sight to see a farm vehicle on the interstate, where speeds are faster and minimum speeds are imposed.

It does not take a genius to look at this accident site to see what happened. There are laws on the books to circumvent this kind of tragedy, however some of us believe these laws only pertain as long as the long arm of the law is watching.

All of us need a refresher course on the Oregon driver's manual. We need to know the laws and abide by them. Not just today, tomorrow or next week, but every day.

Thank a farmer; obey the law regarding farm vehicles and slow-moving traffic.

The untimely death of this young farmer will not only leave a huge hole for his family and their family business but for this nation. He will not be feeding his 143 families or the families to come after them.

Is that extra five minutes worth it?

Debbra J. and David A. Brokaw, Scio

A re-election prerequisite

The Democrat-Herald reported that Sharon Konopa was going to challenge Dan Bedore for mayor of Albany. It also mentioned that Dan Bedore would attempt re-election. Don't you have to be elected before you can be re-elected?

Jim McGough, Albany

Not to split hairs, but the mayor was named by the council in a 4-2 vote, which makes it kind of like an election.