Jan. 20, 2010 - Letters to the Editor

  • Published: 2/4/2010 4:33:05 PM
Local tour guide asks for help finding waterfalls on Pine Creek
I am asking for information for the location of the waterfalls on Pine Creek. Pine Creek is in the area of the Molalla River Recreational Corridor.

The first bridge across the river you can cross in the designated Corridor area is Pine Creek. It is just past Blackbear (Party) Rock and the opening to Shot Gun falls.

After you cross the Pine Creek bridge you bear left and will come to a gate. At this time the Molalla Timber Farm is open free to hikers. I understand the falls are between two to four miles past the gate. Weekly during the summer I have been leading one to two hikes in the local area and would love to add this falls to the schedule.

Please only contact me if you have actually seen the falls. I have already hunted for it by car with my permit last summer but now have to walk in so I would appreciate no more dead ends. Thank you so much.

It will be fun to find this lost gem. Soon to hit the local area also will be a flyer regarding where to run dogs off-leash in the Molalla River Corridor, plus easy places to have a nice hike for the goat and llama packers.
Karen Graves
Upward Trails
Upwardtrails@aol.com  


Thanks to local plumber our frozen pipes didn’t do as much damage as they could have
Many of you experienced in the last couple of weeks the wonder of having your pipes break or you know of someone who has had this great misfortune.

I myself experienced it for the very first time this holiday season. The setting was actually perfect. As I walked through my downstairs hallway I thought to myself, “Is it raining outside?’

Much to my surprise it was a beautiful clear day. I wondered where that pouring rain sound was coming from and owing to the fact that I have a 4-year old who has single handedly caused thousands of dollars of damage to our home, I began a search.

Wow! I opened the garage door and ahh haa. My garage was quickly filling with water. After calling my husband, and the city, I phoned our favorite plumber. Jay Moore from Addison Plumbing (503-740-8116 phone number is not listed in the yellow pages) has been a holiday blessing to our family. He not only fixed the broken pipes but, he then proceeded to show us how to winterize some basic parts of our home so that this unfortunate problem would not occur again.

In our family we like to support local business and we wanted to share our thanks to Mr. Jay Moore for his excellent work and outstanding service.

Thanks again Jay, you helped make the holidays wonderful (and dry).
Rebecca Estock
Molalla


A vote for Measures 66 and 67 is a vote for our local senior citizens
On behalf of Molalla Manor, I would like to explain why our community supports Measures 66 and 67.

As an assisted living facility operator, I know firsthand how vital it is that we preserve funding that helps seniors live healthy, independent, dignified lives.

While I believe it’s the responsibility of me and my staff to care for the residents in our communities, I also believe Oregon must keep its commitment to treating all of Oregon’s seniors with respect.

If Measures 66 and 67 fail, thousands of Oregon’s most vulnerable, low-income seniors could lose access to quality long-term care services from the loss of vital state funds.

Because of the recession plaguing our state, Oregon’s $16 billion general fund budget faced a $4 billion shortfall. Did you know that more than 90 percent of state spending goes to pay for state services like K-12 education, community colleges and universities, health care, human services, and public safety?

All of these services were in extreme jeopardy as a result of the massive budget shortfall. Measures 66 and 67 were part of a 2009 budget package that included $2 billion in cuts and the use of nearly $1 billion in one-time federal stimulus dollars.

The last 20 percent of the hole, or nearly $800 million, came from increases in the income tax on people making more than $250,000 and to the minimum tax on corporations.

A “yes” vote upholds the measures and provides $727 million in funding for state services. A “no” vote rejects the measures and may force legislators to balance the budget through cuts to state programs and services during the February legislative session.

Oregon seniors who depend on Medicaid to pay for the costs of their long-term care are especially at risk of losing access to services if these measures fail.

Here are facts about Measures 66 and 67:

• Measure 66 increases the income tax rate for households earning more than $250,000 by 1.8 percent. 97.5 percent of Oregonians won’t pay a penny more in taxes.

• Measure 67 raises the $10 corporate minimum tax for the first time since 1931 to $150.

More than 97 percent of Oregon businesses (and nearly all small businesses) will now pay $150 or see no change. Oregon will continue to have the lowest business taxes on the West Coast.

When I look at what’s really at stake for Oregon businesses like Molalla Manor, an increase in the corporate tax from $10 to $150 is a no-brainer. The costs to our business would actually be much higher if these measures fail.

I hope you will join me in voting yes on Measures 66 and 67 on Jan. 26.
Lael Hepworth
Administrator
Molalla Manor


Staff Sergeant shares his experiences abroad with his family and readers
Staff Sergeant David C. Forney is now serving his third tour of duty overseas.

Following is part of a letter he wrote to his family on Jan. 4, 2010 only six days after his arrival in Afghanistan.

It is our hope that his letter will gently remind people that this war is very much alive, soldiers still lose their lives, and prayers and support for those serving (and for their families as well) are deeply appreciated.

Thank you, David’s family.

His letter reads:

“Last night I had an experience that brought back some old memories that many soldiers hate to experience — a ceremony to send off those on a plane who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Any time a unit loses a soldier, may God rest their souls.

“They are sent home to their families through an Air Force Base in a flagged-draped casket. The Air Force sends a request out to all units in the camp for volunteers to come and give respects as they put these soldiers on a flight home in their final mission as a soldier of the United States of America.

“So at late hours of the night, I, along with others from my unit, met up with several hundred other soldiers from Canada, Britain and America on the airfield to see these heroes off. The night was cold the runway quiet as we all lined up in two huge columns. The Color Guard was brought out and lined up at one end between us. At the other end sat a huge Air Force plane that would take our heroes home.

“As we waited for soldiers to arrive, a chaplain read an excerpt from the Bible. As this was going on, four military combat vehicles pulled up carrying inside the four soldiers we had lost to war. It is customary for the units who lose comrades to have soldiers carry their friend to the plane (pallbearers).

“As each lined up behind the Colors they called us to the position of “attention” then followed it with our salute of “present arms.” As we did this, the Color Guard marched forward followed by the soldiers as they carried our four heroes within their American flagged-draped caskets.

“The audio system began to play “Amazing Grace” with music from bagpipes. As I saw them pass, I prayed for their families that they could be at peace with God as they waited for a son, father, husband, and brother to come home to them. I wish that no one ever had to see such a thing. But I want to remind everyone of what we have in America and at what cost it takes to keep it safe.

“Pray for those at war and the families who watch them go. We who serve on your behalf love our country and our American flag. We love our job and are proud to serve with each other at war.

“None of those soldiers died in vain. But if we do not remember them or pray for blessings upon their families and friends at home who await their speedy return then we at home are not doing our part.

“Thank you to all of you who have prayed for me and for the others who continue to serve our country overseas. It means so much to know that you are thinking of us and lifting us daily in your prayers.”
Staff Sgt. David C. Forney
An Oregon Soldier Kandahar Air Force Base Afghanistan
Linda Rose Forney
Molalla


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