July 3rd
Dear Editor,
Vi Colunga has to listen to the
public! Retrofit YES, Upgrade NO! When will she start listening to her
bosses? IF SHE WORKED FOR ME, SHE WOULDN'T WORK FOR ME!
David Tomlinson
Fawnskin and Corona
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July 2nd
Dear Editor,
I hope this time the Hospital Board
will let the public know what the money we are already giving them is going
for. We wanted that last time and did not get it. Putting it on the ballot
is not enough. During these hard times the public wants to know, and
rightfully so, why the money already being given each year through property
taxes is not enough for upgrading. We understand the need for the money for
earthquake refitting but we don't understand the additional money for other
uses.
Fran Fish
Big Bear Lake
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July 2nd
Dear Editor,
The sheriff deputies' failure to
arrest those who instigated the July 17 incident is inexcusable. Law
enforcement has the authority to make the final decision with regard to
felony arrests, and assault with intent to inflict bodily harm is a felony.
Therefore, the sheriff deputies had a responsibility to arrest the
perpetrators to protect the public from similar incidents that might occur
in the future. Unfortunately, they did not do their job properly. A
responsible approach would have been to disregard the victim's desire to
avoid a "court" situation. Most people prefer to avoid the court scenario,
but facing such undesirable situations is part of life and is part of
protecting others. In addition, some people, after being attacked, have
similar responses because of the trauma they have just endured. As a result,
law enforcement officers need to make these decisions for them.
Perhaps if the professionals, the
responding officers, had arrested those responsible for the July 17 assault,
the July 18 incident may have never occurred. Obviously, those who
participated in the July 18 assault thought there would be no ramifications
for their actions, or they would not have planned such an unconscionable
ambush. They had the events of the previous night to support their false
suppositions of no consequences for their criminal behavior.
Pam Peterson
Bakersfield, CA
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June 27th
Dear Editor:
This past week was a very sad one
for most of us that have lived in Big Bear and come to know the Lundins.
They were one of the first people I encountered when I moved to this valley.
They have been like family to me.
I even bought their house they
built and lived in myself for many years. I saw Michael grow up over the
years. When he was a little tyke of three or four he would entertain us for
hours with his antics. He used to have this cute little lisp where an “S”
came out sounding lie a “th.” Thus, he would say I want thome ice cream.
Michael and his older brother
Willie grew up in a household that loved sports. Both boys were very
involved in youth sports and later high school sports. It was very clear
early on that Michael would excel at sports as he knocked the you know what
out of the ball in T-ball as a very young lad. It was almost not fair to the
other kids as he was just too advanced for them. He did likewise with soccer
and a few other sports.
In high school his abilities in
sports continued until he started having back issues. Not being able to
compete in sports was not only different for Michael at that point, but it
was difficult. He did not know life without playing sports. It was also
tough on his dad and mom (John and Glenda Lundin) who knew that sports were
important to Michael and a means for him to use that extra energy he always
had.
His dad was either his coach or a
sideline coach throughout his sports endeavors. His mom was always the
soccer and team mom who made sure Michael was ready for the challenge. She
hosted many of dinners and lunches for his various teams and brought snacks
for the team. They traveled to far distances to be with Michael and his
teams.
Well, Michael, you have no more
ailments preventing you from playing sports. You may now resume playing your
sports in the High Country. Your dad and mom are watching as well as the
rest of us.
Brandon Schlarmann
Big Bear Lake
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June 27th
Dear Editor,
I still can't believe that these
people, who want the tax payers to pay for their hobby, want a recount on
the results of measure Q and did I read right? Do they want the register of
voters to call anyone that did not vote on the measure, to now say how they
would have voted?
Give me a break! Even one of their
own board members was quoted saying, we have to stop trying to sell voters
something they don't want. That is how elections are lost. Voters voted no
because it seemed
the hospital board wants money to do what they want, not what they need. We
don't need a mayo clinic in Big Bear Lake! Do you realize that if a few of
the no voters put up signs all over town that read, “Vote NO on higher
taxes,” – “Vote NO on measure Q!” What the result would have been? Now, get
together and decide what the hospital really needs, not what you want and
find a way to pay for it. Donations, fund raisers etc. Get some of the local
business that do well up here to chip in for a new wing or on second
thought, the only one that comes to mind is Bear Mountain or Snow Summit.
The rest of the town is drying up.
That brings us back to local
politicians and to use a slogan used a lot now, we need change.......simply
stated...... THROW THE RASCALS OUT!
Richard Hollien
Big Bear Lake
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June 19th
Dear Editor,
Airport Master Plan
Reading the article in the Grizzly
about the airport master plan is like a bad Bugs Bunny cartoon respecting
what most members of this board are trying to do.
Acquiring homes from individuals to
appease more air traffic or tourism is the sickest type of profit seeking
that threatens our valley. The majority of this board seems to care little
about fellow citizens in relation to making the airport bigger or better,
and I ask them then, why do we need a bigger airport?? This is a small
valley…not Vail, not Tahoe..and it never will be in spite of the hopes of
some politicos who hold fast to the delusion that it will be one day. Most
of us have moved here for the smallness…not to have airplanes flying over
head at all hours and as often happens…or crashing in the lake or
elsewhere. Already we have a park that is not safe because of air traffic
so kids get cut out of a place to play.
Has it not donned on these people
that to have an airport for such a small valley is a privilege, not a
right? The FAA cannot even take care of its own job and here we have
individuals on a Board…or is that …Bored…that want more, more, more…even at
the expense of homeowners who they most likely don’t even know. Who
appointed you to take another’s property because you ‘think’ it is right? I
have not met any of you, but I hope to one day so I can look at you and try
to imagine where your mind runs that you feel that for the sake of ‘money’
you can uproot lives for what you call progress.
In this article, Margie Drilling of
the FAA states that the airport will get the needed funds for paving and
other things even without a Master Plan. If Jay Obernolte fears for lack of
paving, tax the pilots that come and make noise in the valley…let them pay
for this…the rest of us sure don’t use this place nor do the majority of us
gain anything from having an airport except for fire season…and the
astounding thing about that is…they have done just fine fighting fires with
what we have.
It is absolutely disgusting that a
few people feel they have the power to disrupt lives of individuals who have
worked hard to have a home and then be threatened with having it taken away
for a whim. Obviously, except for Butch Waymire who has his head on
straight from what I read in this article…they will get the money anyway.
So what is it you other board members didn’t learn from the settlers who
stole land from an aboriginal people to have what you have today…creating
countless crimes and suffering…are you still living in the 1800’s to think
you can simply wipe a family’s slate clean and oh well…don’t mean nothin’ ?
This is election year…and every
political person in this valley should wake up and remember that this
country was built on serving the people…not us serving your sick ego’s.
Build a heliport by giving up your own house and letting those on Mountain
View have theirs…they paid for it…not you.
Wake up valley residents…take back
control of what politicians are stealing from you and let them get a real
job for a change. The picture of Ed Stanek in the article says it all, and
he has a right to feel this way.
Sad part is, our youth grow up
thinking this is the way things have always been…us older ones know what has
been lost already from this type of thinking in the political arena.
Dump the airport board and other
elected officials who don’t listen to the rest of us who provide their
paycheck…
John 3 Hawks
Big Bear
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June 19th
Dear Editor,
Did the Registrar of Voters in
Florida in 2000 call everyone who had chads or just dents in the ballot who
they meant to vote for? No. There are problems in every election. Are these
people ever called or is the voting redone? No. It hurts but just accept it.
The hospital did not explain to the voters what they have done with the
money already collected on the property tax bills even though they were told
that was their mistake last time. They didn't do the work so shouldn't be
surprised of the outcome.
Name Withheld
Big Bear Lake
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Jun. 6th
Dear Editor:
First of all, I would like to thank
the voters of Big Bear and the third district of the county of San
Bernardino for doing the right thing in electing Neil Derry. Secondly, I
would like to thank Neil Derry for taking on the daunting and perceived
impossible task of running for supervisor against a longtime incumbent.
Lastly, I would like to thank Denise Proffer and her relentless group of
activists who worked hours on getting Mr. Derry elected. It really shows
that grass root campaigns unseating longtime incumbents can work (are you
listening Big Bear Lake voters?).
Mr. Derry has many great ideas and
really listens to his constituents. He will not be caught up in the special
interests of a few as has been the case with our outgoing supervisor. When
we say we don’t want any tax that puts our biggest financial taking at risk
(our homes), he won’t put us in that position. When we say our number one
concern is the safety of our valley from fires he will work with the
Forestry, Feds, and State to work out plans and details to get us where we
need to be. He won’t sit on his hands and claim he has no power or authority
in that area. He won’t just show up to social events on the mountain to wine
and dine with the mucky mucks. No, he will come to answer questions and
brief us on what he is doing and wants to do. He will come before the
ordinary hard working people of the valley and not just the elitist few
(many with Hansberger signs in front of their businesses) who have their
personal agendas and favors.
So, yes Virginia, there is a Santa
Claus and he just gave Big Bear and the third district an early Christmas
present. Thankfully, this gift is exactly what we needed.
Brandon Schlarmann
Big Bear Lake
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June 3rd
Dear Editor,
I used to work for a local company
and I know for a FACT that MANY 2nd home owners up here have a local
address, usually a PO Box. However, I don't believe most of those people
failed to pay their bills at the hospital. Maybe our hospital needs to only
serve PAYING customers or ones with insurance and forget the freeloaders...I
like having an emergency room available but I am not sure we all should pay
for long term patients. How about just an emergency room. That may be the
price of living in the mountains.
Susan
Big Bear City
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June 3rd
Dear Editor,
DWP has announced that water
restrictions will be lessened to allow people to again plant turf. Seems
like only yesterday they cited turf as one of the main culprits responsible
for their water shortage. Odd … could it be that we are out of the woods and
our water problems are behind us? Sure sounds like it.
Or could be because people have
done such a great job of conserving and cutting back on water usage that
DWP's revenue has diminished to a point that they must either raise rates to
offset the conservation efforts or sell more water? I think that’s a more
likely scenario. After all, it's happening all around the rest of the
country. Heaven forbid they should take a more practical approach and cut
overhead like other businesses are being forced to do. Google “conserve
water raise rates” or check out the link
here.
And this from a department who, by
their own admission, is having trouble finding water. Extremely odd.
And didn't I hear that they are
borrowing heavily from their general fund just to make ends meet and are
even thinking of contracting for a study to determine raises for salaries?
This has to be a joke.
I've seen the musical 42nd Street
twice and was absolutely amazed at the tap dancing. But believe me it was
nothing like what I'm seeing from the DWP!
Dan Fowlks
Fawnskin
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