Buckling up pays offCheers for safer Oregon highways, with the lowest fatality rate since 1949. Credit goes to road improvements, vigorous enforcement, and near-universal seatbelt use. Jeers to the stubborn few who still resist this common-sense safety measure.
Instant democracyIf you were checking The World online Tuesday night, you knew the election results by 8:30 p.m. Cheers for a new law that gave election workers a head start on the speediest vote count since — well, maybe the speediest ever.
An ounce of persistenceCheers to Lakeside’s fire team for persuading U.S. Homeland Security to part with $294,000. It will buy new gear. Sometimes you have to spend money to save money, but more importantly, the modern equipment might save firefighters’ lives.
Let sleeping hogs lie People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals should go chase some real animal abusers. Jeers to PETA for piously proposing a robot groundhog to replace the pampered Punxsutawney Phil. Save the publicity stunts for urgent causes.
They landed the landMost South Coast high school grads who go to college study right here. Cheers to Southwestern Oregon Community College for signing the deed on a future Curry County campus. Access to post-secondary education is essential to a community’s prosperity.
Help for HaitiCheers to the many local groups and individuals who have responded to needs in Haiti. Employee fundraisers, school projects, bake sales, even benefit concerts. When compassion combines with creativity, every dollar helps.
Everything’s coming upRhodies are blooming. Ditto magnolias. Even plum trees. Is it global warming? El Nino? Whatever the cause, South Coast residents should stop and smell the blossoms. Cheers for an early dose of spring color.
I couldn’t help but notice that the editor of The World in the Cheers and Jeers section on January 30 praised the use of seat belts, while a few days earlier suggested that the Coos Bay City Council butt out for considering a smoking ban in City Parks. How inconsistent. I remember when seat belt laws were considered by some an infringement of personal freedom. After all, if I chose to not wear a seat belt and died in an accident, it didn’t affect you, did it? Oh, but we have the same auto insurance company? And Medicaid or Medicare, which I support with my taxes, paid to patch you up and rehabilitate your broken body? Turns out my seat belt use does affect more than just me. Mandatory seat belt use was a law that took away my personal right to not wear one-and what I do in my personal car shouldn’t be any of your business--but it has saved many lives and health costs that we all pay for. Restrictions on smokers in public places is for the greater good, and helps to influence children to not become smokers. Coos Bay City Council, do the right thing and help protect our children from the most preventable cause of death.
I totally agree with Miss Gallagher, It’s hard enough to teach our children about healthy activities without it being displayed where they play, and families need to be able to have safe places to do that. My personal opinion is to make smoking cigarettes illegal. By the way I’m a smoker and wish to GOD after many failed attempts to quit that I’d never started!! I was told how harmful it was but seeing my parents smoke, well it just could’nt be that bad. Well almost 40 year later I now know how WRONG I was. Even after watching my father die a slow & painful death from pulminary and coronary disease brought on by cigarettes, I STILL CAN”T QUIT! GOD help our children.