Cheers and Jeers

Spring standouts
Cheers and good luck to the various high school athletes competing in state tournaments. Talent provides opportunity, but hard work makes the difference between potential and success. Last-minute advice: Winning honors is less important than winning honorably.

Working together
Cheers for progress toward an agreement among Coos Bay, North Bend and the Coquille Indian Tribe on running the local visitors bureau. After a contentious start, they appear to be moving toward a fair and workable partnership to promote local tourism.

Oregon votes
Cheers to everyone who voted this week. Turnout statewide was at least 41 percent, and Coos County was almost 10 points better. Our state did better than Kentucky, Arkansas and Pennsylvania, all of which had high-profile U.S. Senate primaries.

Don’t call them losers
Cheers to all the political candidates who didn’t win on Tuesday. Our republic depends on courageous people willing to risk defeat. Without competitive races, future office holders wouldn’t have to answer questions from voters or defend their ideas. Thank you for running.

Landscape de-sign
On the other hand, jeers to candidates who haven’t taken down their yard signs. Before Election Day, those signs are the sacred raw material of democracy. After Election Day, they’re litter. Clean them up.

Please empty your pockets
Cheers to Star of Hope for plans to open an Oregon Connection/House of Myrtlewood shop at the North Bend airport. The shop will encourage visitors to leave more money in the Bay Area, while supporting the organization’s worthy programs.

A plucky survivor
Cheers to 66-year-old Sally Ray of Fairview, one tough cookie. Awakening from a nap to discover a wall of flames, she bailed out of a window and dropped eight feet to a barrel below. C&J wishes her a speedy recovery.

Space program
Cheers to Bay Area Hospital leaders, for creative foresight in their four-story expansion project. The top floor will be vacant, allowing for economical expansion when the next need arises. It’s like stocking up on canned goods when they’re on sale. Smart.

Can you dig it?
Cheers to the Coos County Master Gardeners. They joyously share their expertise to help keep the planet green and our summers tasty. Their annual plant sale at Pony Village Mall today raises money for scholarships and other programs.

The feeling of reeling
Cheers to the Langlois Lions Club, hosting a youth fishing derby this morning. It’s free, and these cats even provide boats. If your kids or grandkids are bored, load ’em up and head out there. Better hurry, though. Those trout are hungry.

Do your duty
Jeers to you if you haven’t voted yet. (But sheepish jeers, because C&J’s crack writing staff hasn’t voted yet, either.) Fortunately for us procrastinators, there’s still time. Remember, voting sends a message to politicians: “Taxpayers are watching. Look busy.”

A 66-year delay
Cheers to Lloyd Marshall and the late Lavern Noyes, two Coos County veterans who finally received well-earned honors from their country. They received Bronze Star medals this week, authorized by President Roosevelt in 1944. Better late than never.

Political vision
Cheers and best wishes to Gov. Ted Kulongoski, temporarily sidelined by a vitreous hemorrhage in his left eye. Docs say he’ll be fine. In the meantime, imagine the discomfort of a Democratic politician seeing everything from the right side.

Thanks for your words
Cheers to everyone who sent letters during the primary campaign. Speaking your mind keeps democracy vibrant. And if you don’t like everything you read on this page, try writing a letter of your own. We’ll print it with pleasure.