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Opinion
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- Written by: Karen Samples
I love my children, family and friends. Do you love yours? Do you love them enough to take responsibility, and not drink and drive?
My loved ones drive these roads everyday and everyday I worry about them. I worry because I know the pain and suffering that comes with unexpectedly losing your loved one to someone who has chosen to be careless and gotten behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking or even after taking prescription medication.
I have experienced it firsthand, with a death in my family and I experience it in my job as a victim advocate. I try to help families cope with the loss of their loved one, a loss that was unexpected. I sit with them while they try to be strong, but can’t, while they try to understand how this could be happening to their family. They have more than enough to cope with making arrangements for their loved ones, let alone getting through another day.
What do you say to make it better or maybe just a little more bearable? The answer is nothing. There is nothing I can say to them that will help ease their pain, to make them feel comforted or to explain why this is happened.
It is a senseless tragedy and one that can be avoided. Please realize the possible consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including prescription medications.
If we take responsibility when drinking, we will save lives and who knows the life you save may be your own or a loved one.
Karen Samples is a member of Team DUI. She lives in Kelseyville.
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- Written by: Judy Thein
April has been proclaimed as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Child abuse comes in many forms, and though visible scars may fade, the longterm psychological damage could haunt a child for life.
Every child deserves to have a loving and supportive home life that nurtures his or her development; however, child abuse and neglect continue to negatively impact the formative years of many children across all ethnic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
Protecting our children is one of our highest priorities. This responsibility belongs to everyone. It is vital that we all do our part to ensure that our youth are safe and given the opportunity to have happy childhoods.
There are no excuses for child abuse or neglect. Therefore it is critical that residents, neighborhood groups, community organizations, schools, businesses, government resources, social service and others come together to form a network of awareness and support that can reach out to those in need and identify the signs of child abuse.
I commend these various groups and individuals for their continual hard work and lasting commitment to protecting our children and strengthening families.
On April 5, the city of Clearlake proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. I urge all communities throughout Lake County to join together in fighting child abuse. By raising awareness of this issue and standing up for the safety of children, we can prevent child abuse and allow our young ones to look forward to bright futures.
Judy Thein is mayor of the city of Clearlake.
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- Written by: Mary Tulanian Benson
I am dismayed to see that Judy Luchsinger is running for superintendent of the Lake County Office of Education. I see her signs that proclaim, “Students first!” and I see her Web site’s language promising that she will restore fiscal accountability. I know we cannot get either of these from Mrs. Luchsinger.
I worked for the Lake County Office of Education in the early 1980s, while Mrs. Luchsinger was superintendent. I was an independent contractor, providing occupational therapy services in the special education classes in Lakeport and Kelseyville.
At the end of my first school year, a memo from Mrs. Luchsinger went out to the special education teachers, indicating that there were funds left over and did they have any requests for things they needed for their classrooms? The teachers were quite excited about this, and submitted lists that included very basic supplies: construction paper, scissors, books.
Mrs. Luchsinger’s decision was disappointing: the money was going to be spent on a new car for the administrators to use when they visit the various campuses.
The second year, there was money left over, and the teachers were asked to submit their lists of things they needed. Again, the lists were for basic supplies.
And again, Mrs. Luchsinger decided the extra funds would be used to purchase new computers for the administrators in the Lake County Office of Education.
These were the kinds of decisions I observed while Mrs. Luchsinger was in office the last time. This is why I am supporting Wally Holbrook for Lake County superintendent: his track record as superintendent of Kelseyville Unified School District shows that he knows how to put the students first, and how to use the funds for the benefit of the students.
Let’s keep Mrs. Luchsinger in the private sector.
Mary Tulanian Benson lives in Lower Lake.
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- Written by: Mickey Burke
The Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians and the Konocti Vista Casino wish to express their sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. William (Bill) Farrell, who was a regular patron of the Konocti Vista Casino, RV Park and Marina.
We join you in your sorrow and grief during this tragic time.
Mickey Burke is general manager of Konocti Vista Casino in Lakeport.