I am a new resident of Corvallis, a very beautiful and peaceful city — or so I thought. The reason I changed my mind is that the first night, I was awaken by load train horns. I keep hearing them in the early morning hours and for long periods of time every night.

I have talked to several of my neighbors, who also share my concerns. They told me that they have complained before, with no changes. If anything, train operators are laying on the horn longer.

According to the information I received online, before (train operators) get to the crossing, they give two long, one short and then another long horn burst. This, in my opinion, is disturbing the peace.

We as tax-paying citizens deserve a peaceful and a good night’s sleep. Any other late night noise would not be allowed. It is time for us to take action.

I have contacted and talked to my councilman, Hal Brauner, who relates to my concerns. I will be attending City Council meetings. They are held the first and third Mondays of every month. Please attend.

In researching the problem, there are solutions. Working with our city and state officials, we can make a difference in handling this big problem. Other cities have adapted “quiet zones” for the benefit of getting back a peaceful community that we all deserve.

Please help me to win the fight for peace and quiet that we need and deserve.

Diana Valdez

Corvallis

M49 will restore land-use protection

So, you moved to Oregon because it was clean and green with lots of open space, places to hike and boat. You liked looking at those beautiful trees and nice lakes and green farmland. Pristine!

Then you blew it all and voted for Measure 37! Big mistake, but you have a chance this November to turn it around and help keep Oregon from becoming another California sprawl.

Vote “Yes” on Ballot Measure 49! Farmers will be able to keep their farms and forestry won’t be interfered with, and farmers will still be able to add a house or two for the kids while not having to fight the problems large subdivisions in farm and forest land can cause.

Voting yes on 49 in November will ensure that you save taxes by not paying for the costs that malls and subdivisions going into farm and forest land cost all of us — roads, increased service costs, schools, etc.

Voting yes on 49 will ensure you still will have a scenic Oregon, with breathable air and clean water, with lakes for swimming and boating, timber for houses and a viable farming community.

The choice is yours, so remember to vote.

Marilyn Maurais

Corvallis

Helicopter drew young ‘canon fodder’

It’s refreshing to learn that the American war machine will not be running out of cannon fodder (Sept. 15, “Blackhawk steals the show”). With military enlistments down, I was beginning to worry.

Nine- and 10-year-olds might appear young for indoctrination into a war mentality, but if we’re going to maintain our superiority in global dominance, no one is too young. A fascist leader taught us that in the 1930s.

According to Sikorsky, “manufacturing the world’s most advanced military helicopters since 1943, ... the legendary BLACK HAWK helicopter is the first choice for military operations worldwide.” Thanks to Jared Cornell, Boys & Girls Club director of operations, on his forward-looking Day for Kids.

Robert Simms

Corvallis

County needs thrift, not more money

The Board of Commissioners is telling us that Benton County needs more money by putting a levy, measure 02-64, on the ballot. However, government is not the only entity with a shrinking income and rapidly increasing costs. Responsible voter-taxpayers are in the same situation and resent having to give more of their hard-earned money to government. The need for more money is not a catastrophe; it is a matter of setting priorities.

We have lost 24/7 sheriff deputy patrols. However, the budget tells us that deputies not being on duty may result in reduced response time, not no response at all. Before concluding that we need 24/7 coverage, we need to determine the response time when there are no patrols.

The acceptability of that response time, relative to other voter-taxpayer priorities, is a policy decision for the voter-taxpayer.

We have fewer deputy district attorneys now than we used to have. However, the budget does not tell us that with the money they have, they can handle a particular caseload — ranked by seriousness — with a particular mix of lawyers and sheriff’s deputies. It does not tell us that if they get more money, they can handle a higher caseload with another mix of personnel, or a lower case load with a third mix of personnel. The ranked caseload is another policy decision for the voter-taxpayer.

The voter-taxpayer should demand that priorities be set wisely, not just throw money. See www.peak.org/~detweij for a more complete discussion.

John H. Detweiler

Corvallis

County service level depends on election

A levy for Benton County’s health and safety services is on our ballot for the November 6 election. This seeks support for services provided for all citizens here — county-wide as well as within our city boundaries. Services include the health department and public safety department, which protect all of us from contagious diseases, tests water and food quality, and educates us about simple preventive measures to keep us safe during epidemics, floods and many hazards present in our lives. Also, it provides for extended hours of police patrols.

Health is something we all take for granted every day — until we don’t have it. Safety is something we assume without question most days — until disaster, when our basic security vanishes. The cost of maintaining the agencies and trained staff to help us all live safe and healthy lives is so low — less than 45 cents a day. We can’t personally insure ourselves against disaster or disease at any cost, but these few pennies will help tremendously to make us safer as a community. A safe community helps us be safer individually.

Study the information that is available in many places including the library, and vote for the Health and Safety Levy in this coming election. It is especially vital that you send in your vote whatever it is. Your participation carries extra weight in mid-term elections, when so many people lack interest in simply voting.

Carol Bosworth

Corvallis