OSU’s image, team both got trashed

There were two defeats last Saturday, Nov. 29.

The players on Oregon State University’s football team gave it their best shot but came up a little short on the gridiron. Congratulations to the team and its great season.

The second loss I am talking about, however, is the disappointment at the broken beer bottles, the over-flowing trash bins, and the garbage scattered across empty fields. The deeper failure here was the complete disregard for individual responsibility and the environmentally friendly “green image” that OSU puts forth.

Oregon State touts itself as one of the “greenest” campuses in America, but this view was not on display in so many of the parking lots and campus fields. So many people work so hard to achieve the lofty sustainability goals on campus and in the city of Corvallis, but these ideals seem to vanish just as the next home game rolls in.

Solutions are needed. Can there be a meeting of the tailgaters’ minds to develop a new type of pregame party that addresses environmental impacts yet respects the right of individuals to get drunk and have their barbeque? Is there a model for campus sustainability that we can invest in with student fees? Let’s get together and talk.

John Klock, Corvallis

Salem’s valet parking great

I like Karen Frederick’s suggestion in her Dec. 2 letter for free valet service at the hospital. I just experienced this at the Salem Hospital, and it makes visiting the hospital so much easier!

The Salem Hospital contracts the service out. It’s free, but a tip is in order. It was staffed by a bunch of “young” people (read: under 40), and it took about 10 minutes for them to retrieve my car.

Dianne Farrell, Corvallis

Support separation of church and hate

In response to the Nov. 14 article, “Catholic bishops will fight Obama over abortion”:

What has to be done to make it absolutely clear there is a separation of church and state in this country? I prize my right of religious freedom, and I am tired of being disrespected by the Catholic Church.

I respect ALL religions’ right to worship as they see fit. If the Catholic faith does not want their members to have abortions, that is their right. If the Catholic faith does not want sex education taught in their schools, that is their right. If the Catholic faith does not want to marry homosexuals, that is their right. What about the rights of others?

If the Catholic faith does not want Vice President-elect Joe Biden as a member of the church, even though he may be personally opposed to abortion but supports non-Catholics’ civil rights in America, that is a loss for the Catholic Church!

It is not the job of religion to set policy for the country. What the Catholic Church is doing is creating an atmosphere of ill will among most of the citizens of the United States because a major part of the population supports the FIRST amendment to the Constitution — separation of church and state. Instead the Catholic Church is creating an atmosphere that has us saying we support the separation of church and hate!

Ed Lipton, Corvallis

God rescue us from Obama’s ‘changes’

Watching the far-left media and the liberals in our country fawn over this president-elect shows how blind these people are to the important issues. People called out for change and now “Baby, you have it.”

We will see the appointment of the same politicians, trying to raise taxes both in state and federal governments, more government spending on federal entitlements, a stronger push for abortion rights, try to redefine the traditional marriage between a man and a woman, more gun control, a push for an anti-Christian society and a change in the makeup of the Supreme Court and federal judges to a liberal court system.

We have change in our future, and I can only say God help us because we need Him more than ever.

Clyde Buckner, Lebanon

Steam shovel? What steam shovel?

I read the Nov. 18 about the state going into the homeless camp area next to Highway 99W and razing it to the ground. I join with those that say this is a big problem for the individual citizens of Corvallis and one that must be solved soon. The city government certainly is inept at addressing the situation, but that is not the reason I write today.

As I read in the Gazette-Times, the Oregon Department of Transportation took a steam shovel down into that area to attack it. I have read about steam shovels all my life, but just wasn’t born at the right time to see one operate.

I called ODOT and asked them if I could come and see their steam shovel operate sometime. They met my request with deaf ears. They said they did not have a steam shovel, but that I should check with Benton County.

Benton County said they did not use a steam shovel that day in that location. They referred me to the city of Corvallis but they did not use a steam shovel that day, and they referred me to the local construction companies in the area.

I have been referred around like a ping-pong ball. No one wants to acknowledge that they have an operating steam shovel and a true operator for the shovel to boot. I don’t know if having a real, operating steam shovel is politically incorrect or socially unacceptable or embarrassing, or what?

Don Vosberg, Philomath

Editor’s note: As we noted in a subsequent correction, the piece of machinery we referred to by the name of “steam shovel” actually was an earthmover, with no steam involved.

We’re sorry; we get a little “old school” in our terminology sometimes.

Senior meals may go ‘delivery only’

I am certainly saddened to learn that the Philomath senior meals on site will be cancelled the end of the year. After 25 or 30 years of lunch and socializing, it’s unfortunate that the powers that be have decided to close it down. It appears that the home deliveries are continuing at this time.

Agnes Ann Vomocil, Corvallis

The tale of almost- thrown-away ring

On Black Friday, we had no plans to go shopping. Suffering from miserable colds, my husband Timon and I were laying low. However, it was garbage day. In my cold remedy-induced haze, I scooped tissues into the trash — along with my grandmother’s antique ring!

One-half hour after the garbage was picked up, I realized my mistake. Timon told me to call Allied Waste. I spoke to Marc Wibbens. I was frantic and hysterical. Marc said he would call me back, then he had our garbage truck diverted and dumped where we could go through it. We got our gloves and boots and drove to the dump.

At Coffin Butte, Nichel Crabtree was in the gatehouse. She reassured me that I would find my ring. In the landfill we were met by Keith Hendrix and Rex Ramer. Without these two men, we wouldn’t have had a chance. They pitched right in, helping us dig through discarded potatoes, gravy, turkey bones and other stuff until we found our bag of tissues. I opened the bag, and there was my ring! I asked if we could buy them a beer, Keith just told us “some day.” They would not accept any type of reward.

We can not tell you how grateful we are to know that such caring people work in our community. Thank you!

Terri and Timon Young, Philomath