Why was PHS's Grammy ignored?

I am disappointed that the Gazette Times did not see fit to cover the Grammy presentation given to the Philomath High School music department.

It is quite an honor, being one of only 14 schools nationwide to receive a Grammy and the title of a Grammy Signature School.

A representative, as well as a photographer, from the Grammy association flew in from California to present the Grammy trophy and a check for $5,000 to Dr. Dan Johnson and the entire music department at their final concert on May 29.

It would have been nice if you could have sent at least a photographer from down the street.

Although you covered the story in late March, you missed out on the presentation itself. It was quite a thrill for the music students and community as a whole. What these students achieved should not be ignored, but celebrated. A small picture or follow-up article was deserved.

Congratulations to the music department at Philomath High School and director Dr. Dan Johnson. And thank you for an incredible evening of music!

Sue Hardin, Philomath

Were chocolated berries 'fair trade'?

Jan Roberts-Dominguez' June 11 food article fed my summer appetite - a warm-weather party, good friends, sumptuous treats, melt-

in-your-mouth chocolate strawberries.

But what about those chocolate strawberries? Is the chocolate from Fair Trade?

At parties, we used to ask, "Is there meat in the lasagna?" but now it's, "Did you use Fair Trade chocolate?"

Fair Trade-certified chocolate is the "politically correct" chocolate of our times. It ensures that cocoa farmers receive a fair price for their harvest and that the common practice of slave labor on cocoa farms is strictly prohibited.

Isn't it wonderful that we can actually make a difference on this issue with just a little effort?

Ask your store where they get their chocolate. If they don't know, ask them to find out. Make a decision to only buy Fair Trade-certified chocolate and let your grocery stores know this.

If the chocolate manufacturers say that they purchase from a "chocolate pool," this is another way of saying they have no idea who initially harvested their chocolate.

Purchasing Fair Trade chocolate is a simple thing to do, and yet if we all did it, the trickle-down effect could help to reduce child slavery in the world and support cocoa farmers trying to make a decent living for their families and communities.

Jan Weir, Corvallis

Impeachment move deserved coverage

The Corvallis Gazette-Times makes interesting editorial decisions.

The June 11 edition was an excellent example.

A sample of headlines:

"Human-fed bear to be trapped, shot,""Strawberries dipped to delight," "Hearings planned for sex-abuse suit," "Snowball moving to Wildlife Safari," "Father faces charges for toddler's sunburn," "Scientists discover monkeys that fish," "Koong named Pac-10 president, "Wife's backcountry talkin' riles hubby," "Islanders upset over use of 'lesbian.'''

Alas, there was no space available for an article describing the fact that Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich has introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives calling for the immediate impeachment of George W. Bush.

The Kucinich gesture - about seven years late in the opinion of many Corvallis residents - is news-worthy by any reasonable journalistic standards, and deserves coverage in the Gazette-Times.

If I were old and cynical (which I am not), I might suspect that the G-T editors have an agenda when such news is omitted. (Remember the peace march flap?)

Kirk S. Nevin, Corvallis

Move to impeach Bush is long overdue

Finally, a member of the house of representatives as brought articles of impeachment against the president to the floor of that august body. If you love this country, if you believe it can once again be the symbol of justice, the beacon of rationality this crumbling world requires, then you know this step is necessary. Please join with me in letting your representative (and this newspaper) know that this is THE front page story of our era.

Jim Roy, Albany

County's priorities are out of order

The story June 6 article, "Board Travel Exceeds Budget Again" really got on my nerves.

It seems to me that the Benton County Commissioners simply do not have their priorities straight.

On one hand, there's no budget for the Benton County Sheriffs Department to conduct 24-hour, seven-days-a-week patrolling, which is unfortunate, especially for us living outside of Corvallis.

But, on the other hand, there is budget for Commissioners Jaramillo and Dixon to travel to Hawaii for the National Association of Counties' annual meeting.

What the heck is going on here? With meth labs still cranking out poison and drunk drivers still on the roads at 2 in the morning, why is there a budget for junkets to tropical islands at taxpayers' expense while there is no budget for basic public safety?

When there is not one pothole on any county road, when we can guarantee that every bridge in our county is perfectly safe, and when we have all of the public safety that we need, then (and only then) would I entertain the notion that our county be represented by one of the county commissioners on a tropical island.

But until then, I vote that the board is misusing my tax dollars. And I don't like that.

Patrick Wills, Corvallis