In response to Andy Gillispie's letter of May 29, "A death is pending at traffic circle": We couldn't agree with you more. We also have lived at this corner for 27 years, and this is the craziest thing the city has ever shoved onto us. We asked for a four-way stop instead.

We have also witnessed many accidents - several involving bicycles - and near-misses involving both pedestrians and bicyclists. Also, we've seen drunken drivers try to drive over the circle.

It's time for this "temporary" circle to go. When I requested a four-way flashing yellow light, so the circle could be seen in the dark and fog, the existing light was removed the very next day. The circle is unsightly and full of weeds.

I'm wondering how the circles at 10th and 11th and "A" street are received?

Virginia Weir

Corvallis

Attack on Diana Simpson unfair

We have heard many opinions about the upcoming sheriff's election. As an employee of the sheriff's office, I took an oath to support the office of sheriff, not an individual. Until recently, I have stayed out of the public political debate, including the games and name-calling the community is being subjected to. I can no longer sit back and see a great community lied to and misled.

(Sgt. Jack) Burright's supporters have written in and claimed (Undersheriff Diana) Simpson is unfair and vicious. They have filed unfounded claims of harassment and have gone so far as to send vulgar, hateful messages to Simpson's home. We now learn of fake Web sites designed with the sole purpose of manipulating and misleading the community and a link placed on Burright's campaign Web site.

As an employee, I am amazed at the disrespect directed toward the current administration on a daily basis by a handful of disgruntled employees fearful of accountability. The majority of the sheriff's office staff are professionals, dedicated to providing Benton County quality service. Burright's supporters claim 93 percent of the office staff support him. There are 74 sheriff's office employees and 25 of them endorsed Burright. Only at Farington University is that 93 percent.

I have never known Diana Simpson to be anything but professional and committed to building a strong sheriff's office responsive to the community it serves. Simpson exemplifies professionalism, accountability, and integrity and is committed to delivering the highest caliber of public safety services to the citizens of Benton County.

Scott Jackson

Albany

Big building blots out the blue sky

From where I now sit, (and I sit here often), the sky is missing a big chunk.

Where birds flew, clouds transgressed, trees swayed … all is gone from this portion. It's been replaced by a gigantic, rectangular monument to humanity's ability to build things.

People will soon live and work in this monument. Those at the seventh-story top will see much more sky than I did, before they gained altitudinal advantage.

How strange! I have less sky to view and they will have more. Does it add up or balance out? They can make their sky come and go at will, by looking out windows or closing the blinds. But there is nothing I can do to get mine back.

If more people view the sky out of more windows in more tall buildings, have we discovered a way to create more sky? Perhaps! The sky's the limit.

M. Boyd Wilcox

Corvallis

Grads of 'drug court' start anew

On May 17, I had the privilege and honor to attend the Benton County Drug Court graduation ceremony. The experience touched me so much that I wanted to share my enthusiasm at how dignified and inspirational this ceremony was with the Corvallis and Benton County communities.

Witnessing the changes in the graduates' lives is impressive. What I observed convinced me that my civic responsibility was to "beat the drum" and tell people that this cause is worth supporting!

Jim Gouveia, Benton County Mental Health Manager, spoke of metamorphosis to describe the life changes experienced by the graduates. Like caterpillars that shed the prison of their cocoons to become the beautifully free butterflies that soar in our gardens, so are our drug court graduates who shed the prison of their addictions to become vibrant, energized and free citizens of our communities.

In the graduates' own words, the metamorphosis would have been impossible without the help of all those who believed in them, loved them and walked along them through the bad days and are by their sides now to share the good days ahead.

To the graduates of one of the toughest programs ever, I present my heartfelt congratulations for their success in turning their lives around.

To those who encouraged, supported, reassured and always believed in them, I present my deepest gratitude for the positive impact on the graduates' lives and for making Benton County a better place to live.

Anne Robbins

Corvallis

Mom's Day peace events, revisited

Several people have criticized the Mother's Day March and Vigil, May 14 to 18. Having participated in the two events, I'd like to share their actual focus, missing in the news articles.

Our Mother's Day March was inspired by Julia Ward Howe's Mother's Day proclamation in 1870, "… Let women … solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means whereby the great human family can live in peace."

On May 14, nearly 150 mothers, fathers and children marched to the Corvallis National Guard Armory Memorial, grieving and honoring those killed. They carried flowers, boots with names of Oregonian troops killed in Iraq and shoes of all ages with names of Iraqis civilians who have died.

Shortly after the march ended, a smaller group began 24-hour vigiling focused on the National Guard's recruiting office, located inside the Armory building. Their recruiting sign out front stated "100% Tuition Paid." It's a misleading marketing statement because only 15 percent of enlisted military personnel receive 100 percent tuition at four-year colleges. Our vigil signs asked recruiters to "Tell the truth to recruits." Enticing our children and grandchildren to enlist so that they can afford a college education, while risking their lives and limbs in certain combat overseas today, seems an injustice.

We're pleased that the National Guard agreed with our position after four days vigiling and changed the recruiting sign to read: "$4,500 a year for tuition and G.I. Bill." That would be accurate if they added "Up to $4,500 …" Their action, although not perfect, is a small step towards truth.

LoErna Simpson

Corvallis