News Leader News
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
- June 6, 2006
Dear Editor:
No one wants to bellyache continually, no not even this curmudgeon! However, it is time that someone spoke up for the residents of the Princeton-Summerland Road. They've had more than their fair share of neglect.
Let's start with the (paved?) portion of this road. In the ten plus years I've lived here, it's never been pothole free and no one seems to give a damn -- least of all the provincial government and their contractors.
We keep hearing of our unparalleled economic boom. Well, how about sharing some of this bonanza with us here in the boondocks?
In the past two months I've lost count of our electrical power interruptions. It is becoming routine to wake in the morning and reset all the clocks and timers. One day last month I had to go to town for a hot meal because the power was off for eight hours. Before I moved here I had forty years of uninterrupted service from BC Hydro (y'know, one of those public utilities that the entrepreneurs love to bash).
Well, maybe it's time to have some of that good old fashioned government monopoly take over what's left of privately delivered power in this province.
My next gripe is about the last few days without telephone and internet service. I'm not really sure who is responsible for this debacle. However, I did see a monstrous tree-falling machine with an escort truck, throwing wood chips big enough to cause unsuspecting motorists to swerve into the ditch.
Speaking with the machine's escort, I was told that this machine provided the most efficient removal of underbrush, and they were simply clearing under the power lines.
Whether these men cut the phone lines I can't say, but I can tell you that someone in power management is responsible for extreme overkill as well as wasting much money. As for the phone company, I keep hearing this echo in my head telling me of their record profits while their workforce was locked out last year.
Well, there was no lockout happening while we were incommunicado last week. Perhaps our privately owned phone company needs to be reminded that some provinces run phones as public utilities and are also much more efficient.
- HPToews, Princeton
Dear Princeton Mayor and Councillors,
I just heard the morning CBC radio news report and the controversy surrounding the method your contractor uses to put down your unwanted pets.
I support the humane shooting of pets provided it's always done properly. I'm 67, a retired high school teacher, and a hunter familiar with firearms.
There's absolutely nothing inhumane about using a 22 calibre with long-rifle cartridge. It's very efficient and inexpensive. Over more than 50 years, I've had to put down ailing pets including one of my best horses. Each time I've shed a few tears. It's never easy, but must be done.
I'll admit I'm an odd fellow in these modern times, for I believe we should all have the beneficial experience of raising our farm animals (and pets), caring for them, dispatching them, butchering them and preparing them for the table. Today's urban society has become too far removed from reality.
Both of my grandmothers killed, drew, plucked and prepared poultry for the family table as part of their work in the home.
As a boy, I recall holding the birds' legs while my mother dropped the axe. This is still common in today's Third World.
You choose the best way to put down your community's unwanted pets.
And feel no guilt about it. Simply point your fingers to those who create your problem, those fail to love and support our animal friends.
You'll face no criticism from this Langley resident if you stick by your guns.
Ask your vets to neuter dogs and cats at cost, and raise the licence fees for un-neutered pets.
- Larri Woodrow, Langley
To The Editor;
I was thinking about a few things like if you get a house near the golf course you will get some balls in your yard or, they might hit your car.
If you get a house near a lake, a creek or a river at the run off you could have a little water really close by or in your house. If you leave the city because of the noise, pollution and crime and move to the country like Princeton, there is no pollution, very little crime, not much traffic, you will have squirrels, chipmunks, and yes deer in your yard.
To me that is better than thieves and pot heads, at least its safer to walk down the street and have to watch and worry all the time.
To me the people in a small town have time to say hello. Anyway everyone needs a little deer (dear) in life.
That's it.
Betty Gaudette, Princeton
To The Editor;
RE: Public Deer Meeting
While many of us were pleased and encouraged by the number of the people who attended the public meeting and after digesting all the information pro and con it was obvious that no 'made in Princeton' solutions other than educating the public and chasing the deer away was forthcoming.
The wildlife people were sympathetic to our concerns and dilemma; however they didn't have any immediate solutions as it is a very complicated issue. It seems that public safety was disregarded.
There is no excuse for elected officials and those in authority to ignore the complaints of attacks on people and pets. It's time to wake up to this very serious issue before someone is badly injured or worse.
It is disheartening to see our property, once our pride and joy become damaged deer havens.Our quality of life is being compromised and declining due to the anxiety and stress of the encounters with deer in and outside our property, as well as concerns regarding the increased sightings of cougars and other predators who stalk the deer looking for dinner.
Actually, I came away from the meeting thinking that this was to be my last effort of trying to get some resolution for the deer problem. And that the only solution for us was to move to another community.
Then an article regarding "Elk in Banff National Park" from a friend, gave my tired soul encouragement and hope.
In Banff National Park the problems with elk are very similar to ours. In the past 15 years there has been a decline in Aspen and Willow trees, upsetting predator/prey relationships and increased public safety concerns. Historic records indicated that the high number of elk were not prevalent earlier in the area. By 1990 conditions changed, leading to the larger and growing increase in the elk population and intense human activity, which threaten public safety.
Parks Canada and its partners moved quickly on a strategic plan and undertook a series of restoration activities from 1999 to 2003. The number of elk was greatly reduced when Park Wardens captured 251 'Town Elk' (those who had been habitual to town life with humans) and relocated them. Once the animals were moved the numbers of elk in and around the town of Banff (over 500) in 1990 was reduced to less than 200 by 2003.
It restored the natural balance of plants, predators, prey and aggressive elk incidents were down from 106 to 19. This certainly gives us food for thought as well as encourages us to continue lobbying those who have the power to make change. Because there are solutions out there, however it will take dollars, staff time and strategic planning.
Let's take the lead from the visionaries in Banff, doing something is better than doing nothing.
- Joyce Fraser, Princeton
To The Editor;
I would like to thank Sgt. Kurt Lozinski for mentioning ATVers as per riding without insurance or riding irresponsibly.
These are the people who give ATVers a bad name.
We at ATV-BC teach responsibility, respect of nature and concern for other people.
Riding is fun and can be enjoyed by many, even parapalegics who can't see the beauty of our Province otherwise.
I would suggest getting the newest issue of Riders West. There is an interesting story titled 'A Second Chance.'
Hope all our members will have a safe and happy summer.
Happy trials to you,
- Richard Lubiak, Princeton
