I'm writing about: "Bend man attempts armed break-in to collect drug debt" (11-12-07).When was the last time The Bend Weekly had a front-page story about someone attempting to break-in a home to collect a liquor debt?  Probably about 1933, the year we ended the disaster known as Alcohol Prohibition. Alcohol prohibition was not terminated because it was decided that alcohol was not so bad after all.  But rather because of the crime and corruption that its ... [full story]

Duke DA Mike Nifong should face criminal charges Where do you turn for help when the people assaulting your kids are the authorities themselves? When I was in high school, the local cops decided they’d had enough petty crime from some teenaged hooligans.  They started picking up the kids on the street, driving them into the woods, and beating the tar out of them.  Having kids acting like jerks is scary, but having officers of ... [full story]

Re: Long-sought ID Thief Apprehended Following Chase     Allow me to set the record straight....as i am the only one that knows the truth about everything...and also the only one willing to post my name..Maggie Mae??? The identity theft charges you all are referring to is a business deal went bad with a former board member and shareholder of my corporation. We had about a 4 year business relationship where Shirley Newman invested roughly $150,000 into my ... [full story]

The F.B.I. in Tucson Arizona was ordered by the Pentagon to start a federal investigation into the use of MK-Ultra by a masonic group of people involved with drug running in Mena Arkansas in 1998.As they investigated up until now the investigation has cost over sixty million dollars and is still ongoing. The investigation was joint with the N.S.A. and Department of Defense which they were using fighter jets to intercept the MK-Ultra being used. ... [full story]

I'm writing about: "La Pine man busted for marijuana growing operation" (5-17-07).I'm sure many marijuana growers and sellers are thankful to the detectives of the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team for this latest marijuana bust and others like it.Without operations like this, marijuana would be worth what other easy-to-grow weeds are worth -- very little.Thanks to the Drug Enforcement Administration and other so-called "drug warriors," the easy-to-grow weed is worth more than pure gold -- ... [full story]

The Virginia Tech students, faculty, and staff are giving the Nation an education on how to COPE with tragedy.  They have taken us to school on how to handle grief. Television and newspapers are providing exemplary examples of caring, courage in facing pain, and a unity of community. Soon after the shootings, I was asked to provide guidelines to help students, parents and people everywhere deal with their grief. I suggested we use the COPE ... [full story]

Mr. Abernathey,Given your recent actions regarding the refusal to name a bridge after LCpl Randy Newman and your refusal to let those who wished to speak on his behalf do so, I felt the need to attempt to contact you and express my disgust at what you have done.  I have attempted to contact members of the city concil but you sir have a special place in my heart.You recently silenced to those who attempted ... [full story]

RE: Incentives, please (3/23/2007)You are correct that incentives are needed to reduce the shortage of transplantable organs.  Relying on altruism has left us with a shortage that kills thousands of people every year and gets larger every day. One incentive is already in place.  You can increase your chances of getting a transplant if you ever need one by agreeing to donate your organs after you die.  This incentive is offered by LifeSharers, a national ... [full story]

Ms. Schlafly’s recent diatribe against Mexican truckers misses the mark (“President opens border to Mexican trucks and drivers” – Mar. 9, 2007). In her opinion editorial, she bemoans the demonstration program announced last month to allow U.S. truckers to compete in Mexico and change the way a limited number of Mexican trucking companies operate within the United States.  Had she taken the time to learn the facts, she would have learned that this program will ... [full story]

The story on diesel emissions [“New Report Details Diesel Danger For Commuters,” Feb. 28] regrettably neglected to mention the technological innovations the diesel industry has made over the past several years to vastly reduce emissions.Diesel has received an entire facelift. The entire clean diesel system is brand new -- from the fuel, to new clean engines, to advanced exhaust emission control devices. Commercial trucks sold this year have 90 percent fewer emissions of fine particles ... [full story]

I heard a few days ago on the world news that a house fire with fatalities could have been prevented by smoke detectors. The victims were too poor to buy them. Smoke detectors are under 10 bucks now, however, if you are poor that may be a lot. Why not allow the smokers to “swap” their saved empty cigarette packs for smoke detectors and batteries once or twice a year -- funded from tobacco taxes? ... [full story]

My message is concerning the article published on Feb 09, 2007 titled "Katrina recovery in major need of national summit" by Marc H. Morial.  I am currently a student at San Jose State University involved in a national effort to bring attention back to the Gulf Coast.  Our group strives to create national legislation to create 100,000 jobs for residents of the Gulf Coast region.  The movement is called the Gulf Coast Civic Works Project.  We ... [full story]

February 23rd is the 200th anniversary of the British Parliament’s vote to abolish the transatlantic slave trade. It is also the release date of a film (Amazing Grace) about the man who led the British Abolition movement, William Wilberforce. While the film does not have much to do with abolition in the United States, Wilberforce certainly did.  Abolitionism had widely diffused origins and its advocates lived on both sides of the Atlantic. The movement’s leaders ... [full story]