Letters to the Editor

Joe Knoedler (02-22-12) takes up argument against the premise that liberalism is turning young people’s minds to mush. At Prince George’s Community College in Maryland, President Obama told students “...every time prices start to go up...politicians dust off their 3-point plans for $2.00 gas.” (Laughter) “Been the same script for 30 years. It’s like a bad rerun.” (Laughter) While laughing at his jokes, students weren’t thinking about the long-standing practice of stifling energy production as a root cause for many of our economic problems. The comedian in chief certainly won’t enlighten them. I see no humor in it whatsoever.

He told them that drilling advocates say “...if we just drilled more for oil then gas prices would immediately come down...” Truthfully, advocates believe pursuing a more aggressive energy policy and cutting federal regulations 30 years ago would have brought about lower, more stable fuel prices long before now. Perhaps far fewer manufacturing companies would have left the country. Obama’s effort (alchemy) is turning borrowed money into failed “green energy” companies and Democrat campaign funds. We have lost billion$. Tell students that joke.

He repeated his diatribe that we have only 2% of the world’s known oil reserves. This misleading figure doesn’t include resources roped off by the government. According to industry experts, the U.S. has more than 1.4 trillion barrels of technically recoverable oil—enough to meet all U.S. needs for the next 200 years, without imports. Obama said, “Under my administration, America is producing more oil today than at any time in the last eight years.” (Applause) This may be happening during his administration, but it is not because of anything he has done. The Bush blamer is taking credit for production on public lands (he couldn’t stop) that was already approved by the previous administration. Drilling is occurring on private and state lands, in spite of Obama’s moratoriums.

His administration claims that oil and gas leases on public land increased 20% in 2011. Leases issued in 2010 were at the lowest level since the Bureau of Land Management began publishing the data. A 20% increase from there is meaningless. Taxpayers collected 258 times less revenue ($9.4 billion) from off-shore lease sales in 2011 than the last year of the Bush administration. He joked, if Republican presidential candidates “...were around when Columbus set sail (laughter) they must have been founding members of the Flat Earth Society.” (Laughter) The irony is, if his anti-energy policies and military budget cuts are allowed to continue, our navy will be the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria.

Obama told students there is no “quick fix” for high gas prices, he is “drilling at a record pace” and his opponents are against alternative energy sources. Students (and adults) laughed throughout the speech and applauded at the end. They most likely left there accepting what the snake oil salesman said as fact, not bothering to research the truth on their own. Is that Mensa, or is it mush? You decide.

Imagine my astonishment when I was notified by a very thoughtful friend who subscribes to the Gothenburg Times that an ad had been placed in the newspaper by the Gothenburg Airport stating that they had found numerous old pilot flight log books. The ad listed many names of pilots, including my dad, my uncle and one of my cousins whose flight log books had been in storage there for over 40 years!

Many of my childhood years were spent flying with my dad and my uncle. My dad, Kenneth Stapp, has been deceased since 1988. Along with my cherished memories of those days, I have all his flight school classroom items, his pilot’s license, and now thanks to the Gothenburg Airport, I have his pilot flight log book! In it is recorded in his own handwriting every flight that he ever commanded with points of departure and arrival, identification of the aircraft model and number, and remarks, procedures and maneuvers. I was overjoyed to read that I was his first official passenger he took on his first flight as a licensed pilot dated January, 29th, 19721

This is an amazing gift of inestimable worth and will be cherished for generations of my family for years to come all because of the kindness, generosity and goodwill of the Gothenburg Airport to allow family members to be able to go there and claim these valuable family heirlooms.

With genuine, heartfelt, immeasurable gratitude to all involved at the airport that brought this part of family history full circle for me,

The Gothenburg Roping & Riding Club is a club for all ages interested in equine events in Gothenburg and the surrounding areas. We facilitate roping and riding practices at our arena just north of Gothenburg. We also many events including 4-H horse shows, ropings and barrel races.

A major focus of the Gothenburg Roping & Riding Club is producing the Pony Express Rodeo held annually on July 3 and 4. So if you’re looking for a place to ride and rope, or maybe just interested in helping put on a first class rodeo, the Gothenburg Roping & Riding Club may be for you.

For more information check out our next meeting on Wednesday (tonight) at 7:30 p.m. at the rodeo grounds or call club president Jared Slagle at 308-529-2139

Spring bloomed early in Dawson County this year as we painted our community yellow with daffodils. The overwhelming support from our residents, businesses and other groups showed to support the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days® was incredible. My heartfelt appreciation goes out to everyone who participated in this important campaign to raise money to fight cancer and provide hope to all people facing the disease.

It is heartwarming to know that so many of our fellow residents are dedicated to the society’s efforts to prevent cancer, save lives, and diminish suffering from the disease. We appreciate the volunteer drivers, onsite coordinators, and daffodil processors, as well as to everyone who supported this year’s Daffodil Days by purchasing flowers for their homes and/or offices or donating flowers to area hospitals and health care facilities. I must add special appreciation to the corporate sponsors who support Daffodil Days each year.

This year, we raised $11,180 to support the American Cancer Society’s research, education, advocacy and patient service programs.

Together, Dawson County is making a difference in the fight against cancer.