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Speech problems need more attention, money
Re: “Free speech therapy is school benefit for kids who stutter” (07-21-09)

Your article was a most informative article. I applaud The Stuttering Foundation for putting out the brochure “Special Education Law and Children Who Stutter” because speech therapy is not even covered at all by some health plans. Furthermore, this benefit of free speech therapy applies to children with other types of speech and communication disorders as well.

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Thank you Valley Emergency Personnel

Thank you firefighters from Kern County, Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management and Air Attack Units.

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Keep Camp KEEP

My name is Tina Dowd, and I’m a student at Woodrow Wallace Middle School. I’m in 7th grade and I had the greatest time at Camp KEEP and I don’t think you should discontinue it. My best memory of Camp KEEP is belly biology because I liked touching the sea creatures. Not too long ago I got to go scuba diving under those docks, it reminded me of belly biology.

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Hospital Thrift Shop hopes to discourage theft

The Kern Valley Healthcare District Auxiliary would like to thank the community for all of its encouragement and patronization of our Thrift Shop; it is because of you that we are as successful as we are and, together, we provide important support for our Hospital while providing needs at an affordable cost. Considering the current financial crisis that our country and our state are encountering, which trickles down to us, we are grateful to continue to receive the generous donations we have been fortunate enough to enjoy in the past. And, perhaps in part due to these tough financial times, we have noticed that the theft of donated items left at our after hours drop box has increased. It’s unfortunate that some find it necessary to do this especially when we resell those items at considerably low prices. It is because of this increased theft that we’d like to remind you that we are open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday and 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and always have a volunteer available to accept your donation. Of course our drop box is available for smaller items but we’d appreciate it if you’d help us discourage theft and bring your larger items during regular business hours. Thanks again for all of your donations and your continued support. And don’t forget, if the flag is flying, we are open!

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Nut cases behind no fish stocking ruling

I have been coming to the Valley for the past 45 years and have owned a home in Kernville. Recently having to sell that home but still coming to the Valley, I am so disappointed in the brain child/children who decided to end the stocking of trout in the river. After visiting this past week and talking to a number of business owners, it is scary to think that someone has the control over so many people and all because their thinking is that planted trout are harming the native fish population. My question is how was it decided that after so many, many, many years of stocking trout, planted trout are all of sudden “bad” for the river. Give me a break. How can I, as a former Valley resident get involved in getting rid of this irrational thinking. I did sign petitions while on my last visit. Valley residents, you had better take control of your situation and not let some outside nut cases dictate to you what they want and what will eventually hurt your businesses.

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More Compassion!

On Saturday, Aug. 15, just like third Saturday of every month, a group drove around the area collecting food to be distributed to The Food Pantry, God’s Storehouse, and The Salvation Army. This was the eleventh monthly Compassion Caravan – collecting about a dozen pickup trucks of food over the eleven months! Thanks to Brian Polston and all the compassionate members of the Family Life Center in Wofford Heights for all that food! Thanks, also, to the compassionate persons who used the collection barrels at the Southlake Sierra Gateway Market and Mt. Mesa Market and the collection container at Vons. A special thanks to Lucian Whitman of Kern River Novelty for all those clothes and shoes! To all the compassionate people in the KR Valley who are donating to all the care giving organizations – thanks! Let’s hear from you – tell us what you’re doing – share your compassion!


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Discrimination can’t end soon enough

Americans should applaud President Obama for signaling his intent to repeal the unconstitutional Defense of Marriage Act.

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Hamburger on the hoof?

You saw my house when you rode by on your horse, the last time to get your cows. I have an idea, why don’t you ride on your horse and build a fence to keep your cows in and out of my yard. Or maybe if you don’t mind your cows missing, myself and all of Alta Sierra will have ground beef. This is getting old. I am the lady that had the pretty flowers. Also, the least you could do is take the patties with you! Clown.

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Keep Camp KEEP

I would not like to see the sixth grade Camp KEEP trip be taken away. As a seventh grade class we all agree that it was a fun learning experience that is hands on and exciting.

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Alternatives for changing California

Try this alternative for changing Californias helpless political system. Go to www.repaircalifornia.org. This is a group seeking to have a new Constitutional Convention to change a few things.

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Farmers’ Market

The Nuui Cunni Farmers' Market, their vendors and the Kern River Paiute Council wish to shout out a huge "Thank You!" to the Kern River Valley communities and its tourists for supporting the valley's first Certified Farmers' Market these past 22 weeks.

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Register early for classes

For all of you thinking about taking classes at Cerro Coso Community College, be advised that you should not just walk in the first day and register. Quite often, in the past, classes have been closed when there where not enough people who signed up in advance. So if you are thinking about it go ahead and get in there early.

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Administration actually cares about us folks

A letter went out to the top 25 mortgage companies from the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Urban development this week.

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Save the senior dances

I have never written to a newspaper before, but I feel it is time now. I am one of the 90-year-old ladies who attend the Senior Dances on Wednesday evenings regularly at Lake Isabella Senior Center for the past six years. I no longer drive after dark, or on rainy or cloudy days, so friends pick me up, take me there and bring me home. This is all of the entertainment we older people have in this area. This is also the Veteran’s Center and we have veterans who attend regularly. There are some people who attend using canes, walkers and wheel chairs. For some older people this is the only entertainment the have; the only people they see during the week are the ones who deliver their meals-on-wheels.

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Open letter to Senators Boxer and Feinstein

As a voter in California I direct you as my representative to vote “NO” on any National Healthcare Reform that does not include Congress and all other Federal employees in the same national plan.

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Thanks for the support

The “Nuui Cunni” Native American Cultural Center and Kern River Paiute Council would like to thank Isabella Super Market and all of our wonderful volunteers for helping to make our 4th of July BBQ Celebration a success. The center entertained approx. 200 participants with live music, Raffle, BBQ, Sides, and fry bread. It was a great event.

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Government managing healthcare?

Question. If the government can’t run the cash for clunkers program how are they going to manage our healthcare? God Bless us all.

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Appreciation for bank that takes action

Earlier this year someone, unknown to me, used my debit card number to purchase merchandise on the Internet.

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Building for 2010

WOW! I was impressed with this year’s fireworks over the lake. It was a first class show and we, the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce, hope that you enjoyed the show as much as we did bringing it to you!

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Manage forests, keep them safe

Marc McGuire, an apologist for the Sequoia Forest Keepers, made statements (in a previous letter to the editor) that were unreasonable, inflammatory and disingenuous.

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Higher fees for sinking docks?

It’s great fishing on the lake, at least that’s what all the papers say. But if you want to fish from a boat I hope you like putting it in at the Main Dam boat ramp. At three dollars a gallon this puts you a long ride from the north end and even longer from the east end. Why?

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Draconian measures required

It is no wonder that California is in financial trouble, there are more people on welfare in this state than many states have people. Also, our elected officials don’t know how to say NO to these squeaking wheels. Those on welfare should be required to do something for their keep. Oh yes they have rights and our politicians will continue giving into them as long as they receive their vote.

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Using our soldiers for political gain

We are leaving Iraq. A war started largely by Richard Cheney, Vice President of the United States. His unprecedented eight trips to the CIA to get them to change their view that Iraq had weapons of Mass Destruction guaranteed that 4,000 Americans were killed, and 30,000 seriously and permanently injured for life. It had nothing to do with 9/11 at all.

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What a disgrace

President Obama seems very passionate about health care reform and creating a national health care system. I’m not optimistic and neither should you be.

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Keep Camp KEEP

I think that this school should continue Camp KEEP because there is memories from there like my dad is 32 and he went. He took a picture of him in front of trees, and when I went I took pictures in front of those same trees. It’s a special place and I think everyone should see that.

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Columns

Mormon Country

Barrie Mann

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August a month of preparation

Jim Beilstein
Shephard of the Hills Lutheran Church, Lake Isabella

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Touring Rushmore is more than a day trip

Marsha Smith

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Are we doing anything important today?

Sandra Hughes

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How not to give a speech

Jackie Papandrew

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Fire Safe Council

I attend many meetings around our valley and in doing so many times I hear the same speakers. Often the speaker’s program is the same but usually I still pick up something I missed the first time around. Over the years I have been present for many presentations by our local Kern River Valley Fire Safe Council. Although the basic principals are the same, I always come away with new information and amazement at the accomplishments of the Fire Safe Council members; each presentation is for me a new experience.

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Milky Way

Clear moonless nights in August are the best nights to see for yourself how our Solar System is oriented within our Milky Way Galaxy. On many summer evenings every year I look above our southern horizon and stand in awe. The quote that always comes to mind is one credited to Einstein, “The most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible.”

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Turbulence

Jackie Papandrew

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Scenic high country summer camps favorite of cattlemen and their families

Bob Powers

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Twenty-one more remedies

Kathleen Brown

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A Guinea Pig Narrative

Sandra Hughes
Special to the Sun

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Kern River Cookin’

Brandon Muncy

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Comet Hunting

Daniel Pope

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The task of calf branding a much anticipated event even for old-timers

Bob Powers

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Cooking for kids can be rough

Brandon Muncy

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Cat Tails

Sandra Hughes

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Sagittarius

Among the oldest legends, the Sumerians saw their god of war, Nergal, with a bow an arrow in the stars of Sagittarius (saj-ih-TAIR-ee-us), the Archer.  Later the Greeks saw a Centaur (torso of a man – body of a horse) with a bow and an arrow aimed at the heart of the Scorpion. Sagittarius is a member of the zodiac and so is very near the Ecliptic, the plane of our solar system. Over time, the Sun, Moon, and planets all appear to pass through the Sagittarius part of the sky.

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My Two-Cent Thoughts

Marsha Smith

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Modern Prairie Schooners Have Problems, too

Barrie Mann

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The Freedom Pig

Jackie Papandrew

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Cattle Drives, Cowboys and Dinosaurs

Barrie Mann

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Earth Talk

Dear EarthTalk: What effects do fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides used on residential lawns or on farms have on nearby water bodies like rivers, streams—or even the ocean for those of us who live near the shore? –Linda Reddington, Manahawkin, NJ

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