Rain
Cancels Civil War
Civil War internet?
By Jay O'Brien
Sunday's rain and hail called an early halt to the Civil War experience
at Gibson Ranch. The event was shut down two hours early, canceling the
planned 2 PM battle.
After viewing and learning about the awe-inspiring Hunley submarine
Saturday, we walked through the Confederate Artillery Camp; what was
most interesting was overhearing a conversation between two men in
civil war military dress. One of the soldiers was giving the other
details on a URL to access on the internet. What got my attention was
hearing "dot org" from a Confederate soldier.
Rainfall statistics gathered near 2nd and M:
Sunday May 8, 2005: 0.59"
Monday May 9, 2005: 0.75"
Since July 1, 2004: 20.61"
2003-04 total rain: 16.54"
2002-03 total rain: 19.15"
2001-02 total rain: 17.48"
2000-01 total rain: 16.62"
1999-00 total rain: 23.53"
-Community
Comment-
"Time To Move On"
By Debbie
Courtney
Thank you to The NEWS for continuing to keep us apprised on the state
of the Rio Linda Elverta Water District.
The April 28th installment questioning the alterations made to the
contract with attorney Richard Chiurazzi left me flabbergasted.
Isn't it ironic that the same director who made such a big deal over an
error in a contract that was mistakenly sent to PERS now overtly
endorses an obviously altered contract with no questions asked?
A contract which does nothing other than allow spending more of the
ratepayers' money to continue to "investigate" baseless accusations,
many of which have already been proven false many times, and other
assorted non-issues?
Initiated in part by editorials in the Sacramento Bee, water districts,
including Rio Linda Elverta, were recently subjected to intense
scrutiny in a historically unprecedented in-depth investigation.
Arrests were even made as a result of these probes. Despite the efforts
of the RLECWD's notorious detractors to bootstrap their agendas onto
the valid issues that existed within some water districts, the RLECWD
emerged unscathed. Thus the RLECWD can be considered exonerated
of all unfounded accusations.
In spite of complaints filed against the RLECWD by these same
detractors, a Grand Jury report found no wrong doing by RLECWD. Again
the district was exonerated, this time by a Grand Jury.
In addition, the failure of those who produced KCRA Channel 3's special
report on special districts to verify information given to them by
those same detractors resulted in an embarrassing on-air retraction and
private admission by a KCRA producer that he'd been duped. He admitted
that he and a KCRA reporter had been remiss by relying on faulty,
unverified sources, a mistake he promised would not happen again. Once
again the district was exonerated, this time by a chagrined KCRA.
Those same detractors succeeded in persuading State Senator Deborah
Ortiz to request an audit of RLEWCD along with some of the other water
districts included in The Bee's investigation. While some of those
districts were audited, apparently the State Controller's office didn't
feel there were sufficient grounds to justify an audit of RLECWD, since
the audit never took place. Unfortunate, since this could have only
served to further vindicate the District, but the failure of the State
Controller to order an audit implies the District has once again been
exonerated.
Not to be forgotten is the failed lawsuit initiated by the District's
detractors, with the intent of reducing District employees' salaries,
that ended up costing ratepayers over $20,000 to defend, and in which
the District rightfully prevailed. Once again the District was
exonerated, this time by a Judge, in a court of
law.
At a time when we are all concerned about the future welfare of our way
of life and exploring cityhood, isn't it time we set aside this drama
that dates clear back to the failed recall effort of 2001, and those who
perpetuate it, and work together for the long term best interests of
our community? Now more than ever, it's especially important that our
representatives of local government display leadership,
professionalism, and the ability to govern wisely.
At the water district, I believe this means putting the focus back on
meeting the challenges of ensuring safe and reliable water delivery to
a rapidly developing area and growing population.
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