Opinion

June 28, 2011 — Journalists have all heard the words; “I don’t want to see any of this in the newspaper.”

The assumption is the person being interviewed, especially a government official, is in control of “the record.” To be perfectly clear, the record belongs only to journalists. We have every right to put what is said into print especially if it is newsworthy.

June 21. 2011 — The news at both the county and the city level this summer centers on two issues that go hand in hand — economic development and budget issues. When it comes to budget issues, the same mantra is heard year after year, there is not enough revenue to meet the demand of expenses. Therefore, when all unnecessary cuts have been made, the next step is cut personnel.

June 14, 2011 — The last two weeks we have been attending various high school and junior high graduation ceremonies throughout Lassen County. It is a time of the year that we look forward to as a community newspaper because we can rejoice in the academic accomplishments of the youth of the county.

At this moment, you are beautiful, talented, invincible and immortal.

We also need to recognize the efforts of all school personnel — from the bus drivers to the librarians, the maintenance workers to the administrators — who, each year, do more with less.

May 31, 2011 — Recently, Lassen County and neighboring Plumas County has been plagued with multiple structure fires, the latest causing extensive smoke damage. Young Sing restaurant was only saved because citizens saw smoke coming from the building and firefighters were able to get to the scene before the building was engulfed in flames.

Unfortunately, a much liked employee of the city of Susanville, Chivon Nelson, did not survive after a fire consumed the mobile home she and her fiancé and his children and brother were living in out in Standish. While the actual fire investigation is still ongoing, stories of the early morning May 21 blaze state Nelson was instrumental in saving the lives of two small children and her fiancé Jim Shively.