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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 1956)
Communications Letters to the Editor must bear the name and address of the writer, although under certain circumstances the use of a pen name or initial for publication i permissible. The Mail Tribune reserves Che right to edit all letters with a view to clarification and condensation. Letters submitted for publication must not exceed 400 words. Overburdened, Taxpayer To the Editor: Why is one op posed to fluoride treated water more of a zealous fanatic than one who so determinedly works for it? Since when are a few caries in a few children's teeth of such momentous concern that the water supply of over 20,000 people should be treated with an insecticide? It is just..as silly as having to brush the teeth of a neighbor's child because the parent wants to shift his own responsibility. The taxpayer is already burden ed with the care of neglected, deserted and delinquent chil dren, most of them products 01 irresponsible parents. When I was a child most every home had a grandparent or elderly relative as a revered member of the household. Now these old people are farmed out in convalescent homes and county hospitals fi nanced by welfare funds, also from taxpayers' pockets. Where is our pride? Do we want to live in a wel fare state? One thing leads to another. Soon someone will' be advocat ing the addition of a laxative to our water supply because some kids are constipated. . - Let those who want fluoride treated water fix their own. Let Us not burden the overburdened taxpayer further. Mrs. Docia Jones Barnett road Medford, Ore. Better Teeth To the Editor: Thanks to the Mail Tribune for pointing out to the citizens of Medford the sim ple way to help prevent tooth decay of its youngest citizens. It . is hoped more people can be come informed of the safety and economy of the method involved , The Jackson County Public Health association ' has been working ' for . -better health of children since its organization in 1917. One of its interests has been dental health. For many years it supported a dental clinic. Shortage of dentists forced the closure just before World War II. The one frustrating feature was the small number of chil dren helped when the need was so great. . , Now we have a new and safe method for the prevention of tooth decay, one that helps rich and poor alike, namely adding one part of fluoride to one mil lion parts of water. There are over 50 physicians in the county who are endorsing this method and who say so publicly. Dr. A. Erin Merkel, director of the county health department, has investigated the question exten sively and urges the city coun cil to pass the proposal at the earliest possible time. Paying for dental care is a real problem to many families. The dentists of this county are aware of this and are working hard to help people understand that flu oridating a city water supply is a safe and effective way to in sure a decay-resistant enamel covering the teeth of the young child.- They also tell us frank ly that painting children's teeth with . fluorides, taking tablets and brushing teeth is less effec tive as compared to using fluor ide in the drinking water. A re cent survey indicated that the average cost of yearly dental care per Medford child was $58.96. The cost of adding fluor ine to the Medford City water supply would be 13c per water user per month, and that in cludes the $30,000 building and upkeep. ' Here's to the health of Jack eon county children. May we all join hands to insure their future well-being. Mrs. Henry Padgham President, Jackson County PublicHealth Association Meck .Stuck Out , v : To the Editor: Haven't you stuck ' out your neck on this fluoridation business? To me the medical associa tion's recommendations mean money in fair chunks in some one's pockets, for I, for one, do not believe such a plan would be advanced except there is. I vas a United States patrol man during the times that the 91st and 96th Divisions were at Camp - White taking military training At. that time fluorida tion was 100 per cent forced upon the men of those divisions. In so doing the water was changed from sweet and pure to a nasty and vile liquid. So much so that I carried water from my well that I should not be compelled to drink of .it. The words 'nasty' and 'vile' fully describe it. Do we want our 'pure' water, of which Medford is so proud and has so long advertised as a "mountain spring in every home' changed to the taste of the seepage from a sewer? Per sonally, I do not. Regardless of the Medical as sociation or the editor. Andy L. Unger, 634 Pennsylvania ave., Medford, Ore. (Editor's note: An officer who was stationed at Camp White in an engineering capacity during the war advises the water in use for the Army never was fluor idated. Our correspondent may be confusing it with chlorine, an entirely different chemical, which was used to kill bacteria in the wartime water supplies at the camp, and which does have a distinct taste and odor. Flu orides, on the other hand, have no odor and no taste in the con centrations recommended.) Authorities Identified . To the Editor: Congratulations on yourTecent editorial pointing up some basic facts on the issue of fluoridation which have long needed clarification. It seems to me, as a result of the welter of controversy con cerning this subject, that the water consumer may be truly confused. The anti-fluondation group uses statements calculated to increase this , confusion by quoting various dentists and phy sicians on statements as to the harmful effects of fluorides. In part, these quotations are taken out of context from articles on fuorides which have nothing to do with the subject of fluorida tion of water supplies for pre vention of tooth decay. A more serious confusion is created by the quoting of various writers from the professions, who purport to have independ ently discovered harmful effects from the consumption of fluori dated water. These articles would, on the surface, seem to indicate that there exists a real division of opinion among the dental and medical professions and allied groups on the subject of the efficacy and safety of fluoridation. Such is far from the truth; as is shown by the en dorsement by the thousands of members of these groups, each one of whom is professionally qualified to jexpress a studied opinion, but has usually done so only by his endorsement. It is the case of a practically micror scopic vocal, minority opinion being magnified thousands of times; to create a false impres sion of "division of opinion among the authorities." Who are the "authorities" on this subject? 1. They are, especially, the health officers of the hundreds of. cities where fluoridation has been used, - successfully, for years. . .2. They ' are ihe hundreds of thousands of dentists and doc tors of America, who have Tone on record, through their national and local organizations as favor ing fluoridation. . 3. They are the Federal, State ! and Municipal health agencies, who have made exhaustive and unbiased studies over ten years' time. , i The authorities do agree. Fluoridation of drinking water reduces indcidence of dental de cay in children up to 65 per cent. Fluoridation does not cause harmful effects, in the concen trations used, to children, adults, animals, fish, birds, vegetation, or inert objects. John L. Welch, M.D. Doctors Clinic 1032 West Main St. : Medford, Oregon Leave Sugar Alone , , To the Editor: For many years it has been known positively that a high sugar diet and high incidence of dental caries (cavi ties) go hand in hand. Other de generative diseases, less obvious and probably more significant, also accompany a high sugar diet. Many of us parents are aware of these relationships and try to guide our children away from deleterious foods. ' But what a time we have! Parties and sweets are almost synonymous. ,Well wishing adults offer candy to the young sters. ' ; The wisdom of our research ers, which usually precedes pop ular knowledge by many, years (too many, top often) is not even felt in our schools. The schools foster sales of ; carbonated bev erages and ther sugar products. Even some medical doctors give suckers to little juniors for being good during a shot! Thank heavens for our South ern Oregon Dental association which flatly recommends cut ting out sweets entirely. Please, kindly well wishers, eat the suckers and other sweets yourselves, for you, no doubt, are beyond hope dentally and spare the little folks, that they may have a better chance of reaching maturity with 32 beau-' tif ul teeth in a healthy body! Irving S. Thomas Box 428-A, Route 1 . . Medford, Ore. Expense Compared To the Editor: Thank you so much for your editorial on "Fluoridation." ; I have two daughters, age 7 and 3. Both have been going reg ularly to the dentist since they were 2V& years old. If some peo ple think fluoridation would be expensive, they should, see the average family's dentist bills. I am delighted that the Mail Tribune is giving the public the facts. - T ; Thank you, it is appreciated. Mrs. Paul Norris -1481 Ridgeway dr. Medford, Ore. Replies lo "Sinner" To the Editor: From One Sinner to Another: I thoroughly agree with you for I have had some of the same experiences. My gripe is this, if you do not give large donations to the church, or in other words keep up with the businessman, you are not considered a Christian family. We receive records from our church telling us just how much we have given through the year, and we are also considered not a Christian family. Why? Be cause our donations are smalL They are just what we can af ford to give without . taking the food out of our mouths,, or the shoes off our feet. I always "thought church was a place for everyone, regardless of wealth, a place to go to pray and sing and meet friends aad make friends, a place to go with your troubles, and to give, what you feel you can. Nowadays one can't afford to go to church. I would like to start my child in Sunday school, but should I, if he is going to be pushed aside because his Mother and Daddy are on the non-Christian list? We sinners ought to get together, we might find we have a friend after all. ' Sinner No. 2 , (Name on file) Bouquets To the Editor: We are in a "bouquet-tossing" mood, and since, far too often, people are prone to air 'only their verbal brickbats, we'd like to publicize, instead, our posies. .They're tagged for the count less public utilities crews that are working day and night, long, cold, wet, and miserable hours, to . provide us, against stormy odds, with those facilities we ac cept so casually our roads, our phones, our power lines. All of these men deserve more ,' than just their pay checks in the way of appreciation. Specifically, we're grateful tonight to the Copco crew of four friendly, cheerful fellows who, though they'd been buck ing the elements since very early morning, stayed up in the hills for long and weary flours tonight, trudging through knee deep snow up and down the mountainside, until ' they har nessed their little pal, Reddy Kilowatt, and put him back to work for .us. The phone crews and the county road crews have been equally cooperative, and to each we are grateful. - ; Mr. and Mrs. Jack C. ' ' Petterson Route 2, Box 430 , Ramse"y Canyon rd. Gold Hill, Ore. Passenger Trains , To the Editor; That we do lave in " a changing world," is to be taken for granted.. Read an article in a midwest paper, "The Kansas Corporation Commission announced Jan. 11 it will hold a new hearing on the Missouri Pacific Railroad's application to discontinue operation of two daily passenger trains between Atchison' and Downs. The M.P., along with other R.R. lines, has been endeavoring to cancel local trains for a long time. Towns most affected have generally fought a losing battle to hold the trains." " We remember quite well when we rode one of above named passenger trains, before high way buses , were invented. One of the manifest trains was nick named "Calamity Jane." We never knew for sure why '- the train got the name. What ' our wonder is, that the passenger trains held up as long as they have since modern times have changed the ways of traveling. Bert Kissinger, 520 Boardman st, Apt 1 Medford, Ore. Seeks Her Rights To the Editor: Since we are all certain that we cannot fail to get our rights here in Amer ica, will someone tell me why I was cheated of mine? Laws say that working condi tions for. women must have a certain temperature, yet for sev en years I worked when called, L exposed to rain . and " snow and freezing temperatures. When my husband protested I said "why not work, we are safer than at home, because we' have accident insurance and sickness benefits, railroad retirement and sickness benefits. But alas! It was only on paper. Came the day of "great economy" and I worked with only one helper instead of , the usual five. Fruit rolled through the window uncontrolled, knock ing us and covering us, as we were in a small corner. There was no escape.- Finally , in des peration I pushed . at the tum bling boxes and when it was over I grew very ill. I reported totw o-bosses, but was told to help fill the next car and go see the doctor in the morning. I could only walk the floor in agony. After 20 hours I was able to see the doctor, who im mediately called for an opera tion, and after -18 months an other. I was called by the com pany to come and get the money due me from an error in 1950 wages. Blinded from hot glue that had splashed in my face I signed the supposed receipt. Guess what?? It was a work sheet naming the days and hours of labor, on those days and many more. I was in bed curing a fever. But now they say I worked, but didn't earn enough for benefits, since supposedly In Medford's Schools m$m P V? Pt I- v; MEXICAN VISITS Raul Noris (above, left) will leave for his home in Mexico City Feb. 25 after a two-month stay at the home of Gary McGill, (right) 116 Black Oak drive, while a student at Hedrick junior high school. His father is a Mexico City doctor. ; (Hedrick. Junior High Buzz-ette photo) Mexican Student Returns After Visiting in Medford Raul Noris, a 12- year- old ninth-grader from Secundria I military school in Mexico City has been an exchange student at Hedrick junior high school for the past two months. He left Saturday, Feb. 25. A guest of Gary McGill, 116 Black Oak drive, the youngster is paying his first visit to the United States. His father is a doctor at Hospital General and his moth er is a chemist at Maternity hospital in Mexico City. Complaint Filed Against Dentist A complaint seeking a temp orary restraining order against Lee Poirier,,, Jacksonville, was filed in circuit court Feb. 23 by Attorney General Robert Y. Thornton for the state board of denial examiners. ' . The board charges that Poir ier is practicing dentistry with out a certificate from, the board and is "openly, publicity, re peatedly, persistentently and in tentionally violating . . provision of ; . statutes . . detrimental to public health and welfare." : Poirier,- who has been ordered to appear before Circuit Court Judge Orville Millard March 6, was fined $200 in district court June 13, 1955, for practicing dentistry without a license after approximately a year's battle in the courts. : His attorney, O. H. Bengtson, filed an appeal which is- expect ed to be considered soon. Cub Scouts Pack 8 -:Pack 8 of the Cub Scouts held a blue and gold dinner cel ebrating 46 years of cubbing and scouting at the Jackson school cafeteria Thursday night. Dr. G. A. Dierdorff, local ven triloquist, provided entertain ment, Pack Dens were presented and Pack committee was intro duced. Wilson Smith was master of ceremonies, and John Lynch portrayed "Akela" in full Indian dress. Den 3, of which Mrs. Byron Griffith is Den mother, retained the attendance trophy cup for having the largest group pres ent. Harry Barneburg, neigh borhood - commissioner, spoke briefly on the importance of active parent participation in cub scout activities. ... 4-H Club News Antelope 4-H Sheep Club Antelope 4-H club now has a complete sheep club. We have five members, and will welcome anyone interested. The mem bers are Mike Higday, Donald Higday, Jim Williams, Jim Berg and Tommy Perdue. The next meeting will be held on March 9, at 7:30 p.m. at the Antelope Valley school. Jim Berg Reporter MILL WORKER KILLED Klamath FaUs (U.R) Eu gene Mayfield, 41-year-old Klam ath Falls millworker, was killed Saturday when his car skidded at a stop, street and rolled into the path of a truck on Highway 97 just south of here. Driver of the truck was Harry Mollotte, Seattle. ' He was not injured. one must earn $300. We all knpw that U. S. Railway Retire ment and Sickness begins and ends in July. And I had seven year's credit. - The president should have re ceived a letter, Congress knows it, and I believe U. S. Railroad Retirement has heard of it, all legal. So why does a polio vic tim get cheated "of benefits and have to pay doctor bills that are supposed to be covered? Harriette Hagerman . (maiden name) . 1375 South Columbus ave. Medford, Ore. . Mexican schools are in ses sion from February to Novem ber. Raul : described , Hedrick junior high as one of the best schools he has seen. Spanish classes in the school, which have received must help from the visitor, presented him with a viewer, pen and pencil set, and American jazz records. ' Ice cream, pie and milk are among his favorite United States foods, and he also enjoys American popular music. Students at the school pre sented Raul with a student body cap at a pep assembly last week as a remembrance of his Med ford stay. PATRIOTIC ASSEMBLY - Students in Mrs. Alice Webb's sixth grade home" room at Washington school presented a patriotic assembly program Feb. 24. Puppets for a show entitled "Washington's Visit to Betsy Ross" were made by the stu dents. A special stage was con structed by the children for the show. ' The history of the flag was told by displaying replicas of the various official flags of the United States. Proper- proce dure for the use and display of the flag was explained by "Old Glory" who answered questions presented by the children. " PURUCKER PIANO HOUSE presents Pointers for the Home Organist" An informal program of organ music and playing tips A t if:' "' ' v conducted by 111 North Central Avenue Sunday, February 26, 1956 Forestry School To Observe 50th Anniversary at OSC Corvallis The school of forestry at Oregon State college oldest forestry school west of the Rockies and fourth largest in the nation will celebrate "Fifty Years of Forestry at OSC"- March 3. Hundreds of the 1,411 gradu ates of the school during the 50 years are expected to attend cer emonies. The forestry school was made a four-year institu tion in 1906, although classes in forestry had been taught since 1892. The school is - considered one of the better in the nation with demand for. .its graduates far ahead of supply. A major reas on is that "graduates , are men ready and competent to work as foresters," according to ' W. F. McCulloch, dean of the school. OSC owns . forests . covering 13.502 acres which serve as vast outdoor laboratories. McDonald forest, seven miles north OSC, covers 6,761 acres, and is the center of daily student instruc tion. 3 Specialized Fields Courses in the school are in three specialized fields forest products and forest engineering. In all three, emphasis is on west coast forestry. Coupled with the four-year program, students must have six months of satisfactory field work in. some phase of forestry before graduation. OSC was the first of the nation's 35 four-year forestry schools to make the re quirement. McCulloch, who has ' been with "the school since 1937, is its fourth dean. : The first was George W. Peavy, dean from 1913 to 1941, who established most the policies now in effect He was followed by E. G. Ma son, acting dean until 1942 when Paul M Dunn was appointed. McCulloch succeeded Dunn ' in 1954. . Enrollment in the school of forestry is going up steadily. In 1951, 273 students were regis tered. The figure was up to 321 last year and to 362 this year. Grange Phoenix Grange Phoenix ',' Grange will cele brate its silver anniversary Tuesday, Feb. 28. Charter mem bers and 25 year members will be honored. It is hoped all Phoenix Grange members will make an effort to be present. There may be some who have not been contacted by the calling committee, but a ijeal one of America's fine organists 4 , 'Southern Oregon's Exclusive Hammond Dealer'' High School By NELLIE RAWLINGS ; Final elections for Student Government day are over and Dave Bosworth will act as mayor - for - a day. The fol lowing stu dents. were elected as c o u n cilmen: Ward I, Mira Fro hnmayer and Katherine Gott; Ward n, Monty Hoist and Honor S t a n s bury; Nellie Rawlings Ward HI, Sonja Peterson and Gary Shaffer; Ward IV, Janet Jamison and Sheila Spence. Many students recently com peted with other schols in vari ous types of competition. . Some of the school's artists have won honors in the. regional division of the National Scholas tic Art Awards held in Portland. Dorothy Allen, Pat Crofoot, Ron Wisdom, Jim Gordon, Carol Bal lard, and Betty Jamieson won gold keys. Johnie Jones, Bill Henderson, Pat Callaway, Linda Robertson, Lorita Jennings, Greta Ripfl, Marilyn Clear water, Bob Mitcheltree, Barbara Cox and Ann Stimson won Ex hibit Awards. Medfordites came back from the Linfield Tournament with the following results: . Bruce West, second in Interview; Mary LaBarr and , Ted Lawson from Hedrick Junior High, second in Junior Oratory; Eric Eitreim in Impromptu; David Frohnmayer in Extemp; and Harlow Head from Hedrick Junior High in effort has ben made to notify every member. . , Members attending the pot luck supper are to brine either a salad or vegetable unless other wise notified. ...... The supper will be at .7 p.m. A short business meeting will follow, and the program will fol low the meeting. You'll Always Find Reliability Uniformity Full Strength IN EVERY LOAD OF TRU-MIX CONCRETE -Trii-Mix Concrete Co.- FAST, PROMPT DELIVERY MeAndrewt Road Phone 2-5271 Porter Heaps Although professional organists are welcome to attend, this program is primarily for home or ganists and people who just like organ music. Here are some of the worthwhile things Mr Heaps will discuss and demonstrate on the Home and Spinet Organs: How to play a simple piece in one lesson. How to play and arrange popular music , chords, countermelodies, special rhythms. ' How to play special instrumental effects. Easy rules for handling the drawbars. Bring the whole family and your friends. There is no admission charge. . ;:ljiiie:?;';::::.' Monday Feb. 27th 8:00 P.M. Place Assembly of God Church 1 108 West Main - Medford Ml rin nl V Medford, Oregon MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE FIVS News Notes Junior Division Storytelling. - A group of student delegates from Medford attended the I. R. L. ' Convention in Eugene. . John Van Dyke, Bill Isaacs, Marilyn Olson, Deanna Camp bell, Nancy McKeown, Jim Boyd, John Reeder, Bill Frake, Kaye Christian, Dianna Russell, Marilyn Parsons, ,Sue Donna Doolen, Don Christenson, Mira Frohnbayer, Larry Gents, and Janet Perry, were the students attending from Medford. - Outstanding orchestra mem bers were selected to play in the All-State Orchestra, to be held in Portland March 14, 15, and 16. The following musicians will be attending: Deanna Campbell, Betty Hershiser, Doris Ryn, Ka ren Lytle, Shirley Stafford, Pa tricia Kahle, Terry Brereton, Carol McKinley, Freda Raw stern, Nancie - Walstead, Molry Walker, Ruth Phillips, and Son? ja Peterson. , : This orchestra will present a concert for the Oregon Educa tion "Association which will be broadcast over the radio and televised from Portland. Representatives of the Ore gon's state-supported colleges and universities were at the ' school on Wednesday, Feb. 22, and all seniors attended meet ings of the different college groups. This program was plan ned to help the seniors' find out about the college of their choice, and also tell them a little about other colleges in Oregon. 1 w f.:: UK K ?MAKIC I TO OPEN EVERY J k NIGHT TIL & llj. MIDNIGHT-1 V