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Morning-after pill

Last week as I was watching Pacific Northwest News on cable, I saw an article on the morning-after pill.

The station asked for viewers' comments on the availability of this pill in our area, i.e. the Northwest.

What really grabbed my attention was that the callers I heard were totally polarized to either pro-life or pro-abortion. What I didn't hear mentioned was that if the people who may use the morning-after pill were practicing safe sex the pill would not, in most cases, be necessary.

While a child may be a blessing or a curse, HIV is forever and is potentially fatal. In today's society sexual responsibility is necessary to insure one's survival. The spontaneous-abortion medication is like closing the gate after the cows have gotten out.

- Harry De Vore, Medford

They need a union

We find Mr. Alston's statements in your March 18 article on temporary workers pathetic. Perhaps this article should have been printed in the crime report section rather than the business section. The slave market of temporary labor companies is compared

to labor unions. Those seeking this type of employment service often qualify for public assistance just to exist. Many times there are several of these families living in one small rented house. That helps makes us like Third World countries where the rich bosses have it all.

The wages earned by people dispatched from a union hall afford the workers a decedent wage, health care, and pension benefits instead of coffee and donuts. Most labor unions dispatch by the modern telephone to the worker's house.

Your article indicates the job applicants have to report at 5 in the morning to be considered for employment. This company then will deliver the job seekers because the wage earned is not enough to enable these poor people to afford their own transportation.

How benevolent! What these people need is a union!

- Walt Conner, secretary/treasurer, Southern Oregon Building Trades

Going to the dogs

This is a dog story! Do you know that the Medford Park and Recreation Department has a plan to build a fenced exercise pen, so dogs can run loose and play?

As I understand it, this is about a two acre parcel near the Bear Creek Park, they need more money to complete this project. My suggestion is that everyone in the area who owns a dog send something to the department even if only one dollar with a note that

it be used to complete the doggy play pen, it might make you feel good to know that you had a part in it, it not only will be great for the dogs but brings the owners together for a little social time.

I even have a name for it, how about "Canine corral?" or maybe a contest for another name?

- Ellen Barker Gatter, Phoenix

Schools overdue

I would like to urge all parents of Patrick Elementary School students to support the Central Point district bond measure. Many of the district's facilities are long overdue for replacement, including Hanby Middle School. We have a strong commitment from Superintendent

Mike McClain to locate a new middle school in the Gold Hill area. What we need to do to assure this is to vote yes on the May 19 ballot measure.

Patrick is a wonderful school for our kids, but if you have ever been at school on a rainy day (and we've had a few this year) you know how limited the covered areas are for students to use during recess. Included in the proposed levy are funds to build a covered play area at Patrick.

For our schools to continue to effectively meet the educational needs of our children, we need to improve the district facilities now. See you at the polls!

- Julie Brimble, Patrick Elementary School PTA president

Exporting jobs

What a great article in the Sunday, March 1, Mail Tribune: "Coos Bay waits for rebirth." I am really surprised you ran that Associated Press story.

For years exaggerations have been spread about the spotted owl causing Oregon mills to close. Now we see that Oregon has been exporting logs as fast as they can cut them. Read that exporting jobs!