Stories from Monday, June 11, 2007

The Mountain Home Police Department is in a crisis regarding its records, Police Chief Tom Berry told the Mountain Home City Council last week. "We do have quite a backlog of work," Berry said. To help with the problem the department will be prioritizing reports based on importance and need. Berry said the department also will increase the hours of its part-time employee and may look into volunteer help to answer the phones...

It's a long ways away until next year's presidential election, but the race is already underway with at least 18 candidates running in the two major parties and scores of minor party candidates desperately trying to get noticed. The early launching of the presidential election has been heavily criticized in some quarters, but it may not be such a bad thing...

Dear editor: I have read with a great deal of interest the communications between Courtney Hiler, Ted Mikolajczyk and Mike Bradbury. Their passion for their beliefs and their convictions are very evident in their letters. I remember when I was a young NCO and my supervisor would listen to my justifications to some actions I had just taken and he would say, "You are right, but you are wrong!" This applies in their case...

Dear editor: Jim Ward's "history lesson" might sound OK on paper, but not the paper our country was founded upon. Our Constitution, that ageless parchment that nobody ever reads, does NOT designate the United States to be the "world's policeman." George Washington himself, warned us NOT to get involved in foreign affairs, yet, over the past six decades, our government has developed a nasty habit of allowing the U.N. to lead us into chaotic situations that don't concern us...

Dear editor: Our family has been a part of the Elmore County Youth Baseball program since 1986. We have seen how it is supposed to be, should still be and can be again. Back then, all players had a fair and equal chance to learn the game and develop their skills. They enjoyed the game because they got to play and be a part of the team...

Dear editor: Commencement for the Class of 2007 was held Friday, May 25, at Tiger Field. Mountain Home High School would like to thank the community of Mountain Home for all their support this year. Not only did the community award these students with over $52,000 in local scholarships, it also supported all of our athletic and activity programs throughout the year...

Dear editor: Some comments on Jack Streeter's letter which appeared in your paper on May 23: Love of country, for Americans, does not equate to love of the current president. Many of us believe that President Bush got us involved in an unjust, unnecessary and unwinnable war in Iraq. His decision to invade that country was based on questionable intelligence and false pretense...

Mark Charles Chappell, 25 -- domestic battery. Coty Jan Frampton, 22 -- disturbing the peace. Jefferie John Werry, 44 -- DUI. Ladevarian Marquis Veal, 21 -- domestic battery. Ramona Monica Zamora, 32 -- battery (two counts). Richard Anthony Bernt, 49 -- possession of paraphernalia...

Using a college classroom as their forum, a team of former military service members and college educators briefed more than 20 military members here on a program to help them become future educators in the nation's public school system. Started in 1994 by the Department of Education, the Troops to Teachers program offers guidance, mentorship and grants to help those with at least six years service to make the transition from military life to the classroom...