MENTAL HEALTH

Kudos to Boise police;darts to state’s record

Great story on the police and mental health interventions. I would underscore two points.

First, having seen the Boise Police Department in action in hospital settings over the years, it is remarkable how professional, patient and temperate they have been in very challenging situations. They do extraordinary work, each day, with handling mental health patients. Social work presence with police has been scaled way back in recent years, further leaving the police to fend for themselves. The fact that they do so well is a tribute to them and the BPD leadership.

Second, the Idaho record around mental health care is abysmal. The lack of suicide support systems is a disaster. Acute crisis beds leaves patients with nowhere to go. Routine mental health beds are in chronic short supply. Access to assistance in rural communities is minimal. The shortage of psychiatrists means long delays in appointments. Use of involuntary holds has risen dramatically. Inadequate and incomplete care goes on and on.

We have a community crisis on our hands and the police have been forced into service to make up for the community’s failure to act. This is an appalling situation that needs to be addressed on a statewide level.

BEN MURRAY RN, MSN, Boise

WOLVES

Statesman editorialmisses the mark

In a recent Our View, the Idaho Statesman’s editorial board went out of its way to point out that Canadian wolves were reintroduced to Idaho (not introduced) — as if there exists irrefutable scientific evidence indicating that the Canadian subspecies that was transplanted here is genetically identical to the wolves that historically roamed the continental U.S.

There are four subspecies of moose in North America that possess verifiable genetic differences, the most obvious difference being body size. The further north the latitude, the larger and more robust the moose subspecies become. Since wolves prey upon moose, it’s logical to assume that the further north you go, bigger, stronger predators would naturally have to evolve to subdue bigger, stronger prey species (our moose and elk are simply no match for these northern heavyweight contenders).

The progeny of these Canadian wolves are roaming unchecked as far as 1,000 miles south of where they were originally trapped in Canada.

If U.S. scientists are OK with transplanting Canadian wolves, why not transplant Canadian salmon instead of spending mass sums to save Idaho’s unique sockeye subspecies?

Isn’t the ESA about preserving our own indigenous wildlife — as opposed to propagating some foreign, invasive subspecies?

MICHAEL F. HOWARD, Boise

CHIP SEAL ROCKS

Excess rocks causeproblems to drivers

On Tuesday Aug. 21 I was driving northbound from Kuna on Meridian Road when I heard a rock hit my windshield. I could not immediately see the chip, but it was evident later in the day as the crack raced across my driver’s side windshield.

Then on Aug. 24, I was again en route and hit by a rock in my driver’s side windshield, this time pitting the windshield good.

There is an excess of rock left over from the chip seal project and I would like to know if or when a sweeping was completed. I travel this route daily and I can visibly see all of the loose gravel on the road. I know that the intent is to “improve” road conditions, and use up the budgeted monies that weren’t used over the winter so the budget for the upcoming year remains. I am frustrated with this situation and on a road that has a 55 mph speed limit one would think there would be a heavier inspection of the outcome.

I carry insurance — but I am sure the intent of insurance isn’t to pick up slack where others fail to follow through.

Pitted and cracked,

MITZI BURRUS, Kuna

POWER TOYS

Off-road vehicles harmful to nature

The destruction of the Rocky Mountain West continues unabated as Americans’ insatiable appetite for power toys reaches new heights.

This, in a society which suffers from a 40 percent obesity rate, is a real paradox. Adolescents from 15 to 65 years of age are, knowingly or unknowingly, destroying our relationship with nature. Too many children are brought up to grab the yoke and hit the throttle, while too few are educated about the mental and physical benefits of hiking, climbing, skiing, swimming, paddling and sailing.

Our legislators and commissioners at all levels are under pressure from the ATV, ORV, watercraft and snowmobile manufacturers and dealers to expand the use of these vehicles into more and more of our last wild places. Organizations with ambiguous sounding names like the Blue Ribbon Coalition and Idaho Recreation Council are leading the charge.

The owner of a garage full of these motorized toys doesn’t fancy being told where and how they may be used, considering the size of his investment. There are good ATV users who stay on established trails, but another 20 to 30 percent are on a power trip to destroy mountainsides and streambeds. We need to stop this invasion so that we may continue to enjoy these natural wonders.

CHET BOWERS, Boise

ABORTION

Save the children

In regard to Carol De Vito’s letter, Aug. 22. She has it right. Those of you who believe in the murder of innocent babies have it all wrong. Every man and women has the right to birth control — it is call keeping your clothes on until wedlock. Those who have sex before this also run the chance of getting an STD. Many are not curable. Free sex is not free. In the case of rape, according to what I have read, pregnancy occurs only in 1 to 2 percent of the cases. Many women who were raped and got an abortion are now suffering emotionally because of the extra trauma caused by the abortion.

Women also can opt to give the child up for adoption. This saves the child’s life and if the mother wants, she can see the child often if an open adoption is chosen. Those who want free sex need to think about the babies they want to kill. It is a very selfish want. There is also help at local pregnancy care centers for women who chose life for their baby.

CHARLES WINCHESTER, Meridian

WORLD WAR II

Dropping bombsdid not end conflict

As a student of the history of World War II, I believe too much credit is given to the atomic bombs. They alone did not end the war. To the Japanese high command, the real battle had not yet begun. This would take place on their home islands themselves. The expected American invasion would have been utterly destroyed and massacred by human wave after human wave of thousands of fanatical Japanese military and civilians. This defeat would force America to sue for peace.

However, when Joseph Stalin, dictator of the Soviet Union, as per agreement with the allies, ripped up the nonaggression pact, declared war on Japan Aug. 8, 1945, and launched the Red Army’s massive invasion of Manchuria and the Kuril Islands chain, it forced Japan into an unwinnable two-front war like Nazi Germany.

With America possessing its horrific nuclear weapons and the Russian juggernaut battering down the back wall convinced Emperor Hirohito to surrender unconditionally while there was still time.

DUANE A. COATES, Meridian