Scrutinize our potential new neighbor

Recently, it was learned that Granite Construction has agreed to complete a package of three Yaquina River Basin habitat enhancement projects at Granite's expense, combined with paying a reduced fine, to settle a $240,000 pollution penalty in the state of Oregon. The original fine was levied against Granite for discharging sediments into the Yaquina River and its tributaries.

More recently, it was learned from a San Diego newspaper that San Diego city auditors are investigating $9.4 million charged by Granite Construction and another company for possible overcharges for work performed. A letter from San Diego City Attorney Michael Aguirre to the companies states that the article "raises the possibility that original information originally printed on the 'weight tickets' and/or 'weight receipts' at the landfill sites were subsequently either tampered with or fraudulently changed by representatives of your companies or another unknown person."

The article states that Granite and the other company charged the city millions more than stated in their contracts. Further, in Granite's own SEC filing, under Legal Proceedings, there is an action against Granite Construction Co. as a member of a joint venture being sued to recover damages and civil penalties in excess of $46.4 million. Even if we ignore all of the Liberty Quarry issues relating to air pollution, health hazards, irreparable damage and harm to the San Margarita Ecological Reserve, and misrepresentations in their advertisements, I ask you: What kind of corporation is this that wants to be our neighbor?

Fred Bartz

Temecula

Where to begin on response to writer?

Mr. Sam Hendricks Jr. (Letters, Aug. 14) is confused. (1) Few scientists mistook the "tooth of a pig" for that of a human. Scientists, not creationists, correctly identified the tooth. The tooth was from a peccary. Peccaries aren't pigs. (2) All primates have sweat glands. (3) Like many birds, parrots imprint easily on sounds heard when they are young, and they can be taught to make sounds that resemble human speech. But you can't converse intelligently with a parrot. However, you can teach a chimpanzee to communicate a limited vocabulary, and you can converse with the chimp. It's been done. (4) Pig skin is readily and cheaply available for temporary grafting to humans. Skin from other primates is not. (5) Whether other primates are "loved" by dogs and porpoises is irrelevant. (6) Of course gorillas and marmosets can't cross-breed. Why should they? (7) Mice and rats are used for medical experiments because they are small, they reproduce quickly, and they are easily managed in limited space. Their genes and organs are sufficiently similar to ours for some research because they are mammals, and we have a common ancestor. That's evidence for evolution, not against it. However, other primates are indeed used for medical research. Hasn't Mr. Hendricks heard about the protests of animal rights activists at primate research facilities? (8) Most primates have humanoid faces when they are babies. (9) Darwin never claimed to "prove" anything in the Galapagos.

Curtis Croulet

Temecula

What counts: The good we do for others

It's been said "It's not the world but the people in it." That's true of everything. Good, bad and in between. It can be something major or petty.

Many people do things out of just the goodness of their heart. But it's the ones who retaliate for a minor grievance that are the most aggravating. They may not create a major disturbance but they can still be annoying. Sometimes it starts way back in school and progresses into old age.

Sometimes we can't have everything we want, can't be in control or the center of attention. We just have to "go with the flow" and try to cope with our feelings. With me, when I get that way, I disassociate myself from the world for a short time until I get over it. I don't try to make someone else pay.

None of us run the world by ourselves. The best we can do is the good we do for others.

Vivien Carpentier

Temecula

Let's just let them be he/shes

I would like to have someone tell me why we have only two kinds of people? He and she? Some people were born both he and she. They don't know why, but they have the genes of both he and she.

I was so sad to see on TV that a man changed his body to be a woman. His children were all crying on the TV and did not want anything to do with him/her. He/her seem like a really good person and still seem to care for his children. He/she was not a bad person that I could see. Why couldn't these children see that because someone is born a he/she that they did not plan it that way? Maybe we should let people put an end to all of this by just saying that they are a he/she and stop telling people they are gay or wanting to marry someone the same sex -- they are both he and she.

We need to put this on the license: He and She are going to marry He or she whatever they are. All this fuss about people marrying the same sex is not what it is. How about like this: He/She John Smith will marry Pete Jones, or he/she Sally Smith will marry she Gold Joins.

The thing I am trying to say is we have people that are he/she and they were born that way.

Marian Cowles

Lake Elsinore

Election shenanigans hit new low

Richard Knapp Sr., who is running against the incumbent for Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District's Division 4, had his car fire-bombed and the fire department has concluded it to be arson.

Is this a coincidence? In the past, elections have come and gone but never have election shenanigans escalated or risen to have caused expensive property damage destroying a candidate's vehicle. The car fire erupted at Knapp's home at 11 p.m. and had the individuals been asleep, it could have caused great bodily injury to them and their home. By the grace of God, a young man saw the fire and alerted them, saving not only their home but their lives.

Who is behind this random act of violence? Is it indeed random or is it a coordinated attempt to intimidate and eliminate political obstacles? Who else is being targeted and what is going to happen next, making this an unsafe city to run against the opposition. I hope the citizens/taxpayers keep their eyes and ears open, remain vigilant and become knowledgeable about the people they elect to office. I hope the candidates backed by special interest groups aka big money in all essence will not prevail. Educate yourself -- read the newspapers. Don't be persuaded by an abundance of big, costly signs and make your independent choice at the voting booth in November.

My heartfelt wish is the honest and ethical ones deserving of acquiring public office will prevail.

Chris Hyland

Lake Elsinore