LTE bug

Support recreational liability waivers

Flywheel Bicycles, my bike shop in Talent, unfortunately was lost to the Almeda Fire. After two years of a challenging rebuild, we reopened in November 2022. While purchasing insurance for Flywheel, my insurance broker couldn’t find an underwriter to cover bicycle rentals.

The problem is Oregon courts will not honor the liability waivers our customers would need to sign before renting a bike.

Renting demo bikes to prospective buyers is a powerful sales tool.

It helps customers find the perfect new bike for their riding style.

But without enforceable liability waivers, we worry about the costs associated with a potential lawsuit and cannot continue this program for fear of losing Flywheel, yet again.

I’ve joined Protect Oregon Recreation, a broad coalition of recreation and fitness providers across the state, to urge passage of SB 754 in the Oregon Legislature.

The bipartisan bill restores a balanced, long-standing legal liability standard that exists in every other western state: Individuals accept responsibility for engaging in inherently risky activities, and businesses accept responsibility for maintaining the required safety standards of its operations and facilities.

As a small rural business owner, I’m concerned if we don’t restore this balanced approach, small businesses and rural communities will disproportionately bear the brunt of reduced access and higher costs for recreation options.

We urge you to support this bipartisan effort. To learn more, visit www.protectoregonrec.org.

Peter Lunoak / Talent

Climate crisis or climate fraud?

Our oligarchical media has been screaming “climate crisis” for several decades now, claiming that we are approaching the tipping point of “irreversible climate disaster.” Burning fossil fuel is causing catastrophic CO2 emissions that is overheating the planet.

But where is the proof that CO2 is causing significant global warming? There have been major ice ages lasting thousands of years in the past as well as much warmer periods than we are experiencing now. Climate is ALWAYS changing but is it a crisis? Do we have to shut down civilization “to save ourselves?”

There are four CO2 molecules for every 10,000 air molecules. Mankind-generated CO2 is less than even one of those 4 molecules. The other 3+ molecules come from nature — the oceans, forests, volcanoes etc.

There is simply no evidence that our planet is experiencing a “climate crisis.” Climate hysteria is a junk-science ruse being used by global oligarchs to impose world government.

Their latest manipulation is “the digital dollar” — you will not be able to buy or sell without government approval, particularly if you have exceeded your “carbon credit allowance” for the month.

Eternal vigilance remains the price for liberty.

Tom Clunie / Ashland

County policies harm shelter dogs

In response to repeated requests from Friends of the Animal Shelter (FOTAS) volunteers to be able to walk dogs at the Jackson County Animal Shelter on Mondays, county representative Stacy Brubaker stated in a KTVL-TV Ch. 10 interview recently that “keeping the dogs in their kennels one day won’t kill them.”

This attitude has led the county to enact policies that have resulted in twice the euthanizations in 2021 and 2022 as in 2019, when FOTAS was more involved, and has led to the shelter being designated as a kill shelter.

So, yes it will.

J. DeFranco / Ashland

A new ‘Fantastic’ Oregon sports star

One new Oregon sports legend stepped up to achieve national fame, while another icon claimed his celestial accolade this weekend.

As a former Southern California high school track athlete of no renown, I was impressed by the success of legendary Oregon track and field stars “Fos” and “Pre” (Fosbury and Prefontaine), both of whom set national standards for their events.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see a Netflix movie released soon in homage to the Fosbury “Flopper” from Medford.

And now a local high school athlete from Crater joins the Oregon Sports “Fantastics” by breaking the 5,000-meter record held by former University of Oregon track star Edward Cheserek.

As a high school student headed to Washington, Tyrone Gorze will undoubtedly join present Southern Oregon Hall of Famers Dick Fosbury, Olympic swimmer Don Schollander, Heisman Trophy winner Terry Baker, pro basketball great Bill Walton, Gridiron stars Fred Spiegelberg, Ahmad Rashad and Norm Van Brocklin, MLB All-Star Mickey Lolich, and wrestler Les Gutches, among a host of others who have put Oregon athletes on the map.

Michael Mace / Ashland