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Rogue River is not a private roller coaster ride

Imagine your child floating down a safe section of the Rogue, then getting capsized by a commercial jet boat doing 360s and not even slowing down. Imagine coming around a blind corner of the river and having to take evasive action as a commercial jet boat comes barreling upstream with no room to maneuver.

Now imagine water pumps clogging with debris, streamside shade trees falling from eroded banks, and salmon and steelhead spawning grounds being decimated from huge wakes caused by lack of common boating etiquette.

You don’t need to imagine, just visit Touvelle Park since the county has allowed Rogue Jet Boat Adventures to take over public land. Is it really shared use to destroy the thing you are trying to capitalize on?

Your jet boat article lacked journalistic balance and was practically an advertisement for a private company that has illegally taken over the TouVelle Park swimming area, despite decades of historical shared use for swimming, fishing, and family floats.

We all want the public to enjoy this crown jewel of the Rogue Valley, but the river is not a private roller coast ride that needs high-speed entertainment. There are myriad ways to enjoy the Rogue without destroying it and endangering human and animal life. The risks outweigh the rewards, unless you put money above life.

If you want an aquatic roller coaster, try Splash Mountain or the Redding water slides, not the Rogue River.

David Tourzan / White City

HB2002 letter writer’s complaint doesn’t add up

The writer of the letter regarding HB2002 giving minors the right, without parental consent, to obtain a life-changing surgery gave me pause.

I would like to ask one question: How many minors have managed to squirrel away, without their parents knowledge, the $100K-plus to cover the surgical cost of transition surgery?

Mary Lewis / Coburg (formerly of Medford)