>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

In article in The Observer July 29 "Official: No need for panic," Kelly Beehler, Union County vector coordinator said the larvicide he uses does not have a toxic effect on any other insects. "Literally, it wouldn't hurt a fly."

Yet Bacillus thuringiensis or Bt.i. is known to have devastating effects on black fly larva and many other insects. When questioned, Beehler said "it just sounded good." That same cliche is commonly used by owners of vicious dogs before they attack a pet or child.

Beehler monitors for high larva levels in water and then applies Bt.i. And, yes, it kills the things that wiggled. So, success! Or is it?

Let's consider the collateral damage. Bt.i. is killing off huge numbers and varieties of insect life that humans are rarely aware of since they don't bite us. It radically depletes the bottom level of the food chain in marshy areas which effects everything from water striders and dragonflies to fish, bats and swallows.

In a six-year study on 27 wetlands in Minnesota, researchers found 179 genera of aquatic insects. About 80 were various types of Chironomids, non-biting midges crucial as food for fish. After three years of treatment with Bt.i. only six types remained.

The study concluded that Bt.i. application had an extreme potential for a negative food web effect.

A responsible answer to West Nile is to take personal precautions, not to destroy the entire natural system that mosquitoes are an essential part of. Vector control is creating a larger problem than mosquitoes are posing. We should stop using tax money to poison our environment.

Mary McCracken, La Grande

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Some of our senators are worried about how our soldiers would be treated if we do not afford the GITMO detainees rights under the Geneva Convention.

This debate is the classic apples and oranges scenario. These prisoners are from a radical group, not a national army, who make war on the rest of the world by bombing and terrorizing the civilian populations and who fight by no established rules of warfare. They have signed onto no such agreements as the Geneva Convention, and

wouldn't be likely to keep such an agreement if they ever signed one.

The tribunals in this case should not in any sensible way harm our world standing under the Geneva Convention, nor be a breaking of our agreement under same. Of course the key word here is "sensible.''

The idea that our Supreme Court would accord these folks the protections given legitimate soldiers or honest citizens is ludicrous.

What have these intelligent and "supremely qualified justices" and some of our senators been smoking that does not allow them to see the difference?

If we continue to play the politically correct game or the game that says we must treat them respectfully so as not to lower ourselves to their level we could lose the battle and then they will lower our level for us.

Let's imagine that through the cowardice of our allies, the chicanery of our own main- stream media and bad judgment of our politicians, the Jihadists are able to neuter the United States by playing the propaganda, or world-opinion game well enough and long enough to gain world dominance.

How many accords such as the Geneva Convention do you think they would allow the rest of mankind? For your answer ask the people of Afghanistan about the compassion of the Taliban.

Gary Poole, Wallowa

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Hed here

To the Editor:

The article on Elgin brought back so many memories. Especially, I remember several times in the late 1940s and 1950s when with my small band we played in the Opera House before film time and we never had to use a mike and amplifier. The acoustics in that old building were great.

I also played the old Rex Hall, the American legion building and one time the high school gym.

Thanks for the memory.

Roy Hills, Island City