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White House Commends Us!

To the editor:

I saw your piece on the Cameron County Area School District's discussion on student drug testing, and I just wanted to share some information with you.

Many thanks for enlightening your readers about this critical issue, and keep up the great work.

Anyone interested in more information about student drug testing is encouraged to check out our online resources, located at randomstudentdrugtesting.org.
Stephen E. Schatz
Public Affairs Specialist
The White House Office
of National Drug
Control Policy

Don't Mess With The 'Ho, Ho, Ho'

To the editor:

Mac's "Through an Old- Timer's Eyes" column last week about the effort to ban Santa Claus's popular "Ho, ho, ho!" was right on target.

In their infinite wisdom, some people are worried that the phrase may be confused by children to mean the commonly used U.S. slang meaning a prostitute.

What about this team of reindeer Santa has working for him only once a year to haul his politically incorrect physique around the globe? Dasher is clearly gay; Dancer, Prancer, and Vixen - need I say more?

Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph - an Englishmen, German, and an Irishman clearly wasted and in need of some form of rehab (especially that one with the red nose).

What's up with all those little men Santa has working for him at his secret hideaway back at the North Pole? How did we ever miss this one?

And, have you been naughty or nice, little girl?

I'm tired of these sissies and pansies ruining everything that is good and wholesome for all of the rest of us. Just keep your lame thoughts to yourself or in the classroom at your local university psych class. You are treading on thin ice messing with Santa!

Blake Thomas Baker County, Fla.

Deer Drive? Been There, Done That!

To the editor:

What is a deer drive? I have asked this question many times to myself.

Finally, a few weeks ago I asked the district forester for Elk State Forest what exactly do the field crews mean when they say we need to do a deer drive?

As the clerk-typist at Forest District 13, I do many tasks for the foresters, and the field crews (fence, road maintenance, fire, etc.).

I see and hear about the different activities scheduled for the other employees. Finally, I had the opportunity to go on a "deer drive."

After the harvesting of timber on a contract sale, to allow the forest a chance to regenerate naturally, a woven wire or electric fence is installed to keep the deer from browsing on the new saplings.

Prior to closing the fence, a group of individuals walk through the area to make sure there are no deer within the fence.

The number of individuals is determined by the size of the area. It could be anywhere from as few as five to as many as a dozen.

The individuals all start at a destination and spread out, then walk slowly, occasionally making noise, to startle and, with any luck, to chase the deer out the opening.

Once this has been accomplished, the fence is secured and the area is free to regenerate. The fence then remains intact for a period of time (approximately five years) and then is removed.

It's amazing to see all the different types of activities that are required to sustain a forest. Forestry is much more than just cutting down trees.

So the next time I hear someone discussing a deer drive, I can say, "Been there, done that!"

Dorothy Hastings

Emporium