The San Bernardino County Sun from San Bernardino, California • Page 9

WEDNESDAY, February 13, 1991 The Sun A9 TheSun BROOKS JOHNSON Publisher ARNOLD H. GARSON Editor MIKE WHITEHEAD Managing Editor MARIE SAULSBURY Managing EditorSunday RICHARD 8. KIMBALL Editorial Page Editor Editorials 6Vr- -TTiK-r DeWayne fffi Wlckham Timely rescue of historic depot East Mojave Desert groups that banded together to save the 67-year-old Kelso Depot can justly take pride in their success. The residents, ranchers, miners and others raised $20,000 to restore the depot and, more importantly, put the spurs to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

The hard-earned payoff was the recent announcement that the BLM is riding to the rtBoeu rescue of the depot. The two-story, Mission-style stucco building in the little town of 28 has been vacant for the past five years. For more than a half century, however, the depot and its cafe took care of BERNARDINO COUNTY Dawes Jj sun staff passengers who had to pause on their transcontinental journey while the engines were serviced. The depot also once served as the town's restaurant, dance hall, courtroom and church. The Union Pacific Railroad, which had planned to tear down the depot, now will sell it to the BLM for $1.

The federal agency also will buy the surrounding land. In addition to saving the depot from the wrecking ball, the BLM already has budgeted $195,000 to renovate the building and preserve it as a desert visitors' center and museum. It also hopes to lease the old cafe and 20 hotel rooms on the second floor. Although passenger trains no longer stop in Kelso, the town's ties to the tracks continue. Of the 28 residents, almost all work for the railroad or are related to someone who does.

Crews based in Kelso cover 50 miles of tracks, switches and signals, and also maintain a 30-mile stretch of trees that serve as a windbreak for the tracks. The Kelso station is one of the few remaining examples of its architectural style and is among the premier historical structures of the East Mojave. Its preservation is vital to preserving the county's past. Vte'Re, WAY AHftfo in BoDYewr VOICE OF THE PEOPLE Meadow threatened In the San Bernardino Mountains, near Green Valley Lake, there's a beautiful spring-fed meadow olT Forest Service road 2N19 that is a popular stop for hikers and cross-country skiers. The area, Little Green Valley, also is popular with wildlife.

Deer can safely fawn there, and the area contains suitable habitat for more than 24 species of animals and plants. This fragile area, part of the San Bernardino National Forest, now is threatened. Forest Service officials plan to lease up to 45 acres of this land to American Sports Kids Association for private use as a camp and headquarters. This will result in exclusion of the public. The plans cull for paving miles of Forest Service roads, bulldozing an area for an athletic field, construction of new buildings, remodeling of old buildings, year-round housing for executives, a helipad, and attendance by as many as 300 children and 40 staff members per week.

The Audubon Society, Sierra Club, Wilderness Society, Save Our Forest Association and local mountain residents are opposed to plans for a camp at this site. There are now 86 organization camps within the national forest that provide valuable services to children. In contrast, there are only 10 of the fragile wet meadows remaining in this entire forest. The rest have been destroyed by development. The draft environmental impact statement on this project is now available for public comment.

The alternative we prefer calls for removal of the camp from this area. The interests of both people and wildlife can best be met by requiring that this camp be relocated to a less sensitive area. You may request copies of the impact report, request a public hearing on this mutter and make comments to: Paul Weeden, Acting Forest Supervisor, San Bernardino National Forest, 1824 S. Commer-center Circle, San Bernardino 92408. Comments are due by Feb.

19. SALLY PEARCE S.B. Valley Audubon Society Running Springe Colton's negligence Cotton's inaction has placed its industries in jeopardy. Failure to enforce federal water quality laws may well lead to bankruptcy for many firms who, with the apparent blessing of city officials, have discharged pollutants way above levels considered safe by the Environmental Protection Agency and California. If city officials had spent a small fraction of their time assisting these firms to meet the requirements, rather than trying to defend their actions under the guise of protecting these same businesses, they wouldn't be in hot water now.

Citizens deserve and want open and honest government, a place to live where their water is as pure as possible, and the assurance that responsible government officials are doing their jobs properly. The contamination of river water, violations found by the Highway Patrol on city vehicles, violations found by Cal-OSIIA and the sloppy way cily finances are handled along with more than 2,000 violations of the Clean Water Act and the muss exodus of key employ Restroom equality has limits wr- mr ill women stand is?" VV That's the question a lot of people are asking about a pilot plan to install urinals in women's restrooms at Baltimore's aging stadium. Imagine that. Actually, the female version of the urinal is called a "she-inal," and it is designed to get women in and out of public restrooms with the ease men are thought to enjoy. That's right.

Potty parity that elusive equalizer of the sexes has finally arrived. The movement toward bathroom equality has been afoot for some time, but it took on greater urgency last year after a woman in Houston made national headlines when she was arrested for using a men's room during a country-western concert. Police charged Denise Wells with "causing a disruption" after she bolted from a long line outside a women's restroom to relieve herself inside a men's room, where there was no wait. Telling a jury she "took the only option I felt was available." Wells was acquitted of any wrongdoing for her foray. But the media attention that her arrest and trial generated focused new attention on this old problem.

Over the years, several states have enacted laws requiring new public buildings to have more toilets for women than men a concession to the belief that female anatomy and dress force women to take more time. But the "she-inal" takes potty parity to a new and troubling level. If this thing catches on, women will use a funnel-like device to stand up and urinate in public restrooms, thus presumably saving the time it now takes to maneuver over soiled toilet seats. "Most females don't sit on toilet seats in public bathrooms," says Kuthic Jones, president of Urinette, of Pensacola, Fla. Her firm manufactures the "she-inal." Instead, she says her research shows that more than 90 percent of women who use public rest-rooms "cover the seats with toilet paper or hover in midair." "I can't imagine that women enjoy doing either," she adds.

If women take a liking to the "she-inals" at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium, an official of the Orioles baseball team said, they will become a fixture in the city's new stadium. According to Jones, the female urinals also will gel a tryout this spring on the campus of the University of Tenncssee-Knox-ville and at the Tampa and Pensacola airports. An independent marketing firm will be used in Baltimore to figure out whether women will stand for the introduction of "she-inals" in their stadium restrooms. Questioning women about this device will give new meaning to the term "exit interview." Of course, I'm all for just about anything that will afford women a status equul to that of men asssuming that's what they want in all cases. But it seems to me that putting urinals in women's restrooms is a step in the wrong direction.

Unless women enjoy some un-atomical advantage of which I am unaware, they, too, will struggle to mukc proper use of a waste disposal system thut they are required to target from a distance. It only takes one trip into a men's room to know the trouble we have using a urinal. Vanity and a distorted sense of machismo, I believe, keep us from demanding more toilets and fewer urinals in our restrooms. I suspect the "she-inal" will be a bigger success overseas where people are more accustomed to roughing it than here in the U.S. Already, it seems to be catching on in Australia.

Ever since the demise of the outhouse, people in this country have had little tolerance for restrooms that lack the comfort of a commode. "Anything new like this will have a learning curve to it," Jones answers. And of course, she's right. But the question still begs. "Will women stand for this?" Wlckham la Gannett Neva Service columnist.

ees doesn't paint a pretty picture of Cotton. That eventually affects the property values of all homeowners. DARYL L. MEECH DON L.HERRON Collon Jail-fee fairness Instead of taking action to resolve the jail booking fee dispute, everyone involved seems to want to blame someone else. From all angles of government, we get the same message: "It's not our fault, and only by raising taxes can we solve the problem." The most reasonable and ethical solution is that those arrested should be made responsible for their own booking fees.

What a novel idea that we should require people to be responsible for their actions! It has been reasonably suggested that a great portion of those who are arrested couldn't pay for their own processing. In the case of the truly indigent or physically or mentally ill, that's probably true. But wouldn't this be an excellent opportunity to guide these people into any necessary programs, already designed and funded by the public, and provide them with the kinds of service and help they require? Aren't these programs supposed to keep these people out of jail in the first place? As for those real criminals who can't pay their fees, don't we want these people in jail, anyway? I wouldn't mind paying a little extra if we could keep the criminals in jail until they're educated to their responsibilities. For those who do have the means, pay up! True, the fact that someone is arrested doesn't mean that he or she is guilty; however, if, in the end, your culpability is evident, why should anyone else pay your way? WM. JEFFREY STAUDER San Bernardino Outraged by cartoon I'm outraged and disappointed by your recent editorial cartoon criticizing the expansion plan of Sacred Heart Church in Redlands.

You need to take another look at Sacred Heart's children. The children see things more from God's view, with unconditional love and peace. Everyone is a potential friend, even in a war-torn world. On June 19, Sacred Heart had its annual parish picnic. I invited Vanessa, a 6-year-old victim of domestic violence and cancer, who is now adopted.

At the picnic, Vanessa was reunited with her brothers and sisters, sharing love and peace with all of Sacred Heart's children. On Aug. 14, 1 brought a 75-year-old lady who was a victim of elder abuse. She was welcomed by Father Michael Cuozzo and the little children of Sacred Heart with a smile and hello. The victim relates to the children.

They can't hurt her. Isn't there something we can learn from this? EDNAM.HARKINS Facilitator I Can Make It Cancer Support Group Redlande Holcomb's empty promise Spending a weekend in San Bernardino for the first time since I was involved in the Wilcox-Hol-comb campaign, I wondered how the city had fared under the Hoi-comb regime. I was surprised to leurn that the city clerk who had certified all of the questionable absentee bullets had been named city administra tor. This, in spite of the fact that she has neither the education nor experience normally required for such a position. I could only conclude that the play I attended there, "Born Yesterday," was a tribute to Bob Holcomb's first two years in office.

I was surprised to learn that the Norton Air Force Base problem wasn't solved, crime was still growing and city government was larger. Since Evlyn Wilcox's program to improve the city's appearance was branded a waste of time and money during the campaign, I was surprised to read that Holcomb is giving priority to beautifying downtown. As I drove around the city, I tried hard to see signs of improvement. I saw one. The burned out in MARUKO now is lighted.

Not bad for a man who promised so much! JOSEPH 0. CUMMINGS Chula Vista Face naked truth It looks like Redlands officials don't know what to do with the nudist colony, which is part of the newly inherited land in the San Timo-teo Canyon area annexed from the county. Is this a perfect example of their being afraid of, or not knowing how to handle, the bare facts and naked truth? COLMAN MATYAS Mentone Support U.S. soldiers I've been brought up in a patriotic family. I believe you should support those who are at war or defending people's rights and freedom.

In August, when our men and women were sent overseas, I didn't think anything of it. Then in September, I read your article, "To any soldier, Operation Desert Shield." I wrote four letters to that address and two men responded. They were Lance Cpl. Adolph Israel Cortez and John Cook. Hearing from these two young men and finding out their duties has helped me to appreciate the importance of our armed forces.

I support President Bush's decision to start with air attacks. And when I saw the badly bruised and beaten captured British pilot, I knew that Saddam Hussein doesn't play by the rules. I love America and support our soldiers. MISTY MAUREEN MORGAN Bloomlngton Children affected by war I'm for everything that this country is standing for in the Persian Gulf, but I also have to think about what this war is doing to our Allure and the future of children. We've seen two world wars and what the atomic bomb can do.

But still we build weapons. Don't we have enough disease and hunger to last us a lifetime without going to war? And we teach children about our enemies, instead of how to care. We should teach them that love is everywhere. DEBORAH A. MOSS Highland Letters welcome All letter must be signed.

Pleese Include your address and daytime telephone number. Letters may be edited lor brevity. Address them to: Voice ol the People, The Sun, 399 N. 81., Sen Bernardino, CalH. 92401.

You may FAX letters to (714) 885-9741. Parks charts wise course for future Rosa Parks, who served as grand marshal of San Bernardino's 23rd annual Black History Parade, is an important symbol of the civil rights movement in a variety of ways. Although Parks has worked for many causes over the years with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and also established a youth outreach program in Detroit, she is best known for refusing to yield her seat on a Montgomery, bus in 1955. Her action prompted the lengthy transit boycott that challenged that state's segregation laws. In San Bernardino, Parks warned that progress toward equality won't continue unless children are taught about the struggles for civil rights.

"It is up to parents, teachers and political leaders to teach them the history of our people. They can't do what they should if they don't know," Parks said. Her advice is excellent. Parks is 77. Before too many years pass, those who were first-hand participants in the movement will no longer be on the scene.

Today, when most elementary rights voting, equal education, equal access to public facilities, jobs and housing are supported by law, it's hard for young people to imagine an America that was quite different, a time when segregation was the rigidly enforced policy of many jurisdictions. Coming generations will have to strive for an equalization of economic rights to supplement the political rights that have been won. Without a sense of the past, and without strong adult role models, young people will have a difficult time capturing the promise of the civil rights movement. Arms sales help fuel Middle East tragedy While the United States has been aided by a host of other nations in its war against Saddam Hussein, Iraq has mustered plenty of international support, too. Unfortunately, that help has come in the form of an array of weaponry from around the world.

Hussein's arsenal includes missiles from China and France, fighter-bomber jets from the Soviet Union and France, artillery from South Africa, warships and mines from Italy, and even Stinger missiles and other U.S. weapons captured from Kuwait. And, despite the United Nations embargo against Iraq, U.S. intelligence agencies report several hundred instances of firms and individuals worldwide attempting to sell munitions and other goods to Iraq. This isn't an unusual situation in the Middle East, which accounts for 8 percent of the world's military spending despite having only 3 percent of the world's population.

When the guns have stopped firing this time around, will the world do something to curb sales of armaments to this volatile region? If not, can we be surprised when the next eruption occurs? 14 JtoeV 0.