Vision screening covered for kids

In response to your Dec. 15 editorial about a source of funding for the new school vision screening mandate:

The cost should be far less than is estimated by the Department of Education since comprehensive vision examinations — by an eye doctor, not just screening by a lay person or school nurse — is one of the “Essential Benefits” that every health insurance plan is now required to provide for children. That means that every child with health insurance, either through the Oregon Health Plan or private insurance, is eligible for an annual examination. The only cost to the schools would be for screening of those without insurance coverage, which should be a relatively small number.

Since the schools now require that pupils have immunizations and in some cases dental examinations (also now covered) there should be no problem with being required to have vision exams if they have insurance coverage for them.

Jeff Keller

Bend

Child’s play in DA race

While reading the recent article “DA’s wife crashes opponent’s campaign meeting” by Shelby King, I kept catching myself laughing. My laughing was not caused by any bad writing or reporting on King’s part, but due to the issue itself — Valerie Wright, who is married to current DA Patrick Flaherty, crashing a meeting for her husband’s political opponent! You can’t make this stuff up!

Wright states that her husband had not necessarily supported her going but had also not discouraged it. This was my favorite part of the story. She may have received an invite to the meeting; however, her going was high school drama on her part. We all know that she went to the meeting to scope out the opponent and to cause a scene.

While I found the whole scenario that Wright had created humorous, I do not find an elected official allowing this kind of scenario to happen funny at all. Children’s play should be left to the children, and adults should act with professionalism. Thank you to Flaherty for his service, but I think it is time for some professionalism to be brought back to the DA’s office. John Hummel and his campaign manager handled the scene Wright had created in the professional manner I would like to see from my district attorney.

Taylor Handford

Bend

Hummel is well-qualified to be DA

John Hummel, running for Deschutes County district attorney, is a well-qualified and ethical candidate who will ensure that county tax revenue is used wisely. Patrick Flaherty has had several lawsuits against him, and funding for the results of Flaherty’s decisions is coming out of taxpayers’ pockets.

Ex-deputy district attorneys Phil Duong, Brentley Foster and Jody Vaughan settled a lawsuit for wrongful termination, and legal costs continue as they appeal the removal of the Deschutes County Commission from their lawsuit. This lawsuit and others have consumed tax dollars that could have been used for other county purposes. We need to replace Flaherty.

Hummel has more than a decade of criminal law experience in Deschutes County. He also helped Liberia establish a functioning justice system after a devastating war. He is skilled in dispute resolution and helped bring people together during his time as a Bend city councilor. He will operate in a fiscally sound manner, bringing strong leadership and integrity to the position.

I urge you to vote for John Hummel on May 20.

Mary Clark

Redmond

Why is it so important?

As a resident of Bend and of our human condition, I am confused at the space given to such a human activity as sex, just because city/county/state and especially federal officials are involved.

Here we are, down at the city level, several notches above the schools/staff/teachers level.

Or is the city below the level? It gets rather confusing. Here at the city level, they are not supposed to do it.

However, at the federal level, we can’t seem to get enough of it, as in keep doing it.

Why is it so very important? It’s human activity. We do it behind closed doors and, in some cases, just off Reed Market Road.

The name scandal implies what? Is it the media’s choice of words? Did the reporter have a choice of words?

What about insult, disgrace, shame (as in shame on you), calumniate?

What’s my point?

Let’s get a city discussion on this. Let’s get to the bottom of the need for a sex scandal.

When is the last time a sex scandal went unnoticed? Is it a sex scandal if no one sees it?

What about a sign just off Reed Market Road, so we can go observe one of the locations?

Tom Filcich

Bend