Opinion

By Pat Orr
Apple Valley Review

Regular readers of this column will recall my story about our dog, Scout. I had more reaction to that column than any other I have ever written.

After Scout’s rather traumatic exit, my wife and I decided we would be patient and wait some time before considering another animal. We knew there was no replacing Scout and felt we needed to get our emotions in check before we brought a new pet into our home.

We were wrong.

On May 31, our State Assembly passed along a bill to raise the minimum wage to the Senate. The jump from $8 today to $9.25 in 2016 will cost thousands of entry level jobs. Most minimum wage workers are either young, uneducated non-citizens or folks picking up a second job.

The concept of a “living wage” for minimum wage workers is laughable and a fantasy.

By Pat Orr
Apple Valley Review

This headline is only marginally false. The cops playing in the Apple Valley Police Activities League Golf Tourney on Monday will be having fun. Whether there will be any “birdies” that result from that effort is doubtful, but badges and oaths seldom extend to the golf course so a few “foot wedges” may be in play to improve a score here or there.

This event helps fund the regular classes and activities such as the SHOCK Program and other at-risk youth classes and events that have been very successful in our town.

By Daniel B. Jeffs
For the Apple Valley Review

It’s already obvious that the Sept. 11 anniversary Benghazi, Libya terrorist attack costing the lives of our ambassador and three security personnel was the result of intentional malfeasance by President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton.

Worse, the deceitful cover-up is tantamount to giving aid and comfort to our Islamic jihadist terrorist enemy to further a re-election campaign and to protect Obama and Clinton at any cost.

By Pat Orr
Apple Valley Review

Monday was Memorial Day — a day, sadly, when more Americans think about barbecue than they think about sacrifice.

More than a dozen cities and towns claim they were the birthplace of this holiday which began when Civil War widows in the South decorated Confederate graves. The holiday eventually came to honor all who have sacrificed in service to our country.

By Pat Orr
Apple Valley Review

I have now either “retired” or chased out-of-state five or six pastors in my adult life. The latest, Frank “Butch” Fahnestock, announced recently he is retiring this July from his position as the founding senior pastor of the Community Church at Jess Ranch.

I have observed that there are a few distinguishable styles among those who take up the calling to minister:

BY PAT ORR
Apple Valley Review

What do you do when you invite folks to a party and almost no one shows up?

No answers for grant funds

In a recent Daily Press story (“Council approves grant requests,” Daily Press, page B1, May 2), it was stated that eight nonprofit groups will take a portion of the $86,250 that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant designated for public service projects in Apple Valley.

I was at that meeting and heard several speakers asking for a portion of the money available. I did hear Margaret Diaz ask the Apple Valley Town Council, why the Victor Valley Domestic Violence group was not receiving any funds?

By Pat Orr
Apple Valley Review

I was born and raised in California. I have had a hard time coming to realize that this state is the poster child for America’s decline.

After the news flowing out of Sacramento last week, I believe I have finally seen that the light at the end of our tunnel is in fact a train.

I submit the following as evidence:

By Pat Orr
Apple Valley Review

The continuing debate about controlling gun violence through increasing rules, regulations and taxes is hooey. I can only recall two leaders in recent memory who eliminated gun violence in their countries for a time.

Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler had zero problems with gun violence. The Germans — orderly as they are — passed dozens of laws duly enforced by their courts. In Russia, things were not as procedural, but the results were similar.