Letters to the Editor -- Feb. 1, 2015

Dear Smoke Signals:

About 40 years ago, Tom Leno came to work for Zimbrick Logging. He said he could set chokers behind a cat. He was young, eager and fast. He did a great job. On Friday night, he asked what we were doing on Saturday. “I need to work and pay some bills. Anytime we work on Saturday, I want to be on board,” he said.

Tom was the first of the Leno family to work for us. Next came Bob. He worked with longtime employee Tuff Scherzinger. They got along great. Then about six months later came Arnie. He ran cat and later was a yarder operator. Then came Orville. He was a hook tender. He was good with the crew and everything ran smoothly.

One day Orville asked if he could bring “the kid” out to set chokers. I said, “Sure.” That kid was Reyn. He later ran yarder and stayed about 20 years.

Thank you Tom and for all the Leno men who followed. They were all great workers and I was proud to have worked beside them.

I’m sorry for Tom’s passing. He was a good friend. I know he is free of pain and in a better place.

Roy Zimbrick

Willamina

Dear Smoke Signals:

The staff at the Clothes Closet wants to thank the community and Youth Education Department for all the socks donated for the sock drive and the Social Services Department for all the coats. It was a great success and helped a lot of people. Your donations make a difference in our community.

Lori Walker-Hernandez

Roll #2273