Editor:

As a member of the Singley Hill Homeowners Association, a neighbor and party to "the protracted legal battle with the Rancheria over the obligation, per its liquor license" I would like to make a few comments ("Waiting for Tish Non," June 3).

The Bear River Casino liquor license is a conditional license issued by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control of the state of California. It was issued with nine conditions. Both parties were in agreement, and the Singley Hill Homeowners withdrew our protest on July 14, 2006, with the understanding that all nine conditions would be met. No. 8 has not been met. It states: "The licensee shall modify the entrance from Singley Road to Bear River Drive so that public vehicular ingress and egress is available only to and from the south on Singley. The modified entrance or a separate entrance shall provide access to the premises from the north on Singley Road for emergency vehicles only." Condition No. 8 is currently being appealed by Bear River Casino.

Bruce Merson makes the comment that the tribe "paid $1.1 million to make that south end of Singley

Road straight and nice, and that was a totally voluntary effort." Actually, that effort was condition No. 7 of the alcohol license: "The licensee shall widen and improve Singley Road for the 0.3 mile between the premises and the US 101 interchange to meet Humboldt County standards."
The southern entrance/exit, which leads directly to 101, is the safest and easiest access, yet traffic continues to use the northern route through the neighborhood.

Big business has moved to our neighborhood, which is zoned for rural residential and agricultural use. With the new land accepted into trust and plans for "a hotel, an assisted living center and perhaps an RV park," the commercial traffic will only increase. Singley Hill Homeowners Association simply wants a safe road and neighborhood to the north.

Jim McVicker, Loleta

Sweet Spot: Jim McVicker wins a Bon Boniere sundae for sending our favorite letter of the week.