Letters

Peak Performance
Michael Kiefer's comprehensive article about the Phoenix Mountain Preserves ("Deconstructing the Phoenix Mountain Preserves," November 26) is one of the best examples of investigative reporting I've seen in years! He really dug in and got an accurate and complete story about the alarming threat to our Valley's crown jewels. I applaud him and New Times for taking this subject to task in such a professional and well-written feature article.

Jan Hancock
Phoenix

Life's a Mitch
Regarding the column ("Honduran Blues," November 19) by Terry Greene Sterling about the Honduran teenager: It was well-researched and well-written--something that isn't always true in any publication. How about a follow-up article on why all the floods and mud slides occurred when Hurricane Mitch hit? Could it be that too many trees were chopped down? As always, the poor suffer for the greed of the already rich who rape the land. We need to read more about this situation, about how we can help the genuine poor and not the few rich who run these countries in Central to South America. (And no, I'm not Hispanic.)

A.T. Summers
Phoenix

It Took A Village
Dewey Webb mentioned Wigwam Village located on Apache Boulevard in Tempe as being torn down in the Seventies ("Turret Attraction," November 19). If I remember correctly, they were still there when I came out to ASU in 1982. We thought they were great and felt that tearing them down for a Burger King parking lot (which didn't last very long) was repulsive.

Am I mistaken in this?
Rebecca Strolic
Ra'anana, Israel

Dewey Webb responds: You're correct; the wigwams were razed in 1983.

Track Meat
I just finished reading David Holthouse's Meat Puppets article ("Shooting Star," November 12) on the decay of Cris Kirkwood and the future of the band.

First of all, Holthouse did a wonderful job putting such a complex story together. I can't recall reading a kinder portrait of a troubled musician in a daily or weekly city newspaper. He managed to get across the hellish situations surrounding the involved parties, while remaining gentle toward Cris and Michelle.

Now I can say I'm pissed off. I hope Cris recovers, but I am certainly glad to hear that Curt, and possibly Derrick, plan to keep the Meat Puppets alive while Curt heads in new directions with his latest project. I've been a huge Meat Puppets fan for years, and was wondering what happened to them. I'm sad to find out about Cris, but hopeful he will pull out of this mess and rejoin the Puppets.

As a musician and a semi-journalist, I want to give you props for a tough story done well. Great job.

Brian Galante
assistant editor, Radio World

I read your article "Shooting Star." It's the best one yet. The story really hit home with me because I myself am a recovering addict. Michelle's story sounded just like mine and every other addict in this world. I used to wonder how the stars partied, and it's all the same. You see, when it comes down to getting high, we are all alike, we do what we can, or go where we can to get high. We will go to any lengths to get it. Back in the day, I would walk from 24th Street and Indian School down to Seventh Street and McKinley to get a $10 rock. It would be late at night so there would be no buses running; even if the buses were running I wouldn't dip into my cop money.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that it was a privilege to read your article. I honestly needed to read it because of all the stresses in my life these days. But you know something? I wouldn't trade them for all the dope in the world. Thanks again.

Olicia Thaxton
Phoenix

Very sad article about a band I loved and saw regularly in the Eighties but hadn't thought of in a long time. You did a fine job telling the story.

Mark Linn
Nashville, Tennessee

This is for Curt and Cris Kirkwood. I've never heard of you or your music. But I feel both of your pain more than you could know. I was a heroin addict for more years than I even believe sometimes. I know all too well the lure. I've lived in the trap. I know how Cris feels in that respect. I also know how his brother Curt feels. My husband also was "a suicide in progress." He opened his arms for the Reaper in December 1996 when he knelt in front of me with his head in my lap, crying like a baby that he just couldn't be sick again (withdrawal). I didn't see the .45 until it was too late. A bullet to the head was preferred over change.

The hard, sad truth is that addicts have no hope for themselves, and don't want any. The last thing Cris wants right now is any kind of reason to quit. I'm sure the death of his wife is one of his millions of reasons to use even more.

Curt, I know how you feel about not knowing what the hell is going on. Way too many people around me were spinning out, going belly up--including my own precious 22-year-old son. His decomposed body was found in the Mojave Desert six months before my husband spun out. It's so hard to understand why addicts don't love themselves as much as we do. We're at a loss to know how we can love them enough on the outside to make them feel it on the inside. I know now that I didn't fail to show my husband enough love. The heroin prevented him from feeling it.