As I read of the very worthy effort of many to preserve the Dolores River, I couldn't help but wish that we could get the name of that damnable reservoir changed as a symbolic gesture on behalf of the river and decency.

Most know of the insult of naming Lake Powell (known by many who hate it as Lake Foul) after John Wesley Powell, who was unceremoniously booted out of the conference that drafted the Colorado River Compact. He saw the writing on the wall, that the river was being overallocated. And as one who knew and loved the river, he knew in the final analysis despite human delusions to the contrary that the river would laugh last and loudest. He tried to make his point at the conference but was "disinvited." It is an insult to Powell's memory that this damned dam, or more accurately, reservoir, was named after him.

Likewise, it is an insult to the late Bob McPhee, one of the dearest individuals I've ever been privileged to meet, that his family's name was attached to McPhee Dam at Dolores. McPhee, just like Powell, saw the writing on the wall regarding human population growth and water, or lack thereof, in the desert. He thought the McPhee project was an insult to creation, the environment, farmers, taxpayers and just about everyone but unemployed civil engineers and porkbarrel politicians. He fought its construction, and he was furious that his family's name was attached to it.

I was told that, similarly, another family was not all that happy when a dam and reservoir, Lemon, on land condemned and taken from them along the Florida River was given their family name.

One wonders, given that trend, if the Animas-La Plata atrocity will be named McCulloch, Voelker, Hewitt, Newell or some other name of some other dam fighter who died hating it.

Kathleene Parker

Los Alamos, NM

Fair game for fashion

I'd just like to say that, while I'm actually not a huge fan of the Fashion Police, I think all the people who got so upset about the column have seriously overreacted. First, no one would have known who the gentleman was except that people, namely his own family, wrote in and gave his name.

Second, the guy's out in public in a goofy costume that's fair game. Why on earth would you wear a get-up like that if you're not wanting to draw attention to yourself?

Third, the column is always tongue in cheek. I realize that; everyone else realizes that; and if these angry people had read a few more issues of your paper, they would have realized that as well.

So in response, I'm asking all the ardent supporters of the Telegraph to join me in our own letter-writing campaign.

Thanks, Hank Bier

Marijuana is not safe'

According to the latest information from NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug among America's youth. The statistics show that some of the drugs being abused more frequently are those that are falsely believed to be "safe." We are facing a tremendous knowledge gap about the very real dangers of drugs, like ecstasy and marijuana.

The use of marijuana can produce adverse physical, mental, emotional and behavioral changes, and, contrary to popular belief, it can be addictive. Ecstasy has been proven to cause brain damage, and both drugs damage the levels of serotonin, dopamine and endorphins in the brain causing depression.

"The scariest thing is that most people start using drugs like ecstasy and marijuana and then get hooked on drugs like crack-cocaine and heroin," says "Roger," a graduate of the Narconon Rehabilitation program. Through the program, which uses technology developed by author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard, Roger was able to overcome his addiction two years ago.

Now more than ever, we need to help those struggling with addiction. If you or someone you know needs help call Narconon today at (800) 468-6933 or visit www.stopaddiction.com

Erica Catton, Narconon Arrowhead