A vote for the oldest
Friday, August 22, 2008 12:51 AM PDT
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E-mail this articleAug. 22 Letters to the Editor
A vote for the oldest
Someone said neither presidential candidate was worth voting for. I certainly agree, so I decided to vote for the oldest one.
At present, we are paying pensions in the thousands of dollars to three past presidents: Bill Clinton, who still hopes to get two pensions; Jimmy Carter; George H.W. Bush; and soon another Bush. Maybe by voting for old men, they will die off soon enough so we won’t be paying pensions for seven or eight ex-presidents in a few years.
Phyllis Makinster
Kelso
Another scofflaw in Kalama!
Uh-oh. I spotted more palm trees in downtown Kalama. They’re at the post office, of all places. It must be due to the “global warming.”
Jere Albright
Kalama
Shooting range truth
Once again, we correct not-in-my-backyard, anti-shooting range cadre statements. An Aug. 16 letter from Patricia Ammons stated and implied a number of incorrect data.
Commissioner Kathleen Johnson voted against the Public Shooting Range, true. The other commissioners actually read the acoustic report, which stated a well-constructed shooting range would be within county noise ordinances.
The range provides a safe shooting opportunity for thousands of citizens. The range uses no taxpayer money. State pistol permits include $3 reserved for a shooting range fund per state statutes. Cowlitz Public Shooting Range received $100,000 from that fund. County citizens pledged over $100,000 in cash and labor. Hundreds of citizens are involved ($30,000 still needed).
The shooting range will not utilize any Toutle River frontage. The average distance from the range to the river will be one-fourth mile.
The range construction will be coordinated with plans for a multi-use park envisioned by the County Park Commission, thus reducing costs of the park.
Cowlitz Game and Anglers is not a private club. It is open to anyone interested in conservation, hunting, fishing and helping kids in outdoor activities.
Dick Miller
Castle Rock
Great work
I will like to add to Jim Thomas’ letter printed on Aug. 17. I had the pleasure of, with Jim and all the other commissioners, being selected by our Umpire Association, LCUA, as the UIC for the 13-year-old Regional tournament at Rister Field in Kelso. Working with him and the other commissioners made my days there so much easier.
I would also like to extend a thanks to all umpires that were selected, They did a very outstanding and professional job at all times. Thanks, guys.
Also, the ones that made the tournament the best tournament I have seen in years in our area, I would like to let everyone know how hard the staff worked to make this happen. A special thanks to Dan and Jennifer Margaris, Mr. & Mrs. Eastwood, Tom Pickett, John Croce, Greg McCormick, Jason Mackey and to the hard-working ground crew who had the field done in a very fast past and had it looking great for each game.
Also, great coverage to Ben Zimmerman and Rick Alvord, who sat there for most all the games and reported to the newspaper about each and every game. Great coverage, guys.
Thanks to all for making my job go so smooth. And hope to see you next year at a tournament.
Doug Pedersen
Longview
It’s not ‘death with dignity’
I want to share the experience I had with my son, who at the age of 12 was diagnosed with bone cancer. After nearly five years of chemotherapy, surgery and finally stem-cell transplants, his condition became terminal. During the final six weeks of his life, my son wanted to be home, not in the hospital.
His medical providers told me bone pain is one of the most difficult types of pain to manage but were confident they could equip me with the pain medication necessary to keep him comfortable. And they were right. His pain was never unmanaged or allowed to become unbearable. He died peacefully at home, with family and friends at his bedside.
Washington state voters will soon be making a decision on Initiative 1000. Suicide is not death with dignity, but the manner in which my son faced his death certainly was.
Carla Wehrmann
Vancouver
Help make streets safer
Lightning strikes twice. No, make that red-light runners strike twice!
The city of Longview and Longview Police Chief Perez have my support for red-light cameras. Why should not all means be employed to ticket law-breakers? That law is meant to protect you and me. Run a red light and you might hit a child on bicycle, a senior crossing the street or a family out for a drive.
Twice on Aug. 13 I was in the path of red-light runners. The first time I was walking on my noon lunch break. Mid-way across 15th Avenue, a red-light runner oblivious to all around her ran the red light. I am a cautious walker and watch for oncoming traffic; otherwise I probably would have been picked up off the street after someone called 911.
After work, while driving down 15th, another driver went straight through a red light. I believe she was on her way to Safeway. Ring a bell with any Wednesday 5:10 p.m. drivers?
Support your law enforcement agencies. Help make our streets safer. Let Police Chief Perez and the city of Longview know you support their efforts.
Carol Thompson
Lexington
Label is offensive
I am writing this letter to voice my concern and disgust with the use of an ethnic slur in the Aug. 15 story, “Tribal Success Story,” written by Thacher Schmid. To many Native Americans, or those of Native American heritage, myself included, calling a Native American an “American Indian” is the equivalent of calling an African-American the “N” word. I was appalled to see that slur in the paper.
I couldn’t finish the article right away because I was so offended by it. In the future, to keep from alienating your readers, maybe the reporters and whoever proofreads the articles before they go to print should think about the effect the words they use might have on others.
Dawn Ingram
Longview
Editor's note: The Daily News follows style guidelines established by The Associated Press, which specify that "American Indian" is the preferred term for those in the United States.
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