An angel on I-5
Thursday, October 23, 2008 12:30 AM PDT
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E-mail this articleOct. 23 Letters to the Editor
An angel on I-5
As I was coming home to Longview on the night of Oct. 12 about 5 p.m., alone. For the first time, I got a flat tire.
For one hour, with my four-ways flashing, I watched truck, cars and State Patrol pass me by. I pulled over by an exit, so I know a lot of people saw me. I knew my next step was to start walking and try and get help. That’s when standing next to my car, I asked Jesus for help and told him how scared I was.
Behind me, I heard a man ask me if I needed help. This wonderful man had my spare on in five minutes and even followed me to the next exit to get air in my spare. I hope he reads this letter. He said he was from Kalama and he was driving a red Blazer with nice wheels. He has no idea how much that meant to me, and I will never forget how he helped me.
If you drove by me Oct. 12 and didn’t stop to help me, I want to thank you because I met an angel that day.
I know I said thank you a dozen times in that five minutes he was helping me, but again I need to say thank you. He will always be an angel in my eyes. Thank you again to the angel from Kalama and thank you, Jesus, for listening to me when I was so scared.
Carol Beck
Longview
Sleep is your friend
The author of the Oct. 8 letter should watch the Nature Channel. The street sweeper wakes her up at 3 a.m. because we, as an ape-like species, have to be irritating to each other all the time. I know when I wake up at 4 a.m. and call everyone I can think of, I wake them up. I don’t know why I do it, but I know it’s fun.
I was a bowling alley employee for eight years and I can tell you that people only come to this area for one reason. To compete to be awarded. The most irritating people on earth. Why else would they try so hard? The goal here is not a perfect score; it’s to stay up as late as possible, make a lot of noise and destroy as much equipment as possible in the least amount of time.
It all boils down to, if I can’t sleep, then nobody will. This is all too apparent by the actions of freight train operators and they get paid for it. What their training manual forgot to tell them is that lack of sleep causes insanity and any cop will tell you we’re all insane. It’s not drugs. It’s not something in the water. It becomes a chain reaction and nobody gets any sleep, ever. And if you think I’m incorrect, notice how people drive during the day.
It’s not hard to figure out why people lose their cool on the weekends. They haven’t slept a lot of nights. Sleep is good; sleep is your friend.
John Carstensen
Kelso
Hold people accountable
Last April Shawn Mooney (a prisoner of Cowlitz County Jail) had kept my 14-year-old son against his will because he was dating a colored girl, and he was only charged with a misdemeanor, serving no time in jail. Now he injures more children and is only going to get 14 months in jail. I thought there was a no tolerance for “hate crimes” and assault on minors?
I am starting to think that the county doesn’t really hold people accountable like they say the will.
Mind you, Mooney claims to be a “top” white supremacist in our community.
Lynn Gaultier
Longview
Actions speak loudest
I thought the Democratic Party was known for their support of free speech rights and the rights of all people. Your article (Oct. 13) about the way Tammy Johnson, owner of Lenore’s Optical, was treated and the radio news reports from Portland that say supporters of the McCain/Palin ticket cannot even put a bumper sticker on their car or in their yard for fear of vandalism is disturbing and scary.
Actions speak louder than words and that is not a party that I want to be affiliated with. Not only are the Democratic politicians trying to slowly take away our freedoms, but so are their supporters.
Beverly Hamlik
Longview
Seniors need help
I would like to thank the person who left us nice clothing at Crawford House in Kelso. Remember, seniors need help and most are among the less fortunate class. Our enrichment director would appreciate anything left over, smaller garage sale things or nice clothing for our house, for bingo prizes for the seniors. We could use things from The Dollar Store and any nice small things you would like to get, like soft toilet tissue, paper towels, dish cloths or rags, skin care products, healthy snacks, like nuts, raisins, breakfast bars, or whatever you could afford.
Remember, Jesus said, “The poor shall always be among us.” We live in a nice home, but we have little left for any extras, as it is taken for food and rent. That is what was chosen for many of us.
I got a big package last year from Jean Schlecht and it was wonderful. Many people benefited from the package, but most of the time it is done by unknown people. Thanks to all of you who in the past have helped us. God bless you all, and remember Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming. God bless you all who find it in your heart to give, not only at this time, but all year. Many blessings heaped upon you who give.
Gail Champ Devine
Kelso
Thumbs down, Daily News
Daily News, give yourself a thumbs down.
Every year you, for some reason, don’t think the Race for the Cure is news. This year there were 45,000 people in it. Not big enough for it to be news? Shame on you.
Sue Fulbright
Kelso
Prosecutor merits praise
In response to Cora Risley’s Oct. 12 letter, Risley does not know Sue Baur’s policies when it comes to “plea bargaining.” It is because our county has a high crime rate that our prosecutor’s office should be praised for what they do.
They try a huge amount of cases every year; about 1,400 felony cases were filed last year alone. With only four Superior Court judges and many other cases waiting for court time, many defendants want to admit their crime and ask the judge for leniency or help. Many cases go to Drug Court.
If Tom Wilson or Risley had their way, our court system would bog down ever slower with lower level drug cases and property crime offenses. These defendants would not have a chance at rehabilitation and prevention that our prosecutor has deemed just.
Our society also can help reduce the number of crimes committed in our county. Good behavior begins in the home. With sober, healthy parents, children can have a much better chance to become productive citizens.
Linda Hammack
Kelso
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