May 23 Letters to the Editor

Adhering to the party line

It is interesting to note that the previous letters to the editor concerning Ryderwood were all written by members of one closely knit group that, in my opinion, is directly responsible for the downfall of Ryderwood. The line spoken by all is simply the party line given by RISA (Ryderwood Improvement & Service Association) and represents a cry to the outside world for sympathy.

I pay my own garbage bill and, as far as RISA’s properties are concerned, I also would like to charge dues to cover the maintenance and taxes of my private property; but, I don‘t think I can get anyone to sign up. To this same end, what none of them has stated is that, unlike every other “retirement community,” Ryderwood’s entire infrastructure (water, sewer, streets, alleys and the four million dollar grant for sewer repairs) is paid for by federal, state and county taxes. Additionally, they don’t seem to want anyone to know that Ryderwood receives extra services that other taxpayers in the county don’t (gravel pile, yearly grading of the alleys, removal of leaves in the winter, etc.).

The individuals would have you believe that Ryderwood’s problems are the result of a few “dissidents.” However, I believe more appropriately, it is the arrogance of the RISA board’s refusal to talk with those that have resigned.

Jim Martin

Ryderwood

Investigators are suspect

Congress says it is looking into the Bernard Madoff scandal. The guy who made $50 billion disappear is being investigated by the people who made $750 billion disappear.

Burt Harwood

Longview

It’s spring time

Washington’s addiction to pork is on the loose again. It’s our government’s own version of the “Swine flu” and it runs through Congress every year.

It’s not H1N1, but it will still make you very sick if you only knew. Google: Legistorm.com and click on “Earmarks.”

Tom Ogden

Longview

Should riddle be changed?

Remember the old riddle:

What’s black and white and read all over?

Should it now read:

What’s black and white and RED all over?

Phillip Jones

Kelso

Enough!

I wrote about this several years ago and now it’s back in the news: The spotted owl is getting kicked out by its cousin the barred owl. So, let’s look at what has taken place over the past two decades and the result of our eviscerated economy — hundreds upon thousands of displaced human beings due to the 1,000 flaky Friends of Oregon, Sierra Club and the rest of the rabble rousers that don’t bath and chain themselves to trees.

The spotted owl is still disappearing! Now these people still feel we don’t have enough land set aside. Let’s not forget the biscuit fire some 6 years ago, where millions of board feet of timber was left to rot because, God forbid, we go in and clean up the forest floor to prevent more fires.

Now they want to go in and shoot the barred owl to save the spotted owl, sort of like how they painted themselves into a corner with the salmon and the sea lion debacle. Enough! We (those with common sense) have had a enough of these people. Their incessant meddling has done enough damage. The inoculant to this problem? Attention people of the Northwest: Stop listening to these people! The irony here is they are the pestilent that needs to be removed.

John Wilson

Longview

Stick to the facts

At the May 14 meeting concerning the public shooting range being pursued by the Cowlitz Game & Anglers, one of the opposition forces, a man saying that he is the proprietor of a rock quarry on Barnes Drive, said the CG&A was not a properly incorporated entity. This is NOT true. Dick Miller, CG&A president, stated clearly in his presentation that the CG&A is incorporated in the state of Washington and is a 501(C)3 entity. This fact has been stated at every prior public meeting regarding the shooting range proposal. The person misstating the facts has been present at most, if not all, of those meetings.

Further, he stated that the proposal is nothing more than a ploy by a private organization to usurp (my term) public property for the exclusive use of its 120 members. The truth is, CG&A members would have NO privileges at the shooting range unless they paid the fees required to utilize the range, as would any member of the public. The presence at the range of any member of the CG&A, unless a paid public user, will be to do construction, cleanup, maintenance, hunter education, serve as Range Officer (if qualified), etc.

The opponents’ attorney, Mr. Randolph, certainly should be well aware of this. One would hope that he would have cautioned any of the opponents choosing to give testimony at this meeting to stick to the true facts.

Mike Hirko

Kelso