Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Columbia Gorge news. (The Dalles, OR) 2020-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 2020)
4 Columbia Gorge News Wednesday, October 21, 2020 HoodRiverNews.com • TheDallesChronicle.com • WhiteSalmonEnterprise.com OPINION YOUR VOICE directly with them, and with my community, are all actions that have helped me decide who to give With tears streaming down my my powerful vote to. face, I thank God for my three I’m voting for Biden for president heroes. At the very risk and cost of for the future of my country. I’m their health and careers, they strove voting for Carolyn Long because we to meet the critical needs of the deserve someone who is as smart, Flagstone Memory Care residents hardworking, and accessible, as she against all odds last month. An incredible nurse, and facility chap- is. I’m voting for Tracy Rushing for LD14-1 because we need a doctor lain Scott Crimshaw, remained in the House, especially now. I’m 12 straight days, working through voting for Devin Kuh for LD14-2 the night, continuing to serve ill because his write-in-to-serious residents with every bit of energy campaign shows how much he can that they had. get done for us in a Democratic Their executive director, Sharla House. I’m voting for Joanna Turner Mosqueda, sought, and pleaded for Klickitat County Commissioner, “corporate” for supplies, staffing and support, with minimal and de- District 1 because she will make better decisions and give us layed response. A resident noticed better outcomes. I’m voting for her office light on at 6 a.m. which Jim Sizemore for Klickitat County then did not shut off until 2 a.m then next morning. Some days were Commissioner, District 3 because he is everything his opponent isn’t: even longer! Respectful, good, experienced and This past month has been trau- willing to change if that means matic for the residents and staff of improving. Flagstone. Likened to a battlefield, I’m voting for many other candi- Memory Care became a place of dates and resolutions on my ballot death, with a lack of supplies and that will affect my future. caregivers for residents’ critical Please join me. needs and seemingly ignored by the Sasha Bentley outside world. (If only the outside White Salmon world could have known!) These three people mourn for those so dear to them that didn’t make it, and rejoice that others were Well, someone stole my yard sign. able to be transported to facilities Lots of people have these signs — out of town. One of my heroes, the they just have a couple of names on nurse, became sick with COVID-19 them, they don’t say that you have and Sharla and Scott were fired as if to like my guy or vote for my guy or they had been the ones negligent. believe what I believe about who You know, as horrific as this deserves to be president or gover- real-life scenario has been, I believe nor or representative. Just names. that these three would have done My way of demonstrating my it all again rather than to abandon convictions. My sister, who belongs those under their care in the condi- to a different party and who had a tions and fate they would have left yard sign with different names than them. They would not, and could mine, reports that her sign was also not, leave the residents they loved stolen. and served. To me they are the Here is what I want to say to unsung heroes of The Dalles! They whoever stole our signs — stop it! are my heroes. I’m sure your mom taught you that Ramona Harwood stealing is wrong. As a mom and The Dalles grandma myself I want to grab you EDITOR’S NOTE: This letter was pub- by the ears and make you stand lished in the Oct. 14 edition but the last in the corner until you say you are fewlineswereinadvertentlyomitted.We sorry and promise you will never do printtheletterinfull,withourapologies. it again. As a person who loves this coun- try, I want to remind you that one of the things that make this country Mark Zanmiller for City Council. amazing is the right to free speech, Mark has served with distinction the right to support and vote for for the last two terms. I have known your choice of candidates. Stealing Mark for 12 years and had the plea- yard signs is petty, childish and sure to work with him on a variety un-American. So stop it! of projects. He is honest, thoughtful, Heather Weisfield and a true problem solver. Because White Salmon of his community involvement and his desire to have a positive impact on the world around him, he is I know what crisis looks and feels aware of local issues and has the like, and now so do you. tools to address and build consen- As an American, I have always sus on those issues to affect real believed in the American dream, change. It is my belief you would “anything is possible, all you have to be hard pressed to find someone more willing to dedicate himself to do is work for it.” That is no longer true. People serving our community than Mark are working without the ability to Zanmiller. Julie Heinemann get ahead. Some work without the Hood River ability to pay their basic bills. Many find it difficult to keep enough food in the house. This country’s systems have been broken for a long time Regarding Oregon Ballot Measure without many of us knowing about 110, which is the de facto state it. legalization of a variety of addictive However, a rare opportunity for and dangerous drugs: My first wife to become aware of our broken died unexpectedly of a morphine systems has become real with this overdose at age 49. The medical pandemic. You may not have un- examiners’ report stated that she derstood the uprise of the protest- had enough morphine in her sys- ing and riots without the pandemic tem at the time of death to kill 1,000 to help unveil this country’s system people. failures. It seems to me that we have too The people in this country, espe- much and too many drugs of all cially our elected officials, are not kinds around these days. Why add respecting the U.S. Constitution and to the huge problem we already Bill of Rights and that is the core of have? our crisis. Britt Storkson The U.S. Constitution and the The Dalles Bill of Rights are the base for the American dream, a promise that the quality of life we desire can be achieved. I’ve never been more excited to The core of our crisis is the uncer- vote and it’s interesting to me that my ballot doesn’t look like the kind tainty of our safety. If those we have of ballot you would be really excited put in place do not honor the oaths about. Curtis King, State Senator for and ethics that require them to be held to a higher standard of person, LD14, doesn’t have an opponent they should not have taken the job. and there are two Republicans running for County Commissioner With their job descriptions outlined for them, they are given budgets in District 3. But, looking deeper, every single and tax payers’ monies to carry out a plan. race on my ballot is for a powerful Let us elect officials that can position and I connect that to how show us the difference that one it will affect us. Reading voter’s pamphlets/guides, researching the voice can make backed by the people, people that have our safety candidates, watching forums/de- bates with the candidates, speaking and quality of life at the top of their Flagstone heroes Stop stealing signs Vote Zanmiller Nation in crisis No on Measure 110 Voting plans Eagle eye A red-tail hawk perches on a dead tree east of The Dalles. The hawks are common throughout Oregon and often seen circling over the landscape watching for small rodents. Photo courtesy Gary Elkinton in our environment. Thousands of Americans and millions of world citizens die each year as a result of our ever-increasing toxic load on the planet. Recently, despite the science (or perhaps because of the science), the Trump adminis- tration rolled back over 100 rules Tom Lannen has been working and policies designed to protect for Skamania County, long before our land, water, and air, which he was ever a commissioner. I had in turn, protects all life. Did the met Tom while he had been doing American voters ask for those rules volunteer work for the county. and policies to be overturned? Tom’s entire mission during that No. Corporations and millionaires time was to hold accountable the wanted them overturned so they Forest Service for their manage- target politicians. Nowadays, it is ment of the Gifford Pinchot Forest the Republican party that caters to and to maintain the sustainable logging and management they have the corporate demand for dereg- I am deeply grateful to Tracy ulation of environmental policies Rushing and Devin Kuh, candidates said they were going to do for over and laws. Our current Washington for State Representative, District 14. 25 years. representative Chris Corry, does not After he began working as a vol- Kuh is a teacher, and Rushing is an consider this an issue of concern. emergency room physician. Neither unteer for the county in the name He has made it clear that he prefers had political experience prior to of sustainable and healthy forest business over people and will do this election. Both felt compelled practices, Tom began to consider their bidding. to run for office when they saw the running for county commissioner. I am supporting Dr. Tracy unopposed incumbents actively It seemed suitable for someone Rushing for Washington State obstructing efforts to control and who had already given an abundant Representative because she is contain coronavirus, while Yakima amount of time working for the County, in the 14th, was one of the good of our county, coming to every trained in science and not political games. Her vision is for a healthy hardest hit places in Washington commissioner meeting for three community and state which starts State. years prior and wanting what was with science-based decision-mak- Rushing and Kuh both see best for our county. ing and policies that support not healthcare as a human right, critical In the four years since Tom be- to building healthy communities. came county commissioner, he has only human health but the health of the land we live on. Their platforms are solid on other worked to bring to task the Forest Sue Kusch issues as well. What makes them Service on better management White Salmon extraordinary candidates, however, practices on our Forest, hold DNR is the love, intelligence, and caring to task on their Management of the shining through their campaigns. local State lands, he has added $3.5 Rushing’s opponent, Chris Corry, million to the County coffers since has only right-wing ideology taking office, has worked hard for What has Daniel Bonham done to offer. Kuh’s opponent, Gina Secure Rural Schools, has strong to fight for a healthy Deschutes and Mosbrucker, is busy climbing the relationships with our local, state GOP ladder to success in Olympia. and federal officials, and has done a its benefits for the town of Maupin? Rushing and Kuh offer something number of things within the inside I’ve been asking if anyone can recall anything he has accomplished to quite different — genuine care for operations of our county that will help restore the lower Deschutes. people and for the planet. It shows make us a stronger and brighter I’m certain he was aware of the seri- in the work they have chosen, and county for years to come. ousness of the river’s decline but, to it shows in their campaigns. We are As a lifelong resident, business my knowledge, fortunate to be able to vote for Tracy owner, raised all 10 of my children Mr. Bonham has not used his Rushing and Devin Kuh. Please join in the county, and now am a proud office with any sustained, effec- me in doing so. grandparent, I strongly support Patricia Arnold re-electing Tom Lannen for District tive effort to help save Maupin’s lifeblood. Civic centers are fine, but Trout Lake 2, for four more years. Jim Waters river money sustains Maupin. A Carson shiny new grocery store is won- derful but river money makes it In central Washington, our food possible. Multiple city parks are the goes from farm to table on the backs cats meow but river lovers don’t of agricultural and packinghouse Over the decades, the word come just for the parks. We have workers. When the coronavirus “environmentalism” has been lots of restaurants for a small town pandemic hit, we were quick to hammered by negativity from cor- but they shrivel away without the label these workers essential, but porate elites. More recently, it has river’s attraction. A healthy river we were slow to protect them from been linked to radical left think- keeps our nifty resort afloat. Two fly dangerous working conditions. ing. And that’s a shame. Because shops are great but they can’t thrive When cases exploded among the caring for the land that feeds and without a healthy lower Deschutes. close quarters of Yakima pack- houses us and for the water and air River visitors keep Maupin’s smaller that is necessary for all life should inghouses, workers realized that shops alive and they help our hard- never be construed as a bad thing. I ware store, downtown bar and grill no help was coming. So they took spend a lot of time on public lands, and coffee shops. it upon themselves to organize observing wildlife and studying and strike; they came together River visitors are the backbone plants, and I am deeply concerned of Maupin’s motels, rental cabins to save their lives and their jobs. Trabajadores Unidos por la Justicia about the conditions we are leaving and B-and-Bs. High speed internet for our children and grandchildren. and Wi-fi are icing on the cake, but (Workers United for Justice) was Insects, especially pollinators, are in people won’t come here simply for able to negotiate safer workplaces decline. Pollinators are responsible that — a healthy river is an abso- and protective equipment, hazard for two-thirds of the foods we eat. pay and the right to organize. lute necessity for healthy growth According to the EPA, childhood in Maupin. Times were hard when I stand in solidarity and sup- asthma is negatively impacted by port with Trabajadores Unidos. Mountain Fir Lumber pulled out. air pollution. I’m running for Washington State When the river dies, Maupin will We know that the development of House of Representatives to rep- many cancers is linked to the toxins resent working families, but more See LETTERS,page5 priority list. Joanna Turner has re- searched and focused on the issues necessary to heal the areas that our broken system has hurt. Joanna Turner and like mind- ed people are part of the solution necessary to bring our country’s systems back up and working for the American people so we can again have an “American Dream” to reach. Vote for Joanna Turner, County Commissioner Elizabeth Mutch Dallesport importantly, for working families’ rights to organize and to represent themselves. Tracy Rushing White Salmon Retain Lannen Rushing and Kuh Maupin needs Burns Workers United Rushing for health Regional news for the Gorge Mailing Addresses: PO Box 1910, The Dalles, OR 97058 PO Box 390, Hood River, OR 97031 PO Box 218, White Salmon, WA 98672 Columbia Gorge News HOOD RIVER | THE DALLES | WHITE SALMON Columbia Gorge News (ISSN 0747-3443) Published every Wednesday. Known offices of publication: (Open by appointment) 1800 W. 10th Street, The Dalles, OR 97058 600 E. Port Marina Way, Suite B, Hood River, OR 97031 Elba Offices, 288 E. Jewett Street, Suite 650 White Salmon, WA 98672 Periodical postage is paid at The Dalles, Oregon. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to P.O. Box 1910, The Dalles, OR 97058 CONTACT US The Dalles 541-296-2141 Hood River / White Salmon 541-386-1234 HoodRiverNews.COM ORNEWS@GORGENEWS.COM WANEWS@GORGENEWS.COM Publisher Chelsea Marr chelseam@gorgenews.com Editorial: Kirby Neumann-Rea, Editor Mark Gibson, Editor Emily Fitzgerald, Reporter Trisha Walker, Reporter Jacob Bertram, Reporter Oregon News Tips/Press Releases Washington News Tips/Press Releases Advertising: Niki Piacente, Digital Ad Director Kirbyn@gorgenews.com Markg@gorgenews.com Emilyf@gorgenews.com Trishaw@gorgenews.com JacobB@gorgenews.com ORnews@gorgenews.com WAnews@gorgenews.com nikip@gorgenews.com sales@gorgenews.com Billing: Cece Fix, Billing Lisa Ann Kawachi billing@gorgenews.com Cecef@gorgenews.com Lisak@gorgenews.com Legals: Oregon: Washington: ORlegals@gorgenews.com WAlegals@gorgenews.com Subscriptions: Tanya Lindsey, Circulation Manager Subscribe@gorgenews.com Tanyal@gorgenews.com Obituaries: obits@gorgenews.com Classifieds: classifieds@gorgenews.com
