Wednesday,April14,2021
Columbia Gorge News
www.columbiagorgenews.com
5
YOUR VOICE CONTINUED
All who know this per-
son says the same thing, he
helps everybody no matter
what. Now this person is in
a wheelchair, was hit by a
drunk driver at the age of 13.
Talk about a traumatic ordeal
to live with the rest of your
life. To walk in those shoes,
many different outcome
journeys I would think. Yet
this person, even with the
bad reputation, with a good
heart wakes up and rolls on.
This person is Rudi.
I thank him for helping
others like he does.
This is one journey of the
people that come from all
walks of life.
I feel that there is positive
in the homeless community
too. Not just negative. During
these trying times we all need
that positive.
I found my calling in life, I
know what it is I am suppose
to do and that is help others
from all walks of life. Thanks
again Rudi.
Samantha Bly-Brock
Bingen
Anybody there?
Hello, anybody there? No
reader so far has commented
on David Hupp’s letter of
March 17, reporting the theft
of our Black Lives Matter
lawn sign.
We discovered later that
every Black Lives Matter sign
was stolen from our neigh-
borhood that night. We have
driven all over Hood River,
looking for Black Lives Matter
signs, haven’t found any left
in place.
How many of you have also
had a Black Lives Matter sign
stolen from your yards? Have
you reported the theft to our
local police? We did. We were
blown off by “political signs
always get stolen,” therefore
justifying the theft. No. We’ve
never had another lawn sign
stolen in the last dozen years,
only Black Lives Matter signs.
Even though Hood River
is mostly a “white village,”
many of us want to show our
respect for Black lives, and
what we are seeing on our
televisions and reading in our
newspapers.
What do we need to do to
counteract the complacency
concerning what looks like
White Supremacists in Hood
River? Maybe put our story
on international news?
I love Hood River. It is
disheartening to realize that
racism may be deeply em-
bedded here.
Lori King
Hood River
Miracles
I’ve seen four miracles in
the last 30 some years. Yes,
true miracles. Four people
that abandoned the ways of
the world and entered into
a worthy life style centered
round a daily reading,
studying and open discus-
sion of “The Scriptures.” Yes a
miracle. An amazing peculiar
fact about these four people
is that they were all casual
evolutionists. Miracle.
Persuaded through
intelligent commonsense
reasonable suggestions they
took the gamble to turn their
backs on the politics of the
world, the social ways of the
world and of course the lie of
the world…evolution. They
choose to take on the very
challenging task of discover-
ing what is “the truth.”
It takes a lot of work to
convince a person to aban-
don evolution and the great
significant social battle of to-
day. It takes information that
has indisputable convincing
value. It has to be good sound
information to counter the
great evolution lie. I have
seen it.
I am not talking about
church. Lord no. Churching
is no different than evolu-
tion. Churching offers a false
answer that is supposedly in
the sky. Evolutioning offers a
false answer that suggests it
is under the ground deep in
the dirt. The truth is that the
answer is found here … right
on top of the ground. “The
Scriptures” informs us very
plainly and clearly that the
answers remain right on top
of the ground. Life started on
top of the ground. Life con-
tinues on top of the ground.
Life, painless, peaceful life
will be right here where you
stand, on the ground.
The evolutionist wants to
tell you that some import-
ant facts of life are found in
the bones of dead animals.
Foolish. There are no answers
to life there. Evolution is all
speculation about a past that
is entirely irrelevant to con-
tributing in solving any of our
dire problems. Telling people
that dead animal remains are
where the answers are actu-
ally offers no solutions.
Pastor offers the same
useless lie but they point
towards the sky. The answers
and solutions are in a person-
al reading and study of “The
Books.” Sure some courage is
needed.
Gary Fischer
The Dalles
tighter and better friendships
formed amongst her peers.
These are memories that will
last forever.
So, a big thank you to the
Trout Lake School District,
the community, the teachers,
and the staff who have leaned
into this year, adapted to the
changes, and overcome the
obstacles. To all teachers
that embraced the year, we
appreciate you!
Lisa Evans
White Salmon
Love and
support
radically conservative mem-
bers of our armed forces.
How un-American is that?
How do Democrats define
"radical?" Biden has banned
words like "Chinese virus."
Why? Biden may believe the
virus came from outer space.
Seems someone elected an
emperor.
G. D. Summers
The Dalles
Thanks board
members
and annual financial reports
and representing the board
during regular state audits.
We’ve benefited from Joyce’s
keen eye on the full range of
issues the board oversees.
Thank you, Joyce!
UCD as benefited for over
80 years now from the wealth
of knowledge and experi-
ence provided by its Board
of Supervisors. We owe our
successes to these farmers,
ranchers, foresters, and car-
ing citizens.
Tova Tillinghast
District manager,
Underwood Conservation
District
unbearable for so many
Americans. It's the daily
indignities; it's the height-
ened sense of danger, the
ongoing challenges — am I
too nice, too loud, too Black,
too gay, too sexily dressed —
it is exhausting! And it is the
simple things like changing
the Proclamation language
so that the men don't feel
uncomfortable.
It is especially galling when
these type of micro-aggres-
sions are done by "respect-
able" men.
Believe women when they
tell you there is systemic
violence and oppression.
I am not implying that all
men are violent rapists or
racist thugs. But if you are not
part of the solution, then you
Violence and systemic op- are part of the problem.
pression against Americans is
Believe Americans when
not a partisan issue or rather they tell you there is systemic
it should not be a partisan is- violence and oppression.
sue. However, there seems to
Debra Lutje
be a segment of society who
The Dalles
choose to make it so. There
are Americans who should
be horrified by the ongoing
As a member of the City
violence and oppression but of The Dalles Beautification
they are not, even when it is
Committee, I have had the
explained to them. Believe
opportunity to work close-
people of color when they tell ly with Rachel Carter on
you violence and oppression Community Clean Ups. She
is the driving force behind
are systemic.
these events, and has an
Many Americans suffer
daily because of their gender, immensely generous spirit
race or sexual identity. From for community betterment.
the fact that every 73 seconds Charismatic and gifted with
an American is sexually
the knack for organizing
assaulted (mostly women)
effectively using volunteers,
to Derek Chauvin's knee
Rachel knows how to build
on George Floyd's neck to
partnerships and civic pride.
(vulgar) ex-presidents. So,
She is a fountain of ideas for
I did not find it surprising
our parks — return regular
that men on The Dalles
music events; more activities
City Council objected to
for children and families;
the original language of the
grow and improve dog parks.
recent Proclamation marking And more!
April as Sexual Assault Action
Vote Rachel Carter for Seat
Month. To acknowledge the
1 No. Wasco County Park and
fact of systemic violence
Recreation!
and oppression makes them
Connie Krummrich
feel bad. Why? Because they
The Dalles
know in their hearts that they
have benefited from a system
that is inherently unjust. It is
an uncomfortable truth.
Men of all political
persuasions are capable of
heinous sexual crimes —
Andrew Cuomo, Bill Cosby,
Harvey Weinstein, Donald
Trump, Bill Clinton, Matt
Gaetz — the list goes on and
on. Famous men who abuse
their power at the expense of
weaker Americans.
But in reality it's not the
famous men who make life
Underwood Conservation
District extends a big thank
you to our board of supervi-
Why am I being judged for sors, including the many who
have served over the years
my disability because of al-
most losing my life a number since our formation in 1940!
of times, starting in Vietnam, Without you we couldn't be
where we are today.
Operation Giant Sling Shot
For many years,
as part of a Patrol Boat river
detachment base in Ben Luc, Underwood Conservation
District (UCD) operated with
South Vietnam?
The support that has been only our board members' vol-
unteer service, without any
there for me has been my
paid staff at all. Established in
kids and mother.
1940 by a group of orchard-
The word family means
parents and children. That is ists and farmers from the
who has been there for me in Underwood area, UCD was
formed to address concerns
the dark days.
with forest productivity, soil
As I cry writing this letter
erosion, irrigation, and water
my support dog, Missy, lays
next to my feet because of the quality. At the time, the only
technical staff were employ-
tears she saw.
ees of the Soil Conservation
All of my family is my
Service, a federal agency
support, even my support
which formed in response
dog, Missy.
We all need love and sup- to the Dust Bowl era, now
called the Natural Resource
port, not judgment!
Steve Cochenour Conservation Service.
Just as you promised,
Volunteer board members
The Dalles
the Columbia Gorge News
of the local conservation
has blossomed into a fine
district, most of them private
newspaper. I always look
landowners and farmers,
forward to Wednesdays when
guided and planned projects
I receive it in the mail.
to support agricultural opera-
Thanks to your and your
Years ago, I wrote that the
tions and natural resources.
staff for the courage and
most important move that
Now encompassing
determination to undertake
Obama did for America was
western Klickitat County
this.
to become the first man of
and all of Skamania County
All the best for continued color elected president. I
and staffed by five full-time
success.
still believe that to be true.
employees, UCD is still di-
Portia Masterson It was one of the few facts
rected by five volunteers who
Lyle about Obama's presiden-
serve as our valuable Board
cy I admired and cheered.
of Supervisors. Current UCD
Mercy me! Many of those
Board Supervisors include:
that believed Obama to be
current chair, Paul Newell
a great president thought I
serving nearly 20 years, vice-
There is still kindness and was wrong and expressed
chair Barbara Bailey, Joyce
generosity in the world, even those feelings vehemently
Eastwick, Bengt Coffin, and
or worse. Those that be-
during COVID-19.
Marie Perez.
While shopping at Bi-Mart lieved Obama to be a huge
With heartfelt thanks
mistake expressed doubts
this afternoon, the man just
we bid farewell to Joyce
ahead of me said something about my sanity, or worse.
to the clerk and continued to That is American politics in a Eastwick, who is retiring from
UCD's Board of Supervisors
stay at the counter. Then the nutshell.
after 11 years of outstanding
Obama, Biden and Kerry
clerk rang up my purchases
made a horrendous mistake service. Joyce has served as
and this total stranger paid
the board’s auditor, taking the
with the Iranian decision
for all of mine. Wow!
lead on reviewing monthly
and infantile agreements. I
I wish I knew his name.
Hope he takes the paper and believe that the jury is still
out on the Affordable Care
reads my thank you.
Act. Dogged if I can think of
I am so grateful!
Donna Rhodes anything of vast importance
The Dalles that Obama achieved besides
the least transparent admin-
istration known in American
politics.
Not much substance to 'ol
Joe. Biden's grasp of unity is
On behalf of our graduat-
"my way or the highway." As
ing high school senior, my
more and more of his push
family would like to express
for citizen control, liberal-
our gratitude and appreci-
ism and socialism becomes
ation for the teachers, staff,
revealed it will become plain.
and school board in Trout
Lake. Last fall, the school had Democratic leadership has
done all be vilify Trump,
a lot of difficult choices to
make impotent virtually ev-
make. Using guidance from
the state and federal COVID ery progressive move Trump
made and quash those that
guidelines, and with input
supported and voted for
from multiple surveys sent
Trump. The old lies, innuen-
out to families, the school
do of media and social media
was able to hold in-person
classes almost the entire year. bashing has begun all over
again. If Democratic anger
For my daughter and
and hate has its way, Trump
her peers, the half-days
will be erased from the cadre
have been a high schooler’s
of ex-Presidents, even history
dream. My daughter has
been able to apply for college, itself.
I suspect Biden will
participate in some new
sports, and work a part-time reinstate every attitude and
job with a lot less stress than latitude that Obama pro-
You show up, every day, for the people who count on you. That’s
a full school day requires. The moted. Biden is now on a
your greatness in action.
witch hunt to eliminate any
shorter days have also kept
the classroom time more
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canceled, I have also seen
Violence is
nonpartisan
Carter for parks
Promise fulfilled
Radical
Democrats
Kindness and
generosity
Gratitude and
appreciation
Greatness in action
WALKER SACON
Mill A, Washington
Walker grew up in Skamania County
where he now lives with his partner,
Diana, and their somehow-still-growing
puppy, Rudy. He spends days off fishing,
hiking or recording music. During the dry
season, Walker works on a fire engine on
the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. He
covers a bit of everything for CGN
and is always looking for a chance
to grab his camera and get outside.
WalkerS@gorgenews.com
541-386-1234
HOOD RIVER | THE DALLES | WHITE SALMON
Columbia Gorge News