Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Columbia Gorge News
www.columbiagorgenews.com
5
OPINION
Activities supports Indigenous women and girls
Kaufman
■ Tammy
For Washington Gorge Action Programs
Programs for Peaceful Living
supports an ongoing nationwide
effort to declare May 5, 2021, as
the National Day of Awareness
for Missing and Murdered Native
Women and Girls. The effort is be-
ing led by the National Indigenous
Women’s Resource Center
(NIWRC).
According to the NIWRC website,
indigenous women face violence
and murder rates that are more
than 10 times the national aver-
age in some tribal communities.
The movement encourages local
communities to increase aware-
ness of the issue and work at the
tribal, state and federal levels to
build better communication and
legal framework to create clarity on
jurisdictional responsibilities, and
improve efforts to find those who
are missing.
Together with the National
Partners Work Group on Missing
and Murdered Indigenous Women
and Girls (MMIWG), the groups
are organizing a National Week of
Action from April 29 - May 5. The
week will be full of virtual events
and local community action is
encouraged, including the oppor-
tunity to sign on in support of the
Senate and House resolutions to
recognize May 5 as the official day
of awareness.
MMIW Survivor Families. To learn
more and find all of the registra-
tion links go to www.niwrc.org/
mmiwgnatlweek21#.
The week’s activities end with
WE NEED
a call for solidarity for “No More
ACTION
Stolen Sisters” and encourag-
NOW!
es participants to wear red and
participate in a self-paced Running
for Justice: Remembering Missing
and Murdered Indigenous Relatives
Online registration for the week
virtual run/walk between May
begins with a National Briefing
5-9. Registration is open at events.
focusing on Advocacy in Action at
elitefeats.com/justice21 for the
noon PDT on Thursday, April 29.
Followed by a series of other webi- independent 5K, 10K, and Half
nar events over the week including: Marathon. Participants are en-
Using International Law to Respond couraged to upload their times and
to the MMIW Crisis, N Hanauna
photos. All donations will be divid-
Ho’ola (Healing Generations),
ed between three organizations:
Spotlight Alaska and the Crisis of
National Indigenous Women’s
MMIWG, and Uplifting the Voices of Resource Center, Native Women’s
NO MORE
STOLEN
SISTERS
niwrc.org
Artwork by Danielle Fixico
Virtual activities run
from April 29-May 5
Society of the Great Plains, and
Rising Hearts.
Programs for Peaceful Living
serves all Klickitat County residents
including indigenous women
and their families with domestic
violence prevention, sexual assault
prevention, and general crime
victim services. All services are free
and confidential, and referrals are
made for those who reside outside
of the county.
If you are in crisis, call the 24/7
toll free crisis line: 844-493-1709.
For assistance, or more informa-
tion, call the Goldendale office at
509-773-6100 or the Bingen office
at 509-493-2662. If advocates are
working out of the office, please
leave a message and your call will
be returned.
YOUR VOICE CONTINUED
committed to supporting and grow- most.
Debi Ferrer
ing our local small businesses by
The Dalles
supporting start up opportunities
and working to revitalize downtown
The Dalles.
Please join me in voting for
Marcus Swift for Port of The Dalles.
Sincerely,
Hello, My name is Heidi Parr, I
Chris Schanno am writing to introduce myself and
The Dalles announce that I am running for the
At-Large position on the Hood River
County School Board. I am running
Within the next week, registered for many reasons, but mainly
because I have a vested interest in
voters in Wasco County should
helping make Hood River schools
receive their ballots in the mail
for the May 18 Special Districts elec- the best they can be. I value our
tion. Please take time to learn about public schools, our educators and
the entire village that helps to raise
the candidates and vote for those
our kids up and keep them safe. I'm
who will perform their duties with
proud to live in a county that values
diligence and integrity, and will
always have the best interests of our and supports public education. I'll
work hard to represent all parts of
community in mind.
the county on their school board.
One such candidate is John
I’ve lived in Hood River for 26
Nelson for D-21 School Board, Zone
4. If you live in that zone, please join years. I met my husband while
me in casting your vote for John for working on ski patrol at Mt. Hood
Meadows many years ago, and
the following reasons:
we now have two boys in Hood
Since 1993, when John and his
River Middle School. I commute
wife first moved to The Dalles,
to the Vancouver Fire Department
John has been extremely active in
volunteer service to our communi- where I am a fire captain and was a
paramedic for over 22 years. I love
ty, including serving on the Wasco
our community and the awesome
County Forest Collaborative, The
array of activities we have access to
Dalles Beautification Committee,
The Dalles Watershed Council, The in the Gorge. I feel pretty lucky to
live here.
Dalles Planning Commission, vol-
As an elected board member I
unteer teaching assistant at CGCC’s
will prioritize creating more trans-
GED program and Gorge Literacy
program, SMART Reading Program parency so parents can have confi-
for young readers, Urban Renewal
dence in what decisions are being
Advisory Committee, just to name
made and how those decisions
a few!
impact their families. As we emerge
Before retiring in 2008, John
from the pandemic I believe we
worked as an educator for 39 years need to refocus on teaching core
in a variety of capacities: as an
subjects and getting all our kids
elementary school teacher, running back on track. Every kid deserves
day care programs, and teaching on excellence every day and the oppor-
the Warm Springs Reservation. He
tunity to reach their potential.
understands the needs of a diverse
As a working mom in the fire ser-
population of students, and there is vice, I have seen first hand how vul-
no one who has more compassion
nerable children have been trapped
for helping them all achieve their
in horrible conditions, because
dreams.
they couldn't be in the classroom.
John has also served on the D-21 Without schools, many of the chil-
School Board for the past eight
dren are facing hunger, neglect and
years, and as chairman for the past abuse. We owe it to our kids and
two years. His experience matters.
families to safely and fully open our
He has participated in OSBA’s
schools, sports and activities.
training for school board members;
Heidi Parr
he has worked to improve existing
Hood River
policies and create new ones to bet-
ter meet our students’ needs; he has
been working toward the creation
I’m voting for Michael Held as
of community advisory committees board director for Northern Wasco
that will help determine the future
County Parks and Recreation
of our schools; he has worked with District, Position #1. I met Michael
community leaders to move our
when he was working as a RARE
school district in a direction that
(Resource Assistance for Rural
will help ensure all students have
Environment) worker in The Dalles.
full and equitable access to a quality
At the time we were both board
education.
members of the Main Street
Electing John Nelson will ensure Organization. Michael created the
that we have someone who will hit downtown Parklet program, which
the ground running and will serve
gave the Main Street Program
with thoughtful compassion, at a
the impetus to grow into one of
time when our students need it the the most successful Main Street
School board
candidate
Vote Nelson for D21
A vote for Held
programs in the state.
Michael now works for Business
Oregon, the state’s economic
development organization covering
Wasco, Hood River, and Sherman
counties. He knows how to bring
people with diverse opinions
together through collaboration and
consensus building to get things
done. These kinds of experienc-
es make him uniquely qualified
to work with other Park and
Recreation board directors to plan
the future direction of the district
and improve and build on past
successes.
Michael is an articulate, convinc-
ing spokesperson for all the work
experiences he has been involved
with.
That’s why I’m an avid support-
er of his candidacy for NWCP&R
District Position 1. Join me in voting
for Michael Held. He does good
work!
John Nelson
The Dalles
Vote Nelson for D21
John Nelson is running for
re-election as board director, North
Wasco County School District,
Zone 4. John has experience with
the educational system as both an
educator and as a school board
member. He also has a long track
record of being an involved com-
munity volunteer. He is a thought-
ful, kind, intelligent person who has
the well-being of the community
as his primary motivator. He strives
for solutions to problems through
finding common ground and with
respect. He listens and he thinks.
We believe he has earned and de-
serves your support in this upcom-
ing election.
John and Kathy Schwartz
The Dalles
Dig safely
Spring is here! With the ground
ready for planting, you might be
gearing up to start an outdoor proj-
ect that involves digging. Before you
reach for that shovel, remember to
call 811 before you dig.
April is National Safe Digging
Month, a designation to remind us
that our land has a complex under-
ground infrastructure of pipelines,
wires and cables. Striking an under-
ground utility line while digging can
cause harm to you or those around
you, disrupt service to an entire
neighborhood, and potentially
result in fines and repair costs.
That’s why it’s important to call
811 or submit a request via our NW
Natural Safety App at least two busi-
ness days before digging, regardless
of depth or familiarity with the
property. It’s free and it’s the law.
Most importantly, no damage
is too minor to report — even a
small dent or scratch could weaken
a pipeline. If while digging, you
accidentally hit a gas line, report it
immediately by calling 911 or NW
Natural’s 24-hour emergency line at
800-882-3377. Also, always remem-
ber: Smell. Go. Let us know. If you
smell natural gas, leave the area
immediately, then call us at 800-
882-3377 and we will come over to
check things out.
We hope you have a beautiful
and safe spring. For more tips, visit
nwnatural.com.
Tonya Brumley
NW Natural Community Affairs
The Dalles
Many of us, including my family,
aren’t. But you would hardly know
it. He grew up in a very similar com-
munity and Marcus has invested his
life savings to start a small business
in our community. He and his
partner have settled down here. He
spends countless hours giving back
to our citizens through free and
low-cost legal work, volunteering
with community groups, and serv-
ing on the Wasco County Planning
Commission.
Marcus Swift will work to support
and expand local small businesses,
create new good paying jobs, and
revitalize downtown The Dalles.
And he will do it all with a com-
mitment to transparency, account-
This past year has pushed the
envelope of the school system — if ability, and fiscal responsibility.
you think about it, the educational
That’s why Marcus Swift is the clear
service delivery model in public
choice for the Port of The Dalles
schools has been face-to-face since Commission, Position 3, in this May
schooling began.
2021 Election.
The COVID-19 pandemic
Sincerely,
changed that, and presented a sep-
Kevin & Ida Arbo
The Dalles
arate and very difficult challenge for
students, teachers, classified staff,
administrators, coaches, parents,
and school board members. I
applaud all of the district staff for
Our community sustainability
all the hard work they have done
depends on our ability to attract
to keep students and schools safe
and keep well educated people in
while still endeavoring to fulfill their Wasco County, maintain securi-
mission of educating our kiddos.
ty for our environment and our
I have observed John Nelson and citizens, and provide the resources
Rebecca Thistlethwaite in action
needed for a flourishing future. All
on the D21 Board and can speak
of this depends on one vital ele-
from personal experience that they ment: a successful, thriving public
have always acted with the stu-
school system. It is vital that elected
dents’ best interests in mind, all the school board officials are focused
while working on selecting our next on real student needs.
We are very fortunate that we
superintendent and managing the
have such a person in Rebecca
regular board business.
Thistlethwaite, who is willing to run
Both John and Rebecca have
for reelection, and understands the
exemplified civility, integrity, im-
partiality, professionalism, thought- demands and responsibilities of the
ful consideration, and transparency position. Rebecca understands that
successful School Board Directors
in their work on the board. Brian
must work hard to research deci-
Stevens embodies those same
characteristics.
sions, must enter the position with
Because the work of the board
their minds free from personal
is focused on policy, not politics,
preexisting assumptions about
and puts students above everything students, teachers and administra-
else in the board work, I heartily
tion, and should focus on current
endorse these three individuals for realities and necessities to meet the
representation on the D21 Board.
needs of our students.
Dawn Rasmussen
We are about to welcome a
The Dalles new Superintendent, and North
Wasco County School District is
at a point in its history where the
In this May 2021 election, Marcus physical state of our schools can
Swift is the clear choice for the Port no longer be put-off and ignored.
of The Dalles Commission, Position After COVID, good decisions must
be made, and our new administra-
3. Marcus Swift loves our commu-
nity and is invested in our resi-
tive leadership will need to have
support. That includes advice that
dents — no matter what political
party they belong to. I should know: is well-researched and based on
Marcus personally helped me and
rationale unfettered by political
my family during a difficult time.
opinions. Often such fixed precon-
Throughout it all, he demonstrat-
ceptions are counterproductive to
student learning and children’s fu-
ed the strategic thinking, tireless
advocacy, and bold leadership that ture success within our community.
we need at the port.
Unlike many other school board
Just like his opponent, Marcus
is not originally from The Dalles.
CONTINUED NEXT PAGE
Vote D21 Board
Elect Thistlethwaite
Elect Swift
Congrats
GRADUATE
Congratulations Mackenzie Booth
on your graduation from
Washington State University Class of 2021.
We are so very proud of you and love dearly.
Grandma & Grandpa
Mom & Jeff & Tanner