Wednesday,May5,2021
Columbia Gorge News
www.columbiagorgenews.com
5
OPINION
analysis.
Benjamin Sheppard
Hood River
Benjamin Sheppard is em-
ployed as a social worker.
misinformed strangers)
staying out of my family’s
business.
I don’t know if Carlson
did a 180 last night just for
ratings, or if he is losing his
edge. I am starting to believe
there really are space lasers,
I have gotten to know
and they have somehow
Lach Litwer over the past few zapped the brilliant mind of
years, both personally and
Tucker Carlson.
professionally. Lach is a prov-
God help us if we lose peo-
en leader with a broad range ple like Carlson who demon-
of work and life experiences
strate so much integrity.
that make him well suited
If that happens we can kiss
to a position on the Port of
accurate news reporting and
Hood River Commission.
commentary goodbye.
Lach’s work experience
Steve Kaplan
includes organizational
Hood River
management, public policy,
legislative affairs, and project
finance (to name a few).
Lach’s most recent work
has focused on infrastruc-
I am writing to express
ture, primarily around energy my support for Lach Litwer
and telecommunications.
as a candidate for the Port
Lach would bring experience Commission, Position 3.
in planning and developing
As the retiring commis-
large scale projects, working sion president, I looked for
with diverse partners to reach steady hands to continue the
a common goal, and manag- success the Port has had in
ing large budgets.
fostering economic activity
Finally, Lach Litwer knows and quality of life in the port
what long term dedication
district, as well as someone
means with over 20 years
with the experience to be
in the U.S. Army Reserves.
effective in advancing the
Join me in voting for Lach
current bridge replacement
Litwer for Port of Hood River effort. I believe Lach has
position 3.
those qualities.
Les Perkins
The experience Lach has
Parkdale in infrastructure finance is
an important part of why I'm
supporting him. His work
managing the financing of
large public infrastructure
It is my pleasure to endorse projects at Department of
John Willer for The Port of
Defense installations in-
cluded both congressionally
The Dalles Commission
funded and public-private
in the May 18 election.
partnership strategies. Given
The purpose of the Port is
economic development with that both of these approaches
may be relevant to bridge
emphasis on development.
replacement, this is exactly
John Willer is himself a de-
veloper and employer having the expertise we need on the
built buildings in The Dalles Commission.
Lach and Alexia's choice
and created industry that
supports fifty employees. We to raise their two children in
Hood River is the best incen-
need John’s perspective as
tive I can think of to see that
a developer. He has experi-
enced the process of making Hood River remains a place
that is healthy and in-spiring
a capital investment in the
district which will inform his for our kids and can provide
living wage jobs for them
role at the Port. The Port is
not financially constrained at when they grow up.
He is willing to engage in
this time, but in need of fresh
ideas. John will look for pock- addressing the hard prob-
lems every popular small
et development opportuni-
town has, such as work force
ties across the district and
housing and maintaining the
bring the creativity, vision
and courage to his service on character that makes this a
the Port Commission. Please desirable place to live.
I urge you to join me in
vote in the May 18 election
voting for Lach for Port
and vote for John Willer.
Betsy Hege Commission, Position 3!
The Dalles To learn more about Lach
visit www.votelitwer.com or
Facebook at Face-book.com/
As a liberal American I feel VoteLitwer.
John Everitt
obligated to meet conserva-
Hood River
tives halfway on things we all
agree upon. I have to admit
I finally agree with conser-
vative Tucker Carlson on
something. Last night on Fox,
Carlson urged viewers who
I am so excited to sup-
see children wearing masks
port Lucille Begay for The
to treat it (just like someone
Columbia Gorge Community
beating a kid in Walmart).
College Board of Directors
“Call the police immediate-
Position #7. To the best of my
ly, contact child protective
knowledge, her candidacy
services. Keep calling until
marks the first Indigenous
someone arrives,” said Mr.
person (and woman!) to run
Carlson.
for office in Wasco County.
Let me be clear. I don’t
The peoples of the Wasco,
agree that I am abusing my
Wishram, Yakama, Umatilla,
child by having him wear a
and Warm Springs have long
mask. I also don’t agree with lived on lands where The
a stranger interfering in how Dalles stands now. However,
I protect my child and every- any representation of tribal
one around him through a
members in modern-day
simple, disease-prevention
political offices in Wasco
device like a face mask.
County has been limited, if
Furthermore, I believe it is
any.
ridiculous that Mr. Carlson
Lucille Begay has been
would suggest wasting
a lifelong resident of Celilo
tax dollars and the time of
Wyam Village, and grand-
trained professionals to res-
daughter of Chief Howard
cue my “abused” son from his Jim.
mask-wearing horror. I guess
It is so exciting to have
I don’t really agree with a sin- a new perspective be-
gle word he said last night.
ing brought forward by a
What I do agree with
upstanding member of our
Carlson about is his personal com-munity and I look for-
stance on individual liberties ward to supporting Ms. Begay
and the government (and
in her run for this office.
Vote Litwer
Support for
Litwer
Willer
endorsement
Kiss Goodbye
Indigenous
representation
Please join me in support-
Vote Lucille Begay!
Dawn Rasmussen ing Rebecca Thistlethwaite
The Dalles for the D21 school board.
Bernadine Herlihy
Mosier
then told me what she had
year to negotiate contracts.
seen.
I feel she can help to bridge
My dog was apparently in
the gap in the future to assist
a white car with stickers all
in a smoother process.
over the back, coming down
Heidi understands that
9th to State. She leapt out of
as a board member, when
that car, which sped away.
making decisions, one must
Our schools needs leader-
The lovely lady and another
consider all of the unintend-
ship that will focus on rigor,
man possibly from Eugene
ed consequences. Heidi will
I recently received my sec- Street saw this transpire and bring a fresh perspective and
relationships and relevance.
As more and more students
ond COVID-19 vaccine and I both ran up to rescue Maisie. leadership to help balance
go back to school, leadership want to thank all the medical
Had my dog not jumped
the board. She is dedicated,
professionals and volunteers from that car I’m sure I never thoughtful, mindful and
needs to focus not only on
who have helped and contin- would’ve seen her again.
ensuring the safety of all
wanting to ensure that ALL of
ue to help our country move
children, but also addresses
She’s got very good car
our children receive the best
individual student achieve-
out from under the weight of etiquette and has never at-
opportunities possible.
ment. Vote for Barb Hosford the pandemic. I admire your tempted to jump from a mov-
Vote for Heidi Parr, she will
courage and sacrifices.
and Jennifer Kelly for Hood
ing car, but apparently she
work hard for ALL children.
For that matter any
River School Board or Holly
knew she had to get away.
Kristi Chapman
front line worker making a
Gove for The North Wasco
Brilliant dog! So thanks to her
Hood River
living by providing essential
County School Board.
courage and the lovely lady
Amy Nelson services.
and her husband on State St,
Thank you for providing
Hood River
Please join me in casting
we have a happy ending.
me the inspiration to shine
This has always been a very a ballot for Nathanael (Nate)
my own light as brightly as
Stice for Columbia Gorge
dog friendly town and I am
possible in uncertain times.
Community College Director,
shocked this happened in
Crafting a healthy and
Position 1.
Hood River.
sustainable future will take
Please be careful out there;
Please join me in voting
I have had the privilege of
all of us working together on there are people who will
working with Nate Stice over
for Lach Litwer for Port
society’s biggest issues.
steal our dogs right out in the the past year. He is a dedi-
Commission Position 3. I
We are all in this together
cated professional who cares
open on a sunny Saturday
have had the opportunity to
regardless of who we vote for. morning!
deeply about the residents of
work with Lach through the
Avery Hoyt
Pamela Tyler-Kroon our region.
Hood River Energy Council,
White Salmon
Mt. Hood-Parkdale
Access to higher education
which is helping advance
and workforce development
the goals of the Energy Plan.
for our students are key fac-
Lach brought fresh perspec-
tors in creating a vibrant and
tive, common sense and vast
Today a personal tragedy
Upon meeting Heidi sev-
experience to the group. He is was miraculously averted for eral years ago I was instantly resilient community.
Stice’s work as Assistant
a great listener who wants to our family. I want to share
impressed with her authentic
Director for Federal and State
hear people's ideas and work what happened as a caution- personality. Then she really
Affairs at the University of
ary tale to my community.
amazed me when I learned
together to find innovative
solutions. Lach's range of ex-
I stopped at Safeway
that not only is she a firefight- Oregon provides him with
the insight and knowledge
perience — from working for around 11:30 a.m. on
er, but a captain!
to facilitate the growth and
the Department of Defense
Saturday along with my two
To be at that level, one
on huge infrastructure
dogs, a Border Collie and a
must have the ability to look development of CGCC,
ensuring success for our
projects to his experience
Jack-Chi. I ran in to pick up
at what is in front of them
working locally as a devel-
flowers and was in the store
and respond in a manner that students and families.
I know Nate will be a
oper of workforce housing
for maybe five minutes.
addresses and corrects the is-
— is invaluable. We would be
I take my dogs with me
sue while keeping the health tremendous asset to our
lucky to have Lach serve on
often until it starts warming
and safety of those involved a region, and I look forward to
the Port Commission.
up too much, so I thought
priority. It is quick thinking at his insightful and innovative
leadership.
Becky Brun nothing of leaving them in
its finest.
Miriam D. McDonell, MD
Portland the car.
Heidi knows first hand the
The Dalles
I came out to find my
realities that some children
Border Collie gone. I ran
have been faced with during
around calling her for about the closure of schools and
In response to the letter
realizes that kids need to
titled "Teaching Issues" in the twenty minutes then went
back to my car to drive
be re-prioritized in our
April 28 edition:
around looking for her. It was community.
Truth: 1+1=2
then that I noticed her seat
Going on calls to homes
Delirium: Faith in some
restraint had been unbuck-
where neglect is obvious isn’t
book of old myths.
led, which is impossible for a helping our collective youth.
Criminal bigotry: abusing
dog, even my brilliant BC!
Pre-pandemic, Oregon
people if they don't believe
I went back inside Safeway ranked in the bottom third in
some set of myths.
the country, our kids deserve
Adrian Fields to ask about security video
Hood River and returned to my car. I had better. They deserve to have
a voice mail message from a a district who puts them first.
lovely lady on State Street let- Heidi also understands union
ting me know she had Maisie. negotiations, something our
I called and went over. She
district recently took over a
As a Mosier resident and
parent to a 3rd grade student
at Mosier Community
School, I heartily support
Rebecca Thistlethwaite for
re-election to Zone 1 of the
North Wasco County school
board. Rebecca is a dedi-
cated, hard-working public
servant who has repeatedly
demonstrated her commit-
ment to the district and the
community.
While serving with
Rebecca on the Mosier
Community School board, I
was continually impressed
by her strategic thinking and
fundraising expertise, as well
as her commitment to equity
within our school. During
her term on the D21 board, I
have appreciated Rebecca’s
Whereas, the passion, knowledge, support, and skills our teachers
continuing support of MCS
provide the children and families we serve, will positively impact their
and her efforts to strengthen
lives for years to come; and
relationships between Mosier
and the D21 community.
Whereas, the patience and compassion our teachers have educating
I strongly support
children at various level, ensures there is an appropriate engaging
Rebecca’s diversity, equity
environment for all children to learn; and
and inclusion goals for the
district, including changing
Whereas, the creativity of our teachers to provide a quality early learning
the name of Colonel Wright
settings indoors, outdoors or virtually, will always be tailored to the needs
Elementary School. I believe
Rebecca will continue to
of children and families; and
work to ensure all students
feel welcome and supported
Whereas, the flexibility our teachers have adapting to change at a
in our schools.
moment’s notice, ensures we are maintaining site, classroom and program
operating requirements; and
French Onion
Whereas, the dedication our teaches have for early learning values,
Soup tonight?
ethics and their career, brings out the best in children and everyone
Gourmet Take-Out
And Local Delivery.
around them.
Schools
Need Rigor
Crafting the
future
Vote for Stice
Fresh
perspective
Tragedy averted Vote Heidi Parr
Original bigotry
Thistlethwaite
for board
baldwinsaloon.com
541-296-5666
NIKI PIACENTE
The Dalles, Oregon
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HOOD RIVER | THE DALLES | WHITE SALMON
Columbia Gorge News
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mid-Columbia Children’s
Council Board of Directors and Leadership recognizes May 3 - 7, 2021,
as Teacher Appreciation Week and encourages staff, families, and
communities to recognize the contributions of our outstanding teachers.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Mid-Columbia Children’s Council
Board of Directors and Leadership expresses its sincere gratitude to all
Mid-Columbia Children’s Council teachers who enthusiastically dedicate
themselves to their jobs for the children and families in the communities
we serve.
Adopted This Twenty-Second Day of April in the year 2021.