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About Columbia Gorge news. (The Dalles, OR) 2020-current | View Entire Issue (June 30, 2021)
Wednesday,June30,2021 Columbia Gorge News www.columbiagorgenews.com 5 YOUR VOICE CONTINUED When you purchase an affordable home and turn it into a $2000-per- month rental, do you feel good about yourself? To the people who buy all the homes to turn into rent- als — does it make you feel good that you collect these high rents which prevent low-income families from ever being able to own a home of their own? Perhaps you will never have “enough.” I am greatly saddened seeing people who have called the Gorge home their entire lives be unable to afford to live here any more thanks Chip seal was the topic of an Opinion piece two weeks ago. I am to the invasion of the filthy rich. I am saddened when I drive by the a bicyclist, and a driver. I love the roads of our counties here: smooth many vacation homes downtown road beds, well banked for turning, sitting empty for nine months every year, when there is no housing to be great vistas! I was startled by the author’s take found in the Gorge without a huge price tag. on things, about the resurfacing The idea of building more afford- of Eastside Road with chip seal. He sounded so angry. I decided to able housing is a nice idea — one go drive on the new surface. Sure that is constantly talked about in enough it was rough and noisy. I the Gorge but never actually done. was surprised because Hood River However, a lot of these issues could County roads crews resurfaced part be solved by limiting the amount of of Clear Creek Road in Parkdale, properties one person can own. two years ago I think it was, and There is someone in White when they were done it was quite Salmon who buys up the affordable smooth. My bicycle found it a fine homes and turns them into either surface as well. So what was going vacation or overpriced rentals. on for Eastside Road? The answer: A These homes could house many day or two later it got a second coat local families, but no. This person of a finer size stone which turned apparently will never have “enough”. the rough first coat smooth. Ah! It is time to change things. My faith restored. Thank you Hood Limiting the number of vacation River County. rentals in favor of the people who I’m sorry to say that another actually live here would also be a question remains. Why two and good plan. Let the tourists stay in three years ago did another road the many hotel options or camp. agency, ODOT, resurface the Let local families live in the homes. Historic Highway from Mosier to Why is this such a far-fetched idea? the Dalles using a chip seal, single Because the rich never have coat, with a stone size as rough as “enough.” “That’s capitalism!” They that first coat just used on Eastside love to say. Perhaps it’s time for the Road? A second coat of a finer stone rich to try sharing. size like that used by Hood River We learned it in kindergarten but County would have made a smooth it didn’t seem to stick. resurfacing job. We are left, how- A. D. Will Hood River ever, with a rough, course sandpa- per-like surface that only the fattest bike tires make happy. Darn it! One good thing I can report about ODOT locally, when I asked them that loose gravel left from win- The recent claim was made in the June 23 letter titled “Misunderstood ter, on the bridge from downtown Symptom” that psychosocial and Hood River over to Highway 35, psycho-emotional issues were the be swept up, they did it within two root cause of most abortions. It was weeks of my inquiry. That’s great! also said that no one sees abortion Thank you guys. And they carried as a good thing and that efforts are on up the hill, up the switchbacks, sweeping all the way to the Hatfield not being made by pro-lifers to help women. West Historic Highway trailhead. As far as never hearing or read- It looks so much better, and feels nice and smooth under the tires. ing any pro-choice thought on Timothy Curry-Stevens abortion being something good, Hood River I would ask the author to look up #ShoutYourAbortion and you will see countless stories of abortion being painted as a good thing. Is there ever “enough” for the As for pro-lifers not helping rich? Why is it even legal for some women enough, there is always to own so much at the expense of room for improvement. However, those less fortunate? When will affordable single-fam- in my experience, far more support has been shown for women, pre ily homes become a possibility for the families who need them instead and post abortion, by pro-lifers than those on the other side. of the already wealthy investors? age for purchase of a semi-auto- matic weapon, he must enforce it. If there is a global pandemic and public health is threatened by large gatherings of unmasked people, he must enforce the limits and mask wearing. Klickitat County is in need of a new sheriff who respects the law and protects the lives of all the people of the County. Gigi Pomerantz White Salmon Road questions Root of the Symptom Never enough The pro-life movement actually gives women the opportunity to choose life and supports those women through pregnancy, moth- erhood and even post-abortion life. Hope Medical Clinic here in the Gorge is a perfect example of this. But the root cause of abortion, psychological issues and abuse is sin. Sin has corrupted mankind since the fall in the garden of Eden. Since then, it is in man’s nature to do evil, which includes abuse, rape, murder, etc. While we should always try and stop these things, the reality is that these sinful acts will continue to happen until Christ comes again. If any education is go- ing to fix this, it is God’s teaching on how to love your neighbor and how Christ has loved the world through his death on the cross. It is sin that causes people to abuse others, to rape women, and that brings people to tolerate and even celebrate the destruction of life in the womb. The goal of the pro-lifer is not to disregard women and their hard- ships, but to love both the mother and the unborn child through any and all hardships. The pro-lifer who doesn’t want to support women post-birth should repent. The pro- choice person who doesn’t want to help women who chose life should also repent. Zac Patterson The Dalles unwanted babies can be given for adoption. Donald Rose Hood River public health leadership and prac- tice carried out by Director Erinn Quinn and health department staff. Right from the start, the Health Department worked with partners to coordinate county-wide COVID The June 23rd letter that revealed responses, including testing, pro- the existence of a Political Acton vision of isolation units, distribu- Committee maintained by School tion of vaccine, and much more. Board member Chrissy Reitz, Director Quinn has met regularly concerns me deeply as it should all with county school administrators parents of students in our county. to provide public health guidance PACs have no place in a non-po- and support in keeping our school litical environment. They are fund- children safe. Meanwhile, she and ing by individuals or organizations her staff continue with contact who want to see someone elected to tracing, on and off-site vaccine office and with whom they want to clinics, public health education, and myriads of other pandemic have a working relationship. related responsibilities. All that is in The fact that Chrissy’s PAC, left over from the state senate race that addition to the routine services and programs provided to safeguard the she lost, was funded by special health of Klickitat County residents. interest groups and organizations It is shocking to us that an elected from far outside of Hood River County should concern all who care county official would make a public statement that threatens arrest and about how our school district is detention of our health department managed. employees for acting in the line of A quick review of the contribu- duty. Such posturing and rhetoric tions to Chrissy for Oregon finds is intimidating and totally inappro- tens of thousands of dollars from the very same education unions priate — regardless of your personal and other special interests who beliefs and politics. actively opposed allowing kids Our county public health workers in Oregon to receive classroom are dedicated professionals whose instruction this past year. Did that goal is to protect and promote the influence Chrissy’s role on the HR health and well-being of the people County School Board, and the de- who live here. They have done cisions that were made locally that and are doing their best to provide services through a very unsettling impacted our kids? How about the generous contract pandemic. Their expertise is in the field of public health. the board just settled with our dis- Clearly yours is not. tricts teachers — a 6% bump in pay The June 23 letter titled Going forth, Mr. Sheriff, we “Misunderstood Symptom, the au- after a year in which they missed thor thinks that many abortions are no paychecks due to COVID, unlike suggest that you focus on the duties our private sector that continues to listed on the job description for the performed in the U.S. as a result of position you were elected to fulfill. deep psychosocial and psychoemo- struggle to recover? Did Chrissy’s And hopefully with a measure of close financial ties to OEA, the tional issues. He maintained that appreciation for other public ser- state’s teacher union play a role in the women have been abused in the settlement? some way. vants among us. Who knows, but the point is that As a physician, who did abortions Sue Pennington RN, MPH the existence of this PAC creates the as a family practitioner, I observed Paul Moyer PA, MPH appearance of a conflict of interest the reason that an abortion was White Salmon that taints the image of the school requested was the pregnancy was board and creates an unfortunate inconvenient for one or both of distraction for the entire district. the parents of the baby. Certainly, PACs are for politics, not alcohol, other drug use and promis- non-partisan representation like cuity contribute to the number of To Klickitat County a school board position. Chrissy unwanted pregnancies. Commissioners: Thank you for So what do we do about it? What needs to decide: Is she going to be your recent letter to Sheriff Songer a political candidate, or be content calling out his intimidating and I did was to completely stop doing to serve on the school board? Her them because perfectly formed erroneous statements especially constituents are watching. arms and legs that I tore from the with regard to local health officials Kathy Mussi who are doing their best to protect torso and held in my hand was a Hood River all of us. It was necessary and shows severe blow — I had just killed a baby! I confessed this sin and never good leadership. did any more. I asked God for for- Your endorsement of new leader- giveness, which he gave along with ship in the sheriff’s position would healing. be a next good step. There are many women and men To citizens of Klickitat County: Dear Sheriff Songer of Klickitat who have guilt about contributing A sheriff who regularly makes County Washington, to abortion. They, too, can have outlandish and legally questionable As citizen members of the forgiveness and healing. statements and clearly attempts to Klickitat County Board of Health, They need to confess to God the we want to respond openly to your divide the populace of the county sin of self centeredness and sexual he has been elected to serve does proclamation dated June 17, 2021. immorality and turn from them. Ask not serve any of us well. I’m certain During the past year and a half, for his healing and forgiveness and we watched carefully as the Klickitat we can elect someone better. he will provide them. Joe Zendt County Health Department rose I think that abortion is an”option” to meet the challenges imposed White Salmon because true Judeo-Christian values by the COVID-19 pandemic. We have been rejected in our society. can say without hesitation that we One should remember that are impressed with the excellent PAC problems Abortion issues Thank you Commissioners Inappropriate rhetoric LOCAL GORGE NEWS Wyden, Merkley press federal land managers for 2021 wildfire season help On June 16, U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley pressed federal land managers on Oregon’s preparedness needs for the 2021 wildfire season as intense drought conditions persist and are expected to worsen in the state, according to a press release. “As you are well aware, the 2020 Oregon wildfire season was one of the most destructive seasons on record, destroying thousands of homes, burning over one million acres, and straining communities already battling a historic pandem- ic. Though many Oregonians are still recovering and rebuilding after last season’s wildfires, the 2021 fire season in Oregon has already begun,” Wyden and Merkley wrote in a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Wyden and Merkley asked the agencies to: ■ Provide additional investments in aviation and other 21st century wildland firefighting technologies like drones and helicopters. ■ Continue coordination with state and local fire response. ■ Ensure a thorough assessment of firefighting capacity to align resource availability with resource needs. “In 2020, there was increased investment in planes to put out fires from above, and it is imperative to continue prioritization of the deployment of aviation and other technologies to keep firefighters safe. We recognize the importance of a strategic and integrated ap- proach to tackle wildfire, and urge your continued partnerships and coordination with state and local firefighting response units. We also acknowledge the capacity challenge federal agencies face. As fire season lasts longer and longer and as fires become more severe, retaining qualified firefighting staff will be challenging. We urge a thoughtful and intentional analysis of exist- ing wildland firefighting capacity, so that resources are prioritized accordingly,” Wyden and Merkley concluded in a press release. TRASH TALK Q. Where do I dispose of sharps QA containers? Riane, Hood River A. Riane, used sharps pose a potential health danger. So we really appreciate that folks properly dispose of them. There are several free drop sites for sharps in our area. Sharps must be in an approved red sharps container. The three drop sites are: Hood River Transfer Station, The Dalles Disposal, and the Moro Medical Clinic. questions to: (541)-506-2636 www.tricountyrecycle.com