THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017
FRIDAY EXCHANGE
5A
Port business
Keep EPA strong
r. Stephen Fulton and
Mr. Bill Hunsinger: I am
a little tired of you continuing
to behave in the most juvenile
way. You both make headlines
that are ridiculous. Give us tax-
payers a break.
Mr. Robert Mushen has
class. Take a lesson, Fulton
and Hunsinger. Then get on
with the Port of Astoria’s real
business.
You may be surprised how
many taxpayers are happy with
Jim Knight, the Port’s execu-
tive director. Your approval rat-
ing needs to be improved.
DIANE FINUCANE
Astoria
G
M
Plea for different school clubs
am a student at Broadway Mid-
dle School in Seaside. We should
have clubs at recess. There should be
a drawing club, reading club and gam-
ing club.
First, we should have a drawing
club. The reason why we should have
a drawing club is so people can learn
different techniques, like how to make
your drawing look like metal, scale,
fur and blood. Also people can learn
to draw anything they want — like if
someone didn’t know how to make a
dragon, the person who knows can help
them make it. The last reason why we
I
should have a drawing club is so peo-
ple can learn how to shade, or make a
shadow from a person or animal.
Second, we should have a reading
club. We will talk about different types
of books, and say what you think about
the book, why you like it, and things
you didn’t like about the book. You can
vote on the book you want. We should
read the book with the most votes,
and you can’t pick the same book we
already read. Finally, we should have a
book list. We can recommend the book
to people and to schools, and if it’s
hard to read or not, and say what grade
it should be, and score it one to 10.
Also, we would read any type of book.
Finally there should be a gam-
ing club. Also there would be tourna-
ment with only one winner, and he or
she would get a prize. The tournament
would be on the computer. We could
play any type of game that is approved
by the school principal.
To conclude, that is why there
should be clubs at school. There should
be a drawing club, reading club and
gaming club.
JOHNATHON KENENOUNIS
Seaside
Coverage?
N
ot unexpected, but still a
mystery: Why don’t news-
papers mention (maybe a para-
graph on page 5) the half a
million mostly young pro-lif-
ers who, for the past 44 years,
have been rallying and march-
ing in the national capitol and
in state capitols all over the
country?
Just asking.
JEAN M. HERMAN
Astoria
some of them, the devil incar-
nate. Yes, he has been married
two more times than Kennedy
but, to my knowledge, did not
cheat on his wives — he sim-
ply divorced them.
It seems that Republicans
are just more tolerant, under-
standing and appreciate great-
ness no matter where it comes
from? I could be wrong.
DAVID GRAVES
Astoria
Trump v. Kennedy
Game to remember
ere is what I do not under-
stand: John F. Kennedy,
arguably one of the most
revered presidents of the mod-
ern era, was the son of Joseph
Kennedy Sr.
Ole Joe was an immi-
grant who made a large for-
tune through investment bank-
ing, owning a film company
and movie studio (RKO),
and through the auspices of
then-president Franklin Roo-
sevelt, managed to obtain the
American distributing rights
for Scotch whiskey. Some
say perhaps he was import-
ing whiskey even during pro-
hibition, though that has never
been proven.
John was born to wealth
and privilege, and never actu-
ally accomplished anything
other than being in the Navy
and becoming a politician.
It has, in recent years, been
revealed that John was, though
married to Jackie, involved
(shall we say) with several
Hollywood starlets, including
Marilyn Monroe.
Donald Trump is the son
of an immigrant who began
a building company and par-
layed it into a multimil-
lion-dollar concern. Don-
ald was born to privilege and
wealth, however, he took the
bull by the horns and created
his own billion-dollar com-
pany through real estate invest-
ment and construction; a real
working man.
The Donald, however is
despised by Democrats and per
T
H
he NFL in one game rekin-
dled the attention of the
world. Not since the 1967
“Ice Bowl” NFL Champion-
ship between Vince Lombar-
di’s Green Bay Packers and
Tom Landry’s Dallas Cowboys
has the sporting world been
regaled by such a contest. High
suspense, incredible plays by
linemen, receivers, corners —
not to mention the poise, view
of the field and accuracy of
both quarterbacks.
But the heart it took for the
Patriots to play all out com-
ing back from a 28-3 deficit to
win in overtime against a fierce
defense will become a signifi-
cant parable of grit and deter-
mination for young athletes to
ponder into the ages.
Julian Edelman’s Herculean
catch through a mash of legs
and arms keeping a last flicker-
ing drive alive was a moment
that has forever extended the
meaning of resolution. From
a fan’s point of view, rarely,
has a better game ever been
played. Ever.
Congratulations to both
teams, the officials, the spon-
sors, and the NFL for exceed-
ing expectations across the
sporting world.
WAYNE MAYO
Scappoose
Illegal?
have heard a lot lately about
the border wall, and how
much it will cost. Yet I have
not heard, “What is the cost of
I
a human life?”
Some illegal aliens have
committed horrific crimes
in this country. We hear talk
about the heartbreak that
comes with splitting up fami-
lies who are here illegally, and
sent back to their country. But
what of the victims and fam-
ilies of the crimes committed
upon them by illegal aliens?
What of their heartbreak?
Their loss?
Most of these crimes could
and should have been pre-
vented. For the most part, the
news agencies have been silent
on reporting crimes by illegal
aliens. It doesn’t fit their nar-
rative. People in the U.S. who
are here illegally are breaking
the law of our country.
People talk of the cost of
the wall. Have they lost loved
ones at the hands of illegal
aliens? I think not. This coun-
try was founded upon Anglo-
Saxon Protestant values. Chief
among them was the rule of
law and equal justice for all.
But where is the justice for
innocent victims of the crimes
committed upon them?
There is a great divide in
this country, and it is only going
to get wider as long as there are
people who believe the rule of
law is for some, and not others.
Where one special group can
break the law and another can-
not. Where a mayor of a sanc-
tuary city can say, “I don’t have
to follow a law, but you do.”
Where illegal aliens have more
rights than their victims.
There are people who hate
this country so much, they
want to remake it to their like-
ness. And if it means innocent
people die, the means justify
the ends. Donald Trump has
been the only president in my
lifetime to have the tenacity
and courage to try and change
that. He has given a voice to
the thousands upon thousands
of innocent victims who have
had crimes committed against
them by illegal aliens. And to
those people who believe ille-
gal means illegal. Isn’t that
common sense?
We have spent trillions and
trillions of dollars on wars in
the last 45 years. Spent bil-
lions and billions of dollars on
the war on poverty, and what
has this country gotten out of
it? More war and more pov-
erty. This country is $21 tril-
lion in debt. Where is the out-
rage about that? Yet when
the president talks of spend-
ing $10 billion on a wall, they
come unglued. Ten or $20 bil-
lion is cheap, considering the
human lives that will be saved.
Walls can, and do work. Just
ask Israel.
ROBERT L BOEHM
Clatskanie
Thoughtful decision
he article “A look at coun-
ty’s timber decision” (The
Daily Astorian, Feb. 6) wasn’t
much of a look at the actual
decision. Our county gets
labeled as an “outlier,” when
one might well see the com-
mission as a “leader,” instead.
After almost a year’s con-
sideration, the Clatsop County
Commission made a diffi-
cult decision. In the words of
Commission Chair Scott Lee
“the overwhelming message
from public testimony has
been in favor of balanced for-
est management and against
the Linn County lawsuit”
(“County won’t join Linn
County suit,” The Daily Asto-
rian, Jan. 19).
T
Commissioner Kathleen
Sullivan discussed the evi-
dence that had been presented
showing that the trust coun-
ties participated in, and sup-
ported the development of,
the Greatest Permanent Value
rule. Commissioner Sarah
Nebeker pointed out the sig-
nificant increases in timber
revenues from the state forests
since that rule was expanded
in 1998.
All three commission-
ers provided plenty of back-
ground for their decisions, but
John DiLorenzo, lead law-
yer for Linn County, got gen-
erous print space to conclude
“Believe me, this case is all
about money.” Which, of
course, to him, it is.
I want to thank the Clatsop
County Commissioners for
their consideration of constit-
uent input, study of the issues
and thoughtful decision-mak-
ing process, recognizing the
many values supported by
healthy forests that go well
beyond the promises of the
lawyers pursuing this suit on
behalf of timber interests.
In the words of our com-
missioners, rather than attack-
ing our own state with a bil-
lion dollar lawsuit, it’s time to
get to work with the Board of
Forestry to promote sustain-
able timber harvest and bal-
anced management of all of
our state forests.
HELEN WESTBROOK
Astoria
rowing up in Cleve-
land, Ohio in the 1960s,
a world existed without the
Environmental Protection
Agency, Clean Air or Clean
Water Act. Lake Erie was
dead from the toxic water
emptying into it from the
Cuyahoga River. Steel mills
and chemical plants lined its
banks, dumping their waste
into its waters. The cata-
lytic combinations often
had incendiary results. The
Cuyahoga River was so
famous for its fires and explo-
sions, Randy Newman wrote
a song about it in 1972 called,
“Burn On.”
While working three jobs
in 1976 to put myself through
college, I lived in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. U.S. Steel,
Allegany Steel and Bethle-
hem Steel had large plants
there. On a damp day, when
these mills were working,
sulfur dioxide flowing out
of the smoke stacks com-
bined with the moisture in the
air and created sulfuric acid.
A weak solution, but strong
enough to cause irritation in
the lungs, dissolve synthetic
fabrics like nylon and acetate
on laundry lines, and etch pits
into car paint.
As the EPA, Clean Air and
Clean Water Act came into
force, they began to prose-
cute the steel mills in Pitts-
burgh for their air pollution,
as well as other East Coast
industrial plants. I opened the
first section of the Pittsburgh
Press one day, and on the
second page of the paper, in
large block letters read, “U.S.
Steel will leave Pittsburgh if
the EPA enforces its rules on
us.” Well they didn’t leave,
and some smart folks learned
how to clean up some of that
dirty water.
Now we have an admin-
istration which vows to roll
back regulations, the power
of the EPA, and various
anti-pollution laws. Please
work to keep the EPA strong.
Or at least we can uphold
its values here in the Pacific
Northwest.
PAMELA MATTSON
McDONALD
Astoria
F EBRUARY 23
What’s Ahead for the
Regional and State Economies?
A Columbia Forum Presentation
Erik Knoder
Erik Knoder has lived in Oregon since 1988. He received
his master’s degree in natural resource economics from
Oregon State University in 1999. Aside from labor market
economics his research interests include land use, growth
and development, and the fi shing industry. Erik joined
the Oregon Employment Department as a regional
economist June of 2003 and works in Newport. He is
responsible for generating and disseminating labor market information for
Lincoln, Tillamook, Clatsop and Columbia counties.
Josh Lehner
Josh Lehner is an Economist with the Oregon Offi ce of
Economic Analysis. He develops the quarterly Oregon
Economic forecast, including outlooks for employment,
income and housing. Additional responsibilities include
forecasting revenues for the Oregon Lottery, Oregon
Judicial Department and state tobacco taxes.
TO ATTEND:
LIMI
SEATI TED
NG
RESER
V
For Members: Dinner & Lecture:$25 each; Lecture only: no charge
SPACE E YOUR
TODA
For Non-Members: Dinner & Lecture: $35 each; Lecture only: $15 ea.
Y!
Appetizers will be available at 6 p.m. • Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.
The speaker will begin after the dinner service is complete and non-dinner
members and guests of the audience take their seats.
Forum to be held at the CMH Community Center at 2021 Exchange St., Astoria.
ColumbiaForum
Living with Alzheimer’s:
For Caregivers – Middle Stage
Thursday, February 23
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Providence Seaside
ED A Conference Room
(725 S. Wahanna Road, Seaside, OR 97138)
In the middle stage of Alzheimer’s disease, those who were care
partners now become hands-on caregivers. Join the Alzheimer’s
Association Oregon Chapter for this class and hear caregivers and
professionals discuss helpful strategies to provide safe, effective
and comfortable care in the middle stage of Alzheimer’s.
This class is free, but registration is required.
To register, call 800-272-3900.
Offered in collaboration with:
FOR RESERVATIONS OR TO JOIN COLUMBIA FORUM CONTACT:
Holly Larkins at 503.325.3211 ext. 227 or forum@dailyastorian.com by Feb. 20, 2017
Columbia Forum is sponsored by:
The Daily Astorian • Craft3 • OSU Seafood Laboratory • KMUN-FM
Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa