A5
THE ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2020
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Shady
he very day the New York Post ran
an article on corruption involving
Hunter Biden’s shady business deals, it
was revealed that Twitter and Facebook
squelched the story. These companies
even closed the Post’s accounts so as to
suppress the story.
Adding to that is the fact that ABC,
CBS and NBC spent zero seconds cov-
ering the story. Given the gravity of this
situation, it seems there is a coordinated
effort by the mainstream media to cover
it up.
I wonder how many millions of Amer-
icans who have already voted in the 2020
election would like their ballots back,
knowing now that there are allegations
Joe Biden used his position as vice pres-
ident to make millions of dollars for his
family members.
I also wonder how many newspa-
pers across the nation that have already
endorsed Biden for president would like
to save their reputations, and have their
endorsements retracted, knowing they
support a corrupt politician.
The latest Gallup polls concerning the
mass media indicate that only 41% of
Americans trust the media to report the
truth. This story is also the latest exam-
ple of the long-standing assertion that the
American media tilts toward one side of
the political spectrum.
It is quite obvious there is a coordi-
nated effort by most news outlets across
the nation to alter the 2020 election in
favor of Biden.
Ballots are in Astorians’ mailboxes,
and I trust all pertinent information will
not be covered up by the media.
MATT JANES
Jeffers Gardens
T
Trees to burn
hat do we get when we load ver-
nacular into an idiom? Take the
phrase once deployed to soften the visual
impact of a thousand-acre clearcut: “It’s
not really a clearcut; it’s applied ecology.”
This, offered to rationalize a clearcut
as similar and as natural as a forest fi re;
merely a periodic controlled burn. It sets
forth the antiquated idea that we have
trees to burn, an implication the timber
tycoons are learning to regret, and wish to
avoid such comparisons at any cost.
The newest catchphrase hustled out
by Big Timber, alias #Timber Unity, is
“working forest.” It implies that planta-
tion forestry works for the good of all, but
in reality these forests work for everyone
only until payday.
And then, comparatively, there is
very little payroll involved, because all
the tasks associated with the harvest are
done with machinery. It just isn’t simply
about jobs, and it’s probably more about
W
machinery payments than it is about pay-
roll. Loggers absorb costs, while owners
take profi ts.
Anything lying down is at rest, or
worse, is loafi ng. But not trees. A stand-
ing tree is working day and night, seques-
tering carbon. Tip a tree off its stump, and
it is as good as dead. Most of us know
the meaning of “deadwood.” Deadwood
is the domain of termites and woodpeck-
ers. Deadwood doesn’t actively sequester
anything at all.
Out-of-date forest practices in Ore-
gon must be reformed. The only way
to achieve this is to reform business as
usual.
GARY DURHEIM
Seaside
Just asking
bortion: As I consider this explo-
sive issue, I wonder where the male
fi ts in. Males are peculiarly absent at any
point in the whole process. Last I looked,
it takes one, and a female, to procreate.
I guess, in the heat of passion, it is the
sole responsibility of the female to con-
sider the legal, fi nancial and moral impli-
cations of momentarily feeling good. The
burden associated with the adage that
men give love for sex, and women give
sex for love, apparently falls squarely on
the shoulders of women.
Society gives women this choice:
mother or murderer. Where are all of
the men clamoring to take on the fruit of
their loins? Many fathers who wanted a
child, after divorce, refuse to pay their
fair share.
I personally know of a father who
makes $120,000-plus annually, but still
had to have his wages garnished to pay
the mere pittance the court ordered. He
still hasn’t paid for child care in fi ve
years.
Never mind that women enter a work
world where they get paid less for the
same job, and end up caring for the child
far more than fathers claim. Where is the
funding by the pious people claiming to
protect these children?
DNA testing clearly identifi es fathers,
so where are the laws strictly mandating
genetic patronage without exception or
excuse? Just asking.
BRENTON KAHLE
Astoria
A
Appropriate care
s a nurse in our community with 20
years of experience, I urge you to
vote “yes” on Measure 110.
One of the most diffi cult and heart-
breaking situations I frequently encounter
is with people with substance use disor-
der. There are no residential recovery pro-
grams in Tillamook County, and the sole
A
OBITUARIES
one in Clatsop County is only accessible
to women with private insurance.
Instead of offering drug treatment
to people who struggle with addictions,
our system has traditionally incarcerated
them. Frankly, the system has failed peo-
ple. To a nurse, this way of dealing with
people with addictions seems as irratio-
nal as jailing someone who repeatedly
has high blood sugars, or who continues
to smoke even after being told their lungs
have been signifi cantly damaged.
In this election we have a chance to
make a difference for thousands of peo-
ple here in Oregon. Measure 110 will
change Oregon’s approach to people with
substance use disorder from a punitive
one to one of care and recovery.
Instead of criminalizing people who
need health care, Measure 110 will
remove unfairly harsh punishments for
minor, nonviolent drug offenses, incen-
tivize people to pursue treatment and
increase access to drug treatment through
the establishment of addiction recovery
centers throughout the state.
Measure 110 will change the odds for
so many of our friends, neighbors and
family members who struggle with addic-
tion. I support Measure 110 because it
will provide people with appropriate care
and treatment options for a health condi-
tion that cannot, and should not, be dealt
with punitively.
LYNDA CHICK
Nehalem
Effective way
believe in treating people suffering
from addiction with medical care, not
punishment . I believe in keeping families
together.
I’m voting “yes” on Measure 110
because it is an effective way of dealing
with our addiction crisis in Oregon. There
is a ton of statistical data to back this up.
Did you know Oregon is 50th in the
U.S. for access to drug and alcohol treat-
ment? If this measure passes, it will
offer a more humane and effective way
of approaching our addiction crisis, and
save millions every year in tax dollars by
keeping people out of prison who don’t
belong there.
If this measure passes, it will reduce
racial disparities in Oregon drug arrests
by 95 %.
I was raised in Astoria, and I grew up
in a family torn apart by addiction. I have
a sibling who has been homeless most of
his adult life because he can’t afford the
treatment he needs for meth addiction,
and we can’t help him.
Join me in supporting a new, effective
way of healing our most vulnerable com-
munity members. Join me in supporting
Measure 110.
BETSY LATTIG
Portland
I
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SALES • SERVICE • RENTALS
34912 HWY 101 BUS • ASTORIA
503-325-0792 • 1-800-220-0792
JEFFERY M. LEINASSAR
DMD, FAGD
SUNDAY
MONDAY
Charles David “Chuck” see the Smith Point round-
Curtis was born on Nov. about become a reality.
Upon retirement, Chuck
6, 1936, in Bloomington,
and
Merry
Indiana, to Ter-
sailed their older
rell and Johnetta
37-foot sailboat
Curtis.
Quiet
Priority
He obtained
from Astoria to
his bachelor’s and
Mexico. For 17
master’s degree
years, they lived
in mathematics
and explored.
from San Diego
On
three
State University,
trips to Austra-
with post-grad-
lia, when the
uate studies at
Charles Curtis
boat was on the
the University of
“hard” for repairs
California, Santa
Barbara and the University in Mexico, they amassed a
total of 14 months “bush
of Hawaii.
He married Marianne camping” Down Under.
Jean Riskosky in 1958. Chuck was on his last trip in
The couple had two sons Australia when the effects
together before going their of his illness, pulmonary
fi brosis, forced them to cut
separate ways in 1968.
Chuck began his career their trip short.
Chuck and Merry cele-
as a professor of mathemat-
ics at California Polytech- brated 50 years of marriage
nic State College in San in June 2019 by traveling
Luis Obispo. There, he met with family to Los Bar-
Merry Ellen West of Oak- riles in Baja, Mexico, and
land, California, and they then to Yosemite to revisit
were married in the chapel the chapel where they were
in Yosemite National Park wed.
He loved to fi sh, travel
on June 14, 1969.
After moving the fam- to new places and to bird
ily from Hawaii, where he watch with his wife. He
had been working on his was a gregarious, genuine,
thesis, Chuck dabbled in patient and kind man who
other fi elds of work includ- was loved by everyone who
ing, but not limited to, cap- had the privilege of know-
taining his own commer- ing him.
Charles David “Chuck”
cial fi shing boat, The Surf,
out of Winchester Bay in Curtis passed at his Lewis
and Clark home on Aug.
Oregon.
At the age of 42, Chuck 27, 2019, after a wonder-
embarked upon his new ful day of laughter and love
career with the Oregon with his wife and family.
Highway Department. He On Aug. 27, 2020, Chuck
started at the bottom, earn- was laid to rest by his fam-
ing his surveyor and engi- ily, as per his wishes, by
neering licenses while having his ashes spread in
working to move up the the Pacifi c Ocean.
Chuck is survived by
chain with the Oregon
Department of Transpor- his wife, Merry, in Astoria ;
tation. When he retired in his four sons, Chris Curtis,
1999, he was one of the in Clover, South Carolina,
four district managers for David Curtis, in Denmark,
Daryl Curtis, in Birch Bay,
the state.
He was often the point of Washington, and Max Cur-
contact for the media to dis- tis, in Hammond . Chuck
cuss projects the highway is also survived by his sib-
department had going at lings, Rachel, John, Brenda
any given time in the north- and Leslie, and numer-
west section of the state. He ous nieces, nephews and
was particularly pleased to grandchildren.
EQUIPMENT , INC.
503 325-0310 • 1414 Marine Drive, Astoria
SEVENDAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA
TODAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
Astoria
Nov. 6, 1936 — Aug. 27, 2019
CLATSOP
POWER
Leinassar Dental Excellence
www.smileastoria.com
Charles David ‘Chuck’ Curtis
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
REGIONAL FORECAST
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
Seattle
54 41
52 39
Cloudy,
Partly sunny
showers; windy
53 33
50 33
54 38
55 44
Abundant
sunshine
Sunny, but
chilly
A couple of
showers
Showers
possible
56 45
A chance of rain
Aberdeen
Olympia
53/39
53/41
Wenatchee
Tacoma
Moses
Lake
53/36
ALMANAC
UNDER THE SKY
TODAY'S TIDES
Astoria through Tuesday
Tonight’s Sky: Orion stands to its
SE, with Sirius, the sky’s brightest
star, low in the SSE.
Astoria / Port Docks
Temperatures
High/low ................................ 57/43
Normal high/low .................. 60/44
Record high .................. 76 in 1938
Record low .................... 33 in 1949
Precipitation
Tuesday ................................... 0.01”
Month to date ........................ 3.70”
Normal month to date ......... 3.23”
Year to date .......................... 45.57”
Normal year to date ........... 43.72”
Forecasts and graphics provided by
AccuWeather, Inc. ©2020
Time
High (ft.) Time Low (ft.)
6:51 a.m.
5:53 p.m.
6.5 12:16 a.m. -0.4
7.7 12:13 p.m. 3.2
Cape Disappointment
6:32 a.m.
5:34 p.m.
Source: Jim Todd, OMSI
Hammond
SUN AND MOON
Sunrise today .................. 7:43 a.m.
Sunset tonight ............... 6:16 p.m.
Moonrise today ............. 2:38 p.m.
Moonset today ............ 11:14 p.m.
First
Full
Last
New
6:38 a.m.
5:45 p.m.
Warrenton
6:46 a.m.
5:48 p.m.
Knappa
7:28 a.m.
6:30 p.m.
Depoe Bay
Oct 23 Oct 31 Nov 8 Nov 14
5:49 a.m.
4:46 p.m.
6.5 11:26 a.m. 3.7
7.6
none
6.7 11:46 a.m. 3.3
7.8
none
6.9 12:00 a.m. -0.3
8.1 11:57 a.m. 3.3
6.8 1:17 a.m. -0.3
7.9 1:14 p.m. 2.7
6.8 10:56 a.m. 3.9
8.0
none
City
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Honolulu
Houston
Los Angeles
Miami
New York City
Phoenix
San Francisco
Wash., DC
Fri.
Hi/Lo/W
79/64/c
70/53/s
74/60/r
86/67/pc
57/20/s
85/74/pc
85/72/c
75/63/pc
86/78/t
74/59/pc
94/67/s
75/55/s
78/62/pc
79/63/c
62/53/pc
62/38/r
70/48/t
44/26/pc
86/73/s
87/67/pc
73/63/pc
87/76/pc
68/58/c
92/66/s
72/56/s
75/60/pc
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy,
c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms,
r-rain, sf-snow fl urries, sn-snow, i-ice.
49/31
Hermiston
The Dalles 56/29
Enterprise
Pendleton 44/22
51/28
57/32
La Grande
47/22
57/34
NATIONAL CITIES
Today
Hi/Lo/W
45/26
Kennewick Walla Walla
50/32 Lewiston
55/28
54/37
Salem
Pullman
54/29
Longview
54/41 Portland
57/39
44/26
Yakima 53/29
53/36
Astoria
Spokane
50/33
Corvallis
58/34
Albany
56/33
John Day
Eugene
Bend
58/34
48/24
47/26
Ontario
56/25
Caldwell
Burns
48/13
53/24
Medford
62/32
Klamath Falls
53/21
City
Baker City
Brookings
Ilwaco
Newberg
Newport
Today
Hi/Lo/W
49/18/s
64/48/s
53/42/pc
55/34/s
54/41/s
Fri.
Hi/Lo/W
50/26/r
63/49/s
53/41/sh
51/39/r
54/42/r
City
North Bend
Roseburg
Seaside
Springfi eld
Vancouver
Today
Hi/Lo/W
59/41/s
56/35/s
55/40/pc
57/33/s
55/36/pc
Fri.
Hi/Lo/W
60/46/sh
63/44/pc
52/39/sh
58/40/sh
51/38/r