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About The Hood River news. (Hood River, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 24, 2015)
A4 V IEWPOINT Hood River News, Saturday, January 24, 2015 O ur readers write JOE PETSHOW Publisher/President, Eagle Newspapers, Inc. CHELSEA MARR General Manager JODY THOMPSON Advertising Manager DICK NAFSINGER Publisher, Emeritus (1933-2011) TOM LANCTOT Past President, Eagle Newspapers, Inc. Missed the point KIRBY NEUMANN-REA Editor TONY METHVIN Columbia Gorge Press Manager DAVID MARVIN Production Manager Subscription $42 per year in Hood River trade area. $68 outside trade area. NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION Printed on OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION recycled paper. Official Newspaper, City of Hood River and Hood River County Published Every Wednesday & Saturday by Hood River News, P.O. Box 390, Hood River, Oregon 97031 • (541) 386-1234 • FAX 386-6796 Member of the Associated Press HB 2039 A helpful connection C hecking the Hood River Bridge lift cables for strength and alignment is a timely metaphor for a political process, about to begin, that spans the Columbia River. Rep. John Huffman (R-The Dalles), has recently introduced a bill he hopes will boost both the act’s and the commission’s profiles with his colleagues in the State Legislature and help support the commission as it struggles to obtain enough funding to adequately carry out its federally- mandated duties (story, page A1). Huffman’s proposal, HB 2039, appears to be an astute response to the funding and scope of work challenges that have long plagued the Columbia Gorge Commission and its efforts to make the National Scenic Act function as designed. But the wheels and cables that reel and unreel in Olympia and Salem are out of whack, and the efficacy of the Gorge Commission is at stake. Just as the Hood River Bridge connects both sides of the rivers. The Scenic Act binds all residents from Washougal to Arlington. Huffman has presented the solid idea of a bi-state, bi- partisan, bi-cameral taskforce comprised of Gorge legis- lators and Governors’ representatives that would meet with the Gorge Commission to address funding issues, the “various effects” of the National Scenic Act, and de- termine any needed changes to the act that “could en- hance the relationship between the (Gorge) Commission and Oregon and Washington.” The ports in the Gorge, particularly Cascade Locks and Hood River — who held a joint meeting last week — are operating under the premise that agencies and juris- dictions need to work together. Huffman’s bill expands on that, and could set up communities on both sides of the river for a range of cooperative efforts. Included in that should be a discussion on political as well as practi- cal responses to the increase of coal and oil trains through the Gorge. I note that Cliff Mansfield’s let- ter of Jan. 17, 2015 completely missed the point of where Presi- dent Obama stands on the Consti- tutional question of Freedom of Religion for our country and also of his willingness to stand up to In- ternational Terrorism. I stand with the President in be- l i ev i n g i n t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n a l words: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free ex- ercise thereof...” These words are at the same level of rights in our country as the freedoms of speech, press, assembly and petition of grievance. To that effect, I believe this weeks’ Time Magazine article by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar states that religious stance correctly and clearly in the title: “Paris was not a b o u t r e l i g i o n . T h u g s, n o t Moslems, commit violence in the name of Allah.” I and most Christians would no more stand with the Ku Klux Clan and their brand of terrorism, as if the KKK were reflecting true Christianity, than would most Moslems stand with Al Qaida or Boko Harraam, as if those terror- ists reflect true Islam. With this in mind, I have no doubt that Presi- dent Obama, who ordered the re- moval of Osama Ben Laden, stands with us on the front lines of anti- terrorism. We should all heed the reminder to remove the planks from our own eyes before we try to eradicate the planks from the eyes of the other guy. Richard McBee Hood River great goals by thoughtfully evalu- ating each Bill that comes their way… and how the president pre- sides over this satin-smooth scene. My title would be “Malice in Blun- derland.” Bill Davis Hood River Real State of Union What should have happened Tuesday night at the State of the Union address was Obama, Con- gress, the Cabinet and everyone else in the House Chamber should have stood up, faced the camera and American people and given us all the finger. That’s the real State of the Union. Jerry Giarraputo Hood River Children’s story Although I’m not an author, I somehow feel compelled to com- pose a realistic children’s story that would reflect the ways, nature and mannerisms of our political figures in the nation’s capital. How the congress and senate achieve ABOUT LETTERS Hood River News reminds letter to the editor writers that shorter is better. Concise letters are not only better-read, they are more likely to be published because limited space is available. Almost any point can be made in 350 words or fewer, so this is set as an upper level for length. Thank-you letters are no longer accepted, neither are unsigned let- ters, letters signed with fictitious signatures and copies of letters sent to public officials. We limit letters on a subject when we feel it has been thorough- ly aired, to the point of letters be- coming repetitive. Also rejected are letters that are libelous, in bad taste or personal attacks on individuals or private businesses. Writers must include addresses and telephone numbers. These are for identification pur- poses only, and will not be pub- lished. ANOTHER VOICE Leos: 700,000 containers and counting By BOB DANKO Photo by Kirby Neumann-Rea LEOS and other volunteers gather containers at the January event. Leos will be back at Rosauers Feb. 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Chelsea Marr General Manager CMarr@hoodrivernews.com Founded in 1905 419 State Street Hood River, OR 97031 P.O. Box 390 Phone: (541) 386-1234 Fax: (541) 386-6796 Operations: Joe Petshow Publisher President, Eagle Newspapers (541) 386-1234 JPetshow@hoodrivernews.com Chris Stenberg Bookkeeper CStenberg@hoodrivernews.com Front Office/ Classified Advertising: Stacey Methvin Classifieds/Receptionist HRNClass@hoodrivernews.com SMethvin@hoodrivernews.com Circulation: Esther K. Smith Circulation Manager (541) 386-1234 Ext. 205 ESmith@hoodrivernews.com Two years ago, in this space, I was happy to report on the Leos first Saturday collection of deposit bottles and cans in the Rosauers’ parking lot. At that time, the pro- ject had collected 400,000 contain- ers since its beginning in 2009. Now, two years later, I am happy to report that the Leos are still col- lecting beverage containers and those nickel deposits continue to add up. This month, the Leos sur- passed 700,000 containers. That’s $35,000 worth of nickels — every dollar going back to local groups and activities in our community. The Hood River Leos is a youth community service group affiliat- ed with our local Lion’s Club. You’ll see members volunteering at various events throughout the community. Hood River is blessed to have many of our youths doing so many worthwhile activities. The Leos now have much needed help during the first Saturday col- lection. When you drop off your bags or boxes of empty containers, you will likely see a mix of Leos, adult volunteers from the Lions Club and representatives from an- other local non-profit group. The Leos passes the money from its de- posit container collection to local groups or activities, so the group receiving the money that month News: Kirby Neumann-Rea Editor HRNews@hoodrivernews.com will have volunteers helping as well. Recent recipients of funds from the monthly collections include the Fish Food Bank, Big Broth- ers/Big Sisters, Relay for Life, the Warming Shelter Project, the Cat Re s c u e, H o o d R ive r Va l l e y Wrestling team, Hood River Valley S w i m Te a m , Wy ’ e a s t M i d d l e School Outdoor School, Mt. Hood Town Hall, the March of Dimes and Adopt-a-Dog. This month, the Health Media Clubs from the high school and middle schools turned out many volunteers. What a plea- sure to see so many youths volun- teering on a Saturday morning. The monthly deposit container collection program began six years ago when some Leos con- cluded many deposit containers (and their nickel deposits) were being thrown away and those nick- els could be put to a good use. The youths concluded most people don’t like to use the machines to return their deposit containers, but many may be happy to donate them to a good cause if it were easy to do so. And, even if the con- tainers were being recycled curb- side or at a drop box, the nickel de- posits that go along with these con- tainers were still being lost to the community. The monthly collection project Trisha Walker News/Features TWalker@hoodrivernews.com increases beverage container recy- cling, keeps more of the nickel de- posits in the community, and rais- es much needed funds for local groups and activities. That is a winning combination. The monthly collection of de- posit containers is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month in the Rosauers’ parking lot. The Leos collect aluminum, plastic and glass beverage contain- ers that have a five cent deposit. These include beer, pop and water bottles, and beer and pop cans. Only deposit containers are ac- cepted, so please do not bring Snapple, Gatorade, tea or juice containers, or wine bottles. It is also helpful to ensure the contain- ers are empty and to separate the containers by material type. Thanks to community and busi- ness support, the Leos deposit con- tainer collection has been huge success. If your group wants to be involved with a Leos collection and receive the associated funds, please contact Kristin Reese at 541 806 0278 or kristinr@hrecn.net. And we hope to see a bunch of new faces bringing containers on Sat- urday, Feb. 7. ■ Bob Danko, of Parkdale, has been assisting the Leos collection since the project began in 2009. Production: David Marvin Production Manager Adam Lapierre Ailene Hibbard Archivist DMarvin@hoodrivernews.com News/Features Advertising: Jim Drake ALapierre@hoodrivernews.com Jody Thompson Advertising Manager JThompson@hoodrivernews.com Production/Commercial Printing Liana Stegall Advertising Sales LStegall@hoodrivernews.com Production/Commercial Printing Ben Mitchell News/Features BenMitchell@hoodrivernews.com Jim Drake Entertainment JDrake@hoodrivernews.com Kirsten Lane Advertising Sales KLane@hoodrivernews.com JDrake@hoodrivernews.com Andy Taylor ATaylor@columbiagorgepress.com Allen Diers Commercial Printing ADiers@hoodrivernews.com 419 State Street Hood River, OR 97031 P.O. Box 390 Phone: (541) 386-1234 Fax: (541) 386-6796 Tony Methvin Plant Manager (541) 386-1234 TMethvin@columbiagorgepress.com Andy Taylor Commercial Printing/Production ATaylor@columbiagorgepress.com David Marvin Commercial Printing/Production DMarvin@hoodrivernews.com
