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
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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
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Production/Commercial Printing
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Entertainment
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Advertising Sales
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Commercial Printing
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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