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About The Hood River news. (Hood River, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2020)
hoodrivernews.com Wednesday, January 1, 2020 A5 HOOD RIVER NEWS | Hood River, Ore. Dear readers: Thanks for writing Paul Crowley Below is the Hood River Susan Crowley 3 News’ annual listing of the Christopher Cruz writers of letters to the editor. Carolyn Crystal* These letters were compiled Steve “Squrl” Curley between Jan. 2 and Dec. 28, Steve Curtiss 2 2019. See A4 for a synopsis of popular topics for the year. Note: An asterisk (*) denotes D those who co-signed letters, and Lynda Dallman* 2 a number denotes the total let- Peter Dallman ters written by that person. J. F. DaLuz Margo Dameier 2 A Daniel Dancer 2 Celia Acosta Bob Danko Alejandro Aguilera Cano Justin Danner 2 Cindy Allen 2 Marti Dane* Jessica Allen Jon Davies Gloria Arnold Bill Davis 16 Loran Ayles 2 Bryan Davis Judy Davis B Richard Davis 5 Chris Dennett Arthur Babitz James Denton Alan Bailey 3 Carl DeWitt Cheyenne Baker Willie Dickerson 3 Junie Baker Ellen Donoghue* Belinda Ballah Sheila Dooley Antonio Baptista 9 John Dorsey Carolyn Barber Fred Duckwall Carrington “Ceb” Barrs* Ricki Duckwall 2 Mason Bates Kellie Dunn Susan Bellinson 6 Lara Dunn 4 Jessica Berty Ron Dunn Dick and Wendy Best David Dye Wendy Best 2 Doug Beveridge E Roger and Linda Blashfield David Bohlmann Jim Eastman Rev. John Boonstra* 5 Kenneth Ebi 8 John Brennan Nicholas Eby Lottie Bromham* Brent Emmons Rob Brostoff 14 Lyric Emmons Al Brown 3 Eva Estes Tonya Brumley Lisa Evans Becky Brun Pat Evenson-Brady Eric Burnette* F Stephen Burdick 2 Erin Burnham, MD Mike Farmer 2 Pennie Burns 2 Sam Fauth Jules Burton Adrian Fields Gary Fields 16 C Irene Fields* Jane Camero 3 John Fine Kathy Mariah Carlson Patty Fink Brian Carlstrom 5 Fran Finney Devin Carroll Rebekah Fisher Alonso Castillo Kristyn Fix Tina Castañares 2 Beth Flake 3 Linda Chamberlain Mary-Ethel Foley Kristi Chapman 2 Elizabeth Foster, MD Jay Chrisman Mike Fox John Christensen Scott Franke Jeremy Cervantes Joanne Franz Jatziri Chavarria Daniel Fritz Deborah Chenoweth 2 Susan Froehlich 4 Damon Clegg* Ann Frodel 2 Avi Cohn 3 Susan Frost Eric Cohn 3 G Tabitha Colie* Chris Connolly Susan Gabay Ed Cooper 2 Gerald Gard Peter Cornelison** 5 Kari Goben Dani Correa Aileen Gonzalez Tim Counihan Nicole Goode Suzanne Cross 2 Gretchen Goss Donna Grey-Davis Jess Groves H Mike Kitts 3 Jim Klaas 2 Amy Klee* Jen Klee* Christine Knowles* 2 Maria Kollas 2 Keely Kopetz Ruth Kosmalski Tom Kosmalski Courtney and Rob Kovacich Rob Kovacich 2 Helen Krehbiel Rod Krehbiel 5 Sue Kusch Jennifer Hackett Janet Hamada Corinda Hankins, MD Jennifer Hanlon Wilde 2 Karen Harding Ronald Harriman Mike Harrington 5 Ann Harris* 2 Jo Ann Harris Paul Harshbarger Melissa Haskin L Annabel Hawley Jim Hayes Travis Lage Chuck Haynie Anson Lane Katie Haynie Susan Lannak 2 Erick and Katie Haynie Jon & Debra Laraway Health Professionals at One Pamela Larsen Community Health Rick Larson 3 Amy KW Heil Alyssa Lee Peyton Helm Timothy Lee Mike Hendricks Debbie Lingel Jurgen Hess Jerry Luke Leonard Hickman M Lucy Hill Patrick Hiller 2 Harold McBain* Ethan Hillmick Richard McBee Chuck Hinman Kate McBride John Hlavek Ken McCarty* Julya Hoffman Joe McCulloch 2 Kate Hoffman Alison McDonald 3 Leanne Hogie 2 Michael McElwee Sage Hoke Gary McFarlen 3 Linda Holloway David McKay 2 Jill Jolene Holmes Douglas McKee Tracie Hornung 7 Rose McLeod Avery Hoyt 2 Bailey McManus Jeff Hunter 3 Linda Maddox David Hupp 9 Michon Mainwaring Russ Hurlbert 3 Ruth Maletz Michael Hustman P.W. May Cassandra Medley I Chris Medley Nicolia Mehrling* Samantha Irwin Leslie Melby Richard Iverson 3 Lisa Merkin J Jessica Metta John Metta 2 Mary Jette Maui Meyer Nancy Johanson Paul 8 Dave Michalek 3 Douglas Johnston Adam Mims Mark Johnson Jeff Mitchell Marty Johnson Tim Mixon Susan Johnson Nancy Moller Bill Jones Mike Monahan Debby Jones Sandy Montag Jonathan Jones Heather Moore, PETA Nik Jones Matt Morrow Ninette Jones Gabriela Jorge 2 N Kathy Jubitz Gabriel Judah David Nash Emma Neiworth Petshow K Roger Neufeldt 4 Steve Kaplan 33 Bonnie New 3 Tom Kaser Jon Nigbor Sarah Kellems Markus Norvick* Micaela Keller Nan Noteboom 2 Debbie Kelly Steve Nybroten 6 Thomas Joseph Keolker O Elaine Kirby Nick Kirby Mike Oates* Susan Sorensen Linda Sparks Megan Spears Natalie Speck Tres Spicher Michael Sprague Rhonda Starling Heather Staten John Stevens 2 Rev. Vicky Stifter 2 Ian Stormquist Eric Strid* 2 Michael Stroud Lance S. Stryker 2 Bill Sturman Andres Ochoa Carol Oji 2 Lucas O’Laughlin* Joe O’Neill* Olivia O’Shea Randy Orzeck Susan Orzeck Jennifer Ouzounian P Andrea Pacheco* Russ Paddock Vic Pavlenko Shannon Perry Dave Phelps Laurent Picard Luan Pinson Sue Powers Pat Price T Georgia Tate Renee Taylor Wanda Taylor Dave Thies 2 Paul Thompson 2 Vern Thornburg Pam Tindall Melia Tolle Tracey Tomashpol 4 Shelley Toon Lindberg* Brian Towey Esteban Trejo Rich Truax Ruth Tsu 2 Ruth Turner 3 Q Olivia Quiroz R Megan Ramey Darrell Roberts Chrissy Reitz Dick Reed Jim Reed 3 Colleen Regalbuto* Max Reitz* Mark Reynolds 2 Kirby Richards* Ron Rivers* Darrell Roberts 3 Chris Robuck 2 Allan Rodrick Carol Rodrick 3 Andy Roof* Doug Roof 3 Doug and Karen Roof Suzie Root Donald Rose 16 Paige Rouse 2 Sandi Rousseau Zed Ruhlen David Russo 2 Peter Rutkowski S Ed Salminen Melanie Salsbury Nicolas Salter Gordy Sato Kathy Sauer-Bishop Anne Saxby Jon Schlecht Robert Scobee Scott Scrimshaw Bernard Seeger George Selleck 2 Donna Schindler-Munro 2 Mark Schrankel Joe Sheahan Jay Sherrerd Beverly Sherrill Benjamin Sheppard 20 Michelle Sibley* Heidi Shoup Nastasi Tony Sims 2 Carolyn Smale 5 Mark Smith Nathan Smith 2 Linda Snyder U Eileen K. Utroske V Leticia Valle Dave Van Cott Heidi Venture 5 Erick von Lubken W Cindy Walbridge Jan Wallace David Warnock 18 Stu Watson 2 J. Andrew Weerts 2 Larry and Jeanine Wehr Jones Carolyn Welty Lindsy Weseman 2 Justin White Robert White 3 Layla Whiteside Liz Whitmore Bob Williams 2 Alan Winans 6 Richard Withers* 3 Marilyn Wong John Wood Polly Wood Caleb Woodruff XY Ron Yamashita 3 Tom Yates Gary Young * 4 Z Mark Zanmiller Jeff Zipfel Hood River News Letters Policy, in detail In every issue of the Hood River News, the “Our Readers Write” column is a vital part of the community forum. We welcome letters to the editor submissions on any topic (though “thank you” letters, in most cases, will run on the Community page, so feel free to write them). The basic elements of the letters policy is this: 350 words, maximum, and attach your name and hometown (for print) and daytime phone (not for print). Anonymous or “name with- held by request” letters are never published. Letters are subject to editing for length and will be edited, or declined, based on content that is malicious or identifiably inaccurate. Hood River News reminds 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. ■ We hear expressly at times, and “through the wire” other times, that the newspaper “chose” not to run a particular letter because it said one thing or another. Here, at the start of 2020, is a good time to reiterate that this is simply never the case. We do not “pick and choose.” It is true that we decline to run the occasional letter — but only because it does not meet any of the standards or re- quirements spelled out above: No signature or our inability to verify authorship, presence of malicious or erroneous materi- al, or surpassing length. Also, we strive to fact-check letters and apply an “editor’s note” as needed. It is impossible to “catch everything,” but if a statement or citation is known to us to be incorrect, incom- plete, or out of context, we attempt to correct or add details as the situation dictates. Just about any point of view is welcome, and no distinctions, yea or nay, are made based on the opinion itself — just how the writer expresses it. Nothing is eliminated based on topic or point of view, although the News reserves the right to select from similar letters on a given topic for space reasons; this dynamic will no doubt become a cogent reality in the coming Primary and General Election periods of the year 2020. Yet, we also make an effort to provide extra space in those times we have plenty of letters; in case of space restrictions, we choose a representative sam- pling from both sides of a given concern. Further, we keep a careful list of who writes, and about what, for the annual Our Readers Write list. We bring it again to our readers, on this page, as a way of looking back on the opinion year 2019. Cross-river and cross-aisle federal business development grants directed at Eagle Creek fire damage recovery A bipartisan press release from federal legislators from Oregon and Washington: Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merk- ley and Ron Wyden, U.S. Sena- tor Patty Murray (D-WA), and Representative Greg Walden (R-OR-5), recently announced that the 2020 spending bill passed by Congress will in- clude $2 million in new fund- ing for rural business devel- opment grants, with priority given to National Scenic Areas that have been devastated by wildfires, such as the Columbia River Gorge. This funding is intended to be used by entities such as the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District to create revolving loan funds to help support local Gorge business- es as they recover and grow following the Eagle Creek Fire. “I’ve been fighting for a long time to help the Gorge get the economic development as- sistance that was supposed to come with the scenic area, and it’s more important than ever after the Eagle Creek Fire,” said Merkley, who serves on the powerful Senate Appropria- tions Committee, which directs federal spending. “Wildfire can be devastating for any small business, but it’s particularly devastating in areas like the Gorge, where the economy is interconnected with outdoor recreation. This assistance will make sure the small businesses that are the heart and soul of our local Gorge economies can come back stronger than ever.” “These resources are a must for the full recovery of the Gorge’s businesses from the devastation of the Eagle Creek wildfire,” Wyden said. “Many of these job-creating businesses play key roles in the Gorge’s world-renowned recreation economy and I am gratified that our work to help them continue to grow has succeed- ed.” “The Columbia Gorge Na- tional Scenic Area is one of our most treasured natural areas in the Pacific Northwest, and I’m glad to see Congress allocate these funds to support economic development in the region and aid its continued recovery following the tragic Eagle Creek Fire,” Murray said. “I’m thankful to my colleagues in Oregon for their work on this issue and their partnership throughout the years to bolster communities along both sides of the Columbia River Gorge, and I won’t stop pushing for stronger federal investments to continue moving these critical efforts forward.” “I was glad to work with Sen. Merkley and our colleagues across the river in Washing- ton to fight for this remaining funding owed to our commu- nities under the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area Act,” Walden said. “As the area continues to recover from the effects of the Eagle Creek Fire, these funds are all the more important and I look forward to President Trump signing this legislation into law.” “I appreciate the hard work of our Senators, Representa- tives, and the advocacy from many of our community part- ners who understand the crit- ical function this expanded access to capital plays in the ability for the Gorge econ- omy to continue to thrive and prosper,” said Amanda Hoey, executive director of the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District. The 2020 spending bill has passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and United States Forest Service photo has been signed into law by the BIPARTISAN efforts yielded $2 million in development grants that will be turned into a revolving president. loan fund for businesses affected by the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire in the west Gorge.
