A 75K solution

It is sad to see every day on the news greedy CEOs making millions and asking for government bailout money. It’s about time to put those in charge of these financial companies in their place.

How about for five years have the CEOs make $75,000 a year? Let them see how it feels to try to make their household budgets balance on that salary. We hard-working Americans do it every day on less money than that. I challenge them to give it a try instead of taking the cowardly way out and asking the government for a handout.

Ron Dunn
Hood River

People first

What a novel idea, that significant damage could be caused by the irresponsibility of a large corporation.

I refer, of course, to the 5.5-acre (so far) landslide occurring, according to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, because SDS Lumber’s rock quarry operation has been operating outside its permit area over by Burdoin Mountain. The landslide is threatening homes as well as state Highway 14, said DNR when they issued a “stop quarrying” notice last week.

All of us are fed up with these corporations, whether they produce peanuts, gravel, autos or whatever, whose arrogance and greed continues to place Profit before People.

It is past time to replace the usual slap-on-the-wrist fine (which is ultimately written off as a tax-deductible business expense) with legislation that calls for some serious hard time behind bars for the profiteers in the front offices. Are you listening, you people down there in Salem?

George W. Earley
Mount Hood

Keep SBDC

The Small Business Development Center in The Dalles has been an invaluable resource since opening my first acupuncture clinic in 2005. I have had many meetings with the director and received assistance with marketing, hiring, personnel issues, finances, budgeting, business plan writing, and obtaining a small business loan to acquire another practice and open a second clinic. Her staff is very caring, knowledgeable and professional.

No wonder the SBDC in The Dalles was nominated for the Small Business Development Center Service Excellence and Innovation Center Award for 2008, provided each year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

I received all of this amazing support free of charge, as did many other businesses. Especially in this economy I think it is crucial that the local SBDCs continue to receive funding at the state and federal levels. I would like to share some astounding numbers with you to highlight their importance, as well as some numbers about proposed budget cuts which would jeopardize this service:

The SBDC at Columbia Gorge Community College helped our local businesses create 203 jobs and retain 86 jobs during the calendar year of 2008. They helped businesses obtain capital for their businesses from local banks and economic development districts in the amount of $8,808,239. They also helped businesses increase their sales by a total of $13,436,136. The amount of money the State of Oregon funds our SBDC through lottery dollars is only $41,332.50 per year.

The governor’s budget recommended a 52-percent cut for total funding of the Oregon Small Business Development Center Network, which includes funding for the SBDC in The Dalles. The SBDC is also funded through the Oregon Community College budget. There are proposed cuts in the state budget to community colleges ranging from 10-20 percent.

If you would like to contact Mary Merrill and learn more about the SBDC services offered or whom to contact if you want to share your thoughts about the proposed budget cuts, please call her at (541) 506-6120.

Carola Stepper
Hood River

Great music

I just want to thank the staff and students who worked so hard to put on a wonderful performance (Feb. 11) at the Hood River Middle School.

The district music festival was very enjoyable and it was great to hear all of the students from other schools play and sing together. We always go to our grandson’s performances but this was even better because we were able to listen to other children play and sing. Thanks to the music staff who took the time to put together a good program. Hopefully we will be treated to more in the future.

Janet Stanphill
Hood River

No Big 3 bailout

The Big Three Bailout requires a little perspective before we jump in.

Only 60 years ago our Big Three automakers controlled 72 percent of the automobile market worldwide. What happened?

It did not take much research to discover that the Big Three made a lot of big gas guzzlers to really cash in on this lucrative market. Their joint actions opened the door to foreign competitors, who realized that there was a huge market here in the U.S.A. specifically ignored by the Big Three: to produce a smaller, well-built, economical auto for consumers at a lower price.

As more foreign imports filled our streets and highways, the Big Three CEOs still did not get the message. Their world auto market has shrunk to about 29 percent. In recent months the three CEOs flew to Washington in their private jets, hats in hand. They claim that America needs them.

Do not give them a penny for the bailout. My solution is as follows:

First, fire the three CEOs with NO golden parachutes.

Secondly, set up an employee organization to own the three companies.

Third, hire a Toyota CEO to run the whole show.

Anatole S. Fetisoff
Hood River

Get involved

I hope voters ask the questions and get involved in what happens in their own back yard as well as the state, country, and world.

Paul Nevin
Hood River

Keep CLHS open

In reference to the Jan. 28 Hood River County School Board meeting:

Something that wasn’t discussed that night as the board voted to close Cascade Locks High School, and that I haven’t seen in any of the published articles since, is the question: If businesses do come into Cascade Locks, and our enrollment numbers go up, will the board revisit their decision? How long will it take to reinstate a high school?

Also, did the board listen to the committee that was put together and to the community of Cascade Locks? I mean really listen to us? The majority of the board kept discussing the large five-page booklet of electives that the students can participate in when attending HRVHS. Did they not hear that this is NOT what we as parents want for our children?

Many of us moved to Cascade Locks to get away from big schools and large communities. Why didn’t they give us the year to try and recruit students? If they bring kids who are not doing well in the large-school atmosphere down to our small school, these kids might thrive. Isn’t the board interested in educating all of our children?

A large school setting is not the best for everyone. Why not have the best of both worlds in our school district? I believe the students brought from Hood River would get rural school funding? Extra funds. That’s what you need right now.

I was recently told by a parent that they requested a transfer from a Hood River school to Cascade Locks, but they were denied by the principal of the Hood River Valley High School. That information was brought to me.

I wonder how many more parents would say the same thing if I went out and asked. If transfers are denied from Hood River schools to Cascade Locks, why aren’t transfers denied in the other direction?

The last point/question that I have is: Why have there been so many mixed messages? When the topic of the future of our high school was brought up this fall it was started on the basis that our kids aren’t getting the same opportunities that the students at HRVHS are getting. Then it moved to more budget-based concerns.

Now, if you read the letter on the school district Web site, and the article in the Oregonian, Pat Evenson-Brady is saying that this decision is based on the POSSIBLE enrollment of the year 2012. Close our school in 2009, for the possibility of something that MIGHT happen in three years? It doesn’t make sense.

Kathleen Malone
Cascade Locks

Don’t rush CLHS

The other day, while shopping in Hood River, I noticed a number of vacant offices and stores. I assume this is just the beginning. I expect a year from now nearly half of the little shops and restaurants in Hood River will be closed because these are mostly tourist and seasonal attractions.

You might ask the proprietors of these businesses if they would like to have a business only 15 minutes away that employs upwards of 1,000 people and that is as near to recession-proof as can be. That would be the Bridge of the Gods resort casino in Cascade Locks as proposed by the Warm Springs tribe.

No, it won’t trash the Gorge any more than Cardinal Glass company, whose building is nearly as large as the proposed casino, trashed scenic Hood River Valley. Employment is the life blood of any community and when you discourage that you get blight and poverty.

Now, about the Hood River School Board closing the Cascade Locks High School: Is that short-sighted or what? If, as we are 90-percent sure, the casino is allowed, our school will grow exponentially.

In addition, there is a very stable company which bottles water considering locating in Cascade Locks. They expect to hire 50 people. The school board knew these things and yet took the steps to close the school this fall.

They will be adding two or more classrooms to HRVHS and will be asking to build another middle school soon. You might remind them there will be six classrooms sitting empty in Cascade Locks that could be put to good use. If our kids can be bused to Hood River I should think it perfectly reasonable to bus Hood River kids to Cascade Locks.

What we want is to delay this transfer one year. By then we will know the face of the casino and also the Nestle Company proposal. We are hopeful common sense will rear its ugly head and the school board will do the right thing.

Jean McLean
Cascade Locks

Question of cuts

Some budget information, $2 million shortfall in funds, provided by (business manager) Nick Hogan at the Jan. 28 Hood River County School Board Meeting indicates significant changes must be made in order for the school district to continue to function. It will take much more than just $450,000 from staff cuts and closing Cascade Locks High School.

What are the changes going to be and how are they going to affect Cascade Locks students once they get to HRVHS?

Is the school district going to be able to keep promises made to the CLHS students and parents during the meeting on Jan. 29?

Offers for more sports, electives, and services.

Is the school district going to say that circumstances have changed and take away electives, sports, or options for all the high school students?

The district superintendent stated that in order to save the $1.5 million shortfall in funds, three major educational items would have to be cut. Those items are not listed in the meeting minutes of the meeting Jan. 28 but they are cuts that I doubt Hood River parents would stand for. If you don’t know, there might be a reason they are not included in the minutes.

Tom Brazille
Cascade Locks

Note: The three major educational items mentioned above — all full-day kindergarten, all athletics, and all elementary PE and music — were used by Supt. Pat Evenson-Brady as an illustration of what a $1.5-million cut might look like, to give the audience a sense of proportion; not as specific cuts that were planned.

Thus, the minutes recorded her statement (near the top of page 5) as: “She provided an example of what the district would have to cut to make up a $1.5 million dollar deficit.”