Letters
June 16, 2010

Women served, too

I want to thank the Heights Business Association and in particular Tom Yates for honoring the women who served in World War II at the upcoming July 4 festivities.

These ladies served their country with honor and pride in an era when it was difficult for females to get out of the traditional job mold for women. They were the ones who forged the trail for others to be accepted in the military. Their roles are often overlooked by more heroic headlines but they, too, made sacrifices in their lives to serve the country in time of war and peace.

Nellie Hjaltalin, CDR SC, USNR/ret.
Hood River

Wind turbine alert

The recent controversy over six wind turbines proposed for the southern Hood River skyline has recently been laid to rest. Now SDS Lumber in Bingen wants to install up to 50 wind turbines, each over 420 feet tall on the northern Hood River skyline behind Underwood Mountain.

The proposed wind turbines would cover more than 1,000 acres of highly visible ridgelines and would be seen from several designated key viewing areas in the Gorge. They would also be highly visible from communities and cities such as Mill A, Underwood, Hood River and White Salmon.

This proposal is likely to have different and greater wildlife impacts than any other wind energy facility proposed in Washington State because this project is located on a forested site that is also critical habitat for the northern spotted owl. Other Washington turbine projects are located on grasslands.

Please come and speak out at the hearings on the Whistling Ridge Energy Project on Wednesday, June 16, at the Underwood Community Center in Underwood or on Thursday, June 17, at Rock Creek Center in Stevenson. Both hearings run from 6:30-9:30 p.m. You can also submit electronic comments, until July 19, to: efsec@commerce.wa.govWashington or in writing to: Washington EFSEC, 905 Plum St. S.E., Olympia,, WA 98504-3172, Fax: 503-230-3285.

Peter Cornelison
Hood River

Big small stuff

What in the world are they thinking of? Are they trying to drive me crazy? I mean those people who package little tiny pills in plastic.

Sure, there are directions on how to open them, but the print is so small that I can’t read it even with my strongest pair of reading glasses. In desperation, I usually end up using scissors. But the pills are sealed right up to the edge so tightly that I end up with purée of pills! There should be a law!

I know what you are thinking. With all the really big problems going on now — the oil spill, Iran and Korea, Israel and Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq, the Tea Parties, etc. — I should not sweat the small stuff. You are right. Maybe I am just using this small stuff to fret about because there seems to be nothing I can do to change the big stuff.

Thanks for listening.

Anne Vance
Hood River

No means no

We have a most interesting conundrum regarding the demise of the Hood River County Library.

The county announced that the library would close on June 30, thereby tendering the county’s resignation as overseer of the library and its funding. On May 18 the voters effectively accepted the county’s resignation by voting “no” on the tax measure. It is no longer appropriate for the county commissioners to be involved in any further discussions regarding the library in their official capacity as county commissioners.

The only appropriate involvement by them is as private citizens with no more influence than any other private citizen. The people of Hood River County have made their choice and the county commissioners need to accept that. The county’s resignation has been tendered and accepted. The end.

I realize the county wants more money. We all do. It just isn’t in the cards. The citizens of Hood River have told the county commissioners something they didn’t want to hear. We all have that problem sometime in our lives but we just have to deal with it.

For the county to keep proffering tax measures until they get what they want reminds me of when my child was 2 years old and kept demanding things. I had to teach him that “no” means “no.“ I would hope that the county commissioners can show Hood River County that they respect the voters’ decision.

Carolyn Hattrup
Hood River

Teach all children

Over the past 19 years it has been my pleasure to teach hundreds of fourth- and fifth-grade students in Hood River. Never in all those years have I met any “illegal schoolchildren” as referenced by Allen Ehl on this page in the June 12 edition.

The issue of immigration in this country is certainly difficult and emotional, yet it will likely defy simplistic solutions.

As we search for solutions, let’s focus on the adults while doing the best we can for the children. All children deserve no less than our best — no matter their birthplace, their native language or the immigration status of their parents.

The only papers I check at my door are homework. That is as it should be.

Kelvin Calkins, president
Hood River Education
Association

Join the Relay

The Dalles Area Relay for Life is June 26-27, 9 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Amaton Field.

Come join “A Decade of Celebrating More Birthdays,” where we honor those who have fought cancer and remember those we have lost to cancer. Opening ceremonies is at 10 a.m. Saturday, Fight Back ceremony at 12:30 p.m. and luminary ceremony at 10 p.m.

There will be lots of food, games and entertainment. If you would like to participate in Relay for Life or make a donation please contact Marilyn Wong 541-980-5950 or visit http://events.cancer.org/thedalles-area.

Cyndi Vipperman
The Dalles

Mandarin future

Question: Why are we borrowing money from countries who hate us and giving it to countries who also hate us?

It is time we got our house in order or there will be no future for our grandchildren. If we do not quit borrowing we better take a class in Mandarin Chinese.

Jerry Petricko
Odell