Letters to the Editor
Published on Wed, Aug 12, 2009Read More Letters to the Editor
Health-care bill a step in the wrong direction
Coal companies win in recent energy bill
Dear Editor,
The energy bill that recently passed the House of Representatives includes a dangerous loophole. That loophole would allow for 100 new coal plants and allow the oldest and dirtiest coal plants to continue polluting our air.
The reason for the loophole is simple--coal industry lobbyists scored a win.
It’s natural for big business to push for profits over quality of life. That’s what they do, and that’s what got our world into the environmental trouble it’s in today.
But we as American citizens can also push for clean-energy jobs, for solar and wind energy, and for putting clean air back into the Clean Air Act.
As a recent New York Times editorial stated, “The older dirtiest coal plants can¬not be let off the hook.”
Let’s urge our senators to close damag¬ing loopholes in the energy bill.
Celia Smith
Granite Falls
Dear Editor,
I have had the opportunity to view excerpts from the first 148 pages of the proposed health care plan and as a con¬sequence have e-mailed senators Murray and Cantwell. My comments to them were along these lines:
“If you have read those same 148 pages and agree with them, you have absolutely no business serving as a U.S. senator.”
In addition to the exorbitant financial costs involved, the costs involving with hu¬man life and dignity are incalculable. This bill simply allows elderly and infirmed to read their own death certificates while still breathing. The bill is the seedbed for an oligarchy.
Connect the dots: stimulus package, cap and trade, health care, and energy are all designed to destroy capitalism and enslave the nation.
Our constitution is being shredded and hangs, as it were, by a thread.
We must make our voices heard and “awake to our awful situation” or we will live to regret the day we remained silent.
Our elected representatives will be home for their break soon. Let’s unite in demanding they abide by the U.S. Constitution and give them an informed ear-full.
Ron Kelly
Lake Stevens
Obama not the only president in charge of your health care
Dear Editor,
Whether you trust President Obama’s health care reform ideas (basically govern¬ment managed) or whether you don’t favor it, I have some thought for all.
If you believe the president will do right by your health needs, electronic records, and respect your wants, do you believe each and every president to follow will do that for you?
If government ran health care becomes reality, then every president to follow will control it also.
I worry about opening this door, be¬cause it cannot be closed after that hap¬pens. Another thought, name a federal government program that runs efficiently and without ever increasing spending? I can’t think of any.
Todd Welch
Everett
Granite Falls needs a change in the Mayor’s seat
Dear Editor,
The current mayor of Granite Falls has brought an extreme lack of common sense to Granite Falls City government during his reign, not to mention his “pointing fingers” at staff for his lack of supervision and knowledge of what the Mayor’s job entails.
If you review the many “findings” of the recent State Audit, you will see for yourself the negative effect he’s had on the city.
Policies and procedures “were” in place when he took office - though he states they were not. Also, his excuses for not being able to find people to fill vacated positions (Public Works Superintendent was open for five years and City Clerk was open for two years) are just that: excuses.
Citizens as well as the City Council urged him on numerous occasions to fill positions. Past Mayors were able to find competent people to fill positions -but then, they actually did post openings and were diligent in seeking to fill positions.
At a recent “special meeting” it came out that Romack wasn’t truthful to Council about a position being posted on a web¬site. He was also urged to use a “mileage log” (which includes odometer readings) when requesting reimbursements, but he never did that either.
He often says “everything goes through me first!”, “I didn’t know” or “It won’t happen again”, statements he’s made for many years.
So, please, vote for a new mayor. One who “already knows”. Vote for someone who has common sense, takes responsibil¬ity, tells the truth, and listens to directions from the Council.
Vote for a better candidate and get Ro¬mack out of office.
Rella Morris
Arlington
The war on drugs has been a failure from the beginning
Dear Editor,
A drug free America is a myth. As long as there is a supply and a demand, nei¬ther is going away. Our trillion dollar, counter-productive “war on drugs” has been waging for over 40 years and with no success.
Some common sense should be used regarding the fight against addictions and the crimes perpetrated due to drugs. The outlawing of drugs has not made them magically go away. Quite the contrary.
The prison population of those incar¬cerated for non-violent drug offenses has soared over 2,500 percent. America has become the largest and most enthusiastic jailer in the world with our incarceration of drug addicts and the mentally ill.
While our self-proclaimed drug users on the political scene just term it as “their youthful indiscretions”, other less promi¬nent persons are serving prison time for their “indiscretions”.
Jack A. Cole, head of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) states, “you can get over an addiction but you can never get over a conviction”.
He also states that “we’re putting violent criminals back on the street to make room for non-violent drug offenders”. The war on drugs “has been a dismal, trillion dol¬lar failure”.
Lou Krewson
Stanwood
Trickler’s death a tragedy, fundraiser a disappointment
Dear Editor,
As I sit watching the children in my care play, I remember a sweet little girl who came to my daycare a few years ago. Her name was Heather Trickler. She was in desperate need of a female figure and she and I became very close. The need for my childcare services were short lived but our friendship would last forever.
I loved her and her brothers very much.
However, I am opposed to all the fund¬raising efforts going on in this case. I know there are many wonderful people with big hearts in Lake Stevens who are quick to give of their resources to help others. But, I think if they knew what many of us know about this situation, they’d think twice about giving anything.
Anyone who knows me would say that I’m a very giving person but sadly this case has changed my view and my willing¬ness to give without knowing more about the whole story. I, like many, will not be participating or giving anything to the “Heather Trickler Memorial Fund.”
Heather should have been able to call for a ride, I doubt she felt she could. She should not have been walking anywhere alone at night, especially on the trestle.
Why was she “living with friends in Ever¬ett” in the first place? I understand that the hit and run driver needs to be brought to justice. But, at what point should we also prosecute the party that was responsible for her whereabouts in the first place.
Cindy Nicholson
Lake Stevens
Gravel pit does not provide ball fields as promised
Race relations and being role models
Dear Editor:
Menzel Lake Gravel Pit representative Rob Hild’s July 22, 2009 letter purports to set a record straight and accuses me of spreading rumors and distorting facts behind the backs of the pit expansion team. (See my June 22, 2009 letter “Menzel Lake Gravel Pit welching on promises”, regarding the pit’s dishonored plan and promises for fairly short term pit opera¬tions followed by installation of ball fields and recreational space.)
I met personally more than once with the pit expansion project manager of record, Mr. Kalkowski, face-to-face, at my place. And a letter published in the paper is just about the opposite of behind any¬body’s back, although not as much so as meeting personally with the pit’s expan¬sion project manager.
At the June 4 pit public relations meet¬ing Mr. Hild references in his letter, the pit representative first said the pit would not be doing ball fields after all, because the City of Granite Falls would not let them. A citizen named Osborn that knew better got up and wrangled with the pit representa¬tive until the pit admitted it was the pit’s decision alone not to follow up on that plan. Like public records, that one speaks for itself.
As for the main thrust of Mr. Hild’s re¬sponse, he doesn’t even attempt to address the facts about the pit’s short term opera¬tions and ball field representations that were reneged upon, which was the subject of the letter he purports to correct, and that amounts to a ringing endorsement of uncontroverted facts.
Further, county and real estate docu¬ments show that at/before the time the pit received its favorable hearing examiner decision when it first opened up about ten years ago, pursuant to the pit’s applica¬tion for short term operations followed by ball fields, the pit had already contracted to acquire a great amount of the surround¬ing land and had already arranged for non-opposition to future pit expansion covenants on other nearby land, to facili¬tate a very major expansion.
The pit was not being forthright with the county or the hearing examiner even back then, from the very inception of the business. The records reflecting this are no secret.
Paul Winter
Granite Falls
Dear Editor,
Out of all that has been written and dis¬cussed on radio, TV and newsprint, I have yet to see or hear any comments about, “Role models”.
Did Professor Gates act as a role model as he should have? A wise person would have acted polite, courteous and coopera¬tive to a law officer who was carrying out his duties of protecting the public.
The answer is no, Professor Gates was antagonistic, disrespectful, uncoopera¬tive, belligerent and has an attitude of “I don’t trust any cop, because I have been profiled because of my race”.
Now comes the difficult part of this let¬ter. It wasn’t Professor Gates fault for the way he reacted. We are all born with 3.1 billion genetic markers and a number of them deal with our emotions.
Most all emotions, happy, sad, fear¬ful, etc. are not learned behavior. Professor Gates had an emotional reaction for which he can be forgiven. A wise person can breeze through life with no arrest records, no problems with obeying the laws and knowing that having an “attitude” can land you in jail, even if you’re a professor that’s supposed to be a role model.
Phillip Beardsley
Lake Stevens
Police Guild endorses Little for County Council
Dear Editor,
On July 23, the members of the Lake Stevens Police Guild held an Endorsement Meeting for the candidates running for election to Snohomish County Council, District #5.
Dave Somers, Vern Little and Greg Ste¬phens attended the meeting and spoke to the Guild about their positions, plans and concerns regarding District #5.
Steve Dana could not attend, however he did forward a letter to the Guild which was disseminated to all Guild members.
After hearing from each of the candi¬dates, the LSPD Guild members voted by ballot for which candidate to endorse.
On July 30 the ballots were counted and The Lake Stevens Police Guild is proud to announce our endorsement of Vern Little for Snohomish County Council Position #5.
Vern’s demonstrated leadership skills and experience in City, County, business and addressing citizen concerns make him the perfect fit for Snohomish County Council. Mr. Little places priority in pub¬lic safety and we feel that his unique and refreshing public and private sector expe¬rience will be an asset to the Snohomish County Council.
Detective Jeff Lambier
LSPD Guild Vice President
Coal companies win in recent energy bill
Dear Editor,
The energy bill that recently passed the House of Representatives includes a dangerous loophole. That loophole would allow for 100 new coal plants and allow the oldest and dirtiest coal plants to continue polluting our air.
The reason for the loophole is simple--coal industry lobbyists scored a win.
It’s natural for big business to push for profits over quality of life. That’s what they do, and that’s what got our world into the environmental trouble it’s in today.
But we as American citizens can also push for clean-energy jobs, for solar and wind energy, and for putting clean air back into the Clean Air Act.
As a recent New York Times editorial stated, “The older dirtiest coal plants can¬not be let off the hook.”
Let’s urge our senators to close damag¬ing loopholes in the energy bill.
Celia Smith
Granite Falls
Dear Editor,
I have had the opportunity to view excerpts from the first 148 pages of the proposed health care plan and as a con¬sequence have e-mailed senators Murray and Cantwell. My comments to them were along these lines:
“If you have read those same 148 pages and agree with them, you have absolutely no business serving as a U.S. senator.”
In addition to the exorbitant financial costs involved, the costs involving with hu¬man life and dignity are incalculable. This bill simply allows elderly and infirmed to read their own death certificates while still breathing. The bill is the seedbed for an oligarchy.
Connect the dots: stimulus package, cap and trade, health care, and energy are all designed to destroy capitalism and enslave the nation.
Our constitution is being shredded and hangs, as it were, by a thread.
We must make our voices heard and “awake to our awful situation” or we will live to regret the day we remained silent.
Our elected representatives will be home for their break soon. Let’s unite in demanding they abide by the U.S. Constitution and give them an informed ear-full.
Ron Kelly
Lake Stevens
Obama not the only president in charge of your health care
Dear Editor,
Whether you trust President Obama’s health care reform ideas (basically govern¬ment managed) or whether you don’t favor it, I have some thought for all.
If you believe the president will do right by your health needs, electronic records, and respect your wants, do you believe each and every president to follow will do that for you?
If government ran health care becomes reality, then every president to follow will control it also.
I worry about opening this door, be¬cause it cannot be closed after that hap¬pens. Another thought, name a federal government program that runs efficiently and without ever increasing spending? I can’t think of any.
Todd Welch
Everett
Granite Falls needs a change in the Mayor’s seat
Dear Editor,
The current mayor of Granite Falls has brought an extreme lack of common sense to Granite Falls City government during his reign, not to mention his “pointing fingers” at staff for his lack of supervision and knowledge of what the Mayor’s job entails.
If you review the many “findings” of the recent State Audit, you will see for yourself the negative effect he’s had on the city.
Policies and procedures “were” in place when he took office - though he states they were not. Also, his excuses for not being able to find people to fill vacated positions (Public Works Superintendent was open for five years and City Clerk was open for two years) are just that: excuses.
Citizens as well as the City Council urged him on numerous occasions to fill positions. Past Mayors were able to find competent people to fill positions -but then, they actually did post openings and were diligent in seeking to fill positions.
At a recent “special meeting” it came out that Romack wasn’t truthful to Council about a position being posted on a web¬site. He was also urged to use a “mileage log” (which includes odometer readings) when requesting reimbursements, but he never did that either.
He often says “everything goes through me first!”, “I didn’t know” or “It won’t happen again”, statements he’s made for many years.
So, please, vote for a new mayor. One who “already knows”. Vote for someone who has common sense, takes responsibil¬ity, tells the truth, and listens to directions from the Council.
Vote for a better candidate and get Ro¬mack out of office.
Rella Morris
Arlington
The war on drugs has been a failure from the beginning
Dear Editor,
A drug free America is a myth. As long as there is a supply and a demand, nei¬ther is going away. Our trillion dollar, counter-productive “war on drugs” has been waging for over 40 years and with no success.
Some common sense should be used regarding the fight against addictions and the crimes perpetrated due to drugs. The outlawing of drugs has not made them magically go away. Quite the contrary.
The prison population of those incar¬cerated for non-violent drug offenses has soared over 2,500 percent. America has become the largest and most enthusiastic jailer in the world with our incarceration of drug addicts and the mentally ill.
While our self-proclaimed drug users on the political scene just term it as “their youthful indiscretions”, other less promi¬nent persons are serving prison time for their “indiscretions”.
Jack A. Cole, head of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) states, “you can get over an addiction but you can never get over a conviction”.
He also states that “we’re putting violent criminals back on the street to make room for non-violent drug offenders”. The war on drugs “has been a dismal, trillion dol¬lar failure”.
Lou Krewson
Stanwood
Trickler’s death a tragedy, fundraiser a disappointment
Dear Editor,
As I sit watching the children in my care play, I remember a sweet little girl who came to my daycare a few years ago. Her name was Heather Trickler. She was in desperate need of a female figure and she and I became very close. The need for my childcare services were short lived but our friendship would last forever.
I loved her and her brothers very much.
However, I am opposed to all the fund¬raising efforts going on in this case. I know there are many wonderful people with big hearts in Lake Stevens who are quick to give of their resources to help others. But, I think if they knew what many of us know about this situation, they’d think twice about giving anything.
Anyone who knows me would say that I’m a very giving person but sadly this case has changed my view and my willing¬ness to give without knowing more about the whole story. I, like many, will not be participating or giving anything to the “Heather Trickler Memorial Fund.”
Heather should have been able to call for a ride, I doubt she felt she could. She should not have been walking anywhere alone at night, especially on the trestle.
Why was she “living with friends in Ever¬ett” in the first place? I understand that the hit and run driver needs to be brought to justice. But, at what point should we also prosecute the party that was responsible for her whereabouts in the first place.
Cindy Nicholson
Lake Stevens
Gravel pit does not provide ball fields as promised
Race relations and being role models
Dear Editor:
Menzel Lake Gravel Pit representative Rob Hild’s July 22, 2009 letter purports to set a record straight and accuses me of spreading rumors and distorting facts behind the backs of the pit expansion team. (See my June 22, 2009 letter “Menzel Lake Gravel Pit welching on promises”, regarding the pit’s dishonored plan and promises for fairly short term pit opera¬tions followed by installation of ball fields and recreational space.)
I met personally more than once with the pit expansion project manager of record, Mr. Kalkowski, face-to-face, at my place. And a letter published in the paper is just about the opposite of behind any¬body’s back, although not as much so as meeting personally with the pit’s expan¬sion project manager.
At the June 4 pit public relations meet¬ing Mr. Hild references in his letter, the pit representative first said the pit would not be doing ball fields after all, because the City of Granite Falls would not let them. A citizen named Osborn that knew better got up and wrangled with the pit representa¬tive until the pit admitted it was the pit’s decision alone not to follow up on that plan. Like public records, that one speaks for itself.
As for the main thrust of Mr. Hild’s re¬sponse, he doesn’t even attempt to address the facts about the pit’s short term opera¬tions and ball field representations that were reneged upon, which was the subject of the letter he purports to correct, and that amounts to a ringing endorsement of uncontroverted facts.
Further, county and real estate docu¬ments show that at/before the time the pit received its favorable hearing examiner decision when it first opened up about ten years ago, pursuant to the pit’s applica¬tion for short term operations followed by ball fields, the pit had already contracted to acquire a great amount of the surround¬ing land and had already arranged for non-opposition to future pit expansion covenants on other nearby land, to facili¬tate a very major expansion.
The pit was not being forthright with the county or the hearing examiner even back then, from the very inception of the business. The records reflecting this are no secret.
Paul Winter
Granite Falls
Dear Editor,
Out of all that has been written and dis¬cussed on radio, TV and newsprint, I have yet to see or hear any comments about, “Role models”.
Did Professor Gates act as a role model as he should have? A wise person would have acted polite, courteous and coopera¬tive to a law officer who was carrying out his duties of protecting the public.
The answer is no, Professor Gates was antagonistic, disrespectful, uncoopera¬tive, belligerent and has an attitude of “I don’t trust any cop, because I have been profiled because of my race”.
Now comes the difficult part of this let¬ter. It wasn’t Professor Gates fault for the way he reacted. We are all born with 3.1 billion genetic markers and a number of them deal with our emotions.
Most all emotions, happy, sad, fear¬ful, etc. are not learned behavior. Professor Gates had an emotional reaction for which he can be forgiven. A wise person can breeze through life with no arrest records, no problems with obeying the laws and knowing that having an “attitude” can land you in jail, even if you’re a professor that’s supposed to be a role model.
Phillip Beardsley
Lake Stevens
Police Guild endorses Little for County Council
Dear Editor,
On July 23, the members of the Lake Stevens Police Guild held an Endorsement Meeting for the candidates running for election to Snohomish County Council, District #5.
Dave Somers, Vern Little and Greg Ste¬phens attended the meeting and spoke to the Guild about their positions, plans and concerns regarding District #5.
Steve Dana could not attend, however he did forward a letter to the Guild which was disseminated to all Guild members.
After hearing from each of the candi¬dates, the LSPD Guild members voted by ballot for which candidate to endorse.
On July 30 the ballots were counted and The Lake Stevens Police Guild is proud to announce our endorsement of Vern Little for Snohomish County Council Position #5.
Vern’s demonstrated leadership skills and experience in City, County, business and addressing citizen concerns make him the perfect fit for Snohomish County Council. Mr. Little places priority in pub¬lic safety and we feel that his unique and refreshing public and private sector expe¬rience will be an asset to the Snohomish County Council.
Detective Jeff Lambier
LSPD Guild Vice President
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