Letters to the Editor for July 31

A recent story in the Hood River News brought up the connection between our recent devastating forest fires and global warming. Did this dishonor the brave firemen who lost their lives in one such fire? One reader thought so, and the writer graciously apologized.

It seems to me that the reader is one of those people who just can’t bear to hear unpleasant truths.

Anne Vance

Hood River

Speaking out of turn

Here in Cascade Locks we have an appointed councilman, Richard Randall, who has taken it upon himself to speak as a citizen and a councilman, thus assuming the mantle of the council while making a personal attack on a citizen, Rob Brostoff. Mr. Brostoff spoke out about the council’s claim of full funding; the council has a balanced budget but like most governments these days is not fully funded.

Let me list the problems with this:

Randall is trying to have it both ways; writing as a citizen and assuming the mantle of a council member as though speaking for the council.

Councils put out releases as a group; Randall doesn’t reference any other members.

The council brought up the issue of being fully funded; it’s still incorrect: There’s no money for an ambulance, or to fix the water system estimated to cost $3 million; hardly fully funded.

Randall says let’s settle this at the polls; he’s correct: He should wait until he’s elected rather than politically appointed to write for the council.

It’s citizens’ responsibility to point out false and incorrect statements made by council; council shows poor form and judgments attacking individuals when they do so.

Please do remember this at the polls in November.

This is the result of not using any known form of governance by the council, Roberts Rules of Order, or some variant.

Nancy Ina Renault

Cascade Locks

Help for Guard kids

It’s back-to-school time for many children of our Oregon National Guard.

The families of many of our deployed soldiers have made a significant financial sacrifice. It can be difficult for them to provide their children with school clothes and supplies. The citizens of our state can help, and at the same time say thank you to our soldier’s families.

Purchase a gift card for any amount from stores that sell school supplies and clothing. Send the gift cards to the Oregon National Guard. The gift cards are distributed to the neediest of the Guard families around Oregon.

Send gift cards to: Dave Ferre, Oregon National Guard, P.O. Box 14350, Salem, OR 97309.

Becky Cartier

Lake Oswego

Menacing coal dust

About 8:20 a.m. on Sunday, July 21, I was about to enter Washington Highway 14 from Cook-Underwood Road. Before I turned I looked east and saw a black, menacing tornado-like cloud moving toward me. I didn’t know what it was at first, but as it drew closer I realized it was a coal train headed west on the tracks that closely parallel Highway 14 through the Narrow Columbia River Gorge.

The fast-moving railcars loaded with coal and the reported 25-30 mph southwest winds created a forceful energy to lift large globs of coal dust from the loaded railcars into the air, obscuring visibility on the adjacent highway and rendering driving dangerous.

It took some time for the large clouds of coal dust to settle everywhere, including the White Salmon River estuary. The coal dust invaded my car, made my eyes sore and ruined the rest of my day.

Joe Csizmazia

Underwood, Wash.