Keep Cascade Locks safe
Thank you, Cascade Locks mayor and councilors who voted to create positions of station captain and paramedic. It shows that public safety is a top priority. The health and safety of each child, family member, home owner and business is very important to you. You care about our city and the people that live here.
Also, thank you to our fire/ambulance volunteers for being ready in time of need.
Vote for Mayor Masters and Randy Holmstrom, Jeff Helfrich and Ralph Hesgard for councilors. Keep public safety and development of our city continuing.
Nancy Renault
Cascade Locks
Zanmiller for council
During my tenure on Hood River City Council, I’ve had the pleasure of working with my fellow city councilors, the mayor and staff on implementing a long-term strategy to get the city into a solid financial position. Though we are on the right path, ongoing diligence and oversight is required to ensure the city continues to model the right behaviors to achieve our goal of sustainable fiscal stability.
Though I am not running for re-election this cycle, I am very happy to see that my fellow councilors Kate McBride and Laurent Picard are again throwing their respective hats into the ring. Having some continuity in council membership will help ensure the organization continues to stay the course.
I also am very excited to see Mark Zanmiller has stepped up to run for City Council! Mark Zanmiller has a proven track record in various civic positions, most notably his many years of service on the HRV Parks & Rec board as well as the Waterfront Park Development Committee. Further, Mark has done very impressive work in helping build a couple of local high tech business ventures.
His knowledge of balancing the wants and needs of the community with the practicalities of adhering to budget constraints is exactly Hood River needs from all members of our council. Please join me in voting for Zanmiller, McBride and Picard for Hood River City Council.
Jeff Nicol
Hood River
Vote yes on local option
This November the local option school levy is up for renewal, and I hope you will join me in voting yes.
Yes means no new taxes. Yes means a full school year and full-day kindergarten. Yes means sports, band and choir. Yes means extra matching funds from the state for our local schools (another 38 percent of local option revenue).
Yes means that we live in a community that knows decent schools are good for business, and that to care about kids and education is to care about our future. It won’t cost us any more to say yes to Measure 14-48. Please do.
Jennifer Ouzounian
Hood River
Johnson is solid
Mark Johnson has been a solid representative who has stayed true to his word of creating better education opportunities for our students and has worked hard to create jobs for small businesses and citizens. I have seen Mark on a variety of occasions and he has taken time to listen and value the input from citizens about how to turn Oregon into a state that supports job growth and opportunities.
Mark understands that spending is out of control and we need to face the issues head-on instead of kicking the can down the road. He sees the need to streamline bureaucratic agencies in order to make them more accountable and cost effective.
Mark understands that our economy is not good and we can do better with our natural resources and creation of new small businesses to bring jobs to Oregon.
I am proud of the work Mark has done as our state representative and I’m proud to support him again so we can continue focusing on what really matters: jobs and education.
Kevin Moss
Sandy
A breath of fresh air
The City of Cascade Locks is a city of approximately 1,100 men, women, and children. This small city is currently $1.5 million in debt (verified with city hall). The current council is comprised of men who were on the council when a lot of this debt occurred; one councilman was the mayor. Some are running again.
I ask you; do you the voters want more debt for our city? Do you want your voice heard? If you don’t want to run up more debt and want your voice to matter, then it’s time to let your vote tell this city council where you, the citizens stand.
Our community faces some tough decisions; we need people who do not have a personal agenda, people to be responsible with our money, people who actually listen to our concerns.
Tom Cramblett, a current council member, is now running for mayor. Tom has been opposed time and time again by the rest of the council when it comes to spending our money. Tom Cramblett is a longtime resident and loves our city and the people in it. Tom wants to give us back our voice.
Bruce Fitzpatrick, Glenda Groves and Richard Randall are not politicians; they have not held public office; however, they have faithfully served the community in many other activities. They, too, are all longtime residents of Cascade Locks.
Please join me voting for a breath of fresh air for Cascade Locks. Vote Tom Cramblett for mayor, Bruce Fitzpatrick, Glenda Groves and Richard Randall for city council. It is time to take our town back where there is true representation.
Don Sullenger
Cascade Locks
Vote Holste for sheriff
I have worked with Hood River Chief of Police Neal Holste and Deputy Matthew English for most of their careers and in all kinds of situations. I have watched Chief Neal Holste earn his way up through the ranks from deputy all the way up to the chief of police.
I have found Chief Holste to be hardworking, diligent in his duties and in no way self-serving. As chief of police, Neal Holste knows how to take care of his staff and officers. Holste has been a supervisor 11 years; most of his working career. That experience makes Chief Holste a great leader.
Deputy English has never held a supervisory position requiring any supervisor training. Police supervisor training is a requirement in supervisor positions (corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, captain — chief of police) by the Police Academy.
The sheriff candidates’ training records are public record and verifiable at the police academy by calling Rebecca Hannon at 503-378-2328 or email dpsst.records@state.or.us. When you look at Chief Holste’s qualifications compared to Deputy English, it will be clear to you that Chief Holste is by far the most qualified for Sheriff of Hood River County. You will then see Matthew English has never held a supervisory position requiring training in law enforcement.
As of Oct. 15 Chief Neal Holste spent $9,030.88 and Deputy Mathew English spent $29,302.52 on their campaigns. Chief Holste is not for sale! Please don’t let this race be bought by advertisement. Please base it on training and experience.
Join me in electing the most qualified candidate for Sheriff of Hood River County. Vote Neal Holste for Sheriff.
Jim Tomson, captain
HRSO (retired)
Hood River
Walden’s take
I do not know how any self-respecting woman could vote for Greg Walden. Whatever Walden may say, his votes tell only one story — for him, working women are second-class citizens.
In four roll call votes in 2008 and 2009 Walden voted no against fair pay laws that would require equal pay for equal work for women and minorities. He also voted against a bill that would prohibit retaliation against women who filed unequal and unfair pay practices.
Maybe Walden thinks all women should stay home to cook, clean house and raise babies. He sure does not respect them in the work place.
Gary Fields
Hood River
Yes on 14-48
Please vote yes for Measure 14-48, more commonly known as the Local Option Operating Levy.
Measure 14-48 maintains (not increases) the existing levy that supports our local schools. There was consensus last year during the Hood River School District budget talks that without the Local Option, the cuts we incurred at the state level would have been much, much worse.
My son’s third-grade class at May Street Elementary has more than 30 students — it is hard to imagine where our schools would be without the Local Option.
Please join me in voting yes to continue your support for our local schools!
Jen Bayer
Hood River
English for sheriff
I am writing a letter in support of Matt English as a candidate for sheriff for Hood River County. Matt English has volunteered in my classroom for the last few years on a weekly basis. He comes in every Monday afternoon and works with kids on technology projects. The kids love him. They know he is a cop and they respect him.
Matt also spends his free time volunteering as a coach for our community education sports program. Matt is a wonderful role model for the youth of our community. I know Matt to be honest, hard working and a man of integrity. Matt really cares about our community.
Please join my family and me in voting Matt English for Sheriff for Hood River.
Kristi Van Dooren
Hood River
Flood warning
Here is what I want to know (that no one else is talking about). The Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington) is supposed to be overdue for “the big one,” the 400-year earthquake.
Let us assume that it does happen? Let’s say it takes out Bonneville Dam or Grand Coulee Dam — or both! (Also assume that a breach of Grand Coulee might “blow out” Bonneville).
How high in elevation would the population of the greater metro area (much less cities up and down the Columbia River Gorge) have to get and how much advanced warning would we have? Just as an aside which areas, nearby, would be “high enough”? Would any of the downtown buildings work; are they both earthquake-proof and strong enough to withstand a flood of that magnitude? How far down the Willamette River would the flood waters reach?
Sorry to ask such embarrassing questions, but being forewarned is being forearmed! That is why they call it emergency preparedness planning/training and the State of Oregon spends millions on it every year! So why not “cut the rest of us in on the skivvy”?
Hon. Clayton Klein
Cedar Mill, Ore.
Elect Zanmiller
I’d like to add my support for Mark Zanmiller for City Council. I’ve known Mark for a long time and know him to be as honest and hardworking guy as you could find.
Rick Hulett
Hood River
Vote for Johnson
I’ve been reading with interest some of the letters regarding the HD 52 race. It appears that some of the writers who are critical of Rep. Mark Johnson are confused on several points.
To label Mark as someone who is bought and paid for by the “evil” corporate world is quite amusing. Anyone who actually knows Mark personally also knows that he is as much of a local, down-to-earth guy as we could possibly have representing us in Salem.
Mark and his family have been fixtures in our local community for decades and have been involved in many areas of hands-on public service. The fact that he is enthusiastically supported in his re-election efforts by the most prominent business and agricultural groups in Oregon tells me that he is doing something right. And our current Democrat governor also agrees.
If we are ever going to have the resources that we wish we had for public education, health care and public safety we simply must revive our private sector economy. Demonizing any kind of corporate or business success through “Occupy rhetoric” is not the answer.
Mark Johnson has had a very successful first term representing us. Every newspaper in the district along with Willamette Week and Oregonian agree. Mark deserves a second term.
Tom Yates
Hood River
Vote for English
I support Matt English for sheriff. I believe he will lead the sheriff’s office with the community’s best interests in mind.
Matt’s leadership abilities are unparalleled by most individuals I have worked with in my life, including my time in the military and deployment to Iraq. His work ethic exceeds any expectation one would have to make an outstanding leader in most all types of ventures.
Matt’s integrity is likely unmatched by most other peers, both within the law enforcement field and the community in general.
I truly can state that I know Matt would lead the sheriff’s office from the front and would energize the team atmosphere, creating a cohesive environment for everyone. Matt is a true leader and is dedicated to our community’s future.
Travis Paulsen
Hood River
Postcards, please
The fourth grade at Aviston Elementary, located in southern Illinois, is learning about the United States and the different environments, climates, resources and highlights found in each region. The kids in the class think it would be fun to receive postcards, souvenirs, resources, or any information about our great country from each of the 50 states.
We hope that the people who read this letter will be interested in mailing our class items pertaining to their state.
Our address: 4th Grade at Aviston Elementary, 350 South Hull St., Aviston, IL 62216.
A sincere “thank you” to anyone who is able to contribute! We appreciate the excitement you will add to our learning experience.
Ethan Dickshot, and the fourth-graders
at Aviston Elementary
Aviston, Ill.
Re-elect Johnson
I want to express my support for Mark Johnson for his re-election as Oregon State Representative. I have had the opportunity to meet and talk with Rep. Johnson on several occasions and have found him to be an individual who has an honest concern for his constituents and a real interest in what matters to us. He is an experienced businessman who has the skills for improving our economy and is committed to improving the quality of education in Oregon.
I urge everyone to vote for Mark and allow him to represent us for another two years, and hopefully many more.
Rebecca Bunting
Welches
Mitt’s greatest hits
With Mitt Romney trying to fake his way back to the middle after 18 months of growing more conservative by the day, it’s time to remind ourselves of Mitt’s greatest hits.
We all know about the 47 percent he spoke of in May. Here are some other quotes: “Corporations are people, my friend, of course they are” (August 2011). “I like being able to fire people who provide services to me” (January 2012). “I’m not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there” (January 2012). And after he signs the Ryan Budget, those safety nets are cut.
Responding to a question from George Stephanopolous about middle income, he said, “Middle income is $200,000 to $250,000 and less.”
In a New York Times op-ed piece in 2008 titled “Let Detroit go Bankrupt,” he wrote that if GM, Ford and Chrysler got a government bailout “you can kiss the American automobile industry goodbye.” But then, in May of this year, he said “I’ll take a lot of credit for the fact that this industry’s coming back.”
Remember when Mitt disagreed with Rick Perry at a Republican debate, and wanted to bet Perry $10,000 about it? Mitt said this year that he doesn’t manage the money he has. He established a blind trust to manage it. But in 1994 he said: “The blind trust is an old-age ruse, if you will, which is to say, you can always tell the blind trust what it can and cannot do. You give a blind trust rules.”
And my favorite, from May of this year when he was asked about remarks he made to Sean Hannity that the president was trying to make America a less-Christian nation: “I’m not familiar precisely with what I said, but I’ll stand by what I said, whatever it was.”
Yeah, he sounds like someone connected to the poor and middle class, doesn’t he?
Jeff Skye
Hood River
Vote for Holste
Neal Holste is a successful local law enforcement officer who is doing a great job as Hood River’s Chief of Police.
I met Neal when he was in my classroom at May Street School. He was a hard working student — fair and honest in all of his dealings. We have met since when he was an adult and we were both called for jury duty. I saw him again as a fair-minded young man.
He was always a hard-working, fair person. That must be continuing as he successfully fills his role as police chief.
Hood River County will be proud to have him as Sheriff!
Shirley Mallon
Hood River
Won’t be bullied
I wanted to let you know what Providence Health and Services has done to those of us in Hood River who have Health Net insurance coverage: As of Jan. 1, 2013, they will no longer accept Health Net insurance at any Providence facilities.
I know it doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it really is. They are forcing us to change doctors we have grown to trust with our lives and seek new ones. There are many other doctors in our community but it’s still a hard change. We have to change the hospital we go to, where we have lab work done, everything has to change.
The letter stated that they were doing this to provide us with better health care. I just don’t see it as being a good change for me. What I do see is Providence trying to force us to buy their insurance.
I work for the county and every year our benefits committee goes out to bid for health insurance and Providence has put in bids the past two years. Our committee rejected their bids because the cost was too high. I can’t imagine our rejection would make any difference in the big scheme of things but perhaps Providence has been rejected by many others and so they are trying to get our business by rejecting other plans.
Providence has slowly taken over our community with their huge hospital facility, taken most of our doctors under their wing, given them tools to provide us with better health care and then when we don’t purchase their expensive health care plans, they reject us.
Well, I will not be held hostage by Providence. I will find another doctor and other healthcare facilities to go to. Most people think Providence is good for the community. What they are doing is not good for any of us.
Sandi Lain
Hood River
Are we stupid?
If it be true that We the People were gullible enough to elect a boy to do a man’s job, and this boy has a very sketchy record that was and is difficult to track and while in office he accomplished negative value for the country, and during the end of this term in office he flat-out lied about the cause of the death of our ambassador of which the whole world knew the truth and if he is re-elected to that same position, then should We the People be called Stupid Idiots?
Ned Chestnut
Odell
Commented