Your voice: April 30, 2025

Recently, a letter was sent to “loyal Dem friends” from the chair of the Hood River County Democrats stating that Karen is an “R” (Republican). This is untrue. Karen has never been aligned with any political party. Her voting record reflects this, and she has not accepted any money for assistance with her campaign. In addition, the Port of Hood River Commissioner is a non-partisan position. Therefore, Karen’s lack of party affiliation is a plus.

The letter also stated that Karen is “well-known but [has] no specific qualifications.” This is also untrue. Karen Ford is a long-time Hood River resident who raised her family here and has a deep connection to our town. She served on the parks and rec board for four years, a special district just like the port, has professional experience in project management, business development, and commercial property management. She’s been involved with Rotary, donated time to our schools, bike trails, and hospice programs.

Karen has studied the issues the port faces and talked to as many people as possible, including our community leaders, to gain a wide-ranging perspective. Her goal is to serve Hood River, and she’s committed to our town’s future. We’d be lucky to have her.

Nan Fischer

Hood River

‘This is how it happens’

Have you ever wondered how the average citizen of Germany in the 1930s could have allowed their country to descend into Nazism/fascism? Seems somewhat hard to understand how that could possibly have happened.

We are now approximately 100 days into Trump’s second term, and we have seen him methodically build his power machine around him. He has long had the GOP under his thumb, essentially neutering congressional oversight of his actions. He has dismissed top military leaders, inserting those with more malleable to his views. Universities now must heel to his wishes or risk research funding and more (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, LGBQ+ … the words that must not be spoken!). Federal judges he could not replace have been targets of his vitriol and threats, or their rulings just completely ignored altogether. Thousands upon thousands of federal workers have been summarily — and seemingly at random — fired without cause. His inner circle is comprised of those totally in lockstep with Trump’s words (heaven forbid any diversity of thought there). And now, Trump is disappearing people he doesn’t like — without a chance to defend themselves — to the black hole of CECOT (Terrorism Confinement Center) in El Salvador.

The average citizen of the U.S. is (at least I hope and believe) upset by and deplores these actions. But we are unsure of what to do, what we can do, so we fall back into the challenges and routines of our daily lives. Or we are afraid — afraid of losing our jobs, of being visited by the IRS (Internal Revenue Service), or by DHS (Department of Homeland Security), or arrested by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement). We are fearful of being smeared on social media, or becoming a victim of violence by someone in Trump’s orbit. We are understandably traumatized and fearful that the awful and awesome Red Gaze of the TRUMP MACHINE could fall upon us. And so the answer to my question posed above? This is how it happens.

Dana Stover

White Salmon

Support constitution

Silent Majority Foundation is the best organization in Washington State to defend and protect our constitution and our God-given rights. Their goal is to restore the citizens’ voice and stop the overreach of a tyrannical government. In my opinion, the majority in the Washington State Legislature has been passing oppressive and unconstitutional legislation.

We cannot let the government become the master of our lives, controlling every aspect of our lives. This is not freedom; it is making the average Washingtonian a slave to the governor and a small group of legislators who believe in Marxist ideology. We here in Washington State must not become helpless victims of a government that will soon dictate what our rights are, and any action taken without the permission of the government will be a violation of the law.

This is why we need the Silent Majority Foundation to push back and reinstate constitutional principles and protection of the rule of law before we have no one to help us. Go to the Silent Majority Foundation and take a look to see what they are doing right now to help restore your rights against those who want to take them away.

Delmer Eldred

Goldendale

Keep Nelson

I write to encourage the voters of North Wasco County School District Zone 4 to vote to continue John Nelson’s service to the school board, students and community. Although I do not live in Wasco County, I know John well from serving with him on another board, and from conversations over many years in which I have gotten to know his background and his deep commitment to public education. He will continue to bring to the school board the experience of a lifetime of public service, considered opinions and sound judgment. A vote for John is a vote for good schools.

Buck Parker

Odell

Supports Nelson

Please support John Nelson for North Wasco County School Board zone 4. My father unexpectedly passed in September 2024. He spent more than 35 years in civil service for his country. First in Vietnam, then retired from the U.S. Department of Interior. At his gravesite, I watched an elderly member of the Legion who could barely hold the U.S. flag sit on a bench and, with the help from his son, he held the U.S. flag for the duration of the grave service, in honor of my dad. He refused to give up his hold on the flag, not for personal gain but because he wanted to serve. I watched other members of the Legion perform a 12-gun salute in honor of my dad’s service in the Air Force, as a civil servant, and as a Legion member.

I am concerned about the disconnect in the U.S.A. with people running for office as a means of power, self-dealing and status instead of serving the needs of the country. I have known John Nelson for more than 10 years, first as a SMART volunteer reader, and later in Kiwanis. John’s history of public service is impressive. He was an elementary school teacher for 24 years, with 21 years of service at the Warm Springs Elementary School. For the past 12 years, he’s acted as a board director for the North Wasco County School District 21. I have served on several boards with John. He is thoughtful, conscientious, hardworking, and uses his personal experience, wisdom and vision to promote the educational needs of every child.

I am concerned that Wasco County is not investing in the education of all students. Communities that support their schools by passing school bonds make it possible to have up-to-date facilities to serve the students, staff, and the community. Better, well-funded, schools attract businesses and offer growth opportunities for The Dalles. I have no doubts that John Nelson’s primary concern is for the welfare and education of all students without regard for his own gain. His aim is to help. That is the type of candidate we must support.

Shannon Tissot, attorney

The Dalles

Protect scenic area

I am writing to express my disappointment with what I believe is the Wasco County Commission’s attempts to undermine Friends of the Columbia Gorge’s efforts to retain Gorge Commission funding.

The National Scenic Area (NSA) belongs to all of us and should be protected for future generations. Without the Gorge Commission to enforce the rules, the National Scenic Area would exist in name only. There would be no regional recourse for appealing a county land use decision that violated the NSA rules.

For the status of the Gorge Commission funding and how you can become involved, visit www.gorgefriends.org.

Sheila Dooley

Mosier

 Editor’s Note: Despite a previous amendment that would have eliminated funding for the Columbia River Gorge Commission, the Washington State Legislature approved $3.2 million for the entity while finalizing its budget on April 27.

More children?

From the New York Times, April 22:

Headline 1: “E.P.A. Set to Cancel Grants Aimed at Protecting Children from Toxic Chemicals” — “The cancellations, set to apply to pending and active grants, also affect research into ‘forever chemicals’ contaminating the food supply.”

Headline 2: “White House Assesses Ways to Persuade Women to Have More Children” — “Baby bonuses and menstrual cycle classes are among the ideas pitched to Trump aides as they consider plans to try boosting the birthrate.”

“The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said in a statement that Mr. Trump ‘is proudly implementing policies to uplift American families.’”

When I read headlines such as these, on the same page, on the same day, I am incredulous! To maintain that American families are being uplifted, and to encourage women to bring more children into the world while at the same time canceling research to protect those children from toxic chemicals, we must question the intelligence and the vision for the future of those who promote contradictory policies like these.

Kristine Harter

Mosier

Hydroelectric project

The Hood River City Council’s recent unanimous decision for the Dee Bridge Hydroelectric project raises a few questions (Columbia Gorge News, April 23). Will the city have the same experience as FID relative to the sale of the power generated? Will the taxpayers only receive 4.8 cents per KWH hour, or less, as it is sold back to those “300” households at the steadily increasing 19.2 cents per KWH?

It appears the state enables low rates for non-utility generated power and high rates for the users. The buyer of this power does not appear to be obligated to pass along the savings. Will this project jeopardize the existing fish ladder at Punchbowl falls? Additional information is welcome.

Gary McFarlen

Hood River

 Editor’s Note: Columbia Gorge News reached out to Hood River City Manager Abigail Elder for comment: “The city’s in-line project has no relationship to any fish ladders — it diverts the water to the turbine and returns it back close to the same point.” Elder said the city has an interconnection agreement with Pacific Corp, and the state public utility commission has a role in setting the rates.

Endorses Nelson

I am writing as a resident of Zone 4 and a former North Wasco County District 21 school board member. I wholeheartedly endorse John Nelson for the Zone 4 seat on the board. Not only does he have significant experience being on the school board, he is a former educator who taught for more than 24 years. He knows our schools, our students, our teachers, and our community really well. He has incredible heart and compassion for kids and puts them above all else. That is the no. 1 job of a school board member: to put kids first. Not to bring a grudge, not to bring partisan politics, and certainly not to micromanage staff, like telling librarians what books they can stock in their libraries or what readings teachers can assign their students. John Nelson leads with patience and grace, and lets the experts do their jobs. He can make hard decisions when needed and does so after weighing all the evidence thoroughly. He is the type of public servant that makes boards function smoothly as a team and make staff feel supported in excelling at their jobs.

Although test scores and graduation rates around the state (and indeed the country) suffered during the pandemic, our high school has seen some great improvements in the last couple years. The latest 2024 TDHS report card, for example, shows that on time graduation rates went up 10% over the previous year and now surpass the state average. There was also a 4% improvement in regular attendance, which was 7% higher than the state average. Data like this demonstrate the power of the board to set the tone and the strategy to support learning. John Nelson has been key to that school board culture. Let us continue to drive positive improvements in the district by re-electing John Nelson for Zone 4.

Rebecca Thistlethwaite

The Dalles

Nelson zone 4

I support John Nelson for North Wasco County School District 21 board member for Zone 4. John is dedicated to public service for our schools. He was a teacher for many years and has also lead the school board as chair and vice chair, which gives him invaluable experience.

I know John to be sincere in his support of public education: He wants the best for all the kids in D21. He is also kind, open minded, and interested in learning things himself, which makes him a natural leader and facilitator. I hope you get a chance to talk to John and get to know what a great person he is and all that he has done to support our community. Please vote for John Nelson for D21 school board!

Serena Smith

The Dalles

Tourism article thoughts

Firstly, allow me to say I thought Aileen Hymas did an excellent job with the article, “The Dalles opens tourism promotion bid to new competitors” (Columbia Gorge News, April 23). I felt I was well quoted as I’m sure were the other parties. Of course, there were a few “small” things that I may have stated or represented differently, but when isn’t that the case?

I did receive a phone call from KODL’s owner, Al Wynn, who made the same comment my wife did. The chamber had several “supporters” interviewed and quoted, members and even present or former board members, but where were the supporters of free enterprise? Being a new company and approach, a process, a proven track record, that has taken a decades-long, closed-door old theater and turned it around exploding with interest and attendance from towns, states and beyond [supporting] the tourism marketing of The Dalles by namely myself?

And how could it be a conflict of interest locating a tourism center in a very heavily attended location and business right downtown? One might ask how strong a tourism location [it] really is in a building and chamber that few go into or just happen to let curiosity lead them to enter, out of the blue or in quest of info?

And lastly, tourism is not a way to bolster the Granada Theatre, but it seems [to me] the opposition confuses the Granada with tourism development. It kind of seems like they should oppose Starbucks being in Safeway, as both sell coffee but in totally different approaches and styles. However, [it] seems like all their attention towards me is a form of compliments as it appears my comments and out-of-the-box thinking has them all questioning their past performances with newfound concerns. All in all, it’s good to rock the boat now and then to produce a better and stronger product.

Thank you for an excellent article.

Chuck Gomez

The Dalles