Your voice: Aug. 20, 2025

Stina Larson

Pawsitivity Cat Rescue volunteer

Coming together

During the past two weeks, many residents in Klickitat County came together to support those in our county affected by the recent Burdoin wildfire. Employees from the county, White Salmon, agencies, and volunteers from organizations asked community members to donate household items, clothing, and food. The response was overwhelming. Volunteers showed up four days in a row to sort, fold, and organize the many bags, boxes, and totes of donations. Families affected by the wildfire barely made a dent in the many donated items, so leadership offered access to everyone in the county. Many people benefited from this collective effort. Kudos to Jenne Patterson for her leadership and to the many volunteers who contributed to the success of this effort.

Sue Kusch

White Salmon

Help local league

Every year, after local Little League seasons wrap up, all-star teams from across the country compete for a shot at the Little League World Series. It is an incredible showcase of youth talent and sportsmanship, and it is also a big business. Little League International makes millions from television broadcasting rights and corporate sponsorships.

Guess how much of that revenue trickles back to your local league?

Zero. Not a single dollar.

Here in The Dalles Little League, we operate entirely on volunteers and the generosity of local business sponsorships. There is no big check from Williamsport to help us pay for uniforms, equipment, or field maintenance. Every game, practice, and event is made possible by community members donating their time and resources.

The hard truth is, we are struggling.

I have been involved with The Dalles Little League for the past four seasons. Each year, we face the same challenge: Not enough volunteers to keep the league running smoothly. Board members often take on multiple roles to fill the gaps. This is not sustainable. The burden falls on a concentrated few, and over time, it wears people down. Burnout is real, and the future of our league is at risk.

If you care about giving kids a place to play, grow, and learn the game, here is what you can do:

Assess your skills and gifts. Are you good with finances? Handy with tools? Organized? Great with kids?

Find a role that fits you. Whether it is coaching, scorekeeping, fundraising, concessions, or maintaining fields, there is a place for you.

Commit to showing up. A few hours a week can make the difference between a thriving program and one that barely makes it to opening day.

The Dalles Little League is currently recruiting for the 2026 season.

If you are ready to help or want to learn more, email tdlittleleague@gmail.com.

Patrick Urain

The Dalles

Capital crime down

On Aug. 11, Donald Trump placed himself in charge of law enforcement in Washington, D.C. He then promptly ordered the National Guard and Attorney General Pam Bondi to carry out his agenda there. Reassignment of agents from the F.B.I. and other federal law enforcement agencies to patrol the streets of Washington is expected. Trump justified his strongman display by declaring that “bloodthirsty criminals” are engaged in a terrible crime spree in our nation’s capital — despite the fact that Washington, D.C, police data show that violent crime has decreased there in recent years (New York Times, Aug. 11, updated Aug. 13).

It’s no secret that Trump has an aversion to factual data that contradict his lies and dictatorial ambitions. He typically just declares that such data are a hoax, and then moves on with telling more lies. However, Trump is correct that terrible crimes are now underway in Washington, D.C. — crimes that affect our entire country and not just its capital. The crimes are taking place through threats, extortions, and illegal edicts issued from the White House. After all, Trump’s disdain for the rule of law, as applied to him, is just as strong as his disdain for factual truth.

Richard Iverson

Hood River

Editor's Note: In the Aug. 20 edition of Columbia Gorge News, Iverson's original spelling of "capital" was changed to "capitol." We were incorrect in doing so; "capitol" refers to the building, and "capital" to the city. We apologize for the error. 

With Israel

The Aug. 13 edition of “Your Voice” contained not one, but two opinions (“Gaza ‘Strip’” and “Religion?”) that I find offensive. I’m disturbed to read what seem to be anti-semitic sentiments, but would rather know where such beliefs are brewing than have them hiding in the background. To suggest that Israelis’ are “todays Nazis” is appalling. To suggest that Israel is spearheading “ethnic cleansing in the West Bank” is a shallow, uniformed perspective on a deeply complex issue. Israel has been under attack by oppressors and by Hamas and other terrorist groups for millennia. Hamas will not stop until their Covenant’s core aim is achieved (read it here: avalon.law.yale.edu/21st_century/hamas.asp). The 2006 version may have softened its language, but the original message is to eliminate all Jewish people.

How would you feel if you were living next to a group whose sole aim is to extinguish you and your loved ones simply because you are Jewish (or Christian, or Buddist)? What if your baby was slaughtered or your young adult child had been murdered at a concert? What if your wife was still a captive after 678 days (as of this writing)? If I were Jewish and/or Zionist, I’d be questioning my security and safety knowing some of my neighbors are so ill-informed, and potentially anti-semitic. I would be considering my options pertaining to Israel; perhaps the only place in the world right now that would “have my back” as Jewish person. I hate the events of war and concede there are horrors that have occurred for the Palestinian people; many of which have been the result of the choices and actions taken by Hamas and its supporters in the Middle East. As long as the threat to Israel remains and the hostages are captive, Israel has a sovereign right to take action. I for one stand with Israel.

Catherine Morrison

Hood River

Leader in our midst

As a thoughtful and caring person in our society, I’m constantly wondering where we go from here in our badly divided, damaged country. I know we can’t continue to do what we’re doing and hope to survive, let alone thrive. I recently looked at a fire map of the continent and saw that much of it was burning. And then I thought, perhaps half of our country doesn’t believe in climate change, even though it’s singeing their eyelashes.

We have existential threats to every aspect of life, from the faltering economy, impending health crises, demise of democracy, compromised institutions, frequent mass shootings and possibly civil war. “The Handmaid’s Tale” is upon us. If you haven’t watched it, I suggest you do. I could go on — yet at least a third of our population either doesn’t see this or disagrees with it, depending on where, or even if, they get their information.

We need a brilliant and humane leader right now who can represent ALL of us, and help bring us together to fight for the country a majority of us want — a safe, healthy, smart, clean and just country for all people. And I believe we have one. His name is Pete Buttigieg. He is the only one who can honestly tell it like it is to an audience on Fox News and receive repeated standing ovations.

When I talk about him, people tell me they love him but that he can’t win because he’s gay. I say BS! He overcomes this fact time and again as he did when he won his mayor’s race in South Bend by 11 points, right after coming out. Pete is a true Christian — one Jesus would be proud of. He’s a dad to 3-year old Black, adopted twins; a loving husband; a veteran; a seasoned part of our government; and he’s the most down-to-earth, clear thinking person I know of. He would return respect to our beleaguered country within our borders and throughout the world. Let’s drop the “can’t” and say “yes, he can win!”

Sarah Bellinson

Hood River

Doesn’t care about children

Trump and the right do not, and have not ever, cared about keeping children safe. The controversy over transgender athletes, transgender teachers, or transgender bathroom bans have never been a genuine attempt to protect children. Transgender people make up a tiny percent of the American population (0.6%, according to a 2022 study by UCLA’s Williams Institute), and are more than four times as likely to be victims of violent crimes, including rape, sexual assault, and aggravated assault (UCLA Williams Institute).

Transgender people do not pose a threat to your children. Church leaders, boy scout troop leaders, politicians, and Trump pose a threat to American children. A 1996 study by the DOJ found that 70% of convicted perpetrators of sexual crimes against children were white, and 97% were male. While Trump and his MAGA allies refuse to release the Epstein files, they scapegoat and use transgender people to distract us from their own implication in violent sexual crimes against children.

If Trump and the right actually cared about children, they wouldn’t be kidnapping, detaining, and deporting them. They wouldn’t be tearing apart families and leaving teenagers to support their younger siblings. If the right cared about children’s safety, they would fund the Department of Education, fund SNAP, provide universal healthcare, and regulate gun safety to prevent senseless killing of children in schools. If the right cared about children, they would immediately cease all funds sent to Israel for enacting a genocide on Gaza’s population of 50% children.

Don’t allow Trump to distract you from who the real threats to children are. Children are safer and healthier when they are exposed to the diversity of the human experience. Transgender people are not a threat; they make our communities stronger and healthier.

Abi Loihl

Hood River

Enthusiastic support?

Rep. Cliff Bentz filled up half a page in the Columbia Gorge News’ Aug. 6 edition to tout the president’s “Big Beautiful Bill.” I wonder if his constituents will still be enthusiastic about his support of this bill, if they ever were, six months or a year from now. This bill, which was signed into law, is a giveaway to the rich. Will people in a huge swath of rural Oregon still be supportive of his vote if it shuts down rural hospitals and they lose their Medicaid and SNAP benefits (“What’s in the tax and spending bill that Trump has signed into law,” July 4, AP News)? I guess that’s up to his voters in 2026.

John Wright

Mt. Hood-Parkdale