Your voice: Feb. 11, 2026

Our community is stronger because our pool exists, and I hope we keep it available for the next generation.

Nancy Roach

Hood River

‘Critical element’

When my wife Connie and I relocated to Corvallis last fall after 30 years in the Hood River Valley, there was never any question that we would continue our subscription to the Columbia Gorge News. So, when the paper stopped arriving a couple of weeks ago and I realized it was that time of year, I called to renew. That decision was immediately rewarded when the issue dated Jan. 28 arrived, for it contained a most excellent staff editorial defending Gorge high school students’ rights to free speech and assembly, and chastising those adults who behaved like children in response to students’ recent actions.

In a time of unprecedented threats to our nation’s democracy and rule of law, responsible local journalism like the Columbia Gorge News is a critical element in preserving the way of life we all cherish — regardless of political party.

Subscribers, please urge your friends and neighbors and coworkers to join you in subscribing.

Chelsea and Trisha and staff, stay strong and keep speaking the truth!

Mike Scroggs

Corvallis

Disheartened

I’m most disheartened that our Klickitat County representative on the Fort Vancouver Regional Library (FVRL) Board of Trustees voted against a mission statement that includes “equitable access” as part of the FVRL 2026-2030 Strategic Plan. On Jan. 26, a majority of the board members chose to adopt a last-minute proposal submitted by a fellow trustee — over two prepared options following a careful and professionally facilitated, months-long process informed by public input. Klickitat County Trustee, Olga Hodges, was a member of that Strategic Planning committee. She subsequently voted to reject the resulting recommendations (“FVRLibraries trustee resigns after board removes ‘equity’ and ‘equitable’ from strategic plan,” The Columbian, Jan. 27).

Despite robust public support — including those from Klickitat County — for retaining “equitable access” in the plan’s mission statement, Ms. Hodges gave no indication she heard our voices or that they matter. That leaves unrepresented those of us concerned that diminishing equitable access and intellectual freedom in our public libraries threatens our freedom of speech and our democracy.

The Klickitat County Commissioners are charged with appointing to the FVRL Board a trustee who represents the entire — and varied — population of the county. I urge them to do so very thoughtfully and diligently. Our people deserve representation that extends beyond special interests and upholds standards of excellence in public library services for all.

Sue Pennington

White Salmon

ICE attacks

After masked ICE gunmen killed two white protesters in Minnesota and the subsequent nationwide mass protests, Trump, fearing loss of voter support, pretended that the violence was abhorrent to him and brought in new leadership. On Feb. 3, ICE agents in Minnesota followed and pulled a car over, drew guns, handcuffed and arrested the car’s white occupants. Other agents spotted a white protester with anti-ICE messaging on his clothing, threw him to the ground, handcuffed and arrested him (“Immigration agents draw guns and arrest activists following them in Minneapolis,” AP News, Feb. 3). Subpoenas served on Minnesota Democrats maintained that the officials had obstructed enforcement through public statements (“Justice Department subpoenas Walz and others in immigration enforcement obstruction investigation,” AP News, Jan. 20). In 2025, Trump promised retribution and revenge against political opponents and began his attacks on universities, the press, the law, and now attacks the people (“Trump ran on a promise of revenge. He’s making good on it,” AP News, Aug. 23, 2025).

The last comprehensive bipartisan immigration reform was under Ronald Regan four decades ago. The Refugee Act of 1980 standardized refugee admissions. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of1986 legalized three million undocumented immigrants and introduced employer sanctions. In 2001, George W. Bush and Mexican President Vincente Fox agreed on a guest worker program that fell apart days later with the attack on the World Trade Center. The 2005 McCain-Kennedy Bill to allow 400,000 guest workers a year and provide a path to citizenship failed to even get to the Senate floor, while the House passed a 2005 harsh “enforcement only” bill that triggered mass (mostly Latino) protests in the U.S. The House Republicans rejected the competing Senate Comprehensive Reform Act of 2006 (backed by Bush). In 2013 under Obama, a bipartisan reform bill providing a path to legal status and adding 40,000 Border Patrol agents passed the Senate, but House Republicans blocked it. In 2023, ultraconservative Republicans in the House pledged to block any amnesty bill and Senate Republicans pledged to block any further aid to Ukraine without a bill to secure the southern border. Centrists narrowly beat back progressive Democrat Senators and “American First” Republicans to pass a Senate bill. To allow Trump to run an anti-immigrant campaign where he promised to end the non-existent “immigrant crime epidemic” and “gang violence,” the House Republicans did not consider the bill.

Michael Beug

White Salmon

Restorative justice

At 2 a.m. on a cold January night, our household experienced a home invasion. An extremely intoxicated young man, with substance or substances unknown, walked into our house claiming to be “the kitty man.” Fortunately, our dog and another household member were still awake and near the door. The intruder did not respond to repeated requests to leave and refused to identify himself. He appeared disconnected from reality. It ultimately took the presence of our dog and threats of physical force to get him out of the house.

The sheriff’s department responded quickly and apprehended the individual shortly thereafter. Unfortunately, one or more additional people who had been outside our home were able to flee.

What followed was described as restorative justice.

The sole restorative element was an apology letter from the individual. In that letter, he took no responsibility for his intoxication, stating instead that “someone put something in my beer.” There was no opportunity for our household to describe the fear, disruption, or violation we experienced. There was no facilitated dialogue and no meaningful accountability. Most concerning, there was no referral to treatment, not because treatment was unnecessary, but because our community lacks viable, evidence based options for individuals with substance use disorders.

In principle, I support restorative justice. Punitive approaches are often ineffective and can be harmful to individuals and communities alike. Not every offense or offender belongs in a punitive system. However, restorative justice is not the absence of accountability. For it to work, there must be clear criteria for which offenses and offenders are appropriate, structured processes that center victim impact, and access to evidence based interventions, particularly substance use treatment, to address the underlying causes of harm.

Our community currently lacks both the criteria and the infrastructure necessary for restorative justice to function as intended. What we experienced was not restoration, but a hollow substitute that left harm unaddressed and risk unchanged.

Restorative justice done well can strengthen communities. Done poorly, it risks minimizing serious harm while offering neither safety nor healing.

Glen Patrizio

Hood River

Shut it down

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security was implemented using what Naomi Klein has described as “The Shock Doctrine” following 9/11. Given these horrifyingly toxic origins, the dark financial roots, and the name itself, dating back to Nazi Germany, is it indeed even possible for it to be reformed? Or does it need to be shut down entirely, everyone there fired, from top to bottom? We would have to start over to implement basic necessary functions, but hey, that’s what Congress is for.

Jerrold Richards

Lyle

Democrats infected by TDS

“We simply cannot allow people to pour into the United States undetected, undocumented, unchecked and circumventing the line of people who are waiting patiently, diligently and lawfully to become immigrants in this country.” Barack Obama, Democrat (Floor Statement of Sen. Barack Obama, April 3, 2006).

“People who enter our country without our permission are illegal aliens, and illegal aliens should not be treated the same as people who entered the country legally.” Chuck Schumer, Democrat (sixth annual Immigration Law and Policy Conference June 24, 2009).

“All Americans … are rightly disturbed by the large numbers of illegal aliens entering our country …it is wrong and ultimately self-defeating for a nation to permit this kind of abuse of our immigration laws, and we must do more to stop it”. Bill Clinton, Democrat (1995 State of the Union Address).

So, what happened? Democrats simply decided enforcing immigration law was wrong. The reversal began when Trump was first elected on an anti-illegal immigration (always reported as anti-immigrant) platform and was fully implemented by Biden. Now, no prominent Democrat would say anything resembling the statements above. Why? Their specific concern about enforcement at polling places is a major clue, but Trump hate is the trigger. “If Trump is for it, we’re against it,” or alternatively, “While Trump is president, if it’s good for the country, it’s bad for us” pretty much sums up the current Democrat thought process.

Prior to Trump hate (TDS), Americans might disagree on policies and methods, but no sane Republican OR Democrat supported abandonment of immigration law enforcement, and suggesting we should prioritize amnesty for immigrant criminals was too absurd to even contemplate.

TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) has seemingly infected every Democrat in the country. To see it causing so many otherwise rational people to support insane ideas they soundly rejected just a few years ago is seriously disturbing, and sad. To see Democrats mindlessly reciting “no one is above the law” and then adding, “except those laws we don’t like,” does not inspire confidence in the future of our Republic.

Again, there’s a reason none of the letters in this paper or elsewhere even attempt to explain the rationale for granting “sanctuary” to migrant criminals. They cannot defend it because it is indefensible, illogical, counter-productive and, most of all, STUPID!

Steve Hudson

The Dalles

Not an honor

Unbelievable as it may sound, Jeff Helfrich, our state representative and senator-to-be, recently (Jan. 27) sent a message to his email subscribers bragging of his endorsement by a martial arts figure named Chael Sonnen. Helfrich wrote that he feels honored to be endorsed by Sonnen and wanted to spread the good news. Anyone who knows how to use Google will soon discover that this supporter Helfrich is so eager to boast about has pleaded guilty to money laundering, settled a case in which his business partner sued him for embezzlement, pleaded “no contest” to charges of beating up several people in a hotel in Las Vegas, has been sued by one of the people he injured, all in addition to being embroiled in a lengthy sports controversy due to his testosterone injections.

It’s hard to understand why Helfrich is so pleased by this endorsement and wants to make sure it’s widely known, but maybe it goes along with his great pride in voting to nominate Trump for a second term and his spineless silence about ICE. Helfrich will probably cruise to victory in his state senate race because he will run unopposed. But he will never represent the people of Hood River County, whose values he does not share.

Vawter (Buck) Parker

Odell

Freedom of the Press

Freedom of the Press is a First Amendment right, but it’s under attack. The Trump administration restricts access, uses legal intimidation, and launches rhetorical attacks against journalists.

In February 2025, the White House denied access to an Associated Press reporter and photographer from Air Force One because the AP refused to refer to the Gulf of Mexico to Trump’s decreed Gulf of America. New York Times spokesperson Charles Stadtlander stated that they stood by the AP journalists, asserting, “Any move to limit access or impede reporters from doing their jobs is at odds with the press freedoms enshrined in the Constitution” (AP News, Feb. 15, 2025).

On Jan. 18, 2026, independent journalist Don Lemon reported on a protest that took place during a church service in Minnesota. On Jan. 30, Lemon and journalist Georgia Fort were arrested on charges of conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshipers. Both will plead not guilty. They were covering the protest, not participating in it. It took three attempts by Attorney General Pam Bondi to secure an arrest, as both a federal magistrate judge and a chief judge in the Federal District Court in Minneapolis stated there was insufficient evidence. Bondi ultimately formed a grand jury to obtain the indictment (New York Times, Jan. 30).

On Feb. 3, CNN reporter Kaitlin Collins questioned Trump about the recent release and redactions in the Epstein files. Trump responded, “You are the worst reporter. CNN has no ratings because of you.” Trump went on to criticize her for not smiling (USA Today, Feb. 4). Collins answered that she was asking about Epstein survivors, an appropriate reason for not smiling.

The First Amendment is being eviscerated by the Trump administration. We must defend it or lose it.

April George

White Salmon

Parks strengthen community

In Hood River, our Parks and Recreation District does much more than maintain the pool, parks, and trails. It helps make more than 90 programs available for more than 6,000 children and adults to enjoy. These programs strengthen community connections, improve quality of life, and create a fun, welcoming place.

Parks and Rec District-supported recreation programs — including youth and adult sports, swimming lessons, music and dance classes, theater, chess club, and more — are far more than “nice-to-have” amenities. They are essential to a healthy, connected community.

When people learn to swim, join a team, or participate in the arts, they gain lifelong skills: confidence, teamwork, creativity, and a sense of belonging. Research shows swim lessons can reduce drowning risk by up to 88%. Thanks to the district, by the time each Hood River student reaches fifth grade, they will have received at least 12, 30-minute lessons by a trained swim instructor.

Investing in recreation is investing in our future. Supporting these programs ensures everyone has a safe, healthy place to learn, play, grow and connect.

Becky Brun

Hood River

Columbia Gorge News letters policy

Columbia Gorge News encourages readers to submit letters to the editor for the weekly opinion page. Letters on all topics are welcome.

For a letter to be considered for print, the author must include their first and last name and hometown (for publication), and phone number (for verification, not for publication).

Letters from an agency or group must be credited to an author or contact person. Anonymous or “name withheld by request” letters are not accepted. Read policy at columbiagorgenews.com.