Your voice: Nov. 12, 2025

Many people, including myself, are on insulin pumps that need to be overseen by someone who specializes in diabetes and insulin pumps. I’m angry for being left hanging without an educator, as I know many people are. Thanks for no longer giving your diabetes community the care we need.

A concerned member of your community,

Sonja Hancock

Goldendale

Editor’s Note: Adventist Health Columbia Gorge Marketing and Communications Manager Laurel Rogers provided Columbia Gorge News with the following statement: “As part of our ongoing work to streamline how we provide care, we are rebuilding our diabetic education within our primary care clinics to get patients more integrated with their provider. We are actively recruiting for our open position for a diabetes educator and are working tirelessly to find interim coverage for this important service to our patients.”

Speed petition

I’ve been working with several neighbors in the greater Pucker Huddle neighborhood to lower the speed of W. Jewett Boulevard from 45 mph to 30-35mph. It’s the 3/4 mile stretch of W. Jewett Boulevard north of the Mormon Church to the Bald Mountain curves. With ever increasing traffic, new residences, blind corners and two drag strip like straight stretches, the time has come to get this short stretch of road in line with the other neighborhoods of White Salmon.

Through discussions with the 30 homeowners who have signed on in the past couple weeks, the collective experience is frustration with the lack of action from WSDOT. And what appears to be a forgotten stretch of highway, technically within Klickitat County, but also the urban growth boundary of town.

I’m writing today to ask for your support to increase the livability our town and surrounding neighborhoods. To encourage WSDOT to not wait for tragedies to motivate change. And to have better driving, walking, jogging and bicycle experiences for everyone.

Contact me directly at averyhoyt@gmail.com or 503-757-3762 if you’d like to receive our petition.

Avery Hoyt

White Salmon

Grateful for support

On behalf of the Friends of the Sunshine Club and all those the Sunshine Club serves, I wish to express our deepest gratitude to the residents of the Columbia Gorge for their remarkable generosity and support. Thanks to your efforts, we have successfully raised $700,000 to build a new facility dedicated to providing day respite care for individuals living with dementia.

What makes this achievement truly extraordinary is that, only 11 months from the start of fundraising, our community came together to turn this vision into a reality. This new building stands as a testament to the compassion, dedication, and spirit of the Columbia Gorge community.

We are excited to invite everyone to a sneak peek open house at our new location, 1128 Tucker Road, on the grounds of Spirit of Grace, directly behind the FISH food bank. Please join us as we celebrate this milestone:

• Thursday, Nov. 13, from 4:30-7 p.m.

• Friday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Come tour the new facility, meet our staff and volunteers, and learn more about the Sunshine Club’s mission to provide respite, care, and hope for families affected by dementia. We could not have accomplished this without your belief in our cause and your unwavering support.

Thank you for helping us build a brighter future for our neighbors in need.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Debby Chenoweth

On behalf of the Friends of the Sunshine Club

Rich get richer

While many Americans are facing unaffordable increases in health insurance costs, delays to or the loss of food stamps, and higher prices at the grocery store (to name only three), the Trump family business “World Liberty Financial” (a crypto-currency firm) “… negotiated a $2 billion investment from a firm backed by the rulers of the United Arab Emirates at the same time the U.A.E. successfully negotiated a deal with the White House to buy powerful AI chips” (The Houston Chronicle, Sept. 17). Forbes.com (Sept. 22) reports that “Trump’s fortune jumped $3 billion in one year ... His move into crypto accounts for $2 billion of that.”

So, as it becomes more and more difficult for you to pay your bills, is it fair that those in power are getting ever richer and richer? Is THAT making America great?

Kathy Pickering

Hood River

Pathways to end shutdown

Prior to 1980, there were no shutdowns, then the Carter administration interpreted the laws to mean that federal agencies cannot incur obligations or spend funds in the absence of an appropriation.

I find four paths to ending the shutdown with a continuing resolution (“CR”). The first is to convince 60 senators to vote for the CR. While there are some discussions among senators, there has not been much persuasion. The second is to negotiate to create legislation that can garner 60 votes.This has not occurred. The third is to change Senate rules to allow for a majority vote for the CR. Senate rules can be changed with a majority vote, and the Senate recently changed rules to allow for faster approvals of presidential nominations. The fourth is for the Trump administration to reinterpret the law as it was followed prior to 1980.

I hope our leaders have ended the shutdown by now through one of these means.

Chris Karlin

Hood River

Affordability

As political pundits analyzed and twisted the implications of Democrat’s sweep in last Tuesday’s election, Sen. Warren elegantly summarized it in one word: affordability. Voters are tired of being squeezed to enrich the wealthy few.

In the richest nation in history, why do we still have people who are hungry or homeless? Many countries with far less wealth have much better basic safety nets and much more affordable health care.

That answer is simple: corruption. About 1000 billionaires in the U.S. are worth over $5.5 trillion (browse Federal Reserve Board data.) Wealth inequality has been increasing for decades, particularly starting with the Reagan Revolution. From 1980-2022, U.S. median income grew 20.6% while GDP grew more than 700%.

Don’t be fooled by big numbers. For example, $30 million may sound like a lot of money, but spread over 1.7 million households in Oregon, that’s less than $18 per household. Spread over 133 million households in the U.S., $30 million is less than 25-cents. Think trillions — you need a scientific calculator to have enough zeroes. About $3 trillion of tax cuts for billionaires since 2017 is more than $22,000 per household. Is your household $22,000 richer since 2017?

Billionaires use their money to amass political power and thus more money. They own whole “news” networks — Fox, Sinclair, and now the Washington Post — to continuously spew billionaire propaganda praising the brilliance of the wealthy while stealing you blind.

Corruption is nothing new. Ever since Columbus, the much vaunted American way has prioritized stealing assets and enslaving workers. But this administration seeks to remove all restrictions on billionaire power or clever paths to steal from the poor and shower the rich with more money.

It’s difficult to understand the values of the ultra-rich. A common trait is avoiding empathy, because empathy implies sharing wealth.

M. Gandhi famously said, “The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.”

Eric Strid

White Salmon

Whose interests?

Russell Vought, whom Donald Trump adoringly describes as his “grim reaper,” is perhaps the most ironic character among the collection of disciples Trump has placed in positions of power. Vought heads the federal government’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB), a position that historically has attracted little attention because its role was largely managing federal government spreadsheets and distributing funds. With Vought at the controls, that’s no longer the case.

One of Vought’s ironies is his visceral hatred of government bureaucrats combined with the fact that he’s now the deepest of the deep-state bureaucrats himself. In his unelected position, he’s exercising immense power — in ways that many legal experts regard as unlawful — to manipulate the American citizenry by withholding funds already appropriated by Congress. U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro has said, “It seems each morning, Russ Vought wakes up determined to abuse his authority to the detriment of working-class families, middle-class families, and vulnerable Americans” (The Philadelphia Tribune, Nov. 4).

Before taking his position as head of OMB, Vought openly expressed his desire to “traumatize” federal employees because he holds them in very low regard. As a former federal research scientist myself, I can say that nearly everyone in my agency was deeply committed to serving the public interest. Vought, by contrast, is focused on serving the interests of Donald Trump.

Another irony of Vought’s is his characterization of himself as a deeply devout Christian (The New Yorker, Oct. 27), combined with his thirst for cruelty and vengeance. The Bible describes Jesus Christ as a kind and forgiving man who encouraged similar behavior by others. By contrast, Vought seems to view his faith as a basis for imposing suffering among those less fortunate than himself.

How can a man like Russell Vought have any self-respect? Perhaps he’s just delusional, much like the man he worships: Donald J. Trump.

Richard Iverson

Hood River

Books for Kids

I would like to encourage anyone looking for a good cause to support to consider Books for Kids Columbia Gorge. This organization helps put books in the hands of the children who need them the most. You can donate online at www.booksforkidscg.org.

One literacy need in our community that Books for Kids hopes to address is the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program at Wy’east Middle School. Hardworking, capable, future first-generation college students are chosen to participate in an elective class that pushes them to engage in extra lessons that will support their academic skills. The program is designed to narrow the opportunity gap for this population. The skills most necessary to accomplish this goal are literacy skills. AVID students are encouraged to read lots of books over the summer months to elevate these skills as they enter the AVID elective class at the seventh grade level. However, many of the students do not have access to high interest books at home. In addition, getting to the library can be problematic for those who live in rural areas. Books for Kids grants can fill some of this need for these learners.

Having high interest books available can help turn students into lifelong readers. We know that having more advanced reading skills is highly correlated with academic success and college and career readiness. The more students read, the more elevated their literacy (and critical thinking) skills become. This journey needs to begin in early elementary school, but should also continue in middle school, a point at which many students stop reading for fun. Putting high interest books in the hands of sixth graders as they head to summer vacation can make all the difference in enabling them to continue pursuing reading for enjoyment. Do whatever you can to help this worthy effort!

Steffanie Olson

Hood River

Election enlightening

Many of us who actively work on campaigns and directly with candidates were confident this election would send an important message. But none of us anticipated how strongly that message would radiate! Registered Democrats in Klickitat County are thanked for their personal campaigning, even for preferred candidates they surely knew were not Democrats. But they must also admit the extent of many wins was also due to non-party Independents and even registered Republicans who voted Independent rather than with the MAGA.

Lyle school board candidates Smith and Roots are an example. Those of us who campaigned for them did so solely because of their proven experiences and dedication to their children, and to unbiased education. We did not even know if they belonged to any political party. It was not relevant. (Electing Ms. Roots even required writing in her name on the ballot.)

It now is clear this focus on relevant experience was nationwide. Locally, to carry this focus on relevant change to the next level that will affect all of our personal lives will be too! Personally assist the candidates you have just elected, e.g. attending PTO meetings or pressing for career-skills courses. Get active for state level candidates for the ‘26 midterm elections so that you can help create one arm of our U.S. government, regardless of party affiliation, that is less fearful of retribution from an autocratic POTUS.

Adrian Bradford

Lyle

Paid vacation

Another week of paid vacation ($15k per month) for Washington’s District 4 Congressional Rep. “Do Nothing” Dan Newhouse, while thousands of families and seniors are living with many issues caused by the introduction of Project 2025 by MAGA Republicans and Trump.

This year, he has truly earned his nickname. His newsletters, his only form of communication with the majority of his constituents, are pathetic: Talking points sent down from the MAGA elite and blaming Washington senators …who are actually working. His one “town hall” revealed a man willing to lie to the people whom he was hired to represent.

As part of the MAGA GOP, he has abdicated his oath to the Constitution. Most importantly, he has surrendered the House’s responsibility as a coequal governing partner. With his tail between his legs, he lacks the courage to stand up to the lawlessness and corruption that experts now believe is already the worst of any president.

But let’s acknowledge one thing he did proudly: He voted for a massive tax break for himself and then stripped millions of Americans of access to healthcare. His MAGA alignment has stripped him of any sense of moral or ethical values. He wants farmworkers to be spared the ICE cruelty of collection and deportation, not because they are human beings, but because corporate farmers need them to work the farms. They are only as worthy as their corporate overlords declare.

It’s time to replace the Trump puppet with a public servant. District 4 residents deserve better.

Sue Kusch

White Salmon

Flipped votes

“I just can’t do it anymore.”

Those were the words of a long-time Republican stalwart who joined the Oct. 18 No Kings Day protest in Bingen. He and other long-time Republicans in Klickitat County and across the nation have rejected the cruel, corrupt, and anti-democratic behavior of a political party they no longer recognize. Many have taken a huge step further: they’ve joined the active resistance.

It is difficult to walk away from one’s tribe. Doing so guarantees blowback and rejection from long-time friends and even family members. It requires moral fortitude and the courage to see with unwavering eyes. The Trump administration is literally executing scores of individuals on boats without due process; denying food to the poor; roughing up and jailing peaceful protesters, and then lying to judges about their actions; firing government officials and disbanding committees assigned to investigate corruption; and generally shocking one’s conscience in new ways every single day.

On Election Day, huge numbers of conservative voters flipped their 2024 votes for Trump to 2025 votes for Democratic gubernatorial candidates in New Jersey and Virginia. (“Two Signs that Democrats Flipped Trump Supporters on Tuesday,” New York Times, Nov. 6). In Klickitat County, we experienced our own version of that phenomenon as some hitherto Republican supporters joined efforts to defeat MAGA candidates in local races.

In nations that successfully quash would-be authoritarian takeovers, conservative and liberal voters have set aside their differences to ensure that liberty prevails. We’re at that same crossroads here in our own nation. Conservative and liberal friends: Let’s unite to do something noble and right. Let’s defeat the authoritarians here at home.

Rick George

White Salmon