Your voice

That may seem like a bite, at first, but think about it. Couples and families routinely drop $100 on dinner.

My $300 tax bump is three dinners. The dinner tab (or pool support measure) basically averages $25 a month, which is $6.25 a week. What I spend on a good pastry, but not the coffee.

Or the $50 to fill my tank, only part of which got me to the coffee shop. Every day I go to the pool, I see dozens of people playing; aerobicizing, swimming laps; practicing for swim meets for old folks, and young folks; teaching the county’s children basic water safety, some of whom may grow up to practice and play water polo (what I played, as a kid). I saw a guy bobbing in a kayak the other day, trying not to drown so emergency services people wouldn’t be needed to drag him from the river and could be ready to resuscitate grandma in case she falls. Preventative maintenance for the pool is preventative maintenance for the lives of county residents.

Other days, I walk my dog through Barrett Park, along the Indian Creek Trail. I smile to see the pickleballers at Golden Eagle near the empty football field, and others tanning in the spring sun, grass growing, waiting for the dozen days a year when it fills with people to watch local kids try to have fun without hurting themselves. It is so empty so much of the time, but it’s there, when we need it. I would no more suggest we tear down a football field than I would we neglect support for fitness and water safety.

I’m not interested in being a cheapskate. I’m interested in building a safe, healthy, active and educated community with the services and facilities it needs. I’m voting for the bond measure and levy, and I’m going to not drink one extra cup of coffee a week for the next year to make that happen.

Stuart Watson

Hood River

Vote for Hege

Like many Oregonians, I’ve seen too many stories and headlines recently about how our state is falling behind in key areas. From job creation to business investment to public education outcomes, Oregon ranks at or near the bottom in national surveys. Businesses continue to leave due to high taxes and policies that increase costs.

This has real consequences for families. The cost of living continues to rise, budgets are stretched, and people are paying more in taxes while seeing fewer results from government. Small businesses looking for relief from burdensome regulations instead see partisan politics and policies that make it harder to succeed.

It doesn’t have to be this way. When my wife and I came to Oregon in 1991, it was a place of opportunity with an unmatched quality of life. I believe we can get back to that — and that’s why I’m running for State Representative in House District 52.

For the past 16 years, I’ve served on the Wasco County Commission. That experience has given me a strong understanding of the issues facing our communities. I’ve worked on budgets, collaborated with local and state partners, and listened to residents about how government can serve them better. I’ve also seen that when businesses succeed, they generate the revenue needed to fund essential services — without increasing taxes.

House District 52 is one of the most diverse districts in Oregon, spanning multiple counties and including communities from Sandy to Corbett to Hood River and The Dalles. I look forward to continuing to listen, learn, and advocate for policies that support families and small businesses.

Let’s work together to bring Oregon back.

Scott Hege

The Dalles

Supports Brady

I am writing in support of Phil Brady for Wasco County Commissioner. He has worked purposefully to get to know the people and the issues of Wasco County during his first term as commissioner. He has spent many hours attending meetings and listening to their needs in all parts of the county, from Mosier to south county, all the way to Antelope. His experience in education, science and health is a valuable asset in evaluating and making decisions on the important issues like affordable housing, mental health, economic development to name a few that face the commission. 

The three-person county commission oversees many departments and multi-million dollar budget. I have known Phil for many years, and know that he has the experience and background to wisely, thoughtfully and with integrity work for the best solutions for Wasco County citizens.

I urge your vote to elect Phil Brady to continue serving as county commissioner in Wasco County.

Carolyn Wood

The Dalles

For Gambee

My first glimpse of Lisa Gambee occurred many years ago in Wamic, as she seemed to fly into the Barlow Gate Grange kitchen at the end of one of our long, July 4th breakfast fundraisers that had fed hundreds of diners that day. Lisa was not a Grange member at that time. Nonetheless, she had rounded up many of her family members to join her and her husband John, as they simply took over the clean up at the end of that long, tiring day. Lisa and her family scrubbed, washed, scoured, swept and mopped until the job was done. And, it was well done. That annual miracle went on for years.

I’ve come to know Lisa since that July event and what I saw that day is exactly who Lisa remains to this day, and then some. She is a strong community member. She works incredibly well with a team. She literally rolls up her sleeves and dives into the hard work. She doesn’t care how difficult or sloppy or unpleasant a job may be. She works until the job is successfully completed and she accomplishes it all without complaint, and always with the utmost respect for those with whom she is working.

Lisa’s excellent communication skills enable her to bridge divides that others might find daunting. She listens carefully. She thinks through issues thoughtfully, which leads to clear decisions and meaningful outcomes. The respect she shows others while working on an issue is always evident, no matter if she happens to agree or disagree with someone else’s opinion. Lisa knows Wasco County extremely well, and that knowledge gives her a wide angle view of the different needs in the various areas of our county.

We all deserve a county commissioner like Lisa Gambee; a commissioner who will lead with vision, transparency, energy, respect and accountability. I hope that you join me in voting for Lisa Gambee for Wasco County Commissioner.

Jane Lilley Van Vactor

Wamic

Brady, again

I am proud to once again endorse Phil Brady for the Wasco County Commissioner position No. 3. Over the last four years, Phil has demonstrated the ability to address complex issues while respecting and listening to a wide range of public opinion.

He has been particularly supportive of the ever-growing older adult population in Wasco County and understands the challenges many older adults face. He is a member of the Senior Advisory Council for the Area Agency on Aging, and a board member of the Mid-Columbia Community Action Council, which has helped many older adults avoid evictions and helped others transition to stable housing.

Phil is thoughtful, caring, and committed to doing his best to support all the residents of Wasco County, from The Dalles to Maupin to Shaniko.

I urge you to vote for Phil Brady for Wasco County Commissioner No. 3.

Scott McKay

The Dalles

Check to see if it’s been signed already!!!

Supports bill

As a local business owner and someone deeply involved in recreation and wellness in our community, I strongly support Senate Bill 1517, which has now passed the House 55 to 2 and the Senate 29 to 0, and is awaiting the signature of Governor Tina Kotek.

For years, waivers have been a standard and reasonable part of participating in recreational activities. Whether someone is kiteboarding, joining a river rafting trip, attending a fitness class, participating in a nonprofit youth program, or skiing, there is an inherent understanding that these activities carry some level of risk. A signed waiver has traditionally acknowledged that shared responsibility.

 A court decision more than a decade ago weakened the enforceability of those waivers in Oregon. The result has been uncertainty and increased legal exposure not just for large companies, but for small businesses and nonprofits that are the backbone of our communities. Organizations that aim to provide healthy, enriching, and often life changing experiences have been left vulnerable, even when they operate responsibly.

 SB 1517 does not eliminate accountability. It does not prevent someone from seeking justice if a business is negligent, whether that negligence is ordinary or gross. Those protections remain firmly in place. What it does is restore a level of fairness by recognizing that when individuals willingly choose to participate in activities with known risks, that choice matters.

 Without this balance, we risk discouraging the very programs and services that make our communities vibrant. Small operators may choose not to offer certain activities. Nonprofits may scale back programs. Insurance costs may continue to rise, ultimately impacting access for everyone.

 This is not about protecting bad actors. It is about protecting responsible businesses and organizations while still holding them accountable when they fall short.

 Reestablishing reasonable, enforceable waivers is essential to preserving access to recreation, supporting local economies, and maintaining the health and vitality of our communities.

Dianna Risley

Hood River

Pool an asset

When my wife and I retired, we looked for a community that reflected who we were becoming. Few places match Hood River’s natural beauty — but honestly, what finally convinced us to move here was the pool.

I still get out on the trails when my knees allow it, but the pool is what keeps me moving. Water aerobics isn’t just exercise for me, it’s how I stay mobile and connected. Living near the middle school, I see kids every day who learned to swim in that pool, just as their parents likely did. Swimming lessons save lives, and around here, they’re part of growing up.

Unfortunately, the Hood River Valley Parks and Recs District Board of Directors has already decided that if the upcoming levy fails, swimming lessons and all other community education programs will have to end after this year. The pool itself is also wearing out. Some parts are more than 75 years old, and failure is a real possibility. The bond would replace it with a structure built to last.

For us, the pool is what made Hood River home. For my mobility and for our children’s safety, I’m asking voters to support both the bond and the levy.

George Sparks

Hood River

Osborn, HD 52

I’m excited to support David Osborn for House District 52 in the Democratic primary. He’ll be a strong voice for the Gorge and a tireless advocate for our communities!

David’s already making a difference: in just one year on the Corbett School Board, he helped hire a fantastic new superintendent and worked to bring the board into policy compliance. His tireless campaign for that seat showed his dedication, and he’ll bring the same energy to Salem.

I love David’s focus on affordability, education, healthcare, and sustainable economic development. He rejects the false choice between funding schools or healthcare, arguing instead for raising revenue to support both. One bold idea? Reversing some of the Trump tax cuts for Oregon’s wealthiest individuals and corporations — money that could fund vital programs for our youth and families. The multi-billion dollar giveaway to wealthy elites does not have to be something Oregon ignores. David’s ready to fight for this, not just play politics as usual. Numerous current legislators, labor groups, and other organizations have noticed, and are expressing great interest in his candidacy, earning him more organizational endorsements than any other candidate.

With decades of experience in non-profits, climate organizing, education, and collaborative governance, David is the best candidate to flip this seat and deliver real results for the Gorge.

Please join me in voting for David Osborn in the May primary and again in November!

Benno Lyon

Corbett

Votes denied?

It is now getting close to our next election. We are in the process of electing many senators and representatives. Trump is against this election, primarily because he is an underdog.

At this time, Trump is about 2/3 of the way to becoming a dictator. He has positioned ICE agents in many of our airports. Watch them get moved to poling places close to election time.

I also believe that, shortly before the election, many people will be furloughed from our postal service, making it impossible for mail in ballots to arrive in time for the election. This, of course, only if his attempts to end mail in ballots are not successful!

If Trump loses, there will be a massive outcry about voter fraud. If he wins, there will be a lot of questions about the counting process. At this time, there seems to be little security or concern about prohibiting people from voting, but a lot of nose about fraudulent voting, a problem that has caused less than 1% of votes to ever be challenged.

There is a huge chance that Trump will cancel the election if he can see no way that he can win. This has never occurred before. We voted during World War II, the Korean War, and Gulf crisis. Why is this different?

Stand up and vote against the would-be dictator!

Leonard Hickman

Hood River

AI war

Many expect a human vs robot war over Earth’s scarce resources to begin after AI gains a certain “general intelligence.” As always, war is over needs. Living beings need air, water, love, a place to live and grow food, and a stable climate. Artificial intelligence needs electricity, disk farms, connectivity, etc. That war has already begun because AI’s need for land, water, and power already challenges humanity’s. This is born out every time farmland is used up for disk farms. It happens when AI takes water to cool disk farms without leaving a drop for the local nature, then dumps it heated into a different watershed where it kills the salmon. It happens when coal fired power is resurrected because renewable and clean power sources are only sufficient for humanity’s needs. This is after coal has been found by the marketplace to be too expensive and filthy and risky to planetary health to be “worth” using. The recent battle over The Dalles watershed is just one battle in this war where AI has already beaten people.

AI’s appetite for data centers, like the appetite of data centers for energy, is increasingly voracious, increasingly increasing. Every time AI wins a battle, its appetite increases. This feeding frenzy means that really soon, or maybe already, AI will beat people in the war for survival. And it hasn’t even achieved a general intelligence. Evidently neither have we.

AI’s appetite for data centers, like the appetite of data centers for energy, is increasingly voracious, increasingly increasing. Every time AI wins a battle, its appetite increases. This feeding frenzy means that really soon, or maybe already, AI will beat people in the war for survival. And it hasn’t even achieved a general intelligence. Evidently neither have we.

John Wood

Hood River

Time for change

Tired of prices rising, freedoms disappearing, corruption spreading, climate changing? This year, Christmas cards featuring peace, love, and hope seemed sadly quaint in a country increasingly governed by greed, lies, and hate. Our president and Congress have been hijacked by greedy billionaires with lifestyles and values wildly different from the rest of us. We’ve been here before and we must take actions to right the ship.

First, understand the root causes — mostly greed and monopolies. Billionaires live in a different world, of mansions, private jets, and yachts, flaunting their possessions. Wealth is their only objective. The rich and powerful have always prioritized stealing assets and enslaving workers. The current national and international chaos and destruction all make sense if you’re a greedy oligarch seeking cheap, distressed assets — like home foreclosures in 2009, but much, much larger.

Their wealth is mostly derived from monopolies, because business consolidation increases profits. Consolidation can be good for society, but a large enough monopoly destroys market competition and options for employees, while increasing owners’ access to government power. Like the early 1900s, monopolies and oligarchs now massively affect elections and government decisions, at the expense of workers.

Second, boycott monopolies and their oligarchs. Use alternatives to Amazon, Facebook, Instagram, PayPal, Tesla, X, etc.

Fossil fuel companies historically commanded geopolitics, but now they’re desperately competing with continuously cheaper clean energy options. Avoid locking in high fuel costs and pollution from a new gas-guzzler. Your next vehicle should be electric; your next furnace should be a heat pump.

Thirdly, vote! The competition isn’t Republicans vs Democrats — it’s rich vs poor. Avoid moderate Democrats with big corporate support. Elect candidates who will work for us instead of billionaires — those with big ideas like better options for healthcare, housing and energy financing, AI protections, education, taxing the rich and attenuating their political power. From 1980 to 2022, U.S. median income grew 20.6% while gross domestic product grew over 700%.

And attend a “No Kings” rally on March 28.

Revealing news sources: Heather Cox Richardson, The Guardian; books: A People’s History of the United States, Technofeudalism, Electrify.

Eric Strid

White Salmon

No signs

I wish to express that, while recognizing all good intentions, I also feel that the large and very “unnatural” signs being installed by Hood River Parks & Rec as part of The Indian Creek Trail Poetry Walk are antithetical to the very existence of The Indian Creek Trail and the natural experience it offers.

Hood River’s Indian Creek Trail is a wonderful opportunity for people to enjoy a remarkably natural setting with beautiful territorial views, observe native flora and fauna, and to make friendly contact with neighbors and friends who share a love of the outdoors, all accessible within an urban boundary.

The installation of signs is not necessary and, in my opinion, an impediment to fully appreciating what is already there to enjoy.

Michael Stroud

Hood River

Thanks, Lions

I am so very grateful to the Hood River Lions Club for accepting a grant request I submitted to support our local OWL course. OWL, or Our Whole Lives, provides honest, accurate information about human sexuality and changes lives. It dismantles stereotypes and assumptions, builds self-acceptance and self-esteem, fosters healthy relationships and improves decision-making.

OWL is offered to 7-9 graders here in the Gorge. The program runs September through December on Wednesday evenings, 6:45-8:30 p.m. Our grant request will be used to replace and update our curriculum for all of our amazing facilitators who share this exceptional, interactive information with our students. Please thank any Lions Club members that you know! What a true treasure the Hood River Lions Club is in our community! We currently have a waiting list for the 2026 program, but please feel free to contact me at mhgcasa2@gmail.com with any questions or requests to add your child to upcoming classes in 2027 and beyond! With gratitude,

Marge Gale

OWL administrator

In favor of bond, levy

Something amazing happened to me in the Hood River swimming pool about five years ago: I learned to swim — at 65 years old. Since then, I’ve taken my new skill with me into many bodies of water, and I swim regularly at our pool.

Except last week, when our pool was closed for several days because the heating system was not working. Again.

I’m supporting the bond measure to replace our aging pool because it means so much to my health, and to the health of many, including all the school children in the district who come for lessons each year. I know that because of those lessons, those kids can be safe around water the rest of their lives.

I’m also supporting the levy that will keep our parks and trails open, and keep community education going. I’ve learned a lot in community ed classes over the years, and even taught a few cooking classes. Community education is one of the things that makes Hood River feel like home. Many young families, and even grandparents like me, depend on it. I’m sorry to report that community ed will end after this summer if we don’t pass the levy.

These aren’t extras. They’re the heart of a healthy, welcoming town. That’s why I’m voting YES on both the bond and the levy. Please vote YES along with me.

Kathy Watson

Hood River

Iraq / Iran

In 2003, when we went to war with Iraq, I wrote this poem:

Sunset Over Baghdad

Abu keeps pigeons on his rooftop in Baghdad;

Rollers, Trumpeters, Rock Doves,

Cu-cu-cu-ruing when Abu comes at sunset,

releasing them to the sky.

A dying sun dims, burnt orange, birds

fly spirals through neighborhoods,

silhouettes circling against blue-domed

mosques, shimmering,

ducking under Black Hawks on patrol,

soaring over the Tigris.

Finally, returning to Abu

for their handful of seed.

He counts heads,

sighs relief,

imagines gliding with v-shaped wings

above Baghdad’s minarets.

We went to war with Iraq, claiming they had weapons of mass destruction and links between President Sadaam Hussein and Al-Qaeda, the group responsible for 9/11. Later inspections found no WMDs, and no links between Hussein and Al-Qaeda.

The human cost was devastating. Operation Iraqi Freedom lasted nearly nine years. It is estimated that “About half a million people died in Iraq as a result of war-related causes between the US-led invasion in 2003 and mid-2011, an academic study suggests” (BBC News, Oct. 16, 2013).

The U.S. soldier hostile death toll was 3,481. We lost an additional 937 soldiers in non-hostile deaths (Defense Casualty Analysis System).

The cases for war in Iran came after we attacked them. Trump’s reasons varied day to day. It was because of decades of Iranian aggression going back to 1979. He called for Iranians to liberate themselves from their tyrannical government, but with no plan to help them. There was an “imminent” nuclear threat from the regime, but he also told us that we’d “obliterated” their nuclear enrichment facilities back in June of 2025. There are more reasons, depending on who in the administration presents them (The Guardian, March 7, 2026).

Entering this war was made without formal congressional approval. If Congress gives up their power to declare war and approve military funding, then we are at the whim of a unitary executive and their cabinet, competent or not. Call your representative and your senators now, and demand they pass a war powers resolution.

April George

White Salmon