Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Sorted by date Results 1302 - 1326 of 2504
Dear Editor, In response to Todd B. Sedam's comments that appeared in the October 23 issue of The Times regarding the cancellation of the Sheriff's Candidate Forum at the Waitsburg Lion's Club, he needs to know the facts before making false statements. I was deeply involved in making the decision NOT to invite the Sheriff candidates BECAUSE the Lion's Club is a civic organization. As a member of this outstanding Lion's Club for over 50 years and serving as a past president, our bylaws forbid us from being involved with politics. We are...
I n honor of the upcoming holiday, I present a list of the twenty spookiest things about senior year. 20: Class papers, which used to be cute little five-paragraph essays, have morphed into six-page behemoths that would just love to messily devour your free time. (Eeeek!) 19: Just when you thought the SAT was out of your life for good, there's suddenly an "SAT Practice" problem at the end of every lesson in your math book. (Aiiiiiiiiiiiiiie!) 18: Student loans are lurking just over the horizon....
This fall, the Columbia County Health System will celebrate its 50th birthday. Legally known as "Columbia County Hospital District #2," its humble beginnings were driven by residents who understood the value of health care and were determined to improve their rural communities, including Starbuck. Columbia County has a strong history supporting health care. Dayton Hospital began in 1909. The hospital was at the home adjacent to the Baptist Church, known today as Community Bible Church, across the street from the Post Office on Second Street. In...
Dear Editor, Rea Culwell is our prosecutor for the future. She has the talent, energy and experience to serve the county well. She wants the job and takes this campaign serious. In June, she filed for the position and paid her filing fee (unlike her opponent). She has been doorbelling in the evenings, putting ads in the local newspapers and working double time to get re-elected. She and her family are an asset to Columbia County and are here to stay. Rea has invested her hard work and is dedicated to making Columbia County not only her home,...
Dear Editor, There have been several letters to the editor recently challenging the character and integrity of Randy O. Lewis. Randy is running for the office of Prosecuting Attorney in Columbia County. I know Randy and his wife Debbie personally and I find both of them to be well respected professionals and members of our Community. Randy promises fair administration of Justice, intensive screening of all cases and most importantly keeping the best interests of the people in Columbia County first. The current prosecutor lacks integrity and pro...
Dear Editor, I'm 91 years old and was married to, and got along very well with a three term Walla Walla County Commissioner. Harmon Johnson. A dedicated Republican and fiscal conservative, Harmon understood people and politics. He never stooped to the style of campaigning we see today. Harmon was an honorable man who respected education, hard work and anyone that would look him straight in the eye. He got along with people. I have no doubt, that if Harmon were alive today he would be campaigning tirelessly for Sheriff Turner. Harmon always...
Dear Editor, The truth needs to be known. Every one of the following people currently works in Walla Walla City and County law enforcement and publicly supports Sheriff John Turner for re-election. Chief Deputy John King, Chief Deputy Keilen Harmon, Chief Deputy Shanda Zessin, Deputy Robin Frisvold, Deputy Dale Preas, Deputy Richard Schram, Deputy Luke Watson, Deputy Gerrod Martin, Deputy Ryan Allen, Deputy Christopher Johnson, Deputy Brian Bush, Deputy Ian Edwards, Deputy Travis Goodwin, Reserve Deputy Ted Sams, Sergeant Jason Langley,...
Dear Editor, I have a unique perspective on our Sheriff's Office; I've worked there since March 2011. Prior to working there, I was very active in the Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue for many years. From first-hand experience, I felt change was needed. Three years later and I have not been disappointed. I have found our Sheriff to be a very engaged leader who diligently puts in the long hours that positive change takes. He has the ability to make difficult decisions which he knows won't please everyone. I'm thankful that high ethical...
Dear Editor, I'm happy to hear my ballot will soon arrive. It has been interesting watching how all of the candidates have handled their campaigns. It's great insight. One very important race has shown two different types of campaigning. Incumbant, Rea Culwell has been making a strong argument for her case to be re-elected Columbia County Prosecutor. She uses facts, figures, public records and a stellar list of endorsements to bolster her bid. She has informed the public about her and her oppponent's records, in public, through mailings, ads,...
I t's 9:06 PM. Do you know where your literary inspiration is? Yeah. Me neither. So here's some lousy poetry. I stare and I ponder the clock Which smugly continues to mock My pent-up frustration And sheer indignation At having obtained writer's block. I'm shoddy at limericks, it's true But reader, you'll have to make do With such clunkified verse On a columnist's curse. (Unless you'd prefer a haiku?) All right, then. Here goes: First Knowledge Bowl meet Tomorrow morning. I should Prob'ly go to bed. ZZZZZ ZZZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZ - oops, sorry. Where...
I had an insight recently - which I consider brilliant - and that is that the fewer people who vote, the more influence my vote will have. So I've decided not to encourage other people to vote this year. In fact, I'd rather you didn't. (And ignore what's on the front page. I wrote that earlier.) When I lived in King County many years ago, my vote for county commissioner was one of more than a million votes cast. I voted, but I never felt like it mattered. Now that I live in Columbia County, my...
Dear Editor, We can do better in the 5th Congressional District by electing Joe Pakootas and retiring the incumbent, Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Joe Pakootas' record is proof that he gets things done and has wide experience and certifiable successes. Cathy McMorris Rodgers has been a career politician. Joe Pakootas has 16 years experience in leadership in the Colville Tribe. As CEO of the Tribe's corporation he led a 10 million dollar turnaround in the Tribes' finances. He and his wife have owned a small business since 1985. Joe and another tribal...
Dear Editor, On May 9, 2012, a daytime burglary occurred at our home. Walla Walla County sheriff's deputies arrived at our home. A preliminary report was generated. Information was taken from two of our neighbors. Five days later my wife Kathy and I identified the pickup used in the burglary and notified the police. The driver of the pickup was a known gang member/major drug dealer driving on a revoked license. We then attended a Sheriff's Roundtable and furnished the sheriff names, addresses, phone numbers of all we suspected were involved in...
Dear Editor, No FENCE-SITTING on this one! Our Health District needs to be modernized and renovated as any business must do from time-to-time. The basic facility has been in service to the community nearly 50 years. Over that time the approach to health care has changed dramatically, from long term confinement to out-patient procedures and therapy, wherever possible. The hospital needs to reflect that change. It is the purpose of the bond levy proposal. The hospital commissioners I have talked with also make clear that each component of the...
Dear Editor, A special message to the residents of Columbia County. You have the opportunity to be a part of the election process for the position of County Commissioner. An important function of our County Commissioners is the task of providing the best services utilizing your tax dollars in the wisest manner. I feel that a candidate must listen to the community and have a strong background in finance and management to be effective in the position. Merle Jackson has over 20 years of financial and management experience with the family farm...
Dear Editor, When I first read the information in a couple of the letters in the local papers informing us that the remodel would put the nurses' station closer to the ER thus making it easier to take care of the duties of the ER as well as patients in the hospital and move the kitchen so employees did not have to move the food so far to the patients in Booker Rest Home, my first thoughts were why would we spend 5 million dollars for this??? Well now I feel those letters were, although well intentioned, they were misleading for me and many...
Dear Editor, Unfortunately I-594 goes far beyond simply extending background checks to all sales of firearms as supporters claim. The main sticking point for most opposed is definition (25) "Transfer" and the numerous uses throughout the 18 page document. Would store clerks be guilty of a "gross misdemeanor" for simply allowing a potential customer to handle a firearm ("temporary transfer") without first doing the required back- ground check? You would by allowing a friend to shoot your gun without a prior background check. Hunter safety...
Dear Editor, After attending the candidates forum I was impressed with the level of dedication Rea Culwell has within the community and with the amount of grants she has helped secure. At the Last election I was considering Randy Lewis but he had not passed the Washington Bar, so I felt he was not qualified to be a prosecutor, so I voted for Rea Culwell. Here we are four years later and after I believe 12 write in votes he is back on the ballot. I must admit that with my soon to be wife being a lawyer I understand now more than ever how...
Dear Editor, Merle Jackson has been my supervisor for over 20 years. He has represented the Jackson family well over the years with caring dedication to the family farm land. There is no doubt in my mind that he will bring the same dedication to the position of commissioner of Columbia County. Having worked closely with Merle for such a long time, I have noticed several characteristics about Merle that, in my mind, have been proven over time. Merle is consistent, patient, open to new ideas, loyal and he will ALWAYS do his homework. Rest...
Dear Editor, The residents of Columbia County and Waitsburg have an opportunity to determine the future of health care in our communities. It is an opportunity to pay it forward and in the process ensure that our children and those that follow have the medical services available when needed! Our health system needs to modernize its 1964 structure and enhance selected services to better meet the health needs of the community, sustain financial operations and ensure continuation of current services. A yes on the bond/levy is a vote for the...
Dear Editor, The only choice for Columbia County Prosecuting Attorney is Rea Culwell. I worked for Rea as her Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for six years and saw first hand how dedicated she is to keeping our community safe. Rea is fair. Rea evaluates a case with an eye to not only protect the victims of crime, but also to make sure that the defendantrsaquo;s Constitutional rights are protected. During my time in the office we frequently discussed how to resolve matters. Rearsaquo;s focus was not «can we win», but «what is fair.» Rea is str...
Homecoming Week makes the oft- dreadable task of getting up and going to school infinitely more bearable. The decorations in the common areas, the silly costumes, the midday assemblies, and the competitive spirit can make the daily grind much more bearable. Oh, yeah, and there's a football game at the end or something like that. And possibly also a dance - maybe, but don't quote me on that. I wrote an article somewhere in this paper concerning the dress-up days and various contests that will...
Dear Editor, On October 1 at the AAUW Candidate's Forum in Dayton, Randy Lewis read a pledge to the citizens of Columbia County if elected prosecuting attorney. This pledge promised, in part, that he would be "civil and courteous," and he would "uphold the honor and dignity of the court." I want to respond this pledge. I am now retired from 16 years as a victim advocate in domestic violence and sexual assault cases. The last seven years were here in Columbia County. I first encountered Mr. Lewis in a hearing for a domestic violence protection...
