Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

Adult family homes valuable, needed

I read with interest and concern the Feb. 2 article, “South Hill group shuns care facility.” I, too, own an adult family home and was disturbed to realize the public would actually try to block LeAnn Riley from having several elderly people live in her home. What does this say about our society today?

Manito Place residents clearly do not understand the concept of adult family homes. Some elderly people are not ready for institutional care but should not live alone. Adult family homes provide a caring, alternative lifestyle to help families with their loved ones. This is an extremely difficult decision for them to make when they realize mom or dad cannot maintain themselves on their own.

My residents have been long-time members of the community and deserve a home where their dignity is preserved for this transition in their lives. How many times I’ve heard, “Thank God for adult family homes. What a blessing they are.” I can only hope the Manito Place people do not have to face this decision one day, for their loved ones or for themselves. If everyone felt as they do, the only choice we would have is a nursing home.

I have enjoyed a good working relationship with my neighbors. I hope and pray neighborhoods of future adult family homes will realize the importance of this type of care. Marilyn Luebke, owner Luebke Care Center, Spokane

Elderly neighbors good to have

I am writing in response to “South Hill group shuns care facility” (Spokesman-Review, Feb. 2), about an adult care home in the Manito Park area.

Before moving to Spokane, I lived next door to such a facility for approximately four years. In those four years I in no way ever experienced a negative situation. On the contrary, my elderly neighbors proved to be an enjoyable asset to the community. I did not view the home as a business, and I feel it I no way diminished any aspect of our area.

From personal experience, I believe such homes are a good idea for many people who do not need full-time nursing care, yet still require some assistance. It is also a nice alternative for the family to know that their loved one is in a comfortable home in a nice area.

Addressing the comments in reference to Alzheimer’s patients, it is true these people will sometimes get disoriented and wander. However, the comment seemed to imply that somehow these people may cause harm to children in the area. I think this is a false and rather ignorant belief. People suffering from Alzheimer’s are not a threat. They are people like you and me who are suffering from a tragic disease. They deserve compassion and care.

I do hope that if the group home remains, the neighbors will try and overcome their fears and welcome their new neighbors instead of shunning them, as one resident implied they would do. Stephanie Flynn Spokane

Ignorance about disease appalling

I am outraged about the Feb. 2 article on adult family homes, in which Thomas Coburn labels men with Alzheimer’s disease as child molesters. This is the impression he gives with his comment, “Alzheimer’s men may wander around - there’s four little girls next door.”

So, now that former president Reagan has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease he will be offensive to little girls?

I have taken care of the elderly for eight years and have yet to see an Alzheimer’s patient mistreat a child. They in fact love children and are very good with them. LeAnn Riley’s 8-year-old daughter has been around Alzheimer’s patients and elderly men and women since age 2, and she cares very much for them, as they do for her.

I have had an adult family home in a covenanted South Hill area for five years. Thank you to all my neighbors for your caring support of my efforts to make my six elderly residents a family in their final years.

One resident has been with me for seven years, and every day she and her family thank me. Marilyn S. Hill-Moore Spokane

Plow promptly or don’t bother

I was so glad to see Deany Borlin’s letter in the Feb. 1 paper. We’ve experienced the same inconsiderate plowing of our street. Putting stakes on each side of our driveway does not accomplish a thing.

Two years ago, this plowing was responsible for breaking parts of our chain-link fence, when huge ice chunks were shoved against it. The county acknowledged responsibility. However, it took several months before it was repaired.

Now, all of us on our street have worked diligently, packing down and removing snow so that driving isn’t a problem. We do not need our street to be plowed.

We live in an area called Pine River Park, and if anything is needed in our area, it is a little sand on some of the intersections, and on the bridge that crosses the Little Spokane River.

As stated in Borlin’s letter, if our streets can’t be plowed immediately following a snowfall, keep the plows out of Pine River Park. Virginia M. Field Spokane

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

Amend has gone too far

Did we vote Dr. Dexter Amend into office? Yes, we did.

I guess we don’t pay much attention to our county coroner when elections come around. Spokane, it’s time we do.

In my eyes, Amend made a fool of himself a few months ago. But now he’s gone too far. A child 11 years old has died, a 15-year old is in serious condition and he has the nerve to question about homosexual activities. Why put a family and a community through more unneeded grief?

Amend, I have just one word to say to you: resign. If you do not, I believe the citizens of Spokane will force you out. We need to get this man out of office. Rick May Spokane

Quit or get thrown out

As a Republican, a Christian and a parent, I find the most recent debacle (“Coroner adds to another family’s grief,” News, Feb. 1) of Spokane County Coroner Dexter Amend to be even more offensive than previous incidents.

I can’t imagine how anyone could be so insensitive or uncaring as to question a grieving family about the sexual habits of its deceased 11-year old child shortly after their child died from smoke inhalation in a fire.

Obviously, the death was not related to mistreatment or abuse, which might conceivably render such a question relevant to a police investigation, but not to a coroner’s investigation.

It appears Spokane elected Mr. Hyde when we were promised Dr. Jekyll . This gentleman’s agenda, whatever it may be, should not be condoned by any political group, religious group or community organization in a caring, family oriented community such as ours.

Dr. Amend should resign immediately, or this community should give him the same thoughtful, caring treatment he gives its citizens before we throw him out on his rear end. David A. Kulisch Spokane

Amend should resign, apologize

Spokane County Coroner Dexter Amend’s investigation into the supposed sexual habits of an 11-year-old fire victim (“Coroner adds to another family’s grief,” News, Feb. 1) is an outrage.

Were he truly concerned about the moral well-being of this community, Amend would promptly resign from office and take his divisive, paranoid and homophobic views with him.

Along the way, he might also consider issuing an apology for the embarrassment he has caused us. There is simply no room in public life for a person of his character. Douglas Siddoway Spokane

Amend is ‘an abomination’

Dexter Amend, Spokane County’s coroner, is an abomination. His insensitivity goes beyond anything decent people can imagine.

I personally want to apologize to the families he has hurt. As a small token of my regret, I would like to sign and help distribute the petition for his recall.

I’m ashamed to say I can’t remember if I voted for Amend or not. As for my vote when the time comes, you can bet grandma’s farm it will be against this man. Carol Bordeaux Medical Lake

Resign, then get out of town

Dr. Dexter Amend’s actions are totally out of line. He should step down from his position as Spokane County Coroner. He’s a disgrace to his profession.

By his past actions, I have come to the conclusion that this man is some sort of a sick pervert himself.

Dr. Amend, do Spokane a favor: step down and leave Spokane. You won’t be missed. D.M. Olson Spokane

Measures up to my final wish

County Coroner Dexter Amend is a great man. We should not interfere with his work. He does it for a purpose that we may not understand, but we must not question the things that are above us.

If I die, I hope Dexter Amend wants to look at my butt. Michael Wright Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

WSU impervious to needed changes

Funding problems for higher education were best articulated by Sen. Eugene Prince, R-Thornton, in a recent meeting.

Prince identified “bureaucratic layering” as the main problem facing Washington State University and government. Prince has no answers and remains cavalier about resolving the problem. In Olympia, Health and Human services restructured, increasing management layering from 11 to 14 levels.

Northeastern University was faced with a $16 million shortfall caused by enrollments declining to 2,700 from an expected 3,800. Northeastern de-layered. Administration was slashed 175 positions, faculty was pared 20 percent and a substantial tuition reduction was offered, according to a Barron’s article identifying universities as “slow learners.” The Northeastern philosophy resulted in a selective 74 percent acceptance rate and increased enrollments as the average SAT score climbed to 1,000.

WSU continues to increase layering and tuition. WSU dismissed Cynthia Christie and replaced her with two unqualified Ph.D.s, one a spousal accommodation for a department chairperson employed at WSU for years. Christie had to be rehired as she is qualified and certified.

Christie and the unqualified Ph.D.s are currently still on the payroll, escalating costs an additional $100,000.

WSU continues to lobby for increased funding and tuition. The practice of throwing taxpayer money at higher education problems is ill-conceived and morally bankrupt. Barron’s and Northeastern concluded that improved, cost-efficient higher education results from funding and tuition rollbacks. Chuck Huffine Pullman

Bible a poor anti-abortion resource

Those who look to the Bible for justification to repeal existing abortion laws will find slim pickings. Although the scriptures specifically comment on virtually every other sex-related topic (adultery, homosexuality, bestiality, rape, incest, etc.) they say nary a word about voluntary abortion.

However, the Bible does boast of numerous genocidal military campaigns in which women and innocent children were indiscriminately slaughtered in the name of God, e.g., 1 Sam. 15:308, Josh. 8:1-29, Ezek. 9:5-6, etc. In Num. 31:15-18, Moses even instructed his warriors to kill every nonvirgin, but to keep the young virgins for themselves. Glorification of these holy massacres, during which many thousands of pregnant women would have been murdered, demonstrates a conspicuous lack of concern for the well-being of the fetus.

Num. 5:11-31 relates that men who suspected their wives of infidelity could force them to drink a nauseating cocktail which caused an adulteress to suffer a swollen belly and a rotting “thigh” (a biblical euphemism for genitals). The effect on any fetus she might have been carrying should be obvious.

The prophet Hosea had a particularly blatant disregard for the sanctity of the fetus. To punish certain rebellious fraction, Hos. 9:14 prescribed miscarrying wombs, and Hos. 13:16 advocated eviscerating those who were pregnant.

Read in it entirety, the Bible, with its callous indifference toward fetal rights, would appear to be better suited for the purposes of the pro-abortion activists. Jack DeBaun Sandpoint

NBC values money, not children

As many school age children sat near a TV on Super Bowl Sunday, NBC stooped to a new low by airing an hourlong episode of “Friends” at 7 p.m. The show was full of degrading sexual sleaze and I’m horrified that this was on at such an early hour.

Our children are this country’s future. Obviously, Hollywood couldn’t care less, as long as they get their ratings and fill their pockets.

We need to let the networks know that we expect them to be more responsible to their viewers. Bobbi White Spokane