Letters To The Editor

IDAHO SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION

Here’s what people really mean

If Bonner County School District trustee Willard Osmunson’s comments were accurately represented, they imply that nearly 68 percent of the voters in the June 5 bi-levy election do not “value … children’s education.” That is a gross insult, especially to those of us former yes-voters who have given a professional lifetime of time and care to other people’s children.

Yes, many of us voted no! And we do have brains that are equally as operative as those voters - including him - who voted yes. These trustees and this administration unfortunately are grappling with the malignant legacy willed them by the ruthless 1991 board and administration.

The voters have spoken resoundingly. The reasoning thinkers who have dissented still are dealing with unconvincing evidence of the return of trust and fiscal integrity, and rectitude of past practices; with a perceived alienation and discrimination against aging or older voters and/or those who have no children in Bonner County schools; with an apparent administrative presumption that unquestioning support is there from voters; with the absence of righting of past wrongs and resolution of outrageous litigation; with senseless unbudgeted appropriations to a pet project at Sandpoint High School and payoffs to former district employees; with neglecting to rebuild Kootenai School as originally promised and votersupported many years ago; with inconsistent budget planning and continuing to maintain a top-heavy and overpaid central administration; not to mention national Republican fiscal threats to those of us on fixed incomes. Richard Williams Sandpoint

Change was ram-rodded through

I was dismayed to read Susan Drumheller’s article “Change is elementary”(June 9). Why were supportive families excluded from the interviews?

I applaud Jay Glover for the education my daughter received at Harding and Fernan schools. With the long histories these principals had in the district, the reporting should have included the comments of a few of the thousands of parents over the years who were pleased with the efforts of these fine principals.

Combined-grade classes at the intermediate grade levels at Fernan were not mandatory. Single-grade classes were available. I feel the school board’s decision to cut the number of combined-grade classes to only Grades 1 and 2 infringed on the rights of parents who were pleased with the pilot program.

I wonder why the school board acted without any review of input from all the parents involved in the school. Are the voices of the 50 people in Parents for Academic Excellence controlling the district?

I believe the scores of those who have been at a school the longest and those in combined classes were higher than single-grade classes. I recall that Gary Stanton, school district psychologist, verified this in his testing and found that the combined-age class children also like school better. In addition I feel that socioeconomic indicators by school correlate to the test scores. Don’t blame combined-grade classes! Bonita Douglas Coeur d’Alene

COEUR D’ALENE

Annexation costly, risky, absurd

On Tuesday, the Coeur d’Alene City Council will decide whether or not to rezone and annex Blackwell Island so a large RV park could be built. Blackwell Island lies in a flood plain and holds an old, extensive city dump next to the Spokane River.

How absurd it would be for elected officials to spend taxpayer money to promote this costly and risky project proposed by a private developer. Mary Maxam Coeur d’Alene

Project a loser for taxpayers

The public hearing to consider rezoning and annexing Blackwell Island to accommodate the development of a private and large-scale RV park and commercial development will be Tuesday at City Hall.

When asked at various meetings what the public would pay to run, operate and maintain a sewer line across the Spokane River for this private developer, public works officials merely shrugged. They claimed it would be hard to estimate.

No business responsible to its stockholders would commit itself to a project without calculating the costs first.

Further, as the city extends sewer lines to outlying developments, it uses up the existing capacity of the sewer plant to handle waste. When this capacity is reached, new and costly facilities will have to be built. People living in the city, who now have the right to be hooked up to the existing plant at the lower rate will have to pay heavily if they hook up after the expansion. This is part of the price ordinary taxpayers pay when local government subsidizes development.

Tally this up. You lose. This developer wins.

Oppose this annexation. Wes Hanson Coeur d’Alene

OTHER IDAHO TOPICS

Voters’ library decision a good one

As outgoing chairman of the library board of trustees, I want to thank all who opposed the petitions to dissolve the district, then reform it outside Sandpoint. Without their support we could have been preparing for elections that would have cost taxpayers a great deal of money.

Some people and organizations deserve special recognition for their assistance. These include the State Library Board of Trustees, most notably Chairman Freeman Duncan; Nancy Lea and Ron Stark of the Friends of the Sandpoint Branch Library; Edie Kunucan in Clark Fork and Sherry Dodson in Sandpoint; Sandpoint City Council; the Board of the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce; and the Bonner County School Board.

I look forward to working on the board’s continued commitment to quality service. I will encourage my colleagues on the board that we have meetings in various locations outside Sandpoint throughout the year, and that representation on the board should continue to include citizens from throughout the library district. Ted Bowers, board of trustees East Bonner County Library District

School story angle not appreciated

I am truly disappointed in your newspaper’s action concerning Fernan Elementary’s kindergarten graduation on June 8 (“Change is elementary,” June 9).

When our committee invited you to come take pictures and join in our celebration, we were under the impression that is what would be done.

I would appreciate it if you would answer one question. What does Fernan Elementary kindergarten graduation have to do with Coeur d’Alene School District politics? Brenda Watkins Coeur d’Alene

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Be careful who, what you believe

Sunday’s Spokesman-Review perked up my aged contemplations.

Sen. Bob Dole, David Broder and Michael Coblentz are trumpeters of moral uprightness, a real New Era in our time, if we have the courage to do something about it.

I have not been an admirer of Sen. Dole, but his recent stand on the entertainment industry needed to be brought forth to the public, which, in its laissez-faire attitude has allowed the problem to escalate. Greed and excess competition can do us in if we don’t have inner moral codes.

David Broder and Michael Coblentz tackled the insouciance and the indifference of our industrial potentates and others who are seemingly unconcerned about their fellow men. Coblentz pointed out what we are heading toward if we don’t wake up to the facts of history.

We, as a people, began as a freedom-loving but responsible nation but are in danger of losing it all if we don’t realize each person must act to maintain that precious liberty. Too long there have been indulgent, selfserving sleepy heads going through the motions of living without actual realization of what it’s all about.

We must curb the greedy; we must take care of the poor and others in need. So listen to trumpeters, the helpful voices of our times - or be led astray by any alluring, enticing, and evil come-ons that will do us in. Laura Venard Bonners Ferry, Idaho

Soil conservation program works

The federal Soil Conservation Service program appears to be truly beneficial, and I would hate to see Congress eliminate it.

Beneficiaries of the program include wildlife, hunters, lakes and rivers, all of us who breathe the air and the farmers themselves, both environmentally and economically.

The program has slowed the erosion of Palouse soil from 15 tons per acre per year to one ton per acre per year. Future generations of farmers will also benefit.

The program, however, is a sad commentary on the greed of our times. Why should we have to pay farmers to do what is right and good? Janet Callen Coeur d’Alene

Teen Aid right; Officials are wrong

The June 7 paper contained a story regarding the interference of the state school superintendent’s office and the state Department of Health and Social Services with use of an abstinence-based sex education program, Teen-Aid, in certain public school districts.

By all means, let’s not teach “value for self and caring for other people” (the expressed purpose of Teen-Aid). Why would anyone want to teach our young adults those things? Instead, let’s teach self-indulgence, irresponsibility and the choice of an abortion to take care of the little “mistake” our behavior caused.

It’s clear that the two state agencies are interested in promoting their values by deleting all others. But what else should we expect in this age of hysterical political correctness?

Teen-Aid should be given equal time to the modernculture zealots, in order to teach “traditional” values to young adults. The kids can then make informed choices, after weighing the consequences of the alternative value systems.

The individuals in these state agencies who are employed to be thought police need to have their positions terminated. A systematic review of all government agencies to identify these tyrants should begin today. Clara Strom Spokane

LAW AND JUSTICE

Judges’ lot not so easy

Wendy McElroy’s letter of June 13 (“Money should not go for raises”) is confusing.

I have made a brief survey, and her assumption that judges only work from 9 to 5 is anything but correct. I have asked past and present judges, and find that a 60-hour work week is more common than not.

Wendy asks how many attorneys could be hired for $32,752. Her answer is, at the rate of $125 per hour, about six weeks of service by a private attorney. I’m not sure that I would want an attorney that thinks he is worth only about $35 per hour defending me. I divided the yearly pay by the approximate hours the judges work to get that rate of pay.

Yes, judges have benefits. They are treated with respect, in most cases. But the responsibilities they have are heavy, and not carried lightly. There is a great deal of study done as to how the law relates to the case they are hearing. Decisions they make are important to those who appear before them. In many cases, the decisions will affect the lives of many people.

Remember, law that is in effect controls what the judge can do. The judge may disagree with the law, but must know and apply the law as it exists.

Let’s be thankful that we have, in most cases, honest, hard-working, knowledgeable people willing to accept these positions. They are not all perfect, but who is? Richard B. Hopp Spokane

Blame-shifting worthless exercise

Our society has fallen into the mode of always “blaming someone else,” and our judicial system seems to be supporting that thought. Currently, it’s the Dean Mellberg case.

If a crime is committed, it is the total responsibility of the person who committed it. If that person is no longer living, so be it. Let’s get control. S.A. Smith Spokane

RESCUE IN BOSNIA

Sour grapes not appreciated

I was surprised and saddened by the venom displayed by Col. W.L. Brooks (Letters; June 14). The media are, of course, blowing Capt. O’Grady’s ordeal way out of proportion. Capt. O’Grady himself, has said as much on many occasions.

It embarrassed me that a man of Col. Brooks’ rank and experience seems to resent the nation’s joy over the safe return of a fine young pilot and the bold and skillful actions of his rescuers. Col. Brooks, Capt. O’Grady and all the rest of us know very well who the heroes were.

I suggest that the good colonel breathe a quiet prayer of thanks and pop a snappy salute to the “Jolly Greens,” or whatever the new generation of heroes is called. E.A. Artz, Master Sgt., Air Force, retired Medical Lake

Let’s all be proud of O’Grady

How refreshing it is to watch a local boy making international headlines with his bravery, heroic encounters and patriotism.

Capt. Scott O’Grady’s unabashed display of heartfelt emotions is a restorative to all my feelings toward my country and the young people rising up to lead it. He literally walked through the valley of death and darkness and came back still as wholesome as his mother would ever wish him to be. He is a humble man.

I am greatly moved by his freshness and innocence. Truly, the “boy next door.” A son for all of us to delight in.

May all the publicity he is facing these next few weeks not change him in any way but for the better.

I think Spokane should be hugely proud of this fine young man. D. Jean Buchanan Spokane

Maybe Brooks’ right seat was empty

What a tortured, twisted soul you seem to be, Col. Brooks (June 14). Your unfortunate Vietnam experiences should in no way detract from the bravery and resourcefulness of this brave, young pilot.

Perhaps, sir, if you were to have God as your copilot, as Capt. O’Grady did, you might not have become so bitter. Sue Cluckey Colfax, Wash.

Critical colonel thrice prepared

To what screw-up of Capt. O’Grady’s is Col. W.L. Brooks referring? (letters: June 14) Being shot down? By his own admission, Col. Brooks screwed up three times.

If being shot down is good training for chaplains’ assistants, then perhaps Col. Brooks, with all his training, is in line for promotion to pope. Susan E. Colliton Spokane

Here, have a hanky and be good

Well, Col. Brooks, what a crybaby you are (June 14). It seems that the old green-eyed monster has a hold on you.

I’m sure Capt. Scott O’Grady’s rescue was partly because of the survival training he received from some buck sergeant at Fairchild. I’m also sure that God had a big hand in it.

Now, as for you referring to his being shot down as a screw-up and that he should be given a land job, well, you state you were shot down three times. Man, you really screwed up. Is that why you are retired to land?

My statement to you is: Get rid of the old greeneyed monster because you weren’t given the media coverage that Capt. O’Grady got. Write to the paper and congratulate the survival teachers for his training and tell Capt. O’Grady welcome home and congratulations for his service and for serving his county and putting his life on the line.

If I could see you in person, Col. Brooks, I would pat you on the back for your service and give you a big, clean hanky to cry in. Carol Walters Spokane

Perhaps a talk with the chaplain …

Col. W.L. Brooks’ tirade (Letters: June 14) speaks volumes, not on the subject of Capt. Scott O’Grady but rather as a reflection of Col. Brooks himself.

He has lowered himself in the eyes of all the military. I wonder how often his lack of maturity affected junior officers, whose careers were dependent upon his assessment of their job performance, actions and personalities?

Col. Brooks, in just a few sentences, has trivialized his years of service. I thank God I never had the misfortune to serve under his command, and I feel sorry for him, as well as for those who did serve under him.

The only bright part of his diatribe is that he is retired and can no longer affect the careers of younger officers and enlisted personnel dependent upon his “maturity.” He could benefit via a visit to the chaplain. Andy Kelly Spokane