Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE AREA MATTERS

Colbert malcontents should move

I’m tired of hearing all the whining about our very successful compost facility. If the facility were sold to a hog farmer, dairy farmer, chicken farmer or whatever someone else might not like, these same people would sure wish they had the compost facility back. These other farms would be within the zoning requirements, as is the compost facility. Colbert is not unique in having a few residents who really don’t want to live in an agricultural area.

The only difference in our particular case is that the people being complained to don’t seem to be concerned about what’s right, fair and good for Spokane as a whole. Their only concern is re-election.

It’s time for our politicians to tell these people to stop wasting their time and to stop having secret meetings with them. If the council members would spend half as much time on really important things and if these chronic complainers who really don’t want to live in the country would move back to the city, most of Colbert would be very happy. And, there would be about eight homes available to people who would really appreciate how nice most of us find it here. Gary Dean Colbert

Tax fuel to fix all our streets

I urge voters to vote against the street bond proposal. Property taxes are sky-high because of the inflated assessment values placed on our property by Spokane County. We don’t need another increase.

Let’s pay for streets with a temporary gasoline tax of 5 cents per gallon. That’s less than a dollar a week for the average driver. After all, it’s the vehicles that use the streets; let the drivers pay for them.

In fact, why not pave every single unpaved street in the county? Our lungs would thank us for it. I’ve traveled much in many states, and I have never seen unpaved streets in urban areas such as Spokane has.

We just got hit by the oil companies with a 35- to 40-cent gas hike in the name of increased profits and we just dug deeper with no benefit to the community.

Vote “no” on property taxes that should be vehicle taxes. David Carroll Spokane

Official’s action innocent, common

Was staff writer John Craig’s Aug. 15 article, “Candidate broke land-use rules,” supposed to be accurate, unbiased reporting?

It’s simply despicable to suggest that Lila Howe used her position as a Stevens County planning commissioner for personal gain. What specifically did she do to “blister proposed shoreline regulation”? The Howes took out the building permit for their home prior to Lila being appointed to the commission. You should substantiate your claim.

As a Loon Lake property owner, I have greatly appreciated this knowledgeable woman’s encouragement of my own struggle with Stevens County to protect remaining wetlands at Loon Lake.

I was a witness at the shoreline hearing to Howe’s concern about too-restrictive shoreline regulation. She was a voice for lake communities that were being ignored. She consistently supported zoning and sub-area plans. Yet she also was concerned about wetland preservation, since the county targeted vital, undeveloped Loon Lake wetlands as suburban in its master program.

Insufficient and excessive regulation both are abusive. Balance is needed.

Stevens County routinely gives variances to property owners whose property cannot meet setbacks. Why should Howe be singled out? Many fills around Deer Lake and Loon Lake did occur prior to the Shoreline Act of 1971, by previous owners, just as the Howes’ property was.

It is difficult enough to run for office without this kind of “help.” Should it be the function of a newspaper to mislead the reader to a false conclusion? Two words describe this kind of unprofessional journalism: “politics” and “propaganda.” Jeanie Wagenman Spokane

Many don’t conform to rules

Regarding the article by staff writer John Craig about land-use violations at Deer Lake by Lila Howe:

Shoreline management, construction codes and enforcement are the least concerns of any Stevens County authority. So why pick on Howe?

All too often, convenient, “non-conforming development standards” prevail. There are a number of building projects in progress now. Dolores M. Allbery Deer Lake, Wash.

Howe would never do wrong

The recent article, “Candidate broke land-use rules,” bad-mouthing Lila Howe, who is a strong contender for Spokane County commissioner, Position 1, is just the kind of reporting The Spokesman-Review likes to print.

I have known Howe for more than 20 years and in no way, shape or form would she ever disregard the rules that oversee the permits when building the house at Deer Lake. She is a strong Christian woman with high morals. Alice M. Polignoni Spokane

LAW AND JUSTICE

Suit might promote compliance

My heart goes out to the Coghlan family, especially to Rejena. I hate to see another lawsuit; there are too many of them. But the more I think about this particular situation, I understand the importance of this lawsuit.

All college students and their families should take responsibility for their actions. Colleges must enforce the rules and laws regarding alcohol and drugs. Fraternities and sororities must abide by the law.

By the time a young man or woman enters college, he or she should know the stupidity and consequences of drinking, especially drinking to excess. Now is a good time to remind all children of these things, before they are faced with peer pressures at school.

I expect my 17-year-old daughter, who is entering Washington State University this fall, to obey the laws of the land and the rules of our church and family. She knows drinking and drug abuse are not necessary for one to have a good time. She knows they impair judgment and memory and give a false sense of confidence.

As you college students start this new school year, please be careful. Try having fun without the use of alcohol or drugs. Remember, your families love you. Come home to them safe and smarter. Robyn Hopkins Mead

Too-soft prosecutors no good

In the last couple of weeks, the liberal Democrats in the Spokane County prosecutor’s office have demonstrated that they are totally incompetent and soft on crime.

It was incompetent to allow a man reportedly caught on hidden camera robbing a convenience store to go free because there wasn’t enough evidence. How can Prosecutor Jim Sweetser say they didn’t have evidence and that there are more important cases pending? It doesn’t get much more serious than armed robbery.

But that wasn’t enough. Sweetser’s office allowed a career criminal to be furloughed and it appears an innocent girl was raped as a result.

Unfortunately, Spokane is not alone in this tragedy. Cities all over the nation are being victimized by liberal judges, prosecutors and representatives. In this election year, we need to get rid of our liberal president and judges, and in two years, replace Sweetser so our streets can be safe again. Justin Childers Spokane

Conservative-appointed judges needed

There was a story about a California “vampire rapist” in the news recently. He is scheduled to be released soon from prison after his full sentence has been completed - 10 years.

This person evidently raped and drank the blood of his victims, but the system somehow failed to execute him and soon he’ll have his freedom.

What brought the incident to mind was the story in the Aug. 16 Spokesman-Review about the 14-year-old girl who allegedly was raped twice and threatened with death by some lowlife felon on furlough from incarceration. Similar stories come in from all directions, ad nauseam, every day.

What will it take to put the vampire rapist and others like him behind bars or get them executed? The same thing it took here in Spokane: another victim sacrificed on the altar of judicial and administrative liberalism.

One presidential election is not going to change this, but it is a certainty that without removing the liberal elites from positions of power - starting from the top on down - there will be no progress at all. Worse than the trickledown immorality that emanates from this White House, there are the judicial appointments that make meaningful law enforcement and long-term incarceration virtually an impossibility.

It starts with us, the voters, who should continue building on the hopeful beginnings of 1994 by electing and re-electing conservatives at all levels of government. Jim Paget Spokane

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

This father knows best

Referring to John McGowan’s Aug. 17 “Your turn” column (“A child’s success begins early and at home”): What a beautiful story from a loving father! McGowan is a natural teacher and an excellent example for today’s parents. An inspiration.

In eight short paragraphs, he wrote his personal howto summary for raising a family - a list of positives of which he and his children can be proud. I wish every father could read this recipe.

Thanks to The Spokesman-Review for spotlighting McGowan’s wisdom, courage and common sense. J.R. Wilson Spokane

Homosexual doesn’t mean pedophile

I have seen several recent articles and letters regarding the guilty plea of Dr. Greg Nail to sexual abuse and sexual battery of a 16-year-old boy. Each has made reference to these acts being “homosexual in nature.”

To confuse pedophilia with homosexuality distorts the psychological profile of the abuser and maligns a sexual minority group.

Whether a person is heterosexual or homosexual does not in any way indicate that he or she is sexually attracted to children. Adults who sexually abuse children are called pedophiles. Some pedophiles are attracted to male children, some to female children and some to both genders. These abusers have compulsive needs to control those who are less than equal, and thus less threatening, to themselves.

Mental health treatment is questionable and, at this point in time, there is no cure. We desperately need research for this terrible disorder. Sharon Hicks, M.A., certified counselor Mead

Molesters are of both genders

I totally agree with Rebecca Nappi’s Aug. 20 editorial speaking out against child molesters (“Don’t be lenient with molesters.”)

It needs noting that molesters often are well-respected, well-educated, well-connected women as well as men. Witness the case within recent months of a woman counselor who sexually exploited a teenage boy in her care.

Women may be molesters of both boys and girls, just as men may be molesters of both girls and boys. Adults of either sex who sexually use minors of either sex are child molesters - in a word, pedophiles.

Nappi surmises that there would have been an uproar had Gregory Nail been molesting a young girl. I doubt it. The high incidence of adult (18 and older) fathers responsible for pregnancies of 11- through 17-year-old girls shows how acceptable such molestations are. Unfortunately, there is wide acceptance, too, of sexual relationships of teenage boys with adult women.

We all need to watch and listen to all the adolescent and teenage boys and girls around us and protect them from adult sexual predators of both sexes. It is a way in which we can help prevent a new generation of victims who, in turn, become sex abusers. Dorothy M. Spoerhase Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Kaun’s record is outstanding

I’m told that some labor political action committees have endorsed Judy Olson of Garfield, Wash., for Congress. Why on earth would they back a candidate who has done nothing for them? Her major contribution has been to represent a small group of wheat growers interested only in themselves.

Susan Kaun has proved her dedication to making things better for people in Spokane County. She deplored the wretched condition of Liberty Lake back in the 1970s and worked with a group that became known as the Liberty Lake Sewer District to reclaim the lake. The group, under her direction, was presented with a prestigious award from the Environmental Protection Agency. Liberty Lake residents owe her a great debt of gratitude.

Kaun then proved her respect for working men and women when, as manager of Modern Electric Water Co., she hammered out a great contract for union members that brought their wages up to the level of Washington Water Power workers.

Kaun was elected a Spokane County freeholder and worked to consolidate certain departments of the city and county. She opposed the ill-founded consolidated charter that some freeholders insisted be forced upon the voters (the old Republican way).

Kaun sees Rep. George Nethercutt (R-Wash.) as a clone of House Speaker Newt Gingrich, one who votes with the speaker 96 percent of the time. She has proved that she is her own person and is obligated only to her constituents.

I support Kaun because she supports us. Harold D. McCulley Spokane

Slurs typical of Clinton-phobes

Recently, a letter writer called our president and first lady Marxists and praised Bob Dole as our savior (“Clinton’s just a no-good communist,” Aug. 17). Isn’t it funny that only in America can you defame a person’s reputation?

You’re in the right company. Dole and his cronies have fought a four-year battle to do just that - to defame and verbally abuse our president.

Before anyone condemns President Clinton, everyone should take a stroll to the local library and look up the record. Clinton, while not perfect - Lord, keep us from perfect people - has tried and fought for all of us, against all odds. Meanwhile, the other side has acted like spoiled brats who won’t play fair, who won’t share and who in essence have said to the American people, “I don’t care. You can suffer until we can once again take control.”

I want a team player in the White House, and that is not Dole or Kemp. Mary R. Gessler Moses Lake

IN THE PAPER

Great story in poor location

I was thrilled to find some really wonderful reporting in the Aug. 18 Spokesman-Review.

No, it wasn’t the nice bit of puffery on the front page. Somehow, I would expect to find that pleasant bit of fluff on the IN Life page or in the Region section. I root for Spokane natives myself, but my priorities are obviously not those of the editors. I read my paper for information, not as a cheerleading exercise.

Hard facts are hard to come by in an election year, so I was tickled pink with the article, “Largest tax hike is not, in fact, Clinton’s.” Why was this article not on the front page? It contained some truly important information that would help citizens to determine which candidate’s statements they can believe.

It was refreshing to read the truth but depressing to find it buried on the back page of the A section. I cannot believe I am the only person served by your newspaper who appreciates this type of in-depth reporting. Could you please place future articles of this gravity and importance in a more appropriate location, say, the front page?

Thank you for running the article. It was a breath of fresh air. Dawn J. Shaw Spokane