Letters To The Editor

From Letters to the Editor (March, 8, 1996): Jeanne Billman’s March 6 letter, “Positive youth event deserves story,” included reference to a Future Business Leaders of America competition involving 290 area high schools. Entrants were in fact from 20 schools. Also, the top five competitors in each event get to compete at a state event in April at the SeaTac Red Lion. Winners there advance to the national competition in June.

SPOKANE COUNTY

Judgment call added to grief

I just finished reading another article on Dexter Amend. The words of this insensitive man will haunt me forever.

When my 10-year-old daughter accidentally hung herself in November 1994, my husband called and spoke to (then-coroner) Graham McConnell. He agreed because of the circumstances that the death certificate should be changed to accidental death. Before he could change it he was out of office.

I called the coroner’s office to see if the change had been made and spoke to Amend. He stated that he would not change the certificate. His reasoning was that he had seen many of these cases and if my daughter had survived she would have kept trying until she was successful. Both my psychologist and family psychiatrist disagree.

So, is Amend a coroner and a psychologist?

Another reason he stated was that because my daughter had signed a donor card, she therefore had it planned all along. I have explained to my children the importance of being a donor. My 8- and 12-year-olds had signed cards at the same time.

An autopsy was requested but never done.

I’m not surprised at the many lawsuits. If I could, I would be in line, not for the money but so no other parent will have to live with the added grief as I have. If there is any way to get this man out of office, show me where to sign. Rene Pollock Spokane

Coroner ouster: What’s the holdup?

In regard to Dexter Amend, what I don’t understand is why in every other aspect of health care-related positions, be it a doctor, nurse or lab personnel, there is a standard of practice. In the March 3 article, you reported several instances in which people who would be considered to have the same standard of practice disagree with his decisions and actions. So why is it so hard to get him out of office? If a president can be impeached, why can’t he?

Once again, Spokane is embarrassed by one of its own servants. Cherrie Franklin Spokane

Need pathologist-medical examiner

Why are people in Spokane County allowing someone such as Dexter Amend to be in charge of our coroner’s office? I have been watching this man’s actions over the past several months with trepidation and mounting horror.

In my opinion, he is criminally negligent in performing his duties.

A county this size should have a medical examiner and a fair, consistent method of determining death, not something based on the personal prejudices of the person in charge.

Dexter Amend has repeatedly shown that he hasn’t a clue as to what this job requires or consists of. A retired urologist is not the sort of person we want judging how people died in this city.

Can’t we spring for a little more money, if it takes that, to get a certified medical examiner? Someone whose specialty is pathology and ruling on cases of death?

Come on, Spokane, let’s look out for our people. Let’s help our people. Let’s get rid of Dexter Amend - now. Sandra Hedlund Spokane

‘Cruel to keep dragging this out’

Last Sunday’s featured subject was County Coroner Dexter Amend’s performance, as it was also on Feb. 26 and Feb. 24. No other topic consumed even half the space allotted to our beleaguered coroner - not politics, religion, world affairs or sports. Staff writer Jeanette White is making a career on the coroner’s mistakes, among which are being old, white and male.

Dr. Amend should be removed and replaced by a more politically correct coroner. It is cruel to keep dragging this out, even if it does sell a few more newspapers. Don Morrison Spokane

SPOKANE MATTERS

Letter carriers appreciate efforts

So often in this world we forget to say thank you to the people who always are there to help us out in difficult times. So, I say a great big thank you to all you Spokane postal customers who went that extra mile for your letter carrier this winter and shoveled out your walkways, mailboxes and steps.

A letter carrier has up to 700 deliveries to make in an eight-hour day. When their deliveries are compounded with impassable roads, blocked mailboxes and icy steps, the time it takes to deliver the route can dramatically increase. Without your help and persistent work on the ice and snow, we could not have maintained such a high level of delivery efficiency during the last month or so of intense weather conditions.

It gives us all a warm feeling to know so many of you care about the safety and health of your USPS letter carrier. Thank you very much for a job well done! Kenneth Symbol Jr., postmaster Unites States Postal Service, Spokane

Why accept low economic goal?

As reported in your article “New Century task force sets benchmarks” (Feb. 28), benchmarks were established in four areas to measure Spokane’s progress in economic development over the next five years.

The benchmarks were in the areas of: private sector earnings, manufacturing jobs, K-12 graduate outcome, and percentage of individuals and children in poverty.

Three of the four benchmarks established goals for significant improvement over national and/or state levels.

It appeared that the fortitude of the task force fizzled while setting a goal for the percentage of Spokane individuals and children in poverty. The task force chose to equal “the lower of the state and national poverty levels.”

Is it true that Spokane is not capable of better than average when it comes to reducing poverty? How can we expect to improve K-12 outcomes when children come to school without breakfast?

How can we increase private sector earnings if we allow Spokane’s average wage to be lowered by a high proportion of minimum wage jobs and working poor?

At the original New Century Plan session many citizens made it clear that there is a direct link between poverty levels and economic well-being. Where did this input get lost?

Acceptance of a low goal appears to be admitting defeat at the start. Who in the process is willing to settle for such mediocre goals in an area so vital to the improvement of our quality of life? Larry Stuckart, executive director Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs (SNAP)

Crews weren’t watering streets

Concerning Jim Hundrup’s Feb. 28 letter, “Why water streets between freezes?”:

The work Hundrup observed on the Maple Street Bridge was a crew washing the sidewalks on the bridge prior to sweeping the winter sand off of the deck. Bridges must be kept free of material that will clog the bridge drains.

If these drains become clogged, the water that accumulates on the bridge could freeze and cause serious damage to the structure. By performing preventive maintenance, we can prevent costly damage to our bridges.

The truck that Hundrup saw on Francis was applying a liquid de-icing agent. This material must be applied just before an expected snowfall to provide the most effective de-icing action. The de-icer does not cause icy streets; it helps prevent ice from forming.

This same material is sprayed on streets during air inversions because it is an extremely effective dust palliative for controlling PM-10 emissions.

The driving public can help in our efforts to control dust by not driving in the gutters where the traction sand accumulates. Driving in these areas stirs dust up into the air. Jim R. Smith, operations engineer Spokane Transportation Department

Next, privatize garbage collection

To this reader, such an article as “Robot trucks collect raves” (March 4) does not constitute front page news. Trucks such as these have been in use in Walla Walla and Sacramento, to name only two communities, for a number of years. They work well and we should have them.

The most important part of this scheme is the reduction of people necessary to accomplish trash collection. We should reduce people costs and the associated “fringies” as promptly as possible.

The next move should be privatization of this activity. Valley Garbage Service and Waste Management, both mentioned in the article, are private companies. The city need not be a part of this or any other activity better accomplished by private enterprise. Maury Hickey Spokane

Positive youth event deserves story

Last week I had the privilege of being a judge at the Northeast Region Spring Conference of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) at Spokane Community College.

This competition matched individuals or teams from 290 area high schools, testing their skills in 29 business classifications, such as accounting, creed, math, computer concepts, business procedures, graphics, communications, economics, parliamentary procedures and public speaking.

Approximately 470 students participated. The top five in each event are eligible to compete at the national convention in June, in Washington, D.C.

When the state convention was held here a year ago at the Convention Center with 1,750 attending, there was no mention of their accomplishments in The Spokesman-Review. Likewise, there’s been no coverage of the two events this school year. The Feb. 28 edition extensively covers registered sex offenders and “Pullman rapist home after turning 21,” along with several other controversial issues.

Your readership should also know about the good things happening among our young people and their schools, their hard work and accomplishments, in addition to sports. They no doubt also face problems, but choose to put their efforts into positive activities and challenges to make our schools, communities and country better to live in.

Thanks to their advisers and parents, who assist and offer encouragement. I salute the conference planners and congratulate each participant for making the effort to compete. You are all winners, because you chose to be a member of the FBLA. Jeanne Billman Spokane

Arguments bigoted, offensive

Anthony House (Feb. 23 Roundtable, “Covenant rights at Manito Place”) would have been wise to end his letter after four paragraphs. After calling anyone who disagrees with his views on group homes within a neighborhood “ignorant,” he continues on to express his own lack of knowledge.

I disagree with his views on group homes based on covenant issues. Worse, however, was his suggestion that people with either Down’s syndrome or Alzheimer’s disease are likely to molest young girls. What data supports that bigotry? I shudder to think what other groups are on his list of people to fear needlessly.

Statistics indicate young girls (and boys) are most likely to be abused by family members or friends of the family.

This dispute is bitter enough. Let’s keep prejudice out of it. Lisa Caldwell Spokane

IN THE PAPER

Story was complete waste of space

Regarding your report of the woman in Muncie, Ind., who attempted to remove a callus from her foot by blowing it off with a shotgun (Feb. 28), I have a question.

Why does The Spokesman-Review consider this news? A woman 1,500 miles away gets drunk, shoots her foot and you take up space in the newspaper to tell me about it?

I have to admit that I am almost painfully curious about why you devoted space to this. Does someone at the Spokesman believe that this information will be useful to me; that it will help me form my opinions on issues of the day?

Well, I’ve formed an opinion alright. But not one about calluses, guns, booze or even Muncie, Ind. No, your article has helped me form an opinion on the state of the media in today’s society. It has helped me form an opinion about the quality of your paper.

If I ever overdose on cough medicine and attempt to give myself a pedicure, I will be sure to notify The Spokesman-Review immediately. I know you wouldn’t want to miss out on a big scoop like that. Pete Bromberg Spokane

THE ENVIRONMENT

Don’t rush to judgment on damage

Recent letters and articles in the newspapers and on TV newscasts have connected failed roads on forested lands to widespread flooding in the area. I caution readers to carefully evaluate the facts before reaching conclusions.

We are still investigating the Clearwater National Forest landslides and road washouts, and we continue to learn more as our analysis proceeds. To conclude such a cause-effect relationship at this early stage is strictly conjecture.

To keep things in perspective, remember that flooding and landslide activity are a natural phenomenon in this part of the country. In the Clearwater Forest alone, major events occurred in 1919, 1934, 1948, 1964, 1968 and 1974. Historically, sediment has been added to streams periodically, then washed out with high flows. Photos taken in 1934 show extensive landslide activity in pristine areas, long before logging or road building took place.

That’s not to say roads don’t contribute to sediment. They can. But our analysis shows that most of the road failures came from roads built prior to 1970. Today, with better technology, we are building more-stable roads, building fewer of them and selecting better locations.

I urge readers to seek out the facts before coming to conclusions. The continuing analysis of Clearwater Forest landslides is available to anyone who is interested. Call us at (208) 476-4541 and we’ll send you information. If you want a presentation to your group, we’ll be glad to meet with you. James L. Caswell, forest supervisor Clearwater National Forest, Orofino, Idaho

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Set finances right without delay

Re: (“GOP deficit bugaboo nothing new,” Letters, Feb. 8):

Likening the current deficit and debt to that incurred to fight World War II is grossly misleading. World War II debt was not an unnecessary mortgage on our children’s future; if we had lost there would have been no future.

The present deficit and debt fiasco is decimating our children’s future with unsuccessful and wasteful programs.

Clyde F. Jarvis justifies the excessive federal giveaway by saying the Constitution mandates that “the role of the government is to provide for the general welfare.” Actually reading the Constitution, one sees it says “promote the general welfare.” There’s quite a difference between provide and promote.

Is the government - we the people - to give everyone everything? Can we all just sit on our duffs and eat cake? No, the government is only obligated to establish a society in which each individual has an opportunity to succeed or fail.

The grotesque federal deficit, 30 percent of Gross Domestic Product, and its annual interest payment of $232 billion, are destroying the opportunities for we the people. That’s $232 billion wasted, helping no one.

Don’t stop at just balancing the budget, continue on and reduce the debt. Keep the congressional cuts but use the tax cut to pay down the debt. Gregg A. Leibert Chewelah, Wash.

Reagan, Bush chief architects of debt

Not even during Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society and the Vietnam War years did the federal deficit approach the numbers of the Reagan-Bush years. In just the 12 years of their tenure the national debt tripled.

During Reagan’s re-election campaign, his Democratic opponent tried to point out the soaring national debt but it wouldn’t stick, i.e. the Teflon president. The reason it didn’t stick is that the American people didn’t really care at the time.

Republicans deserve a lot of the credit for making the debt a national issue but they also must take credit for creating a large part of the problem. Robert McGregor Colville, Wash.