Letters To The Editor

GIVING THANKS

So many were so helpful

I have great need to give thanks to many: To Washington Water Power folks who risked life and limb to restore our power. Ours was back in 34 hours. To the WWP meter reader who checked on me and on the downed line to my house and put a life-support tag on the meter.

To the Red Cross’ Kathy, who came to deliver messages from worried family members out of state and who made phone calls for me. To Gary Rusk, who brought me more manual oxygen tanks. To Grace, who offered a warm home and hot food.

To US West’s Mike West and John Jacobsen, who came to fix my downed phone line and stayed to saw limbs and unburden my downed electric line. (It went back to its original place, relieving the worry that it might snap and leave me without power or might start my home on fire.) Bless you both.

To Julie, Chuck and Brendan Hartson, who brought me hot coffee and offered me a warm bed and hot dinner. (Chuck has cleared my walk and driveway for two snowfalls now.) To the newspaper carrier who shocked me speechless when my Spokesman-Review was on my porch at 7 a.m. To the mailman. To KXLY radio for being on and letting us know we were not alone.

Thank God for all of you who helped in so many ways. I wish I could share my heat, home and hearth with everyone still without. Barbara Skinner Spokane

Good man made a difference

My hero is 74-year-old Harland Lindner, who is recovering from recent major surgery. For six days after the storm, he circulated two military surplus generators among four households, one of which was the home of my mother-in-law, Helene Gurnea. Each had the generator for about 12-hour turns to provide heat, some lights and power for major appliances. In his spare time, Lindner helped others from his church deliver hot meals and supplies to those without power.

I hope his doctor isn’t reading this, but it definitely shows - you can’t keep a good man down. Lucy Forman Gurnea Chewelah, Wash.

Family helped and helped again

We thank God for the Magerl family who invited neighbors into its home - the Frey sisters, Marie, 93, and Roberta, 85, as well as my husband and me.

The Magerls have a wood stove with a broad surface that slowly and deliciously cooked for nine. For fun, we wagered $1 each on when the lights would glow again (the winning guesser was Marie, a real trouper).

The lights came back on at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Freys got settled back home but lost their power at 4. The Magerls opened their hearts and home for a rerun. Eileen Wilson Spokane

Mother-in-law opened heart, home

I personally thank my mother-in-law, Marjorie Gorton, for opening her home to us. I appreciate all the warmth and love you have given us. Jane Gorton Spokane

Drivers cared - and showed it

My thanks to Spokane drivers - from one who must be out in traffic every day. We must keep schedules and make many stops. We must get people downtown to work or to shop and to meet other buses for transfers. I am a Spokane bus operator.

The cooperation of Spokane drivers at intersections where the power was out and there were no stoplights was a wonder to see.

In all the 16 years I have worked behind the wheel, I never have seen things go so well. Everyone displayed patience and tolerance for one another that could come only by an entire community working together to make things a little easier in an impossible situation.

On behalf of Spokane Transit Authority and all other professional drivers, I say: When the going gets tough, the tough start caring. Ruth Lee Spokane

Neighbors there for us in a flash

We are blessed to have neighbors who care about one another and who, at the drop of a hat, will come and help.

Barry and Sharon Husfloen are such neighbors.

The first night of the ice storm, when we were out of power, one of our 50-foot Scotch pine trees was uprooted and fell, leaning partly on the roof of our house. My husband came home at 9 p.m. and started hand-sawing the bottom of the tree to get the weight off the roof. In the meantime, one of our pipes burst in the basement and I got soaking wet trying to contain the water.

I quickly called the Husfloens, and within seconds, they were at our door, assessed the problem and fixed our pipe. Then they got their chain saw and helped my husband finish cutting the tree. We thanked them, and they left saying, “Call us no matter what time it is if anything else happens.” And they meant it.

Thank you, Sharon and Barry. Patti and Bill Osebold Spokane

ON THE LINE, FOR US

Help them, Dad, and take care

With the weather and severe ice storms of this past week, television and radio stations have been exuding thanks and gratitude to the many crews of men and women who diligently are trying to restore power to many thousands in the Spokane-Coeur d’Alene area.

My father, David Crockett, has worked for Washington Water Power Co. since before I was born in 1968. He was part of the water crew when WWP still had a water department. Now you may see him driving along the roads of Spokane, hauling power poles to wherever needed.

During this ice storm emergency, my dad, along with all the other employees of all the utility companies in our area, has been working brutal hours. About the only way to contact him is to wait until he calls us. Even though sore and tired, he will stay until they tell him to go home, sometimes working with a crew who will work well more than a 24-hour shift to restore electric power to downed areas.

I’d like to let my dad and all the other hard-working men and women from the utility companies know that your families love you very much and we’re praying for your safety. We join with you in expressing our condolences to the family of Jimmy Dean. It is in our prayers.

I love you, Dad, Dana (Crockett) Gaber Spokane

B.C. crew’s long day brought us power

This family’s kudos and heartfelt thanks go to all the courageous line crews trying to restore power to our community.

We especially thank the crews of Paradise Power Line from Surrey, British Columbia (near Vancouver), for restoring our power on the fifth night of our home’s blackout. This dedicated crew of professionals, like hundreds of others responding to this state of emergency, arrived in our neighborhood Saturday at 9 a.m. and departed at 9:30 p.m. By 10 p.m., power was back on.

When we personally thanked them, they responded, “No problem, eh?”

For them, our eternal Thanksgiving thanks, eh!

The real irony of this trying affair was to read the Saturday morning Spokesman-Review headline that said Canadians were being told to stay back. Well, they made it to my neighborhood, and we’re grateful to WWP officials for asking them to help our community during these dire and trying times. C. Michael Archer Spokane

You did an exceptional job

Thank you to all the men and women who have done an exceptional job during the power outage crisis - especially Washington Water Power, Inland Power and Light and all the crews from elsewhere. It’s been long, tiring and very difficult. (And, God bless batteries, candles and kerosene!) Sara Caldwell Spokane

Thanks times three, plus one

All my thanks go to three men in my life:

First, Bart Rayniak: The day the storm hit, I had left my car at a Spokane Transit parking lot. One of my colleagues, Bart, gave me a ride to the lot after work and then spent a half hour helping me chip three-quarters of an inch of ice from the door handles and the windshield so I could drive home in the rain and slush.

Next, Rand Hatch: I was ready to face a dark, cold house. But I didn’t expect the ice dam that had built up on my roof and the rain coming down one wall of my dining room. It was 9:30 Tuesday night. My next-door neighbor, Rand, helped shovel the roof, clear the drainage spout and stop the indoor rain. Seven days later, he still was shoveling his family’s driveway and mine every morning.

Finally, Matt Lonam: He helped build our house two years ago, and when I called to ask about the leaking roof, he drove 12 miles from Millwood, dodging dozens of fallen trees, to help out at 11 p.m.

And the most important man in my life? My husband was in Missoula, the warm voice who listened to my stories about these three heroes as we talked in the dark, night after night, last week. Peggy Kuhr, managing editor, The Spokesman-Review Liberty Lake

Several eased well-rounded disaster

When a call came in Tuesday morning at 5 a.m. that my husband had wrecked our brand new car, I thought to myself: What else could possibly happen? A lot!

My neighbor called to tell me the pine tree in my back yard was cracking and starting to fall. I looked out the window, and sure enough, it was. I called my insurance agent to let her know what was going on. Once on the phone, I heard cracking. I went to the back door only to see my other tree breaking. This tree ended up crushing one car, one truck, my house and the garage.

Then at 4 p.m., the power went out. All I could do was cry. After all, weren’t six losses enough for the day?

With the help and support of my friends and neighbors, I had a smile on my face that night. The quote of the day was “All will be well.” I thank Troy Kannady, Anson Bradford and Rick Jacobs for taking the time Wednesday to haul all the branches away and help us clean up. Thanks also to Kelly Stratton for taking my numerous phone calls and countless claims. Kel, you’re an excellent insurance agent. And to my husband, Dan, for having such huge shoulders to carry around all the stress. Carol Stines Spokane

Neighbor’s invention did the trick

I am writing you by candlelight. However, we have our kind neighbor Bud Aaker to thank for our 65-degree living room. He borrowed a couple of parts from his boat and devised a means of driving warm air from his gas fireplace into the room. After the Aakers’ power was restored, he brought his invention to us.

My daughter and I most sincerely appreciate Bud’s thoughtfulness toward us. Susan and Paula Peirone Spokane

Family helped so many

I can’t thank my neighbors enough for taking me in.

Wednesday morning, Katie Box and Margaret Moran rang my doorbell and insisted I come to the Box home across the street. They had no electricity but did have a big fire going in their fireplace and a gas stove for cooking.

They took not only me and my four canaries in but also their neighbors and children - probably 25 at one time for meals. The children were wonderfully behaved. At one time, we had a sewing class for boys and girls.

Thank you, Katie and Stephen Box, from a grateful grandmother and great-grandmother. Frances S. Young Spokane

Light of my life, I needed that

I thank my wife, Marcia. After 14 hours in a hectic newsroom and an eight-mile drive home in total darkness, I pulled into our driveway and started to get out of the car to open the garage door.

Before I could get out, the garage door slowly opened, a flashlight beam flickered and two Bugs Bunny slippers danced on the cement floor. Marcia had been keeping an eye out for my arrival and had run to the garage to give me a lighted escort into the house.

She’s been doing those types of thoughtful things for 22 years. Joe Fenton, city editor, The Spokesman-Review Spokane

Caring hard-wired, house to house

We thank our neighbors, Dave and Melissa. The power was restored to our neighborhood Friday, but the wires were down from the pole to our house. They have been sharing their power with us by means of a big, sturdy extension cord from their basement window to our dining room window. Being able to use the fireplace fan has allowed us to go back to our own beds, and the refrigerator helps so much.

Thanks, too, to Ron and Colleen and Tony and Missy. All three families have done so many thoughtful things. Special thanks to Viv and Shari, our wonderful family. Roger, Marilyn and Phil Walters Spokane

Thanks for taking us in

I thank Roy and Priscilla Reems for taking us, Art and Maxine Bye, and our two little granddaughters into their home for two nights. Maxine Bye Spokane

Electrician shared electricity

Joe Termini is a licensed electrician. He had sufficient amps to generate heat to Erin and Mary Egan’s home and my home for our comfort. He cabled us in and stopped the awful chills that had us chattering. Such thoughtfulness, generosity and hard labor certainly deserve a great big “Thank you, Joe.” Phyllis Brady Spokane

Samaritan Towers aptly named

I would like to tell you what kind and caring people we have here.

I live at Samaritan Towers Retirement Home. The electricity went out here Tuesday about 1:30. That meant no elevators or heat. We have kitchens in our apartments but usually eat meals downstairs.

Wednesday morning, I was so cold and wanted a hot cup of coffee so badly. I went downstairs to the nursing home dining room, and there was Joe Dropper, the administrator, serving hot coffee at 6:30 in the morning. Then the girls took coffee to everyone on the five floors. They did all they could to make us as comfortable as possible.

On Thursday afternoon, Terri Bonallo, the apartment manager, with the help of the girls, brought supper to the lounge on each floor. This was hot soup, sandwiches and hot coffee, tea or hot chocolate. This was a nice social thing, and we were all together when the lights came on.

They did all they could during this hard time to help us all, and we would like to thank them. Dinner at noon and supper were served every day. Audrey Covell Greenacres

Moose extended fine hospitality

What a wonderful gesture. Our local Moose lodge opened its quarters and kitchens for the distressed. Members brought food for up to 190 folks - and entertained them. Wow! Thanks! Rosemary Finn Spokane

Our resident managers truly care

I recently moved into Canterbury Court, a residence for elderly people, so I still am getting acquainted with the residents here. This recent crisis has brought me into contact with my neighbors sooner than otherwise would have happened.

Our power went off Tuesday afternoon, and for the first night, we all considered it kind of an adventure, with candles, flashlights and joking. The building was warm and we still had hot water. Wednesday, things were changing. It was becoming cold and dark, and we all were eating cold meals. That is when I saw what all my neighbors had been telling me: what special people our resident managers, Joan and Greg Schur, are.

They always had been kind and friendly, but I saw firsthand how hard they were working to get each one of us - and there are a lot of us - a safe, warm place to go.

Before we all went to our families and shelters, Joan Schur brought us hot chili and ravioli from outside and Greg Schur checked on us constantly, always upbeat and smiling. Patricia Travis Spokane

Co-workers looked out for me

Many thanks to Debra Robinson, Marisa Mackin, Karrie Brown and Kathy Spencer for calling to check on me during the power outage. These ladies all have families to take care of, so it really meant a lot when they took the time to reach out to a co-worker and friend. Kathy Garrison Spokane

Ice storm a lens revealing goodness

What is it about the worst of situations that brings out the best in each of us? Once the initial shock of Ice Storm ‘96 had worn off, I experienced great acts of human kindness.

People who lived their own isolated existence opened their hearts and homes, sharing and caring for others around them. “We have power - come stay with us.”

Yellow- and red-light running was replaced with polite stop-and-go turn-taking at intersections. Shelters were set up and staffed with satisfied volunteers and victims alike.

Oh, there were branches to clear and walks to be shoveled. But underneath it all, a true sense of community - that maybe we aren’t so alone since we’re all together. Children with their dogs and sleds seem to be the least affected.

Some may see only hardship and toil in this event, but I prefer to remember that the adversity for a time made me aware of what is good and right within Spokane. Gary Oberg Spokane

I began searching within after encountering a very tired lineman working in our area late Saturday night. He was from Portland. Thanks to all who are helping us in our time of need:

One November Day

The lights went out, one by one, that dreary November day.

Who would have thought, who could have known, it would refuse to go our way.

We could not control it with all our technology and might.

This storm of rain and snow and ice.

So what was the purpose, what was the reason?

Things would take so long, could it be a lesson?

To try man’s patience and check his kindness?

I woke up tired, angry, without patience at first.

All I cared about was when I could get my lights on in a burst.

Then I stopped and I listened to the quiet in the distance.

There were those more needy than I; there were those traveling miles and risking their lives, for instance.

I was humbled and became grateful.

Maybe we’ll all remember this pitfall.

Greed is empty, selfishness unfulfilling.

I pray today I might be more willing,

And learn the lessons of that one November day,

The day the lights went out and God said, “Please just pray …

“That your eyes might see there is so much more to you and me.” Ann Roles Spokane