Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

WWP mismanagement shows

Response by line crews to the recent ice storm has been truly heroic, and those affected by the power outage will be forever indebted. The same cannot be said for Washington Water Power Co. administration. It was totally unprepared for our crisis.

As a result of the storm, WWP grossly underestimated the damage, was slow to react, even slower to seek help from other power companies in the region and beyond, and then, apparently, refused help from two Canadian power companies because WWP worried about having to exercise control over too many crews. Yet, several thousand customers continued to go without power for several days and nights of subfreezing temperatures.

This type of reaction to such a critical situation is unconscionable and cannot be tolerated. WWP’s recent desire to merge with another power company in Colorado was precipitated by the bottom line instead of the best interests of local patrons. Money spent on this venture should have been spent on protecting existing power lines from trees and branches, and putting more services underground.

Perhaps new leadership at WWP would deal with the problems in its service area and be more responsive to customers’ needs. WWP is fortunate to have valiant crews that have performed tirelessly in extreme conditions. Without their resolve, this disaster would have resulted in a catastrophe. Jack Tritt Spokane

Editor’s note: WWP contracted for six crews from a private contractor in British Columbia and three crews from the Edmonton Power Company.

WWP could better spend its money

We recently had our power restored after two-plus days of cold discomfort. We do thank Washington Water Power Co. crews and management for their well-trained efforts.

Recently, we read in the paper about the WWP donation of $1 million. No question about the resulting benefits. However, I do question whether the donations are better for the community than rate reductions would be. Rate reductions would reach thousands of people.

Then our ice storm hit. And with it came the idea those funds might better be used for burying power lines, thereby removing the lines from exposure to ice storms and such. Donald R. Ericson Spokane

Golfing cost, policies out of line

Green fees are going up while the city and county rake in the real green.

They are using increased play as an excuse to continue the escalation of green fees. According to city golf manager Mike Stone, total rounds of play are up at all the city courses. Logic would then indicate that revenue should also be sufficient, yet they are pricing golf beyond the budgets of local residents.

Golf course green fees generate enough revenue for maintenance and the courses are self-supporting. No tax dollars are set aside for their operation. Yet green fees have doubled in recent years.

So, where has the increase in revenue gone? Salary increases, new positions, conventions and bennies, I suppose. Very little has gone to improve the golf courses.

What they are really doing is promoting tourism with golf at our expense. Again, taxpayers foot the bill for business growth. And what do they get for it? Increased fees, traffic, crime, population and no tee times.

Check the auto license plates at the golf course. You will see plenty of Seattle, Oregon and Canadian cars that belong to people who don’t have to pay nonresident golf fees. These people can also phone long distance any day for tee times and get them. We locals have trouble getting a weekend tee time.

No more increase in golf green fees. Instead, cut waste, expenses or managers. Herschel Stoops Spokane

Spokane has lost a fine man

With the passing of Joey August, Spokane has lost one of the genuinely nice people of this century. August was a good friend and excellent role model to all of us that he befriended.

We will miss you, Joey. Joe Weber Spokane

Amend exhibited care, skill

I don’t know if what we read and hear from the news media about Spokane County Coroner Dexter Amend is true or not. The only event I have to measure it by is the death of our 5-year-old daughter in January of 1995.

Amend made himself available to us without delay. He was extremely sensitive and courteous in dealing with our family. He not only cooperated with us, he bent over backward to accommodate our wishes as to our daughter’s care before burial. Every aspect of our encounter was carried out in a professional manner by Dr. Amend. Susanne Lee Spokane

GIVING THANKS

Yoke’s, Master Electric people great

So many to thank, but special thanks go to the employees of Yoke’s Pac-n-Save on West Wellesley for their unfailing compassion and kindness.

Also, thanks to Doug Warringer of Master Electric, who, when all the crews were busy, took time from the office to respond to our plea to disable the power from our home to the garage, because a sagging power line there could have left us without power even when it was restored in our neighborhood. We are grateful! Sharry Munro

Thanks for caring for our daughter

We thank Randy and Patsy Sales for sheltering our daughter during the power outage Nov. 19-22. From what we know, they sheltered numerous others. Special thanks to WWP for getting us back on at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 21. God bless and keep safe. Dave and Margie Keener Spokane

Neighbor even took in our goldfish

We send a thank you to Marisa Kurtz, our neighbor, who let us move into her home while we were without power. Not only did the three of us invade her home, but our two dogs and goldfish received sanctuary, too. We can not thank her enough for all she does for us, not only during the ice storm but through all the year. Joe, Sue and Joelle Mockel Spokane

Brother, you have our thanks

Thank you to my brother, Rick Sawyer, his wife Cheryl and their girls, Rachel and Becca, for opening their doors to me and my children. With no electricity of your own, you made room for three extra places around your wood stove, and we really appreciate it! Oh! And Blue - thanks for the showers! Mary, Adam and Megan Nieder Veradale

Valley View residents well cared for

During the ice storms, the 42 residents of Valley View Health Care Center had to be evacuated twice to Red Cross shelters. It was unnerving for the residents, but the Red Cross set up everything necessary to meet their needs.

Many thanks to the community medical personnel, the concerned paramedics and wonderful teenagers who visited with each resident. You all made the residents feel comfortable. Thanks also to the two great boys from Morning Star Boys Ranch, and an employee’s son who spent the entire night in the shelter helping care for the residents.

Finally, a hearty hats off to the American Red Cross disaster team workers. Job well done! Mary Jo Sattler, administrator Valley View Health Care Center

‘Thank you’ doesn’t seem enough

I thank Stella McDonald for opening up her home all during the power outage. We had a warm place to stay, delicious meals and great company.

Saying thank you doesn’t seem enough for all her love and hospitality. Joanne Roberts Spokane

Friend shared warm home

Tuesday night (Nov. 19) my lights went out, so I went to bed hoping they would be on by morning, but no luck. I went to work late Wednesday night. I had power for two hours, then it went off. I did not want to be cold another night, so I called Charlet Carry. She let me come to her warm house for the night. Sherylann Gorg Spokane

Wonderful friends helped us

Two special thank you’s to our neighbors and friends, Debbie, Jim and Samantha Blake and Neil and Pat Felgenhauer.

The first night of the outage, the Blakes came over as soon as we arrived home to offer flashlights, candles and a hot meal. They were also without power. Each day through the outage they checked in with us to see if we needed anything. When power was restored to their house and not ours, they offered a warm bed, hot coffee and warm meals. After five nights of camping out, we were and are grateful for the warmth.

Thank you for your kindness.

Neil and Pat Felgenhauer outfitted us with candles, batteries and wood. They let us use their washer and dryer, and a spare radio. They fixed us a wonderful hot meal and provided warmth in front of their wood stove.

Thank you for your generosity. Jackie, Steve, Steven and Minnie Davenport Spokane

Visit was made one to remember

I came to visit a high school friend a few weeks ago. We hadn’t seen each other since we were 17 (we’re now reversing that age). I came from the Quad Cities in the Midwest and wanted to check on life in Spokane. I found out.

We are at 13927 East Sharp Ave. My friend’s name is Helena Benn. We were housebound from Tuesday to Friday. Our neighbors to the left and right immediately came over with a candle. Seeing our plight, she sent her husband, Jamie, to start our fireplace. The next day, her daughters came with a sleigh of logs. Helena’s daughter and her husband came twice a day with food, flashlights and fed the fireplace with logs. Helena and I talked into the night as we fed the fireplace.

I never dreamed of such a vacation. I found the cold of winter but the warmth of love, friends and neighbors - and the value of power. I will always pray for those who helped us. Helena married and I joined the convent. Yet, through all these years, our high school friendship has glowed. Sister Marilyn Reyes Quad Cities

Eagles, thanks for the showers

I thank the Eagles Club on East Francis for offering showers to those of us without power. The Eagles have contributed one small daily necessity that helps the powerless feel more normal and allows us to continue our jobs and lives feeling less grungy.

Also, thanks to The Spokesman for providing this means to say Thanks! Mary Verner Spokane

News carrier was much more to us

To Dave Stutheit, our newspaper carrier: You and your family were without power in your own cold house but you made sure we got our paper each and every day.

It wasn’t just getting the paper itself that was special. It was the human touch you brought that made your brief, daily stops anticipated. While our neighborhood was virtually empty, with no candles to be seen except ours, and even our phones were out for the week (talk about isolated!). But you kept delivering. We’d see your car lights coming at 5:30 a.m. when we had already been up for some time, stoking the fire. You took time to stop and talk, giving us news about weather, the roads, where power was returning and encouraging us to believe it really would reach us too. We really appreciated you being our consistent human contact with the cold, dark, icy outside world. Thanks a million! Don and Carlene Eneroth Spokane

Mail, paper always came through

I think the Spokesman-Review, Washington Water Power, U.S. Postal Service, Spokane Transit Authority and all others working for the way they have done their jobs. We had paper and mail the first day and each day. T. Beryl Alger Spokane

So many are doing so much good

I thank all of the unsung heroes of this ice storm. We have power people, medical staff, volunteers and just plain good neighbors who’ve watched out for and been concerned about their community.

While not involved in the major outages and difficulties experienced in the Spokane-Coeur d’Alene area, I have followed the action on TV, and been so impressed with this area’s response. Even our normally weird drivers seem to have slowed down, used common sense and exhibited more courtesy and patience as the storm has made transportation more dangerous.

I also appreciate the media keeping all of us informed about road conditions, numbers to call for assistance and hints for survival. Anyone who has helped someone, in any fashion, should know that there are many of us out here who appreciate your willingness and expertise. And even if we don’t know your name, please know you’ve made someone’s life a little better. R.M. Anderson Cheney

They helped, despite death in family

On Nov. 19, at about 11:35 a.m., our house went dark and stayed that way until early Nov. 24. No heat, no lights, but some pretty wonderful friends by the name of June and Kerm Kruse. They had their lights and heat back on by Thursday. Despite the fact June’s mother died on Wednesday, they had us staying and sleeping at their house for the next three nights, not only to get warm and clean, but June is a terrific cook, and made sure there was more than enough food for everyone.

We don’t know how we can ever repay them for their unselfish love and caring during what was a very hard time for both of these terrific people. Jeanne and Dick Zappone Spokane

Ours truly is a friendly city

The ice storm came after a bout of flu and left us without heat, lights or food. Kareline Malarsky brought us hot coffee, waffles and opened her home to us when she already had seven people there! Finally, after three days, our kids, Liz and Bob Perkins from Medical Lake, came at 5 a.m. with a warm car to take us to their home for clean clothes, hot food, our own room and much love. We want to thank the neighbors and our family for getting us through this storm. This is why they call Spokane the friendly city. Karl & Betty Von Heydrish Spokane

Neighbor power kept us warm

Thank you, Bob and Pat Cargill, our neighbors, for letting us run an electrical cord from your house to the fan on our gas furnace, giving us warmth and allowing us to stay in our home. Thanks also to our mom and stepdad for letting us camp out for a few days. Darrell and Kelly Wilcox Spokane

Oh, but there was light

“Do you have enough wood for tonight?”

“Enough, I think.”

“I’ll be there in a half hour!”

Eric Groshoff arrives with two wheelbarrow loads of split wood. The next day, he brings another. Chainsaw in hand, he cuts away trees and shrubs from the roadway.

Bessie Emery’s Bed & Breakfast - my Grandma’s cheerful voice answers. “Grandma, a shower?” was my plea. “I have an opening at 6!” was the reply.

Larry Groshoff said, “There’s a roasting pinochle party tonight at my house!”

The Niblock’s “We have a diaper genie.”

Debbie Groshoff said, “We’ve got a warm water bed!”

When the lights went out on Tuesday, Nov. 19, the Lord then said, “Let there be light,” for the kindness and love of all the people was brighter and warmer than any electrical power. Frank, Tessa and Nicholas Swoboda Spokane