Letters To The Editor

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Officials hypocritical about gambling

What has happened to us? From President Clinton down to Gov. Gary Locke, they say they will make jobs to get votes. Ha, ha. The Spokane Tribe of Indians has done just that made jobs for Indians and non-Indians. Now, someone wants to stop it all. These jobs keep these people working and they’ll probably end up on welfare without them.

Living across the river from Two Rivers Casino, I have seen young people proud to have good-paying jobs with medical benefits. Some have bought homes and cars, which they didn’t have before. Now what? Take all that away from them because someone higher up doesn’t want gambling in our state?

I own a small business and it’s even helped bring business into our area. Someone has to step up and say enough is enough. Let these people keep their jobs and live with pride.

We voted for these pompous jerks because they always say they will make life better for everyone. Then, when they are voted in, they do the exact opposite.

Remember, we are voters and we can vote them out as well as vote them in. Bertha B. Uhler Davenport

Murray hasn’t accepted tobacco money

When election time rolls around this November, it is worthwhile for voters to take notice of which of our elected officials sold out to the tobacco interests.

Out of our 100 U.S. senators, all except 12 accepted some tobacco money.

Our Sen. Patty Murray is one who did not accept any tobacco money. Let’s remember that in November. Greg J. Works Spokane

Teen brands study wasteful, dumb

How interesting, a study to track what brands of cigarettes teenagers smoke the most. Just how much of the taxpayers’ money is this little venture going to cost?

Do they really believe that this study will accomplish the goal of stopping teenagers smoking or is the plan to pull all the brands they smoke the most off the market?

If teenagers want to smoke, any brand will do, even OPs, or other people’s. So what will this study prove, other that our government is just wasting more taxpayer money to accomplish nothing? This seems to be the norm for our government. It always gets nothing for something.

Hooray for our government. Raise more tax money for stupid studies like this but don’t study anything worthwhile, like how to stop children from killing children. Betty A. Randall Moses Lake

Starr not the big wastrel here

Re: K.V. Flores’ letter of June 14, “Kenneth Starr, enough already.”

Might I suggest that Flores write to her president and ask that he and his wife tell the truth for once in their lives. The investigation Starr has been conducting would have been completed long ago if the two of them would have done just that.

Forty-two million dollars is chicken feed compared to what the Clintons have wasted since their election to the co-presidency. So why don’t all of you Clinton apologists, defenders and supporters do something constructive and tally up all the taxpayer money these two have expended in their effort to promote their socialist-Marxist agenda both home and abroad. Bill R. Klein Nine Mile Falls

OVER THE LINE

Opening Snake River a foolish chore

Re: Opening up Snake River simple chore,” (June 23). You are right, it was a crazy idea and is still a crazy idea. There isn’t any scientific data that prove breaching or increased flows will be beneficial to salmon.

The government has spent $1,467,806,732 on construction and maintenance on these dams to date. Replacing them with coal-fired generation plants will cost that much or more. The nameplate generation on these four dams is 3,033 megawatts. It’s estimated that a powerplant this large would require burning 1,516 tons of coal per hour.

If you think two weeks of grass burning is bad for your health, just wait until you breathe all that coal smoke every day of the year. R.T. Lyle Ritzville, Wash.

Bring back good old days on lake

Re: Gillnet used to rescue bull trout,” (June 25). I would like to see the Fish and Game department do more to restore fishing to Priest Lake to what it was in the 1950s and ‘60s, when the norm was to catch cutthroat and Dolly Varden (bull trout), not Mackinaws. We lost a great fishery and no one seems to care about the loss in the main lake.

I hope that they never stop power boats from traveling to the upper lake as it is too beautiful of an area for just a chosen few to be able to enjoy. Those who are disabled or too old to walk the trail or travel by canoe should be able to enjoy the upper lake as well as those who are capable of walking or canoeing. Doris E. Miller Spokane

Firms’ stand against bigotry welcome

Re: “Firms chip in to make parade a bust,” (June 24).

I’m originally from Laclede, Idaho. My husband is in the military and we are stationed at Fort Lewis. I attend St. Martin’s College, pursuing a degree in criminal justice. I think the firms chipping in is an excellent idea.

I applaud the businesses that take part in the fight against discrimination, whether it be because of race or gender. Michelle A. Schuman Fort Lewis, Wash.

AGRICULTURE

Grass farmers, try growing herbs

I love our farmers. They protect our water by maintaining their land over the aquifer and by burning the grass, rather than using chemicals, pesticides, herbicides and other toxic stuff. Our water stays purer than most water in the United States.

The acres of grass act as a natural air conditioner, keeping the temperature on the prairie about 10 degrees cooler than in surrounding cities where the sun beats down on and reflects off of cement and asphalt.

They keep our air clean, especially, during an air inversion because grass emits oxygen, not carbon dioxide.

But, I know that unless the farmers can find an alternative and lucrative crop or research finds a viable solution for burning, our farmers will soon be as rare as the spotted owl.

I’m wondering if the grass farmers have considered growing herbs. Most herbs start as weeds. They grow in rocky or sandy soils and thrive in conditions like those on the prairie.

Herbs come in a thousand forms and can be medicinal, culinary or both. They are growing in popularity in mainstream U.S.A., with increasing awareness of their value.

Herbs are a gentle crop with multiple uses. Some need very little water and seem like they would be easy to harvest.

I would hate to see our beautiful prairie become subdivisions. Is this a viable alternative - Idaho herbs, rather than potatoes? Jannell Travis Coeur d’Alene

OTHER TOPICS

Wilde story ‘way off base’

Re: “KHQ Godzilla of news” (June 21). You were way off base on this article. I don’t think Penny Daniels comes close to filling Debra Wilde’s shoes.

KHQ achieved excellent ratings because of the chemistry between Randy Shaw and Debra Wilde. You owe Debra Wilde and your readers an apology. Gary A. Doerschlag Spokane

Onion’s step stools helpful

If the first line of defense against the spread of hepatitis is frequent and vigorous hand washing, then I applaud The Onion and any other establishment that chooses to provide a step stool in their restrooms.

I am trying to establish good hand washing habits in my 4-year-old daughter. Being able to elevate her comfortably at the sink for the optimum 20-second wash is a blessing. I hope other businesses follow suit. Rachel M. Dutro Colville