Letters To The Editor

Stop the personal attacks

Negative journalism definition: almost anything written by John Blanchette.

A fine example of his stylish “journalism” is his recent column concerning Rick Neuheisel as the Husky coach.

Now mind you this isn’t just coming from your most unfavorite Husky whiners; this also represents the multitudes of ticked off Bulldogs, disgusted Cougars, outraged Eagles and really bored Pirates. Criticism is certainly fair and often apropos.

The question is do we really need the constant, vitriolic, personal attacks that are usually accompanied by major whining and random ranting? I mean, has the man ever heard of the glass half full? These outpourings are offensive, pathetic and totally lame.

I have a suggestion that may be a day brightener for the legions who long ago gave up reading Mr. B’s articles. Save these columns! A reliable source reports that these fit perfectly on the bottom of your standard birdcages. Do yourself and your community a favor and get involved in this ultimate recycling project. Nancy Rector Spokane

Zags have fans in Idaho

I have been a subscriber to the Spokesman-Review Idaho addition for over 20 years. I have been an interested follower of Gonzaga men’s basketball for almost that long.

There has been a continual lack of coverage in the S-R Idaho edition of Gonzaga men’s basketball. Sometimes, nothing but a score appears the next morning.

But the Jan. 14 S-R Idaho edition takes the cake! There was absolutely nothing about the men’s Gonzaga game on Jan. 13 with the University of of Portland - not an article, picture, or even a score.

I expect something better from the S-R Idaho edition related to Gonzaga men’s basketball than what I’m getting. If you value Idaho S-R readers who are interested in Gonzaga men’s basketball and who want to see something in the morning edition about the game the night before, you need to get better than you have been in the past. D.L. Martin Hayden, Idaho

County, tribes to meet

The article in The Spokesman-Review written by Rich Landers, “Methow Valley in an uproar over numerous deer kills” (Jan. 8) reported on Indian hunters taking advantage of an 1855 treaty right to hunt big game on public land.

While the article was excellent, it did not address the seriousness of the situation in light of the Key and Critical Area Ordinances adopted by Okanogan County under the Growth Management Act, nor does it mention the concerns expressed by the Methow Valley residents.

The county’s Key and Critical Area Maps addressed mule deer winter range, migration corridors and spring fawning areas. Any development must be in compliance with zoning regulations and this could mean setting aside 85 percent of open space for the protection of wildlife. Tribal hunting laws are in conflict with Washington state and Okanogan county laws created to protect and enhance at-risk wildlife. This level of habitat is essential to sustaining wildlife.

The Lummi tribal hunting coordinator, Harlan James, issued more than 200 deer tags without consulting the Department of Wildlife or Okanogan County officials. The tribe has only 52 designated hunters for all 222 deer tages issued. This equates to more than four deer kills per hunter. There are witnesses who will testify that two deer were shot and left behind and at least one was taken only for the head - leaving most of the meat behind. Complaints have also been received that hunters were killing deer on private property.

Winter hunting as permitted depletes the species by reducing the doe/buck ratio as well as additional stress placed upon the entire herd. In the forthcoming weeks, Okanogan County and concerned tribes will be meeting to discuss these issues. Okanogan County Commissioners, Dave Schultz, Commissioner District 2

Ski report has faults

Rich Landers’ article (Dec. 13, “Cool tracks”) was a one-sided defense of the state park’s position that blurred journalism with opinion. He made two cardinal errors, and both were intentional. First, he mentioned what happened to me without asking me any details of what happened the evening Ranger Pam Taylor arrested me. Rich claims I was arrested skiing after hours, but I was stopped for driving in the snow park parking lot.

The photo of Colin Quinn Hurst with the sun setting in the background and titled “Skier Takes A Break” was his second mistake. Hurst was not taking a break, he was starting his workout hence the light on his hat. This photo was taken Friday, Dec. 4, the night after my arrest. Ironically, Rich’s photograph betrayed the meaning of his article as he actually captured a shot of an illegal night ski by the Junior Nordic Team. Not so ironically, the off-the-trails-by-dusk rule was dropped when John Quinn Hurst (the coach) requested afterdark skiing.

If Rich had truly investigated the situation he would have realized I got my ticket for trespassing on state park property. None of the four people that did ski on the night of my arrest were given tickets. Nicholas C. Bauer Spokane

Stop interrupting

This is in response to a story from your Dec. 20, 1998 Sports section that was headlined “CBS rather rudely interrupts football” by Mike Sando of the Tacoma News Tribune.

Mr. Sando lamented the interruption of a football game with the breaking news of the day. I know how Mike must feel, since motocross suffers a lack of coverage.

One televised race kept getting interrupted to bring us breaking news of earth-shattering importance, Mark somebody was on the verge of breaking some kind of baseball home run record. Well, lets see, Mark gets paid more than all of the people I know combined, so isn’t it his job to break records, or at the very least hit the ball? ESPN has at least five other channels that could have been dedicated to carrying this event, and no doubt it was being carried live somewhere else, so why did they keep interrupting every time he stepped up to the plate?

I was incensed by this mindless intrusion, and wondered what all the stick and ball fans would think if a playoff game were interrupted to show Jeremy McGrath or Doug Henry breaking another record. And folks, their performance is not enhanced by steroids.

Listen up broadcasters, show what you’re showing, and if I want to know about the rest of the world, I’ll look for it. Unless a comet is headed for Earth, then, and only then, let me know. I’ll need more chips. John R. Palm Spokane