Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

For actual contamination, look west

In recent months there has been concern over Burlington Northern’s proposed installation of a fuel depot over Spokane’s aquifer in Rathdrum, Idaho. There has been fear of a potential pollution threat.

An actual threat many times greater in scope is now developing at the Graham Road landfill in the West Plains area near Fairchild Air Force Base.

The first well to be condemned by the Spokane County Health Department belongs to the Nelson family at the corner of Highway 2 and Graham Road. This property, without a water source, is totally worthless. A lifetime of investment lost to the stupidity of the Spokane County Health Department’s decision to allow the development of a dump over the aquifer, which lies only 20 feet below the surface.

The pollution bloom is now spreading north and south of the landfill, as evidenced by increased toxic levels at test sites located there.

There are more than 100 families on well water within a few miles of the landfill operated by the Waste Management Co. What happens when all of these wells are affected in the same manner as the Nelsons’?

Who will be liable? Certainly not the landfill company, as they will be long removed from their evil deed by the time the lawsuits start coming.

The taxpayers of Spokane County will ultimately pay the bill for poor decision making by public officials who are paid to protect the citizens of our community.

Stupid decisions by uninformed Spokane County public officials could ultimately cost millions of dollars’ worth of cleanup. Dave Butler Medical Lake

Opt for creative planning

While visiting family in Spokane, I was encouraged to read about the proposal to county planning commissioners to create a flexible and innovative zoning code. The standard zoning process in this country dates from 1916 and we have learned a great deal since then about zoning and land use regulation.

Spokane has already recognized the importance of encouraging a healthy downtown. The county now has the opportunity to build on existing momentum and encourage smart growth.

A creative approach to zoning would allow the planning commissioners to draw on the experience of other communities across the country that are working on new approaches to growth balanced with natural resource protection. Taking a new approach to zoning and land use, instead of dogmatically employing old ideas, the county could actively encourage healthy development and discourage sprawl, which consumes our natural resources at high rates and detracts from our quality of life.

“Smart growth” does not mean “no growth”; it means looking at where growth should occur and encouraging it to happen in an attractive and environmentally efficient manner. Growth and preservation are not mutually exclusive.

I encourage Spokane County to develop a strongly supported vision for its future, draw on examples of other places with similar goals, research the wealth of information on new approaches to land use and bring local talent and creativity to the drawing board to develop a zoning code and land use plan that truly enhances the quality of life in Spokane County. Mary Jane Felgenhauer urban planner, Princeton, N.J.

Assessor’s office duties misstated

The following information is in response to an article in the March 31 Region section.

The Spokane County assessor’s office corrected the 1999 city of Spokane EMS levy error in tax year 2000. The levy correction does not affect anyone outside of the EMS boundaries.

Tax statements are not prepared or mailed by the assessor’s office. This is a function of the Spokane County treasurer. Washington law clearly defines property tax billing and collection as a responsibility of county treasurers’ offices.

Aquifer protection fees are not collected by the Spokane County assessor’s office. As a matter of law, assessor’s offices do not collect taxes or fees. No state audit report exists that relates the assessor’s office to aquifer protection fees.

State audit reports are on the Internet and are a matter of public record. (www.sao.wa.gov/localgovernment/spokanecounty) In 1996 there was no report from the state auditor’s office concerning the Spokane County assessor’s office. Reports from 1994-98 do not suggest that “hundreds of thousands of dollars” were lost from bad assessments.

Many state recommendations that have eluded the Spokane County assessor’s office for decades have been implemented in recent years. For 1999, the state approved inspection cycle was on time; assessment notices were mailed on time; the new construction roll was closed on time; the assessment roll was certified to the Spokane County Treasurer on time; and the state ratio improved significantly Byron D. Hodgson Spokane County Assessor’s Office

TERMINOLOGY

Gripe is `pure esoteric dribble’

Mark Lanterman’s compliant that the Monaghan statue near the Spokane Club is racist (Spokesman-Review, April 1) is pure esoteric dribble! Lanterman is troubled by one word on the plaque, “savage,” which he claims is a racist label for Samoans. However, the word is not a noun, it’s an adjective describing “foe.” And with good reason! Monaghan and his comrade were beheaded with machetes, which strikes me as savage in any culture in any age - be it Samoan natives on Upolu in 1899 or American soldiers at My Lai in 1968. On the other hand, Samoans might view the plaque as a victory, i.e., Monaghan, as a pawn of 19th century U.S. imperialism, got what he deserved. Chalk one up to minorities!

Lanterman is making a mountain out of a molehill. I doubt if there are 30 people in Spokane who have even read the inscription let alone been offended by it. The plaque, like ol’ Robert M. himself, are products of their time and should be viewed in that context. To change either for 21st century political correctness is historic revisionism at its worst.

Leave Monaghan alone! Rather than erasing the sins of the past, Lanterman’s energy would be better spent improving racial relations for the future - lest 100 years from now some zealot attempts to edit his tombstone with a chisel. Mac McCandless Spokane

Dismiss this nonsense

Is nothing sacred any more? Your April 1 front page displayed an article about the word “savage” being used on the monument for the heroic Ensign John Robert Monaghan. (May he rest in peace!)

The word “savages” was also used by the founding fathers in the Declaration of Independence and I suppose the liberals will attempt to change that also. When they stood at Concord Bridge they were real men who used words like “redcoats” and gave their life’s blood because they knew what freedom was about.

I hope the Spokane Human Rights Commission has enough spine to reject the gooney-bird suggestion and let a patriot rest in peace. Jack Raleigh Spokane

Leave history as it is

Re: “Racist message” article of April 1.

Mark Lanterman would do well to buy a dictionary. “Savage” has many meanings. One is “uncivilized,” another is “ferocious.” In warfare, he who is the most ferocious is the winner a lot of the time. The U.S. involvement in Samoa in the late 1890s was the result of three world powers being involved with expansionism (colonialism) - the United States, Britain and Germany. Also, it was a result of our view that we had a manifest destiny, a God-given mandate to exert our power in efforts to civilize people in backward lands.

In Samoa, a civil war had broken out by the native people and our military was called to put it down. They faced some of the most horrible hand-to-hand combat ever. That was very savage on both sides.

Let’s not revise late 19th century history in light of 21st century ignorance. Douglas D. Gossard Reardan

Narrow-mindedness oppressive

It never ceases to amaze me, the narrow-mindedness of some people. It took 94 years for someone to find fault in a statement made by someone who was undoubtedly much closer to the situation than Mark Lanterman. I can’t help but think that someone in the midst of the Vietnam War, as another example, might also have remarks to make about “savage” encounters. I suppose this makes them “racist”?

The word “savage” that Lanterman object to reads to me as an adjective, if my English education serves me well, not a noun.

Lanterman’s other concern seems to be for the children. I’m concerned for the children, too, when I think that they are being raised by narrow-minded people. Jo Austin Moyie Springs, Idaho

SENIOR CITIZEN ISSUES

Continue good work Bartel has done

Re: Chuck Rehberg’s article, “Writer Frank Bartel retiring” (April 2).

It is good to know Bartel may contribute columns occasionally, even though he is battling cancer. We seniors miss his twice-weekly columns in The Spokesman-Review. His insight into retirement concerns and his experience as a journalist kept retirees informed of important issues and events. Reading his columns made it easier for older readers to zero in on current news and activities. Many readers do not have the time or even the vision to scan the entire paper in search of pertinent news.

Although other writers may find it challenging to step into Bartel’s shoes, I hope your paper will consider assigning another reporter to the senior beat. There is so much information readily available from the senior centers, Aging & Long-Term Care and its programs, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, AARP chapters and programs like Tax Aide and 55-Alive Driver Training, the Senior Legislative Coalition and the Older Women’s League.

Spokane Community Colleges schedule senior classes. Hospitals sponsor health forums. Social Security’s Resource Awareness Consortium offers training workshops to service providers. The list of information sources is endless.

During this election year a regular column could bring vital information to seniors in a timely manner. Seniors in turn can make Congress aware of our top priorities: protecting Social Security and Medicare trust funds; sustaining these programs so they will serve the next generation of retirees; and making a fair, affordable prescription drug benefit available to Medicare beneficiaries. Elinor F. Nuxoll Spokane

PEOPLE AND ANIMALS

No justice for my brother or his dog

I have seen a lot of outrage in our paper over the shooting of a Bozeman dog as well as over the dog thrown onto the highway in a road rage event in California. My brother was out in the woods building a tree stand with his buddy, Bayley, along for the exercise. A hunter walked up not 40 yards away and shot and killed her. My brother grabbed his things and chased the guy to his truck and down off the mountain. He then called the police with the information.

The wheels of justice grind slowly. Four months later, he was asked to identify the “suspect.” He failed because in his surprise and terror he had only caught a glimpse of the man’s face. He did identify the vehicle and had the correct license plate but we lose anyway. We know who this man is and where he lives but nothing can be done.

Bayley was a beautiful 1-year-old shining white English Setter. Not much like a game animal. The wheels of justice for her came to a grinding halt.

Mister, we hope that some day a higher judge will avenge our friend. There wasn’t any justice here. Terry Lemke Spokane

Grizzlies likely to starve

In the March 24 editorial on grizzly reintroduction, Ken Sands alludes to the fact that salmon runs in the Selway-Bitterroots are a thing of the past. I presume that Sands is of the mind that since the bears won’t have fish to eat, they’ll adapt to preying on the elk herd. This would be fine, except there is no elk herd either.

I’ve hunted this area almost every year since 1972 and I’ve watched the elk numbers gradually decline from abundant in the 1970s to almost nonexistent now. Last year, I spent 12 days there and put over 200 miles on my horse - without seeing any elk. It seems to me that as of right now the only reliable food source for grizzlies would be the big-game outfitters’ mules at Paradise Guard Station.

Transplanting bears into this region without first restoring the salmon and the elk would be no different than turning a couple of dogs out into an enclosure and neglecting to feed them.

I wonder if Idaho’s animal cruelty laws pertain to wild as well as domestic animals? Thomas Osowski Rathdrum, Idaho

IDAHO VIEWPOINTS

Alltus, Rankin right about club

I’m proud of state Rep. Jeff Alltus and Kootenai County Commissioner Ron Rankin for taking a stand against the pollution at State Line. I’m sorry that some of my anti-pollution friends are blind to this blight on our community.

Rankin, I and lots of people opposed Burlington Northern and Santa Fe’s refueling depot because it has the potential to pollute our water. Opposing it is a worthy cause. However, when Alltus and Rankin take a stand against the social, family, community, criminal and moral pollution at State Line they are vilified by some folks who should know better. This is not potential pollution - it’s real, it’s here and it’s hurting people and families in our community.

When Spokane throws out moral rubbish, why does State Line say welcome? And why does State Line’s city attorney endorse this? Is a landfill next? It’s disingenuous to oppose environmental pollution while approving moral pollution.

Thanks, Alltus and Rankin. I’ll pray for your tormentors to become enlightened. Vern Westgate Coeur d’Alene

McIntire a fine mayor

As a resident and taxpayer of the city of Hayden I would like to publicly thank Ron McIntire for his many years of community service in a variety of ways.

McIntire is always the first person mentioned when money or goods are needed in Hayden, for almost any cause, and he almost always responds in a positive way.

More important to the citizens and taxpayers of Hayden is the fact that he saw a need for positive leadership in Hayden government and cared enough to take his valuable time to run for mayor to the benefit of us all.

McIntire is and will continue doing a great job as mayor of Hayden, and I believe we all owe him a debt of gratitude. Richard C. Panabaker Kootenai County commissioner

Bail firm’s claim groundless

Re: Bail bond firm files claim against county.

I completely disagree with the comments of Allied Bail Bonds. I have been inside the jail and have witnessed the three phone books referred to in the article. There also is a special book with all the bondsman phone numbers in it by each phone.

Allied Bail Bonds’ claim that inmates are discouraged to bond out is ridiculous. This appears to be another company attempting to collect money from the taxpayers with a frivolous lawsuit. As a taxpayer, I hope the county fights the suit and files a countersuit to collect the attorney fees wasted by Allied’s claim. My experience is that the deputies advise all the people who can bond out to do it. But it is up to the individual. Leslie A. Teresi Coeur d’Alene

Church incident items incomplete

Jim Blaine (Letters, March 31), you are right! Jesus did leave with the St. Thomas parishioner when she went out the door. But did you realize that Jesus also stayed with the 40 to 60 and sometimes more parishioners who attended Father Rodenspiel’s liturgy every weekday morning and several hundreds on Sundays?

I am and have been one of those 40 to 60 parishioners for more than two years and know what has been happening during these masses.

My suggestion to all who feel like making comments about what is reported by the media is that they check all the facts before making their comments.

I would like to single out Hot Potatoes columnist D.F. Oliveria for his cheap shot (March 30). If he had checked all the facts he would have found that the family and social services had been contacted.

Oliveria, please be careful when writing to entertain your thousands of readers because checking for the truth is much better than repeating what someone else says is the truth.

As for the lady in question, she is one of God’s creatures and a fine one, too. George Reeve Coeur dAlene