Letters To The Editor

Give your support to Cities of Character

May I add my voice to the outcry to make all of the cities in Kootenai County, Character Cities? Every day, the news stories we hear and read are undeniable testimonies of the need for encouraging one another in good character.

As is well-stated by William J. Bennett in “The Book of Virtues” good character is important to both the present and the future:

“The vast majority of Americans share a respect for certain fundamental traits of character: honesty, compassion, courage and perseverance. These are virtues. But because children are not born with this knowledge, they need to learn what these virtues are….For children to take morality seriously they must be in the presence of adults who take morality seriously. And with their own eyes they must see adults take morality seriously.”

As members of our community, we have a responsibility to be that quiet example of what is good and right. If we will aspire to the goal of having Cities of Character, we will be working toward the fulfillment of that responsibility and investing in one of our most important resources - our children. Please support Cities of Character. Stephen F. Smith Coeur d’Alene

Developers should make good on promises first

Re: “$2 million for 2 new Post Falls fire stations?”

We shouldn’t pay for a fire station at Pleasant View and Seltice Way until the Schneidmillers give the city the municipal land promised in exchange for rezoning their family ground from agricultural to R1 for the Montrose subdivision. Of course, this hollow promise was made after a “between-meetings” change to the 20-year plan-in-progress was noticed by the public.

County commissioner wannabe Gus Johnson bellowed how the “Montrose subdivision would be adversely affected” by late-night trains blowing their horns at grade crossings. A subdivision that had but one model home on it! Hey Gus, there were eight more grade crossings in Post Falls. I suppose any impact fee set-asides also are earmarked for the new roads, utilities, city services, etc., that we will provide the Schneidmillers thousands of new tenants.

The 16th and Highway 41 station? Let Wal-Mart pay for it. The Schneidmillers, Gus Johnsons and Wal-Marts of the world continually trumpet their community welfare concerns. Let them invest in the community instead of self-aggrandizing, multimedia-ad campaigns. Put their money where their mouthpiece is.

Do any of us really expect an honest contribution from these three? Of course not. Will those of us in the older part of town - you know, the part of town that is already paid for - get stuck paying for public facilities that weren’t mandated in the greased-palm, bureaucracy-assisted rush for urban sprawl?

Of course we will. After all, such shenanigans have become a Post Falls tradition. Jim West Post Falls

Community came through for students

Beth Wright’s fourth-grade class from Hayden Meadows Elementary School recently spent three days in western Washington visiting the Pacific Science Center, Space Needle, the Locks, Marine Science Center, Naval Undersea Museum and Point Defiance Zoo.

They toured the harbor at Bremerton’s Naval Station and the battleship SS Turner Joy. It was a wonderful, educational experience.

The class needed to raise $3,200 to pay for the trip. Fund-raising efforts included a yard sale, bake sales, car wash and a raffle. The raffle could not have been possible without the support of the following businesses: Adelphia; Louie Permilia; Coeur d’Alene Inn; Montana River Guide; The Coeur d’Alene Resort; Mully’s Hockey Hut; The Coeur d’Alene Resort Spa; Nails 2002; Clark’s Jewelry; Northwest Kempo; Daanen’s Deli; Papa Murphy’s; Diane Turner; Pepsi; Farmers Insurance; Silverwood Theme Park; First Security Bank; Starbucks; Gift Baskets and Boutique; Super 1 Foods; Hayden Jiffy Lube; The Gables; Hayden Lake Printing; Ultra Lawn; Java the Hut; World Gym; Jifi Stop; Zip Shine Car Wash; Kootenai River Inn; and La Petite Hair Salon.

The parents also would like to thank Ms. Wright for her dedication to teaching. Her commitment to the kids, coupled with the support of the Coeur d’Alene School District, is deeply appreciated by all of the parents whose children were inspired to learn because of this trip. Maggie Lyons Hayden Lake