Letters

Article didn’t tell both sides of story

Would it not be a novel idea for news media people to actually check their facts before writing a column? I am referring to Nina Culver’s May 17 piece on the Rev. Victor Blazovich and St. Mary’s Church in the Valley. Did she ever, in her investigation, attend a Mass in which Blazovich officiated?

The recall petition, to which Culver refers, was put forth by a very small group of malcontents who magnified any action of Blazovich’s with which they did not agree. Father has never used any person’s name in his homilies unless it was in the most positive way possible. Did she ever interview anyone in the parish that was not associated with that petition to ascertain their opinion of Blazovich?

Parish priests do not have to ask permission from the councils for every tiny thing they may choose to do. The Parish Council unanimously did not support that petition. When Blazovich refers to “parishioners who have left because of me” he is referring to that tiny group who first put forth that petition. That same group never themselves went to Blazovich to discuss his motives.

Father Blazovich is one of the most loving and kind men I have ever been privileged to know. He is the first priest I have ever met whom I thought was truly a holy man. Our church is better for having known him and the worse for losing him to another parish.

Jeanne Thompson

Spokane Valley

Road projects should be put up for bids

As a citizen of the Spokane Valley it pleases me to see they are forward thinking in addressing street issues before they become nightmares like the city of Spokane. Recently the couplet between University and Argonne was ground out and resurfaced and now I see University south of Sprague is getting the same treatment.

What bothers me, is that these projects and many others as well are all awarded to the same company to do the work without any formal bidding process. I am aware that Poe Asphalt has the contract for maintenance work for the Spokane Valley. Are you kidding me? These projects that they continue to do are well beyond the scope of maintenance and should be put out to bid. This is like writing an open-ended check with the citizens’ money – assuming we are getting the best bang for our buck without anything to compare to.

This process of contractor determination is neither fair nor impartial, and in fact stinks of cronyism. Does someone in City Hall know someone from Poe?

There needs to be a limit to the dollar amount for each “maintenance” project, and if it exceeds that it should go out to bid. Maybe if this practice was adopted the taxpayers would get more bang for their buck and the company doing the work would be from this state. 

Mike Dahl

Spokane Valley