Rape editorial too graphic
To the Editor:
I am writing in response to your column on July 31, titled Rape 101. Although it was well written and the point of your column was very valid, I appeal to you to consider your audience when you are selecting the content of your articles.
We choose to live in a small rural community which is, fortunately, sheltered from most of the harshness and violence of larger cities. We also choose to raise our Christian family with moral safeguards, because we do not want our children to be unnecessarily exposed to the perversity of our present culture.
One of our childrens’ highlights of the week is to get The Sentinel on Thursday afternoon. For six years they have been doing this.
But, on July 31, my sons and I were defiled by your column. We have taught our children what rape is, because we choose not to raise ignorant children. However, in your column, we were given a graphic picture of that rape. As a journalist, there is a responsibility to use caution in not giving so much detailed information to enable someone to repeat the act that was described. There was no reason to go into that detail except for the shock value of it. With a little extra effort, your column could have been written in a way that the same information and point were made without graphic details.
Your job is to inform people of the news, my job is to teach and train my children the things that they need to know to be good and Godly men and women. That column has made my job harder. Not only do I have to take away the privilege of getting and reading the paper before me, but I also have do damage control because of it.
Steve Wall
Goldendale
Shocked by events remarks
To The Editor:
I have seldom read anything in The Sentinel I consider jaw-dropping, but the article on events in Goldendale accomplished that. I have never written a letter to the editor before, but this did it for me. I am 80 years old and moved to Goldendale when I was nine. I think that gives me some insight into this place. All of those years this was uppermost in the minds of people: keep the young people from moving away; continue the growth and viability of the town; try to draw industry that would hold them here.
I have seen the heydays of the timber industry, the many ups and downs of farming, and the continued loss of job opportunities. Never have I heard it suggested that an occasional bluegrass performance on the courthouse lawn was the answer to our woes, nor that it would convince me to keep my family in Goldendale. Sure some of the events are noisy and attract a younger crowd, but what’s wrong with that? It only lasts a couple of days, but in the meantime visitors have spent money and have experienced the friendliness of the community. It was also remarked that the only ones profiting from the events were the motels and restaurants. What’s wrong with that? Shouldn’t someone be making money rather than no one?
There is sleepy and then there is dead to the world. I don’t want Goldendale to be the latter. I would sooner hear the sounds of children riding bikes and playing, than to hear the sound of rocking chairs on front porches.
MaryEllen Shull
Goldendale
City is right to limit events
To The Editor:
I would like to show my support to our mayor and her feelings regarding some of the things the city events planner brings to our town.
The events planner had a free reign with the former mayor that she doesn’t have now.
I attended the meeting when she said she had planned to open our park to free camping, which is a violation of our ordinance on the books now. We as city property owners are the ones who have to pay to keep our park up, not the people she invites to stay.
Regarding the tire burnouts etc. -the last was on the street beside City Hall. I did not see any protection for spectators. A yellow rope tied onto a barricade is all that protected the kids from an out-of-control vehicle, which sure could have left the city in very deep hot water.
Our previous mayor let a lot pass by that should not have been allowed, because he was involved.
At a meeting I heard a council member say he knows why people always come to Goldendale for these events - they are all free. They come and tear up our parks and we have to pay to fix them. The last time the rock crawlers came to our town they drove special vehicles on the streets and were allowed to do so, until the Washington State Patrol became involved. This was allowed in our city and it is a violation of the law! This mayor is more involved with doing things correctly. The city doesn’t need an events coordinator. Spend this money on a nice park for our kids.
Jerry Ream
Goldendale
Events boost local economy
To the Editor:
As in most small towns, Goldendale has a few "CAVE" people. (Citizens against virtually everything.) But I was appalled to read the comments by our newly elected mayor in last week's Sentinel regarding local events. She said she would eliminate larger events like the car shows, and stick to smaller gatherings like the bluegrass band that sang recently at the courthouse. Wow! That concert drew all of about 40 to 50 people and they were all local.
She's concerned our events are "creating troubled teens". Well, let's close down high school football and wrestling too. They influence aggression and fighting, and while we're at it - no more BINGO at the Legion and close all the bars and liquor store too. Get real!
The many events that our events planner has established here are flourishing and have certainly helped boost the local economy. Finally, Goldendale has come to life and is on the map, especially with car enthusiasts who say "great events happen here, they come and they want to return".
I plan on speaking to the City council on August 18. If this issue is important to you please plan to attend that meeting at 7 p.m.
Terry Campbell
Goldendale
Tire burnouts don’t make troubled teens
To the Editor,
Last week there was an article in The Sentinel, “City is split over future of events”. Mayor Arletta Parton said she would like to see a move away from the larger events. If we do that, Goldendale will lose what it has gained! When I have been to Portland, people there have asked where I live. I tell them Goldendale, Washington; they instantly say “I know where that is! We went to the rock crawls there.” “We went to motorcycle races at Eddyville.”
I am angered Mayor Parton thinks if kids go to the Smokin’ Joes burnout they will turn into troubled teens. I am 23 and loved to watch those kinds of things when I was a teen. I was not troubled and I can list another 50 that weren’t troubled teens because they liked those things too. Shame on you, Arletta. This is what the problem is: this is not a retirement community! If it was, there would be no schools, there would not be that many jobs, and there would be no young people here.
Events bring money into this town. I invite you to go to Holcomb’s Sentry Market on a Saturday when there is an event and sit on the bench and watch how busy this store is.
So Mayor Parton, shame on you for stereotyping teens, and shame on you for wanting to run these events out of this town. Shame on you for belittling this great town. I once said I want to live here for the rest of my life, but at the rate you’re going, there will be no more Goldendale. I would like for you to apologize for your rude remarks.
Andy Halm
Goldendale
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