Farmland preservation is a bad idea
To the Editor:
Welcome to the High Prairie, home of the two-acre parcel. It seems the Amery family, to keep their farm, must divide 20 percent of their 3,500 acres into 200 parcels. This Led Zeppelin will never fly. Of course there must be an environmental report.
Is it legal to change the general plan for one family? Also, this is not a plan for all of us - just for the Amerys. What a sweet deal -an example of having your cake and eating it too. Yummy.
My understanding is that some of the commissioners also like the plan. It’s an obvious case of conflict of interest, in my opinion. One of the commissioners is a contractor and the other is a real estate broker, so I believe they should recuse themselves from any input into the plan. If this idea ever took form, it would ruin the beauty of the High Prairie and the value of our property.
Another big question is, of course, water. Where is the water going to come from? We also will need another environmental report to study the abundance of our water supply on the High Prairie, which most agree is in short supply.
Most people that have moved to the High Prairie have done so because of its nature and the beauty of its surroundings. This badly thought out plan will ruin everything for everyone, and destroy the value of our land. We are all working on this obviously flawed plan and putting all our resources together to put a stop to a very bad idea.
Tom Gentry
High Prairie
City should be proud of events planner
To The Editor:
I attended the Maryhill Festival of Speed with my 14-year-old son. Being from a small town in Southern California, I quickly felt at home in Goldendale. The people were warm and welcoming. My town is the kind of place that people walk at dusk, visit, and wave to each other.
Goldendale reminded me of home in many ways. I'd like to thank the volunteers who helped with the Festival. They greeted us and fed us with smiles on their faces. Of all the volunteers, I was most impressed with Lorraine Reynolds. On the first night we arrived in town I observed her - not knowing who she was - and wondered how she tied into the event. I am aware of who runs the IGSA and she was a new face. The next morning we left the Quality Inn and made our way to the Maryhill Loops Road. We were one of the first to arrive and she was there. Needless to say that's the way it was the entire week. She's got some serious energy for sure.
As I now know, not everything went according to plans. Some people took advantage of your community, for this I want to express my apologies. The racing community is doing everything it can to make amends, both financially and in goodwill. I hope the community and city leadership finds it in their heart to forgive the acts committed.
As Mayor of Fillmore, Calif., I can honestly say I would be proud to have Lorraine Reynolds on my staff. She represented your city with dedication and love. Since that event she has worked even longer hours to “make things right” for Goldendale. The citizens of Goldendale should be extremely proud of her - I know I am.
Mayor Steve Conaway
Fillmore, Calif.
God leads in life and politics
To The Editor:
I am writing this letter in response to Robert Seborer’s letter in last week’s paper. I’m not ashamed to put my name and my belief in my God. Whether running for political office or in my daily walk of life - I want God to direct my path in anything I do.
Mr. Seborer has known me for years. I’m quite troubled he would attack me just because I believe in a higher power. It is true I did not do well in the election as a write-in candidate, but if he thinks he can do it on his own without God, then maybe his name will be on the next local election.
He suggested maybe I had a weak deity or I actually did not read the mind of God. I need to inform him maybe he should put God in his little group of protesters against the war in Iraq, and maybe he would have help bringing the troops back home safely.
It is true I did not get elected as Hospital Commissioner, but I’ve devoted myself - and I remind you, sir, with God’s help, the employees at KVH do not have to deal with the former CEO and the CFO, or Brim Health Care.
So, as I end this letter, I appreciate all the devoted healthcare workers at KVH. Attack me all you want. I proclaim to you or anyone else in the whole wide world: God guides me and has given me the wisdom to fight corruption at KVH. Attack me, but don’t call my God a weak God. He is powerful, and I proclaim he is my leader.
Delbert Brown
Goldendale
Mayor is not contracted
To the Editor:
This is in response to the letter in last week’s paper that said the contracts for Larry Bellamy and I should not be renewed:
Thank you for your comments; however, Mr. Bellamy and I are not under contract. Mr. Bellamy is an “Appointed” employee by the Mayor and subject to confirmation by at least five council members (GMC 2.12.010.)
The Mayor (this is the title of the position) is an elected position (GMC 2.08.010). Removal is by recall, information can be obtained from the Klickitat County Auditor’s office.
My door is always open to the public. Please drop by some day and get to know me.
Mayor Arletta Parton
Goldendale
Church-state not in Const.
To The Editor:
\While Robert Seborer’s biased opinions in last week’s paper are clear, his letter creates confusion. The words “separation of church and state” do not exist in the Constitution. Since religion is defined as “something which has a powerful hold on a person's way of thinking,” the Supreme Court has ruled that atheism, secular humanism and other beliefs are religions. So everyone, with their set of beliefs has a religion - even Robert Seborer.
A theocracy is a government composed of leaders claiming to know the will of God, such as Iran. America is a republic that tries to elect leaders of honesty and integrity that hopefully will govern with the wisdom and righteousness that can only come from God.
Frank Hodges
Goldendale
Opt for cancer prevention
To The Editor:
To those engaged in a quixotic and ultimately futile search for a “cure” for cancer, the answer is not more federal tax dollars on research. It is prevention and lifestyle change. Please get the book, The China Study, by T. Colin Campbell, PhD, and M. Campbell II. They clearly demonstrate, through voluminous research in rural China, the direct correlation between cancers of all types and diet.
To cut the death rate from both heart disease and cancer, please let’s spend our scarce resources on Lifestyle Education, not on finding a cure once a person has developed on of these terrible diseases.
Brad Hall
Goldendale |
