Goldendale Sentinel Editorial

Check engine soon!

A column by Karen Henslee

     Idiot lights.
     That's what they always called them.
It used to be the dash on our cars had gauges, so we could watch as our fuel tank or oil reserve dwindled; or as our battery was drained.
     Now we just have to wait until the little indicator lights come on.
     And then we panic, at first.
     We grab the manual and go directly to the troubleshooting guide. Inevitably, the solution simply says, “see qualified technician.”
     So what is it, some grand conspiracy to keep the auto repair world in business? Whatever happened to do-it-yourself?
     And so we wait. We ask the guy down the street who knows something about cars (after all, he's always got his head inside the hood of a car).
     Or, we find a fix-it-yourself manual to see if we can save a few bucks.
     And still in the end, we take it to the “qualified service technician.”
     It sort of reminds me of health issues.
     We start to feel lousy, but hey, it's just a part of life, right?
     Sometimes we talk to our friends, or if it’s a little too personal, we don’t mention it at all.
We grab the latest medical guide, or go to WebMD.
     All the while, the condition gets worse until we have no choice but to see the “qualified service technician.”
     Of course, if you’re a guy, anything more than a sniffle qualifies (see Man Cold on YouTube).
     This situation is all too familiar for me.
     My recent emergency hysterectomy stemmed from waiting. I just didn't have the time. After all, it all must be part of “the change.”
     But it could not be ignored and when I finally gave in, it seemed I'd entered the twilight zone.      Blood transfusions and surgery came at me so quickly I didn't have the time (or the strength) to panic. It wasn't until after recovering, I realized how foolish I'd been.
     I was surprised when I spoke with other women who have had similar experiences. Seems we’re so busy with working our lives around our monthly cycle, we begin to accept it as “normal.”
     When I spoke to my very wise and famous doctor a few weeks later, one of the questions I asked was if this condition was hereditary... was it something my daughter should be concerned about? His blunt response was, “well, she should know that if she's bleeding to death, she ought to see a doctor.”
     Who can argue with that?
     So do the diagnostics, read the manuals and check the Web, but don't wait.
     They don't call ‘em idiot lights for nothing.

Let’s keep town safe during winter months

A guest column from the City of Goldendale

     Winter is here and along with it comes the inconvenience of snow removal. The City of Goldendale’s Public Works Department has been diligently working to keep the city streets clear of snowfall and intersections sanded for safety.
     All arterial streets are plowed first and side streets are plowed when snowfall of greater than four inches occurs. During the plowing of the streets snow is pushed to the side, creating a berm in front of curbs, driveways, mailboxes, etc. It is impossible for the City to plow the street without leaving a berm.
     We apologize for this inconvenience!
     However, it is important to keep the streets clear of snow for public and emergency vehicles alike. The City does not remove these berms, they are the responsibility of the property owner.
Snow also falls on sidewalks making them hazardous for pedestrians. It is the responsibility of the property owner to remove the snow on any sidewalk abutting his or her property.
     If you are unable to clear the sidewalk or berm on your property, try to make arrangements with a relative, neighbor, or friend to clear it.
     Lets all work together to make Goldendale a safe community during these winter months by keeping our streets and sidewalks clear of snow.