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To the editor, Idaho’s primary election is May 21, and there will be a one year supplemental school levy on the ballot.
Prior to 2006, Idaho fully funded its public schools. But in 2006 Idaho legislators voted to discontinue fully funding Idaho’s public schools. Since then, it has been up to the individual school districts to fund 1/3 of its annual budget by passing school levies. These levies are necessary to fully cover some of the basic services, such as maintenance, transportation, curricula, staff, health & liability insurance increases, and sports.
Also important is being able to have a resource officer at hand.
Last year, there were naysayers in our school district who insisted we needed a forensic audit.
Well, that was completed, and “no financial improprieties” were found. So here we are now, and it is time to pass the levy.
A homeowner of a house valued at $400,000 pays just $20/month.
Here’s what we will get with the levy: a resource officer to help keep our kids safe; needed repair of leaking roofs & heating systems; hire bus drivers & maintain our buses; help feed our children; retain & recruit the best staff & teachers.
Please vote IN FAVOR of the levy on May 21st.
-Alice Booth Priest River
Grocery chain CEOs need to pay more, improve safety and staffing
To the editor, I’ve been employed as a union grocery store worker at the Safeway in Newport, Washington, for 10 years. Having a union represent me and being on our union’s negotiations team for a better contract helps me, my coworkers, and my customers. We’re able to push for stronger safety measures that would enable us to serve customers better and also provide a safer shopping experience.
Me and my coworkers are also pushing for a big pay raise, so we get paid enough to survive.
Our cost of living in the Newport area is high – comparable to Spokane and even Seattle. Our groceries and housing costs have increased a lot, but our wages have fallen behind making it harder and harder for our store to keep good, experienced workers. If the wages aren’t there, it hurts workers and the community we serve and live in. Last year Safeway’s CEO agreed to send $4 billion of profit to wealthy shareholders. We need some of that money to stay right here in our community with higher wages and safety improvements. Safeway needs to change its ways.
-Kim Bristlin Oldtown
Pride before the fall
To the editor, I believe American pride in our country’s “exceptionalism” has unwittingly locked us into an impenetrable bubble of unreality. We ever-adaptable humans have learned to gloss over contradictions to our staunch belief that our country is still ruled by Constitutional law.
I recently read Kash Patel’s “Government Gangsters” after watching several of his thought-provoking “Deep State” analyses aired on The Epoch Times. His book is an exposé of the unlawful tactics of compromised operatives in the CIA, FBI and entrenched bureaucrats. Patel, lead investigator busting the Russia-Trump collusion hoax, documents how the narrative that January 6th was an insurrection staged by Trump supporters, urged on by President Trump, is false, but nevertheless became the chief weapon of the powerful ruling class. Patel documented how “Deep State repeatedly leaked, lied, covered up, obstructed, subverted and broke the law,” all orchestrated by the media, the DNC, corporations and Big Tech.
Yet, Deep State never succeeded in taking out Trump – indeed, their schemes backfire, leaving Democrats baffled.
Patel concludes that Deep State’s worst nightmare has come true: millions of Americans have awakened to its existence, learned the truth, and stopped listening to their lies.
While Deep State controls the levers of government, they are a tiny minority. Their effectiveness depends on successfully hiding their crimes – while fooling us into believing they are doing good.
As massive swaths of people have stopped being susceptible to smear campaigns, Deep State is losing control.
Cornered, they are becoming erratic, shrill and dangerous, labeling Trump supporters as “domestic terrorists,” even refusing to certify Trump’s potential re-election!
A lifelong Democrat, I experienced profound sadness upon admitting I’ve been deceived beyond imagination by the DNC for years. I believe that either our false pride in “American exceptionalism” must fall – or the Republic falls to the gangsters.
-Kamori Cattadoris Newport
Gentle know what’s needed in Pend Oreille County
To the editor, I am the former Commissioner for Ferry County, Michael Heath. Currently, I am running for Okanogan County Commissioner for District 1. I have worked with Commissioner John Gentle for the past four years on several boards including the Tri-County Board of Health, the Eastern Washington Council of Government, as well as Martin Hall Board of Directors.
Commissioner Gentle has always been a huge asset to any room he steps in. He is knowledgeable and always speaks up, without hesitation, for the betterment of the People and what is right. He is not afraid to question issues, ensuring that they are looked at from all viewpoints. His seriousness and insight on matters are necessary in the meetings that local government officials frequent when representing their constituents.
I fully endorse John Gentle for re-election knowing he is what is needed in Pend Oreille County and Eastern Washington to maintain our rural way of life.
Former Ferry County Commissioner, -Michael Heath Inchelium
Vote Yes for schools
To the editor, I hear time and time again that our test scores are low and why do we need to “dump” money into the school and not all kids are great at test taking. The reason is that it is just not about the schools but the community as a whole. If our schools fail then it will be detrimental for the whole town. If we have to cut jobs from the school district then that will be less people spending money in the town. If less people are spending money then businesses may have to shut down. It is beneficial not only for the children but the district and town as a whole.
Please vote yes to show these kids because it does directly affect them. Our children are not pawns which is what I see on vote No signs so why are people treating them like they are by not allowing them to have functioning schools. Please vote yes to allow them to have safe buses, smaller class sizes, buildings that aren’t falling apart. Why do our children deserve less because we live in WBCSD 83 and not Sandpoint where they have a permanent levy?
-Kylie Hoepfer Priest River
Beware of fake Republicans May 21
To the editor, Beware. We have many Democrats running as Republicans in our May 21 primary elections.
The liberals that wish to exert more control over you and further degrade our society are inventing all sorts of ways to mislead and misguide you.
A mailer went out in mid-April with a lot of names of people who are fake Republicans – fake conservatives. Keep it so you know who not to vote for! Don’t reward the deceivers – they cannot be trusted.
There are only a few official Bonner County Republican Central Committee (BCRCC) endorsed candidates. Some of those include: Herndon (ID Senate), Korn (County Commissioner), Jane Sauter (State Rep), Rasor (State Rep), Wheeler (Sheriff), Domke (County Commissioner).
I can personally attest to the good character and independence of my good friend Ron Korn for commissioner. He is for your liberty and property rights. Period.
I also know that Cornel Rasor and Scott Herndon are good, honorable, God-fearing men that love their state and country. I moved here from Montana, and back further, New Hampshire. Worked at Ruger in product development designing rifles and revolvers. I moved to escape the sea of blue. I moved here to live free or die in the west. Don’t let this become another Colorado, California or Vermont. For your kids - don’t let freedom die.
Vote May 21st for true conservative candidates that can be trusted.
Beware of the deceivers. If in doubt, leave it blank on the ballot.
-Michael Krsiean Sandpoint
Women, unborn children will die because of Idaho abortion law
To the editor, Our Idaho neighbors were at the US Supreme Court last week arguing their abortion ban law.
This is what happens when lazy Idaho State lawmakers copy a model bill from a political advocacy group and vote it into law. Most of them likely didn’t contemplate the bill they approved.
The law was challenged and made it to the US Supreme Court for a final decision. That’s the same court that cleared the way for Idaho to adopt their abortion ban by overturning Roe v.
Wade.
Idaho law only allows for an abortion if the mother is going to die.
It takes a fortune telling doctor to determine when someone reaches the point of no return and is going to die in an emergency room bed.
Idaho has the woman bleeding out to a point of near death before the doctor can legally treat her pregnancy complication.
No doctor wants to put his freedom and license at risk, so most will just leave Idaho and practice elsewhere. Women and their unborn children are going to die over the Idaho abortion ban law.
The root of the abortion law isn’t in saving unborn children from abortion.
It’s people wanting to play God using politics to be just like the Almighty.
The law inserts politicians into the process of medical treatment decisions in the hospital ER. One thought is that they want to put the unborn fetus over the living mother if the pregnancy is in question. The mother must be on death’s doorstep according to their law.
It’s the death penalty for the pregnant woman for having intercourse that results in an unviable pregnancy.
The abortion ban law puts all Idaho childbearing age women at risk requiring women to travel to Washington State for reproductive healthcare.
It’s a bad law enacted by lazy lawmakers.
-Pete Scobby Newport
John Gentle for county commissioner
To the editor, I’d like to take this opportunity to share why I respect and admire Pend Oreille County Commissioner John Gentle.
Having retired from over 30 years with the Office of the Washington State Attorney General, I decided to volunteer for the Pend Oreille County Noxious Weed Board. John is the liaison between the Weed Board and the County Commissioners and in that capacity, I have gotten to know him and his work ethic.
John not only seriously cares about our county, but also about how he interacts and treats both staff and the public. He listens carefully to all points of view, regardless of his personal position.
He has the ability to synthesize and digest information in a clear, coherent manner and to tactfully suggest potential solutions. He is open to considering the value of all ideas. Having spent my career in state government, I have come to appreciate and value these attributes highly. You should too.
Listening to each of us, considering all sides of a situation, and being able to bring people together for a solution is a skill not many possess. It is critical to being able to run a county successfully.
As with any board, our members do not always agree. John has a witty way of defusing tensions, often making us laugh at ourselves. I know I can trust both his judgement and that he will do what he says he will do.
I respect the work John has done as one of our County Commissioners.
He cares about the best interest of everyone, respects the people he works with, and is fiscally responsible. I don’t think there is much more you can ask from anyone. I whole heartedly support his bid for a second term and I hope you will do the same.
-Pamela V. Thomure Cusick
