To the editor, Andrew and his family were already an established entity at the Chewelah Farmers Market when I came on the scene in 2012.
Andrew and his wife Celeste, were vendors selling farm vegetables and quality crafted skincare products. Andrew’s mom was also a vendor and brought with her Andrew’s younger siblings to many of the markets. I knew them all. I had the pleasure of witnessing the interactions of a close-knit loving family.
On a more professional level, I sat on the market’s board of directors with Andrew and discovered a young man, soft spoken, a man that used his words thoughtfully and articulately.
I believe Andrew Engell will represent our 7th legislative district with integrity, honesty and a sincere concern for the rights of people that are being impacted by the economic challenges in his district.
-Deborah Barbee Chewelah
Fish and Game, Tribe and
Bulltrout
To the editor, I have high respect for the Fish and Game efforts to manage our wildlife, without them many more species would be in trouble than already are. Having heard representatives of the tribe speak scientifically I am very impressed with knowledge they have available in their members.
Since the dams on the Clark Fork and Pend Oreille Rivers were built I think since they created more water exposure to the sun, it therefore increased water temperatures even before global warming. At this point you have to be a dimwit like Donald Trump not to see how global warming is affecting us here in eastern Washington.
Some years ago we had Largemouth Bass Tournements, and fair Crappie and Perch fishing in Pend Oreille River. When I fished 40 years ago, you couldn’t keep Whitefish off the hook. More recently when we got Pike that migrated down and that became a fun fishery. Now the main fun are Smallmouth Bass, which are great!
So there have been ongoing efforts to trap all the warmwater fish out and restore the Bulltrout and Whitefish population in the river.
I just want to voice my opinion that it is a folly, too expensive and with warming conditions we are facing, hardly possible. I have fished the Pend Oreille River 40 years and never caught or seen a Bull Trout.
-Roger Castle Newport
The dawn of unity
To the editor, I truly hope that my mainstream- media-consuming neighbors have witnessed the curtain pulled back revealing the Grand Deception that has been orchestrated from the highest levels of our government down to news outlets and social media. The revelation that Joseph R. Biden is not the man these colluders have feverishly curated for us the past three years has shocked many into the awareness that perhaps not all is as it seems.
As I see it, we have been artificially divided into angry polarized groups through relentlessly coordinated media propaganda campaigns. Both sides are radicalized into holding hateful and even violent thoughts about one another – but by whom and to what end? The international billionaire cartels make their billions off of the war machine, weaponized finance, toxic pharmaceuticals and illegal drugs, human trafficking and more. Through infiltration, I believe they are the ones pushing indoctrination in place of education, “anything goes” liberalism in place of morals, and gender insecurity, disintegrating our culture. All that’s needed now to trigger civil war is a spark – which, in my opinion, was supposed to have been the assassination of Donald J. Trump. By God’s grace we dodged that bullet.
As evidence of the deep penetration of artificial hate into the hearts of liberals, despicable comments were circulating on social media to the effect that Trump’s death would have been cause for celebration – too bad the guy missed (a kind of twisted “virtue signaling” inviting “likes”). With the revelation that Biden is not “sharp as a tack” as he was portrayed, surely by now we can acknowledge that neither is Trump a “dangerous Hitler” as he is portrayed.
May this assassination attempt serve as the spark to unite us against those who I believe are the real enemies within: the billionaire cabal’s minions.
-Kamori Cattadoris Newport
Vote Gentle for county commissioner
To the editor, Over the past several years, I have had the opportunity to work beside John Gentle in efforts to improve opportunities for our county citizens including land use issues, grant funding, projects to recruit businesses, and more.
John’s solid moral and ethical character is very apparent. He is consistently respectful in discussions with individuals and groups, listening to the concerns and opinions of county residents. He is not a career politician, he is not using the county commissioner position as a steppingstone in the political arena, and he is not looking to build a resume and move on.
John’s goals are straightforward; he wants to see the quality of life in our county improve. He wants our children and grandchildren to be able to stay in this county earning a comfortable living and having a rewarding life. Careful growth, including locating businesses in our county that provide employment allowing families to be self-sufficient is part of John’s plan. Protecting our rights as landowners, recruiting businesses to help improve our tax base so we do not lose basic services are important components of his plan as well.
Pend Oreille County is John’s home, his loyalty to our county and our citizens is obvious.
John Gentle is the right choice for County Commissioner District 1.
-Kelly J. Driver Executive Director, Port of Pend Oreille
Comparing the parties’ plans
To the editor, The Republican plan: 1. The very wealthy are given a tax cut. Therefore, they have even more money.
2. All items imported to the US are slapped with a tariff. Therefore everything (think Walmart, Kmart, Costco) costs more for everyone. The wealthy don’t care. They have plenty of money.
3. Prices are raised due to the tariffs. This increases inflation. The wealthy don’t care.
4. The Federal Reserve raises interest rates (think mortgages) to curb inflation. The wealthy don’t need to buy on time, so they don’t care.
5. The gap between the wealthy and the rest of us grows larger.
The Democratic plan: 1. The wealthy are required to pay more in taxes.
2. The extra federal revenue is used to support the social safety net (i.e.
Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, ACA). Funds are also used to improve infrastructure and create more jobs.
3. More jobs mean more wages, creating more tax revenue.
4. Prices do not necessarily rise so the Federal Reserve does not need to raise interest rates.
5. The gap between the wealthy and the rest of us gets smaller.
Which makes more sense to you?
-Martha Nichols Newport
Amazing founding words
To the editor, “And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”
These are impressive words our Founding Fathers used against Great Britain, the most powerful country at that time.
Did you ever wonder what the future held for them after showing such courage?
Here is the fate of 29 of the 56 who signed: Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.
Our Founding Fathers were well educated, soft spoken men who had secure futures. Yet, they felt that God had given us all certain rights that needed to be protected. That “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Their honor and their virtue depended upon them defending these rights.
The consequences of their actions helped make America the most free and prosperous country on the globe.
The day our Constitution was signed, as our Founders left Independence Hall, many were waiting to see what type of government our founders had crafted.
One of them, Elizabeth Willing Powel, asked Benjamin Franklin, ‘What do we have, a republic or a monarchy?’ Franklin replied, ‘A republic, if you can keep it.’
As long as we have Americans who are willing to sacrifice for freedom and help maintain our republic, we will keep it. So, the question is, do we?
-Maureen Patterson Priest River
We must address larger picture of gun violence
To the editor, Good guys (police snipers) stopped a bad guy with a gun only after he shot four people including former President Trump.
Why a 20-year-old male shot four people will likely remain a mystery.
The shooting may have nothing to do with politics.
Shooting people from a roof with AR style guns seems to be a pattern for young males. We recall the 4 of July parade shooting in Highland Park, Ill. where seven people were killed and 48 people injured.
Apparently, the Second Amendment allows young men to have AR style guns that they can use to murder people at will. We can’t eliminate the gun or the motives for using it to murder.
We must address the larger picture of violence with guns. People have asked me if they should get a gun when political violence seems to be on our horizon. The idea is that they want a way to shoot back if they are targeted.
Looking at Trump’s shooting rally, guns were not allowed and the rally was a gun-free zone.
Staged police snipers were able to quickly kill the shooter and he was limited to around 8 shots. What chance do we have in public to defend ourselves with handguns from snipers on roofs or elevated firing positions?
I wonder if people will want to sit behind Trump as his next outdoor rally.
He should speak behind bullet proof glass, and no one should be seated behind or around him.
Violence has always been part of American culture.
We seem to love it in our lives. Guns are the answer if we can’t find a way to talk to each other without our words resulting in violence. Our society seems doomed to who shoots first and is the best shot.
-Pete Scobby Newport
Thank you to the road crews
To the editor, I want to express a big thank you to the dedicated, skilled and friendly crew that has been repaving Scotia Road in this heat.
They have done an excellent job of making Scotia a safer, and definitely more comfortable, road for residents like myself and the kids who ride the school buses. The work is much appreciated. Thank you!
-Mary Upshaw Newport