Your Hometown News Source
Your Hometown News Source
Sorted by date Results 301 - 325 of 697
To the editor, Whatever your thoughts on the COVID vaccine itself, it’s hard to read something like last week’s article about Columbia County Health System’s vaccine mandate without thinking there was a mistake and a section of “The Gulag Archipelago” was accidently spliced into the Dayton Chronicle. From the Chronicle: “[CCHS CEO and Chief HR Officer found]...sometimes people have an initial emotional response against being forced to get the vaccination, but that in time, they soften and sometimes with education, change their minds.” I w...
Outrage, anger, frustration, sorrow, horror, disbelief, shock, shame: it is impossible to know which emotion I feel most strongly right now. Never in my life have I been so ashamed of my country as I am today. We have gone from being the laughing-stock of the world to becoming a pariah and has-been world power lead by a doddering old fool, riddled with dementia who is out of his mind, out of his depth and out of excuses. To be clear, I agree with Mr. Biden that it was time to leave Afghanistan. I agree that we were there too long–“aimless and...
R.C. is an animal lover. Maybe not the kind of animal lover that the term has come to mean in this era, but the kind that requires a greater commitment. He would tell you he’s a farmer. But he’s a horseman and trainer, cattleman, hog producer, corn grower and great-grandfather. He’s also a dog man, with the patience and persistence to deserve a good stock dog. R.C. has had a wide variety of dogs in his life. One day he asked his wife, Doris to keep an eye out for a Blue Heeler. They appea...
On the same day the Governor ordered state employees (and others) to be vaccinated or face employment termination, state employee unions announced Inslee has agreed to re-open their 2021-23 contracts to negotiate pay raises. If government employees are going to receive pay raises, a sales tax cut should be on the table too. It has long been past the time for Washingtonians to receive a broad-based tax cut. Washington has historically ranked among the leaders across the country with strong tax re...
To the editor, Having lived in three developing countries for 17 years, I met very fine Americans as well as arrogant, and ignorant Americans. Representatives from the U.S. Embassy, USAID, Peace Corp, U.S. Military, UNICEf and UNESCO and missionaries are among those I encountered. Many stayed briefly, never getting to know the culture. Not fitting into any of those categories gave me special insight–into others and myself. Most Americans, including me, travel with American glasses, and don’t often see what is happening right before our eye...
This editorial has been prompted by a letter to the editor recently submitted expressing gratitude for the efforts of some in trying to protect the community from a devastating fire here as well as around the country, a fire that has burned people out of their property or homes. This has become the scenario over the past few years where fire traumatizes the Pacific Northwest each summer due to, in my opinion, poor forest management by agencies in charge of overseeing the vast forested, government–owned land. Logging ceased in the late 1980s, g...
When I hear a truck pull up in front of the house and the pandemonium of dogs barkin’ would wake a hibernating mastodon, I relax. It’s only my neighbor, D.K., come to borrow something of his back. He doesn’t get this ferocious reception because he’s on the canine list of unsavory visitors or because he has the reputation of annoying domestic animals on a regular basis. It’s because his two dogs usually accompany him on his rounds. My dogs even bark at his pickup when he drives in anticipat...
To the editor, I fully endorse and support Johnny Watts for Columbia County Port Commissioner, District 3. I feel I have a good sense of what he values most: a strong Christian belief, a strong family, integrity, honesty and a conservative foundation. He is definitely one whose word I would trust and know that his word is very important to him. Johnny has stated that he has chosen to run for County Port Commissioner to enhance the voice of the people it serves. Our citizens deserve to have their voices heard. We need to hear the voices of the...
Corn country landscape - painted late summer - high clouds, heavy with moisture waiting for afternoon to thicken and darken and start raising Cain. You can see for miles. Brown, green, yellow patchwork pieces of a giant jigsaw puzzle. Feedlots in the distance, their pens spread out like dark blankets on the side of a hill. On the horizon to the north and south I can count three spray planes circling over the corn like buzzards. They are so far away I cannot hear them. Closer I can see circle spr...
WALLA WALLA–Washington State Governor Jay Inslee announced on Monday, August 9 that most state workers in Washington, as well as private health care and long-term care employees, will be required to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination by Oct. 18, or lose their jobs. "The governor's recent proclamation ordering termination of employment for those who choose not to be vaccinated is incredibly troubling, both from a legal and philosophical perspective," say 16th District State Reps. Skyler Rude a...
To the editor, I am writing this letter in support of Seth Bryan for Port Commissioner District No. 1. I have gotten to know Mr. Bryan over the last several months and I share a belief in the need for local elected officials to be accountable, fiscally responsible, and accessible to the public. As the Port of Columbia is the driver for economic growth in Columbia County, and is supported by local tax dollars, any and all decisions it makes should have sufficient public input so as to ensure it accurately reflects the will of the people. Mr....
By Sen. Perry Dozier We all want transparency and accountability from those in positions of authority. I recognize the frustration that led to 2020’s protests and cries for police reform. Community members are right to expect justice and fairness, yet the police reform bills passed during the 2021 legislative session are unlikely to deliver that. Unfortunately, they will instead tie the hands of our men and women in uniform in a way that may have very negative consequences for public safety a...
“Mama, when’s Daddy comin’ home? Is it time to worry yet?” “By supper, darlin’. Eat your Cheerios.” He rode out this morning early. Like he does six days a week I always make him tell me where he goes ‘Specially when I know he’s headed over on the canyon side At least I know I’ll have a place to start So in case he doesn’t come back I can hunt for him myself Or go for help if I get faint of heart “Run and git your schoolbooks, kiddos! And be sure to wash yer hands.” “Aw Mama, do we have to s...
By Jason Ouimet Executive Director of the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action There is a central hypocrisy at the heart of the gun-control effort. Gun-control supporting politicians, the Hollywood elite and billionaire tycoons will advocate to disarm ordinary Americans, all the while enjoying the security that armed men with guns provide. Moreover, as the 2018 firearm incident involving President Joe Biden's son, Hunter, shows, this hypocrisy extends even to when politi...
Some might wonder why prehistoric cave drawings weren’t more detailed. Surely there were artists capable of rendering intricate representations of the circulatory system of aurochs or the dentition of a Saber Tooth Tiger drawn to scale. But what we see on these cave walls are stick figure men chasing antelope shaped quadrupeds, reminiscent of Dick and Jane throwing a bone at Spot. Rather primitive at best. I think there had to be a Neanderthal equivalent of Norman Rockwell, but he was born w...
To the editor, I received a mailer that I assumed came from the Port of Columbia, addressing questions about the proposed trail between Waitsburg and Dayton. I believe this trail is being billed as an economic boost for both cities. Why is the flyer telling us about all the bad things that won’t happen? What about the good things that are going to happen? Why is it that these are not addressed? To date, there has been little talk about the economic benefits the trail will bring to our communities. How many visits will we see per day, week, mont...
Ted and his dad needed some cows to stock their little ranch in Oklahoma, and they needed ’em right away. A local trader solved their problem and injected a couple loads into them. By fall Ted began to notice one calf that stood taller than the rest. Must’uve had some Chianina blood coursing through his veins. They called him Alf. They got the big calf castrated and branded and watched him grow like a weed. After several months Ted gathered a bunch to ship. But Alf ducked back. Ted shook out...
While we wait for the capital gains income tax litigation to work its way through the courts, the University of Washington’s Law School has posted an interesting video: “Three-minute Legal Tips: Capital Gains Tax.” The video is a short interview with Professor Scott Schumacher, Director, Graduate Program in Taxation. Of particular note were these comments from Professor Schumacher: “A capital gains tax is just a tax on certain type of income…To the extent this is an income tax, and I think it is...
To the editor, I take this opportunity to express my support for Laura Aukerman for City Council Position No. 1. In my opinion she would be a strong and positive addition to the Dayton City Council. Laura has a passion to be involved in her community and has demonstrated that passion by investing in a business in Dayton and running for City Council. She was raised in a military family that taught her commitment to Patriotism and in her words “my country, my city and my neighbors”. I have spent some time around Laura and she is a team pla...
