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Testing has taken an increasingly central role as state officials attempt to limit the spread and risk from the coronavirus. Increased testing to find and treat people who are asymptomatic – because people can spread the virus while they show no signs of sickness – can help prevent the spread of the virus and prevent those carrying it from passing it on to other members of their family. Understanding that, other states in our region are taking steps to increase testing. Since late April, Ore...
“Hey buddy, maybe you’ll rope better after your horse foals. Ha ha!” “Thanks, pal. I had a horse like yours once. But his brain was so small his head caved in and he bit his own ears off! Look it’s starting in yours... see that indention.” The quick retort. That clever comeback, the snappy rejoinder that puts the annoying smart mouth in his place. The French call it Esprit d’Escalier - the wit of the stairway. In my case it would be better called Esprit d’ Much Later. I don’t think of what I w...
To the editor, I am extremely worried about the current COVID-19 situation, and my concern has nothing to do with coughing, sneezing, or any other symptoms of the common cold/flu. The extreme measures that are being taken in our state (and also the world) are incredibly concerning, and I am worried about my rights as a human being. In the recent video press release on May 31, 2020 Jay Inslee mandated that all workers in Washington state, effective June 8, must now wear a face covering at all times, and if they don’t abide by these rules are s...
DAYTON–We are in a historic time and history has yet to write the final chapter. Hundreds of thousands have lost their jobs as a global pandemic curtails business activity as 2020, an election year, started. Nearly all political posturing and campaigning came to a screeching halt in February and March as precautions were put in place. Supporters of President Donald Trump, by all appearances, are united in re-electing him to a second term. A large field of Democratic candidates has been narrowed to one man, Vice President Joe Biden. As the U...
The sport (passion, or affliction) of team roping experienced a terrific boom in popularity years ago with the creation of an association called United States Team Roping Championships (USTRC). It established a classification system based on the roper’s skill. It is comparable to the handicapping system used in golf. The result is that ropers are able to compete with others of ‘equal ability’ therefore increasing their chances of winning. As a roper improves, his USTRC number increases. Class...
We must sell it, I told Mother, for we really have no other choice. The price is much too dear to harbor any doubt. And though I know we’ll miss it the time has come to kiss it goodbye and find another place a little further out. When the Indians sold Manhattan to a Dutch aristocrat in fancy breeches for a blanket and a twenty dollar bill It presaged a corrosion, an urban sprawl erosion that covets all the fertile ground and overruns us still. It’s not givin’ up, I told her, just that we are g...
Letter to the editor, I enjoyed reading your recent article featuring one of my favorite teachers, Fred Gritman. I remember Fred as my industrial arts and shop teacher. He exemplified leadership, competence, and confidence. He was also free and giving with his vast knowledge. He gave us the skills and confidence to build projects from beginning to end. Teaching can be difficult, especially in a workshop environment. Fred had tremendous patience with us. I only saw him upset once, and it was because of a student-caused safety issue. He used the...
When people die, questions about life and its meaning rise above the clutter of everyday comings and goings. It's an ethereal question that has continued through the ages and confounded the greatest of minds. Our daughter Whitney left this world last week, and, for the first time, is standing tall, chattering with her grandfathers Tom Baker and Ted Berry and friends and clearly seeing her heavenly realm. By society's standards, she was profoundly mentally retarded and physically unable to do...
Behind those eyes there shines a light That’s guided me from my first step Down life’s highway through thick and thin So I could tell the wrong from right. Behind those eyes there beats a heart That taught me love is what you feel And to be taken as it is And not something you take apart. Behind those eyes there lives a soul That speaks to me from deep within And warns me I must not despair Those things in life I can’t control. Behind those eyes there is a love That never lets me out of sight...
To the editor, In the mid-80s I had great health care for my young family. I worked in construction and as long as there was work, I had wonderful health care because I was in a strong union. During a slow period when work dried up, I used COBRA to buy health care by the month but it seemed very expensive and I eventually had to stop making payments and lost our insurance. Luckily, we had no major health needs during this period but I was worried. Now with lots of people losing their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic I imagine lots of people...
OLYMPIA–The State of Washington’s “Stay-at-Home” order has been extended to May 31, 2020, with reopening provisions. The process will occur slowly in four phases and, according to Gov. Jay Inslee, steps to opening closed businesses will start with Phase 1 on May 4. Each phase will require continued social (physical) distancing and health precautions which include protective wear to limit incidence to COVID-19 exposure. Ten counties: Garfield, Columbia, Ferry, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Wahkiakum, Skamania, Kittitas, Grays Harbor and Jefferson have...
In the midst of Covid-19, one of the deepest psychosies’ is loneliness. “Social distance,” sliding take-out tacos under the door, being served pizza across the counter like a Frisbee, having to carry a measuring tape and whip it out like Marshall Dillon to confirm 6 feet every time some masked stranger comes your way...all to prevent civil discourse and staying friends. IT IS DEPRESSING. Those of you historians familiar with the pioneers who came west know they often found themselves in the l...
DAYTON–Okay. We’ve made it through April. Governor Jay Inslee had set May 4 as a decision day for Washington State. We’ll see. Inslee put all counties in a “Stay Home – Stay Healthy” lockdown, listing certain businesses and occupations as “essential.” This week, he opened up residential construction, recreational fishing, golf courses and other outdoor activities. It’s about time. The problem with COVID-19 is its unknown characteristics of contagiousness and how it preys on people with underlying medical conditions, primarily the elderly. We d...
By Liv Finne, Director, Center for Education Washington Policy Center State government has closed all of Washington’s schools to halt the spread of the coronavirus. The families of over 1.1 million students are struggling to adjust. Many policy responses are possible, but some districts are already acting to help stressed families. The districts of Darrington, Everett, Ferndale, Lakewood and Sultan have responded by delivering property tax relief. They have just withdrawn the multi-million-dollar levy and bond property tax increases they had p...
Over the years I have gotten to know, or meet or hang out with, what I call ‘famous people’. From movie stars, politicians, world champions, athletes, writers and moguls. Often it was just circumstance. Other times it was an intentional connection. Like being invited to be on ABC’s first DOLLY PARTON SHOW. What I remember is how small she was in person and how she could play guitar with such long fingernails. She was also very kind to Little Richard, who couldn’t get his song right after 2...
Here we are, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, with information of all sorts flying to and fro. What is meaningful among all the numbers being bandied about? Before diving into this, understand that nothing here is meant to minimize the seriousness of the pandemic or any of the grief and tragedy connected with people and families who have lost loved ones. Another caveat: the counts being used are what is available. There is disparity between sources, and so figures here could be dramatically different than what is actually occurring,...
“So, how’d yer dad git that big dent on the door?” I asked Dave. Truth is, it was quite an accomplishment for one single dent to stand out from all the other wear and tear, deterioration and assorted damage that covered his 1983 Ford Ranger diesel pickup truck like elephant tracks on a styrofoam cooler. “It’s a long story,” sighed Dave. Dave went with his mom and dad to gather the last of the cows off their forest permit above Feather Falls in the Sierra Madres of southern California....
By Loyal and Charlotte Baker DAYTON–The COVID-19 event is hitting us hard—here and everywhere. In the rural communities where social distancing is not much of a problem, the public in general has been maintaining relatively good health as we keep coronavirus at bay—some able to maintain their daily constitutionals. Thankfully, in Columbia County, there has been only one positive and over 40 presumptives who were tested and found to be negative for COVID-19. Now, as we peer up and down Main Street, and many of the side streets, we perce...
Mary waited for Jesus outside the cave The promised resurrection meant He was saved. While others waited a savior to come Mary awaited her son. The baby she had called Jesus stood in a crowd Others gathered around Him. She was so proud. She always worried in spite of His good That he’d be misunderstood. Mary, it’s nothing you’ve done He always marched to some other drum You did all any mother could do He was His Father’s son. Mary carried his sandals. Stood by his side. Memories, sweet reflections, shone in His eyes “Take care of Mary, for...
To the editor, Chris Armitage is running as a Democrat for Representative in the 5th Congressional District against Cathy McMorris Rodgers. He is well-educated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s Degree in Homeland Security. He has been trained in the military, and has spent seven years in the Air Force, stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base, so he knows the 5th District very well. In addition, he has also been deployed to the Middle East, so has first-hand experience living and working in that region. Chris has wel...
