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Youth center first
A bit ago, the waterpark spearheaders boasted of the overwhelming
response to their survey in support of it by 160 downtowners, with
less than one percent of the “no counts” in opposition.’
Having sat at a presentation for this park, I heard the designer tell
the crowd what the promoters wanted to hear: 1. That 160 was a
fantastic number of responses for such a survey; 2. Pretty green trees
would make it look nice and green grass would grow all around; 3. A
hydrologist assured them that the cove would never fill in with silt.
Baloney!
And, 4: a good time could be had by all.
This vote was similar to the library vote which was limited to the
“walk-ins” and the intelligence that built our county’s courthouse
downtown with its limited access. Is there a lesson to be learned
here?
In 1915, President Wilson stated re: the dedication of The
Dalles-Celilo Falls steamboat canal, “… as citizens of a common
country, We should always bear in mind that public monies should not
be expended unless commensurate public benefits result therefrom …”
Present, Hood River County has two “needs” staring into its “face”: a
waterfront park and a youth center which would serve a greater number
of residents and build a stronger community and may even deter some
jailhouse “bounders.”
And shouldn’t a youth center, centrally located, also be a project of
our parks department?
As goes “downtown,” so goes our county’s tax dollars.
Alan Winans
Hood River
Great support
One of the many things I love about being a part of Hood River
County School District is the incredible support that parents and
patrons of the district provide to ensure that good things happen
for our children.
An example of this support recently occurred at May Street
Elementary School. We needed to have our last piece of playground
equipment installed. Stepping up to solve this problem was May
Street parent, Eric Smith. He sought out the help of the Hood
River Elks’ Club, which purchased the cement and Your Rental
Center, which provided equipment free of charge. Chuck Thompsen
and Jess Munos joined Eric and his son, Onar, and spent much of a
Saturday in completing the installation. The completion of this
project has provided a finished play area that will be used for
many years!
Dan Patton, Principal
May Street Elementary
Hood River
Allow dock jumping
As of recently my colleagues and I have come to be aware that
jumping off our beloved docks is now a federal crime.
As a child I would jump off these docks and be merry. Now, as a
teenager, due to certain laws, this is impossible. I would like
for a compromise to be made to where the children may frolic and
play, in the docks, without being punished.
By keeping the docks closed it is keeping kids inside and dormant.
If we want to have a healthy next generation it starts with
getting kids outside and not restricting their activities. It is
not just I that find this extremely bothersome, my peers too find
this to be unfair.
However, if the laws do not change I would like to know why.
Reece Tyler
Hood River
Other tribe options
Early last month, I read that the Confederated Tribes of the Grand
Ronde offered to finance a new casino for the Confederated Tribes
of the Warm Springs as long as it was on reservation land.
This is not only in compliance with current Oregon State law which
requires casinos to be placed only on reservation land, but would
also save the National treasure we call the Columbia River Gorge.
The Warm Springs’ proposed casino is over 600,000 square feet
which is larger that three super Wal-Marts combined! The Columbia
River Gorge, and specifically the National Scenic Area, which the
proposed casino would be within, is no place for a casino,
regardless of who backs it.
If the Warm Springs rejects the Grand Ronde offer it will show the
greed that is apparent since they have rejected all on-reservation
alternatives and have only considered two: Hood River or Cascade
Locks.
This is in direct violation of the NEPA process which requires
that all EIS’s consider “all reasonable alternatives.” The Warm
Springs, which have the largest reservation in the entire state of
Oregon seem to think that without a casino close to the lucrative
Portland market, they can’t make ends meet. What are they doing
with the approximately $12 million they receive annually from PGE
for the power generated at the Pelton Round Butte Hydroelectric
Project, the largest hydroelectric project within the state of
Oregon? On the Warm Springs own Web site they say, “…since its
completion, the casino has proven to be an unqualified success. It
has consistently produced a profit for the tribes…” Also on their
Web site they claim, “… vast timber resources.” They have: the Kah-Nee-Ta
vacation resort, Warm Springs Forest Products Industries and Warm
Springs Composite Products just to name a few commercial
enterprises.
Here are a few economic possibilities they should consider for
their reservation: a NASCAR track, Columbia Sportswear factory,
Intel, HP, etc. facility, wind and solar power production. Ruining
the congressionally enacted National Scenic Area should not be an
economic option.
Paul Smith
Washougal, Wash.
Stop ‘illegals’
I have seen nothing in the Hood River News regarding the real
immigration issues. Needless to say, there has been a lot of soft
peddling that makes all of us good old U.S. citizens look like the
bad guys.
It would be very appropriate to hear from our county commissioners
and law enforcement officials just what is being done to stop this
threat.
I have seen on CNN and read in The Oregonian some good progressive
things that are being done to eliminate this threat. For example,
the leaders and law officials in Maricopa County (Arizona) are
arresting all illegals and putting them in jail. Immigration
officials then send them back to wherever they are from. Our
neighbors in Hermiston (Umatilla County) are doing the same thing.
The sheriff there says they have broken the law and we don’t want
law breakers in our county.
There are other counties that are taking action. Hurrah for them!
The sheriff’s department here gave me a run-around answer to these
issues. Hood River News, let’s do some digging. Inform your
readers about the important issue that no one wants to talk about
and needs to be acted on.
Allen Ehl
Mt. Hood
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