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Heroes, no failure
The effort made by our sheriff’s department and members of the Crag
Rats to rescue the three lost climbers is nothing short of
extraordinary.
Their well-coordinated efforts and determination should make us all
proud. Volunteers all, the Crag Rats left their families, their jobs
and risked their lives to try and bring these men back. The stress of
the exertion and the mounting futility of their attempts could be seen
in their faces and heard in their words.
The only statement made by Sheriff Joe Wampler that troubled me was,
“We failed them.” There was no failure. There was only an amazing,
concentrated effort made in the face of insurmountable odds and
nature’s fury that denied the results we all prayed for.
It is comforting to me to know that should I, or any member of my own
family, need to be found or rescued, that Joe Wampler and the Crag
Rats will be there. The world needs heroes, we have our own in Hood
River County.
Karen Louiselle
Mt. Hood
’35 and 37’ response
In response to John Wood’s letter to the editor published in the
Dec. 20, 2006, edition of the Hood River News:
Mt. Hood Meadows recently filed two Measure 37 claims to protect
its interests in the event that the proposed Cooper
Spur/Government Camp land exchange does not pass Congress.
The mediated settlement agreement, which was executed between Mt.
Hood Meadows and the Hood River Valley Residents Committee, will
nullify our Measure 37 claims when/if the contemplated land
exchange is closed.
Mt. Hood Meadows has been working in good faith with 13 different
conservation groups over the past few years to resolve a 30-year
dispute over development on the north side of Mount Hood and the
upper Hood River Valley. This historic agreement isn’t worth the
paper it’s written on unless Congress acts.
Various members of the interested conservation groups and Mt. Hood
Meadows continue to work with the Oregon delegation and their
staff to implement the agreed-upon terms of the settlement
agreement. We all hold high hopes that the land exchange will be
passed by Congress within a comprehensive Mt. Hood bill soon in
2007.
I don’t see the connection John Wood attempted to make between our
efforts to diplomatically resolve a complex multi-decade land use
dispute and the recent emergency Highway 35 reconstruction project
which was necessary due to a glacial outburst and flood.
Highway 35 is more than just a driveway to Mt. Hood Meadows. It’s
an important transportation corridor. Also, if Mr. Wood thinks the
only people who benefited from ODOT’s hard work to reopen the
highway in record time were the owners of the ski area, he might
want to talk to any of our nearly 1,000 employees or any small
business owner around the mountain.
If Mr. Wood feels differently and wishes to boycott Mt. Hood
Meadows then I expect he will follow through and not purchase
another season pass as he does each year.
That would certainly be okay with me.
Dave Riley, president and COO
Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort
‘Money over heart’
After reading your article about the Meadows and the other 232
Measure 37 claims, I felt sick. My heart sank. There is something
in this — in the pursuit of wealth, of getting what “we” deserve —
that is part of the deterioration of our society, of our health as
a race.
Greed and selfish desire come before caring for our planet, for
the wilderness, for ecosystems and caring for each other. They
come before families, schools and social health. A selfish,
self-serving nature is the American way, turning the other cheek
to poverty, crime and the deterioration of the family unit; this
is American.
Taking from this planet as if it were ours, as if it were a
personal belonging and something we never have to repay or concern
ourselves with, this is the American way. We choose money over the
heart over and over again. We isolate our lives with
justifications ignoring the fact that we are all here, we are all
human beings and this planet, all life is the only thing that
allows us to live. But ignoring this is becoming the American way.
God help us all.
Jonathan Brechner
Hood River
Big box of money
Will Hood River get a super Wal-Mart? Hood River began losing
stores in the 1970s and 1980s. Wal-Mart the little store came here
about 2000. No stores closed like was predicted. A Super Wal-Mart
will only increase the tax base for government services for the
people who live here.
Paul Nevin
Hood River
A million thanks
To Hood River County’s Finest: Sheriff and officers, search and
rescue volunteers, and all others who gave their best for the
missing Mount Hood climbers — a million thanks is not enough for
the tireless dedication and service you provide to us, and the
visitors to the special place in which we live, 24/7, 365. You are
the best of the best! A million-plus thanks.
Pam Crider
Hood River
Tragedy, humanity
The recent tragedy on Mount Hood touched us deeply.
I watched and waited; nursing a frail hope that the climbers would
overcome the impersonal force of nature and the authority the
mountain always holds.
These attractive young men were so familiar to us — friends of our
own sons; brothers and the guys we work side by side with;
optimistic and full of life. A terrible loss.
As with all losses, there were behind the scenes heroes —
dedicated volunteers, the staff of the Hood River County Sheriff’s
office and countless other good folks demonstrated what is good
about our communities, neighbors and public agencies.
I’m greatly impressed with Sheriff Wampler’s handling of this
agonizing crisis. Throughout the difficult days he exhibited
common sense, and frank honesty in a heart aching situation. His
steadiness and humanity were evident and genuine.
One can only hope that the climber’s families took some comfort in
having Sheriff Wampler at the helm during the worst weeks of their
lives.
Shelley Smith
San Jose, Calif.
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