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ANDREW J MCNAB- TARTAN PUBLICATIONS, INC., PUBLISHER
KAREN HENSLEE . GENERAL MANAGER
SAM LOWRY, CO-EDITOR
GREG SKINNNER, CO-EDITOR
Klickitat County has an annual budget just over $400,000 for its office
of economic development.
What are they spending it on? And, what is the result?
It is well known that the county's development focus is on the tax base
rather than the job base. Every chance I get, I mention the unemployment
rate - highest or second-highest, Klick's always there at the top.
While job growth is negative over the last five years, somehow the coun-
ty's housing has grown by 365 single-family dwellings. Figure that out! Any
of you build a new house?
All but three of the jobs in last week's Gorge classifieds were on the
Oregon side of the river or in Yakima. In Klickitat County a mental health
therapist, a truck mechanic, and a prosecutor were the only jobs offered.
With all the talk among candidates this election season about economic
development, and the effort by the current commissioners, you might be
shocked to know that job growth is still in the negative. Ray Thayer and
Don Struck have both told me of businesses they are courting; both say they
cannot mention names or tell how many jobs might come with these com-
panies.
According to Scott Bailey, a Vancouver economist for Washington State
Employment Security, over the last five years job growth in this county is
negative 400. Yes, that reflects the aluminum plant's closing.
The director of economic development, Dana Peck, once told me there
was little value to the county in infrastructure supporting housing and
neighborhoods. As far as a county is concerned, Peck explained, personal
property doesn't cover its own expense; the real money is in industrial
property and growth.
Is the Dallesport Industrial Park the right direction? Sixteen million dol-
lars invested from landfill dollars ($15 millioff alone into the wastewater
system) and not a single job has been created for locals.
That's what they're giving you with the Energy Overlay Zone, big busi-
ness with few if any real long-term jobs. The EOZ before public review
expects that seven more Calpines could fit in Klickitat County.
Calpine increased county tax coffers by hundreds of thousands annually.
They even repaved the high school track to the tune of $20,000 and
upgraded the emissions on Goldendale School District buses. They gave
jobs to lO local people and with permits will contribute tons of toxins to the
air.
What could it be? Why no jobs? It could be the perceived unfriendly busi-
ness attitude of the power structure, it could be voodoo, or it could be that
the Commissioners three are not leading this county in the right direction.
The director of the Chamber of Commerce in Goldendale recently said
her husband, like so many others around here, lives elsewhere during the
week for no other reason than to work elsewhere
I don't mean to be negative, but I hear lots of talk about development and
have not seen a record of results, nor can I look back into the records of this
board of commissioners and find one.
-Greg Skinner
ge of wearing red hats
A recent story about the Red Hat Society reminds me of the many differences
between the sexes and the delicate balance between independence and con-
formity. For those who haven't heard, the Red Hat Society is a women's organi-
zation with the sole purpose of wearing a red hat and
doing as they please. /f Th=
These ladies refuse to accept the idea that [ _=ss.~ Xr-~l
women of a certain age should act or dress in a [ lilaC][ I~[
certain fashion. They are non-conformists in a [ IglIIPIU ~//1
sense -- but they do all wear the same color hat. | """"" ~/J
©2004 Roger Pond
I am told the Red Hat Society was patterned after
a poem by English writer Jenny Joseph in which she
declares, "When I am an old woman, I will wear purple," with a red hat, order
rich desserts, and generally do as she pleases.
Some folks might be surprised by a proclamation like that, but I'm not.
I've been around long enough to know some of these women have been
doing as they please for quite a long time.
Those who hang around gift shops will recall a very popular book with
the title, "When I Am An Old Woman, I Will Wear Purple." I suspect half
the woriaen in the country own that book or bought it for friends.
Just recently I was happy to see a similar tome written by a man. This
book is entitled, "When I Am An Old Coot, I Will Do As I Please." (If I
remember the title correctly.)
I almost bought a copy. Not for myself, of course, but for some of the
older guys.
The Red Hat story mentioned earlier was published in Farm World
newspaper and written by Tennessee Correspondent Ann Hinch. The story
describes a visit to the Anderson County Fair by a local chapter of the Red
Hat Society. That group calls themselves the "Hillbilly High Hats."
Ms. Hinch describes the attention Red Hat Society members received
from fairgoers - especially the folks near the livestock barns. I'm sure the
beef cattle exhibitors were saying, "Holy cow! I hope this place has some
good fences!"
I am told there are Red Hat Society chapters all over the country, and women
have really gotten into this thing. It's only natural that men wofft understand the
principles behind the group, but that's part of the allure, I gtiess.
It's easy to forget that men have belonged to similar organizations since
the Red Hats were girls. We might consider the Red Neck Society, for
example, where men have been doing as they please forever it seems.
How about the Bass Fishermans' Society? Or the Royal Order of Deer
Camp? A person who wears loud hats and orders rich desserts doesn't
seem all that outrageous when compared to these guys.
"More power to them," I say. These women can wear those big, noisy
hats and have as much fun as they wish.
On the other hand, please don't bring it to deer camp!
THE GOLDENDALE SENTINEL
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER FOR GOLDENDALE AND KLICKITAT COUNTY, WA
ESTABLISHED 1879 • PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY FROM OFFICES AT
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THE GOLDENDALE SENTINEL STAFF
BETH SCHRoDER, PAGE LAYOUT/DESIGN, CIRCULATION
AMY WALKER, GRAPHIC DESIGN
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"][he Goldendale entinel
SEPTEMBER 16,
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