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Newspaper Archive of
The Goldendale Sentinel
Goldendale , Washington
November 11, 2004     The Goldendale Sentinel
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November 11, 2004
 
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PAGE 4 NOVEMBER 11, I ~7~~ ~ ~, ~. • "~ • ~ ANDREW J. MCNAB- TARTAN PUBLICATIONS, iNC., PUBLISHER KAREN HENSLEE, GENERAL MANAGER SAM LOWRY, ACTING EDITOR The idea of a race track near Goldendale keeps rattling around, never quite on the table and never quite off. The Sentinel hears regularly from interested citizens, usually those who live or own property near the site purportedly proposed for the year- round, seven-day, club-owned track. Most fear its noise. Local farmers have also weighed in, concerned over traffic and, ulti- mately, over threats to their rural livelihood. Meanwhile, a number of city and county residents and officials inter- ested in economic development strongly believe that a track could bring essential - and perhaps unexpectedly large - benefits. They may, of course, be right. Goldendale has proven itself a tremendous motor sports mecca; each new event or facility can add to the "brand" and the area's attractiveness. Much swings on choices being made in the city's current tourism plan- ning effort. Meanwhile, track promoters, still seeking funding and beginning to cause some locals to wonder how serious they are, suggest that another type of synergy may be needed - enough vocal local support to persuade funders. Here's the rub. It should be clear by now that the site proposed is just near too many people. Good planning means creating criteria then picking the site that best meets them; it does not mean picking a convenient, available site and hoping everybody falls in line. The recent siting ofa motocross track near Alderdale, with not an audi- ble peep of opposition, speaks volumes. - Promoters and city fathers should take residents in hand - opponents, proponents and those on the fence - and resume the search for that elu- sive piece of property, near enough to Goldendale for the town to get the business, but far enough away from neighbors that no one will have to force anything down anyone's throat. -SL One of the great things about U.S./Canadian relations is the relatively open border between our two countries. We're used to driving up to the border, answering a few silly questions and going our merry way. The wick- et is getting stickier, however. A man called from Calgary recently and ordered ]r~ a few of my books. He called back a week or two ~ later to say he has this phobia about owing people money~ and wanted to send me a check even ~ though the books hadn't arrived yet. (This made him one of my favorite people.) ©2004 Roger Pond He apologized that the Canadian government has decided to search all small parcels at the border in retaliation for the nasty tricks we've pulled on them lately. "If our gutless wonders really wanted to do something, they could cut off oil exports to the U.S.," he said. I received his check and the following letter a few days later. =The books you sent me are still being processed by Canada Customs, along with 2oo,ooo other dangerous U.S. parcels in a Vancouver, B.C. warehouse. Hundreds of thousands of other U.S. parcels are also being held in Toronto and Montreal. "l-his is in retaliation for the U.S. ban on Canadian cattle, wheat, lumber, wine, and chocolates. Admittedly these Canadian products are a threat to U.S. security. "Of the thousands of Canadian cattle tested (Eight times the number of U.S. tested cattle) one cow in Canada and one in the U.S. tested positive for B.S.E.. Canadian wheat was used extensively in U.S. pasta, which could certainly lead to large numbers of overweight Americans. "The same could be said of chocolate or wine. Maybe Canadian lumber burns faster, and should not be used in U.S. houses? *On the other side, your books pose a real and present danger, so I can see Canada Customs protecting Canadians from them. While reading "My Dog Was A Redneck..." at our lake cabin I laughed so much my beach chair tipped over, spilling me and my Glenfiddich onto rough sand. =Further, while reading the same book late at night, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. This woke up other family members who were tired from a hard day of water skiing, followed by vodka coolers. This brought on threats of book burning, unless I learned to read without laughing. (It could have led to physical abuse.) "You can see why it is necessary for our respective governments to pro- tect their citizens from each other. A more appropriate retaliation would be for Canada to cut off oil and natural gas we send you. That way Americans would have to walk everywhere, instead of riding in cars, trucks, snowmo- biles, or golf carts. "This would result in a nation of physically fit people. The option is you could sit at home and freeze in the dark .... "Hopefully, some day my government will allow me toread the books you sent, and the extra copies will get to family members; so they too will be able to laugh. (Out loud.)" Best Regards, Howard Gibson I decided Mr. Gibson's writing is better than mine and sent him some free books in payment for it. I hope he gets them someday. THE GOLDENDALE SENTINEL OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER FOR GOLDENDALE AND KLICKITAT COUNTY, WA ESTABLISHED 1879 • PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY FROM OFFICES AT 117 W. MAIN • GOLDENDALE, WA 98620 TELEPHONE (509) 773-3777 ° FAX (509) 773-4737 EMAIL: (NEWS, EDITORIAL, LETTERS) SENTINEL@GORGE.NET OR (ADS, COMMUNITIES, HOMETOWN) GSENTINEL@GORGE.NET THE GOLDENDALE SENTINEL STAFF BETH SCHRoDER, PAGE LAYOUT/DESUGN, CIRCULATION AMY WALKER, GRAPHIC DESIGN Subscriptions: Deadlines: 1 Year, 2 Years News and Letters: Noon Friday Goldendale - Carrier $22, $37 Display Advertising: 5 p.m. In Klickitat County - $29, $52 Classified Advertising: Noon Monday Outside Ktickitat County - $38, $70 Legal Notices: 5 p.m, Monday USPS 2213-6000 WEEKLY, Periodical postage paid at Goldendale Post Office, Goldendale, Wash. 98620. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Goldendale Sentinel, 117 W. Main St. Goldendale, WA 98620-9526. [;oldendale entinel (,,U3 IUMb O¢ WHAT'S THI PURPOSE OF YOLIR VISIT-- CHI AP DRUGS? OR POLITICAL ASYLU/ P USA O 0C l www.barryscarl"oons.com THE Let's do some- thing about overtaxation To the Editor: We have a problem. Last spring, about April 15 (income tax day), they said we work for Uncle Sam until the middle of May. ,Just recently, that datum had jumped to July 7, which means our total faxation is now 51 percent. When I was a kid, it was about lO percent and nobody thought a thing of it. The surprising part is that now, at 5t percent, no one seems con- cerned. But, it is steadily climbing. Will we tolerate 65 percent? How about 75 percent? When will we rebel? No one knows. If you think this will go away, you are dreaming. Stop and think for a minute and you will realize that it will never stop on its own. When we reach the intolerable stage, people will look around in disbelief. How could this be? 1"hat is when they will realize they must have been asleep. That is when they will finally understand that they should have seen the problem and acted upon it while they could. As to a revolution. Probably not. It all depends on how soon the problem is discovered by the com- mon folk. Because, you see, the common folk are the only ones who can do anything about this. Congress won't make a move until they are forced. Their job is spend- ing. The man on the street has the power but that power must be con- centrated. If this goes too far, we could slip into some form of socialism. At any rate, our precious freedom would be in the balance. I don't know about you, but I'm ready to do something about this. Rex Bullis Lyle Arnold ran an honest campaign To the Editor: I am deeply disappointed that The Sentinel would print the letter from Lyle Ferch that unfairly attacked Pat Arnold during the last week of the campaign for Klickitat County commissioner. Other newspapers have adopted a policy of refusing this last minute tactic, which is calculated to disallow time before the election for any response in the same publication. I hope The Sentinel will also adopt such a policy. Pat Arnold ran a straightfor- ward, honest campaign, one that should be a model for others seek- ing office. She was always interest- ed in listening with open ears to citizen concerns and answering questions. In her campaign she spoke directly to issues that affect our county. Yet in the end she was treated to these vicious, untrue, and undemocratic remarks, which were intended to appeal to the prejudices of some voters. Most unfortunately, this has become a pattern during our count), elec- tions. Please consider this. When intentionally misleading and nega- tive messages about candidates are publicized in a way that does not permit reply, it does substantial harm to not only that person but also the voting public, who need facts to vote intelligently. The democratic process is undermined. And potential future office seekers will be disinclined to subject them- selves to such unfair treatment. In the end we all lose. Phyllis L Clausen Trout Lake Columbia Hills not good site for wind power To The Editor: Everyone w~ints to support wind power, but the key to keeping wind power green is proper siting. The focus of Klickitat County wind power is the Columbia Hills. When wind power proponents came to the Northwest they met with environmental and renewable energy advocates and formulated voluntary siting criteria. Siting in the Columbia Hills violates every one of the agreed to siting criteria. The Federal and State wildlife agencies have emphasized the sig- nificance of the Columbia Hills for birds, and the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Department has declared the Hills among the top five percent of raptor habitat in the eastern half of the state. The National Audubon Society has studied the Columbia Hills and found the worth of their Important Bird Area Designation, which is only given to the last best bird habitat left. Audubon Washington, Seattle, Audubon, Audubon Society of Portland, and many northwest chapters have protested the siting of wind power on the Columbia Hills. Micro-siting and mitigation are not solutions. Two companies have now touted their sites on the Hills, each claiming to avoid the bird sensitive area where the other company was siting their wind farm. The truth is that the entire Columbia Hills are unsuitable for wind power because of the impor- tance of this place for birds. These last prime habitats cannot be suc- cessfully mitigated. We are fighting gas plants with you, will you voice your opinion against wind power in the Columbia Hills' important bird area? And if you believe the EOZ is a bad idea -- as we do -- then why not oppose the whole thing? The planning department fax number is 773-6206. The deadline is Nov. 18. Dave Thies White Salmon Mt. Adams resort proposal disappointing To the Editor: For over forty years we have hiked, climbed, and camped on Mt. Adams. The area has accessible yet undeveloped. area of amazing beauty and a logical and geological house. Very few areas remain combine these qualities of importance, accessibility, wildness. We were startled and to hear of the destination proposed for the SE side This type of resort is built bY4 porations, whose cerns are income and a "community" where individuals can buy a risk free "experience". sport of skiing is not cost, competition from leisure activities) the stantly expand and u hopes of drawing patrons from other areas. These resort communiti~ basically feudal. Workers massages and manicures, tables, clean rooms and do other jobs that keep such running. Yet they are live at the resort because rents (and possibly aren't there except when must commute long often-icy roads. The jobs wage and few, if Although the ~developerS to be environitientally and may try to be so, a project inevitably has impact, ranging from air loss of plant and and stream and water table tion (water is use, golf courses, pools, snowmaking equipment extend the season). And now, as if there enough Disneyfied place' world, the largest state mountain without cial activity is tl~-reatened. even low-paying ones, are a of these developments, are important ne quences as well. We resort a truly conservative manner, respect for the mountaifl future generations. Don Letters are editing specifically that A contact required to the editor is p.m. Mall them tot Main, 98620; Email Fax them to: 4737. •