Letter misinformed
Many have a personal interest in choosing a route for U.S. Highway 95 from Moscow to Thorn Creek (Van Thompson, Dec. 28). Some favor the highest route over the ridge (E2) because with the other likely alternative C3, their homes will be displaced.
Others want E2 because it will displace their homes and they want new ones, courtesy of the Idaho Transportation Department.
Truckers like E2 because it might be slightly shorter. Realtor/developers favor E2 because they have invested in land along the old route, expecting it to become a new county road leading to desirable country estate acreage.
Many of the above claim safety as their main concern. However ITD certified all three alternatives as meeting safety standards, although they cited E2 as slightly safer. However, the basis for this flawed conclusion was a weather study from only one atypical, snowless winter.
Driving north over Steakhouse Hill shows how a few hundred-foot gain in elevation can turn a wet road surface into a treacherous, slippery one in a typical winter.
The Paradise Ridge Defense Coalition is a coalition of groups and individuals that don't have a personal stake in the decision. Of nine board members, only the Ullrichs live near or are invested in any of the routes (contrary to Thompson's misinformed letter).
PRDC opposes E2 because it is the most environmentally destructive alternative in six of seven categories. Its impact will likely cause the loss of some of the last significant patches of the critically endangered Palouse Prairie.
Al Poplawsky
Moscow
Ball's in Kolstad's court
The Opinion section on Christmas Day was very interesting to me, a die-hard reader. It apparently forewarns of a war on words between Flora Teachman and Clarkston City Councilor Brian Kolstad.
This story started some time ago when Teachman sent a poem supposedly written by her father, "The Government is my Shepherd," a timely poem.
A short time later a letter challenging Kolstad called Teachman a liar. Kolstad said he read the same poem in "Jet," a magazine. His mention of plagiarism evidently rattled Teachman's chain.
On Christmas day, Teachman, obviously angry, challenged Kolstad to produce the "Jet" magazine that stated word-for-word the poem she claimed her father wrote.
While I don't give a rats-*** who is right or wrong, I look forward to Kolstad's response. The ball is in his court.
We have not had an ongoing pen fight since James Foley and Teachman squared off in disagreement. Hopefully this will linger on until a better one emerges.
Happy and prosperous 2015 to all readers of the Lewiston Tribune.
Harley Williams
Clarkston
Send her a line
My sister, Gladys Brown, lives in a small facility for the disabled. Gladys rubs the shoulders of her fellow residents, telling them how she herself is comforted, remembering the caring rubs she received from her father.
In the past week, a nurse came to tell Gladys she'd heard the touching story and she decided to rub the backs and give daily hugs to her three small children. In a month, it had changed the life in her home. I thought you'd like to know.
My sister, Gladys, is in a deep depression as she turns 88 this month.
I've sent out requests in every direction for birthday cards to encourage her, asking the writers to include something of their life so their names can become real people to her. I want to knock her socks off.
Want to help? Gladys' address is:
Farmington Square, No. 6
910 Boone Road SE
Salem, Ore. 97306.
Thank you.
Louise Largent Lavoie
Clarkston
