Not soused citizens
I am not impressed with an article written in the April 2 edition of the Lewiston Morning Tribune in the Upfront/Commentary section by Kathy Hedberg. She wrote an article about folks' superstitions in gardening, and then turns it into an insult aimed at the community of Riggins. She says in response to someone saying that Riggins is the "Florida of the North" that she had to bite her tongue as it is "too bad they drink too much down there to take advantage of it." Then, she closes her article wishing everyone luck in their gardening with "good weather, not too many bugs and a few cold beers to make it all worthwhile." OK, make up your mind; are we drinking or not?
First of all, Kathy, maybe you should have kept biting your tongue and not actually published your thoughts to an even bigger audience. While I appreciate your "envy" of the warmer climates to the north and south of the Camas Prairie, I do not appreciate your ignorance of the people of our community - gardeners or not. When was the last time you came to Riggins and really got to know this community?
Our town is just like any other small town in Idaho, or America, for that matter. We have a proud bunch of hard-working folks from all walks of life who are honored to be living here! Just because we reside here does not mean we are all a bunch of soused citizens. ...
Kim Friend
Riggins
Not the IEA
Recently a representative of the Northwest Professional Educators painted teachers' unions with a broad and unflattering brush [letter, March 26]. Cindy Omlin did not say she was talking about the Idaho Education Association, and her description does not fit our organization. Still, in case anyone thought she was referring to our organization, let me offer our perspective on the role educators play in school reform.
As stated in our original constitution, adopted in 1892, the IEA's purpose is "to promote the educational interests of the state." For 115 years, IEA members have advocated for such concerns as stronger certification standards for teachers, school lunch programs, kindergarten, equitable funding, higher achievement goals for students, and the resources needed to provide a quality education to every Idaho student.
IEA members in every district spend countless hours beyond the school day developing and refining curriculum, culling through numerous student assessments to find the strengths and weaknesses of their instruction, reviewing textbooks before districts spend precious money on them, reading reports about what research experts have found works best with children, exploring new programs, and collaborating with each other about individual students. That's true education reform at work.
Collectively, IEA members have come together more than once to offer comprehensive plans for restructuring Idaho's schools, including creating the framework for a career ladder system that avoids the politics and destructive competitiveness of merit pay schemes.
With all that history and demonstrated commitment, there's little wonder the IEA, with more than 12,000 members, is looked to as the voice of Idaho's teachers.
Sherri Wood
Boise
Stop the danger
You've seen it in the paper, you've heard it from your friends, and I bet you've even seen it on TV. I'm talking about all of the car accidents out at the Clearwater River Casino. Having been in one of those accidents, I know what needs to be done out there.
If you've driven out there, you've probably seen the bright yellow signs that the highway department put out that say, "Turning traffic ahead." They say the problem is not watching for traffic for both directions. In my opinion the highway department needs to put out stop signs or a three-way stoplight. The Idaho highway department says there is nothing wrong with the way the road was built.
People have been killed, injured and traumatized. Nothing is ever going to be done unless someone makes it happen, so why is the department of transportation just sitting around? There are too many accidents out there. At one point there were two or three accidents a week. It's calmed down a little by now, but let's fix the problem. Call the Idaho Department of Transportation at 208-334-8000.
Jamie Lahnum
Clarkston
Yes, bother
Ms. [Rachel] Holland's letter to the editor of April 2," 'Steel Magnolias'? No way," does not deserve a reply, but I must. Kudos and hats off to director Dr. Shirlee Hennigan, cast and crew of Lewiston Civic Theatre's current production of "Steel Magnolias." I am appalled that someone would write such a letter about a wonderful community theater that is supported by countless hours of volunteer time from community members. The LCT volunteers and relatively few paid staff have presented wonderful productions to our community for years and years.
While not every production appeals to everyone - that happens to be the beauty of art - the important point to remember is that our valley has the talent and dedication to bring live theater to our community. Ms. Holland closes her letter by saying, "When I'm asked about the show, I'll say, 'Don't bother.' " I'll close my letter by saying, "See the show, and enjoy the fine acting, directing and set construction. You will be glad you did!"
Susan Butts
Clarkston
A sweet deal
As a citizen of the state of Idaho, I was astounded to read in the March 27 Lewiston Tribune that the legislation to reimburse a California developer for his effort to construct an interchange at the site of his mall development in Post Falls had been signed by the governor.
Currently, the Nez Perce Tribe is working on alternatives to highway access at its business site along Highway 12/95 that will be built with tribal government funds. Hmm, how is that fair when a wealthy out-of-state developer, who just happens to have an ongoing relationship with Speaker [Lawerence] Denney and former Rep. Julie Ellsworth, gets reimbursement for similar costs from state sales tax? Are these legislators, past and current, telling the people of Idaho, with a straight face, that the donation of up to $35 million in state sales tax to a private entity is less significant than the $3 million in tribal fuel tax revenues that the state is trying to steal from tribal governments in other legislation?
Never mind that tribal governments provide services to their communities, funnel revenues back into the local economy and are aboriginal to this area. Clearly, if the Nez Perce people had been from California, had friends like Speaker Denney, Sen. [Jim] Hammond and Julie Ellsworth and had more money, they would be receiving tax refunds instead of being stalked for money from its own governmental coffers to help the state pay the tax obligations of a private out-of-state company.
Julie S. Kane
Lapwai
Sign the petition
To the people of Idaho who have quietly felt concern about the wolf lunacy being forced down our throats as we've slept but are afraid to speak out about it: There is going to be a petition circulating around to get rid of this insanity. Sign the petition no matter what the elite, so-called educated deadbeats in our society call you. We are not "a bunch of Nazi Nancys with monster trucks." We are not all "hunters," and we don't have to be "educated" about how nice the wolves really are, that "they only kill the weak."
Actually, most of us are hard-working folks who can't afford to buy large wooded tracts of land being developed with half-million-dollar summer homes and condos. We're just the people who worked the woods, mills, farms and ranches that are being swept away as American industry slowly grinds to a halt.
We know that the wolf population has exploded because the once-plentiful elk population has had more than a decade of hardship first brought on by the harsh winters of '95-'96, then the decline of habitat, and then by the onset of truly uneducated people turning a vicious predator loose on them. Don't let these people intimidate you; you are right and they are wrong. Let us stand up and quickly try to bring some common sense back to our state.
Rick Westerholm
Lewiston
Bite harder
In response to Kathy Hedberg bashing Riggins, then saying she had to "bite her tongue," perhaps she needs to review the definition of "biting your tongue." My mom always said, "If you don't have something nice to say ..." Anyway, following Kathy's philosophy, I wanted to say what an a-- I thought she was, but decided to bite my tongue. Yeah, whatever.
Mark Hollon
Riggins
