Letters

Backs Tensfeld

Whitman County is facing one of the most critical elections in a decade. The Commissioners’ seats for District 1 and 2 are up for grabs and the time is nearing for voters to decide who will lead our county in this time of economic uncertainty. With the Washington State Primary in sight, voters of District 1 will have to choose which two of the three will continue to the General Election. All the candidates have an interest in serving their citizens through dedication and hard work, but between the three I believe the man who best displays the qualities required to lead our county would be Bill Tensfeld.

For nearly 25 years he has served the citizens of Rosalia as a volunteer Firefighter/EMT, the last 12 being Fire Chief. He is currently President of the Whitman County Fire Chiefs Association Committee and Chairman of the Whitman County Hazard Mitigation Plan Steering Committee. When asked about the Hawkins Project, Tensfeld responded that his priority would be to make sure the development comes to fruition in a positive way.

Bill has proven himself to be a true leader with good communications and integrity, qualities that are becoming scarce in the world of Public Office. Whitman County is in need of someone who is bold and is in tune with the views of its citizens.

I believe Bill’s record is more than sufficient proof of his dedication to the well being of others and his commitment to the task at hand.

Jeffrey DeGon,

Oakesdale

Great place to live

After reading the article in the June 21, 2012 edition of the Whitman County Gazette about Mayor Todd Vanek, I felt compelled to write you to back up your mayor and tell how fortunate I feel to have been born (1923) and raised in Colfax and to have wonderful memories of the 22 years that I lived there.

I am now 89 years old and could write a book of my life growing up in Colfax. During the Depression, our dad walked out on his wife and family of five children ages 2 to 11 1/2 years and he was not located for seven years. Thanks to God, a good mother, relatives and friends plus the Colfax Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club and the business people we children became successful adults. I was told once, “It was good you picked yourself up by the boot straps and moved on after your dad left.”

We were all blessed with God-given talents and were blessed with a good educational system and wonderful teachers that encouraged our talents. Our High school principal, Mr. Peterson, encouraged me beyond words.

As for me (without any formal dance training) I became a professional dancer and dance teacher. My elementary teacher, Mary (Kelly) Baker had taught me five tap steps when I was 12 years old. I opened a dance school at the age of 14 in Colfax and continued to teach for over 47 years in Washington state, Arizona, Colorado and Texas.

The highlight of my dancing career came in 2008: My two daughters signed me up to audition for the television show “America’s Got Talent” at the age of 85. My talent was a novelty tap routine including tap dancing while jumping rope and finishing with a fast rhythm tap. Looking and moving younger than your age can have its ‘down side’... the AGT producers did not ‘realize’ I was the oldest contestant that year at age 85 so they aired an 80 year old lady tap dancing. I did make it to Las Vegas but I did not get aired dancing; my air time came on “you tube” blowing a kiss and in the television opening segment in Las Vegas on the double-decker bus waving to the crowd.

At the age of 88 I started to paint water colors (only art training I received was from Katherine (Bager) Hempstead my 8th grade art teacher). I have sold every painting that were not gifts.

In Moscow, Idaho, I had a dress and costume designing business and my 8th grade home economics teacher Miss Chapin deserves recognition for her dedicated and patient teaching.

Here is a list of a few of the Colfax businesses and people who made a difference in my life; there is a wonderful story behind each of these ‘do good-ers’:

Reverend McDowell (Congregational Church), Dr. Layton, Elliott Paint Store, Glaser Jewelry, Pool Hall owner, Smith‘s Bakery, Wagoners Shoe Repair, J C Penney Store Manager, Bob Luckey, Edgren Drug Store, Pioneer Hotel owner Mrs. Noble, Tony and Neva Lothspiech, Mrs.. Driefus, Mrs. Powers, and the Brindle Family.

The message I want to convey is this: You don’t get this kind of help, education, and encouragement in a big city. Hopefully, this generation can live up to the older Colfax community, neighbors and businesses’ that I knew as a child growing up. So, if you’re a descendent of any of these people mentioned, please, continue where they left off.

Be proud of your Colfax community and spread the word. It is a great place to live!

Hilda Jean (Jeanne) Maurer Froman

San Antonio, Texas

Crosswalk safety

There was a letter to the Editor in the Gazette on July 5th, “Lives in danger.” I agree. There have been other previous letters to the Gazette on this very topic.

Colfax crosswalks on Main Street are the scenes of accidents waiting to happen. There have been some already in the past few years, including a fatality and an injury accident.

First, let me be clear that there needs to be pedestrian awareness. Each person who walks across a street should have eyes wide open, an alert mind, and a relaxed neck that can allow for looking left, right, and center. This is an attitude. I think most people in Colfax are much safer walkers than those who cross roads on the WSU campus or in downtown Seattle. I have watched those people, and they don’t even look to see if traffic is stopping; they just assume that if the traffic signals tell them it is their turn to cross that they are safe. It’s fine to be trusting, but I think streets and crosswalks deserve much more skepticism.

Secondly, something does need to be done to make all of the Main Street crosswalks safer. Like the previous letter writer, I, too, have had narrow escapes when I have been crossing a street at a marked intersection. I’ve had to stop and wait to let a left-turning car pass, and I’ve had to hop ahead to get out of the way of an on-coming car that should have been slowed or stopped for me. Good thing I keep my eyes peeled.

But I am also a driver, and I know I have passed a crosswalk with someone starting to walk in it. I just did not see that person. As was suggested by an earlier Gazette letter submitter, maybe a red flag handheld by someone walking would increase visibility? Some jurisdictions already do this, with flags in containers on both sides of the crosswalk; pick one up going east and drop it off on the west side and vice-versa.

Finally, maybe law enforcement should consider some pedestrian sting operations, and issue a warning to the offending driver if not a ticket. I know a Prairie Home Companion show in Pullman talked about the “Colfax speed trap,” (darn you, Garrison Keillor!), but I think even he would agree with the need for driver and pedestrian safety in crosswalks.

Mark Bordsen,

Colfax