Letters: Oct. 26, 2017

Stirring it up

Whitman County is a beautiful place to live year around. With the seasonal changes, the topography, the ever changing light, and the fine people, for the most part, it is a gift to those that appreciate what we have been given. As a carnivore I also enjoy the wonderful variety of food available prepared by hard working people who also seem to love this unique comer of our great country. I can only hope they all stay around.

One of the great places to experience our wonderful Inland Northwest is at Boyer Park on the Snake river. And for vegetarians and carnivores alike, the Almota Inn is a place worth driving to for wonderful food, ample portions, and great friendly service. But not Dec, 27, and I do not understand the reason for change.

The Corp of Engineers and the Whitman Port District have invested a lot of our money into making a very beautiful place to camp, picnic, use as a base camp for multiple activities, such as fishing, hunting hiking, conferences, and eating super quality prepared meals at reasonable prices. Why would the powers that be let any of that change? It is like spending $600,000 on a fine restaurant and bar and having me, Allen Cochrane, cook, and serving cheap Muscatel wine and busthead whiskey in dirty paper cups.

"Well," you say, "but even if the food isn't available, the grounds will still be there. The beautiful park will exist." What if the folks who have worked so hard to make the whole park such a quality place leave?

Is this game the "We will give you more to do and expect much more of you, but we have to cut back your pay"? Is that fair and just? Or is that what one can expect in this day and age?

I am just trying to get people stirred up a bunch. Ask questions if you value what Boyer Park has become. I love taking my family from the coast down to the park for a great meal, a wonderful place for the kids to be kids, a safe relatively peaceful environment that is rapidly disappearing in so many other places especially in the big cities and towns.

I hope we can somehow preserve all the assets we have at our Boyer Park: the human assets as well as the beautiful facility we've paid for and the hard work that has gone into it. We are blessed. Please seek answers before Dec. 27.

Allen Cochrane, Dusty

Deceptions

Deceptions and inaccuracies are the standard being fed to the Rosalia public. Nanette Konishi is a master at this behavior. What has prompted this letter is she claims to adamantly be for the John Wayne Trail. This may be true for the past 34 months since she is up for re-election. Several of us were at a town council meeting when she sat next to the then mayor, the late Ken Jacobs, as he ranted his dislike for the trail efforts. She verbalized agreement with every sentence he made against this project.

We used to have a town newsletter enclosed with our water bill. They opted to use only a card for the bill. Now after almost three years we have a separate newsletter. It is legal size, four colors on slick paper touting her activities and claims, not really about our town. This is at the town's expense.

The debacle of the Rosalia International Airport would make everyone sick. There is no fuel, no electricity for pumps or for a credit card reader. That's just to state a couple of problems.

The issue of nepotism needs to be addressed. Nanette's husband, the city clerk's father first, now husband and son, are working for the town. This is under Nanette's supervision.

The mayor's political signs are all over town on public property. I called the attorney general's office to report this, and I was told to put a complaint in writing and take it to the mayor's office or contact an attorney. What a joke.

Julie Griffin, Rosalia

Endorsement

I believe Wendy Sienknecht would do a good job on Tekoa city council.

Art Swannack, Lamont

Reply to Raines

In a letter published in the Thursday, Oct. 19, edition of the Whitman County Gazette, Tekoa resident Gary Raines writes “A few people would like you to believe that the residents of Tekoa have no choice but to accept that promoting a Washington State controlled bike trail is what everyone wants.” Last time I checked, we live in a democratic society.

Never have I heard that “everyone wants” anything around here.

Last time I checked, when the majority of people throw their support in and vote for something, something happens.

So it is with the John Wayne Pioneer Trail (JWPT).

Not everyone wanted Barry Obama, but he was elected president.

Not everyone wanted Donny Trump either, but he was elected president, too.

Mr. Raines also goes on to pen support for Wendy Sienknecht who is running for a position on the Tekoa City Council, all but directly stating that she doesn’t support the John Wayne Pioneer Trail, either, and he endorses her for that painfully obvious reason.

My impression? The main reason Mr. Raines is opposed to the trail, and has been for years, is because he is another nay-saying adjacent property owner along the JWPT who believes he and/or his property would suffer damage and harm should hikers, bicyclers, and equestrians be allowed to traverse the trail and trestle. He also believes he would be held responsible for any injuries occurring on the trestle or the trail adjacent his property. I sincerely hope that he has finally done some research to allay those incorrect assumptions.

The various concerns that adjacent property owners on the eastern Washington portion of the John Wayne Pioneer Trail were addressed in a commission hosted and run by Washington Parks in 2016 and those concerns were laid to rest.

A few of these were trespassing, vandalism, theft, littering, weed control, and poaching.

The overwhelming evidence and testimony showed that improving the trail would bring more people, and more people means more observers.

The fact is that anyone with the desire to do illicit activities prefer to do so in the back roads and trails away from observation.

For example, you don’t see illegal dumping along Interstate 90.

Anyone using the Iron Horse State Park rail/trail in western Washington also won’t see evidence of illegal activities.

What you do see is a pristine, picturesque, well used, and much appreciated linear park spanning over 100 miles from North Bend to the Columbia River.

I believe a clear majority of Tekoa residents and the residents of Washington state support the promotion and improvement of the John Wayne Pioneer Trail in eastern Washington. This has been shown by the number of cities and towns state-wide that have passed resolutions and written letters of support for the JWPT. The past three fund raising galas hosted by the Tekoa Trail and Trestle Association where a total of more than 350 guests have attended and raised over $12,000 is also a pretty good indication of support. In Tekoa.

I encourage others who support the John Wayne Pioneer Trail to write letters of support to your state elected representatives, your city and town leadership, and your local newspaper to make sure your opinions and voices are heard.

I just did.

Fred Wagner, Tekoa