Letters: Jan. 11, 2018

Astounded

It utterly astounds me that the leader of the United States is again attacking one of our most important rights and freedoms - free speech.

For the president to argue that libel laws are too weak, well, let's examine how the change he wants could work locally:

City, county and state officials and employees routinely are criticized by newspapers and residents. Public criticism of them is one of our rights.

Some of those complaints are legitimate and some of them are unfair. However, unfair or not, those government personnel could not successfully go to court and sue to stop such comments. What they can do is to re-examine their job performance and see if and how it could be improved. One of the purposes of the press is to be a watchdog.

If, under some odd circumstance, the president gets Congress and the states to change the Constitutional amendment to weaken free speech, then government officials and employees could try to sue newspapers and residents for libel, as an effort to shut them up.

Really? Is that what our president wants? I think he should stop attacking our basic rights, grow a thicker hide and concentrate on the top priorities of our country and the world. He should also quit his attempts to end the investigation of Russian tampering by the Special Prosecutor; his efforts imply he has something to hide and no respect for the law.

Mark Bordsen,

Colfax

Perplexed

I read Ms. Street’s letter to the editor last week with interest and was a bit perplexed by her comparison of the Liberian President Tubman to our President Trump. I would use the over-used metaphor about apples and oranges―but, it won’t stretch that far. It’s more like apples and old tennis shoes.

I personally like the fact that the new tax law will let me keep $2,000 more of my own hard-earned dollars (thank you very much.) If Ms. Street and others are not, they can always just give our already bloated government more of their own money. As much as they like. The government will take it.

She did have a point about healthcare, though. It spurred me to call our representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers and request that she work to get Obamacare (which has pushed healthcare cost through the roof) completely repealed so the open market can correct itself through competition and make healthcare affordable once again.

Also, the bit about jobs? Did Ms. Street miss that we now have the lowest unemployment numbers of the last 17 years?

Travis Brock,

Colfax

Significant needs

I am respectfully asking all voters in the Colfax School District to consider supporting Colfax schools by voting in the upcoming election. There will be two measures for your consideration on the upcoming ballot.

One will be the replacement levy that is voted on every two years. The maintenance and operating levy of $2.97-per-thousand dollars of assessed value passed two years ago will be reduced by guidelines set by the State Legislature to the $1.50-per-thousand of assessed value. This will cut the funds that the Colfax School District asks from its taxpayers by half. The State Legislature is required to make up the difference. The levy dollars cannot be spent on any capitol improvement projects.

The second measure on the ballot is a replacement bond with the current bond set at $1.41-per-thousand dollars of assessed value. The new bond will be set at $2.63-per-thousand for the next 20 years and this will raise $18.9 million to address the school buildings and grounds.

The combined taxes collected from the taxpayers from the Colfax School District will be reduced by an estimated $.25 when you add the new levy and bond measures together. The bond will address pressing needs that the school building currently has as well as prepare the Colfax School District to educate and train the upcoming generation for science and technology. The Colfax School District will become a destination school for Whitman County.

The current needs of the school are significant.

The roofing on both the Jr and Sr high school buildings needs to be replaced.

The Jr and Sr high school heating and air-conditioning needs to be updated from the original system that does not meet current standards for efficiency and consistency, as well as the distracting background noise heard in the classrooms.

The asbestos in the high school classrooms, maintenance closets, and auditorium are hindering schools' excellent maintenance team from addressing issues such as flooring and white board replacement.

The heating and air-conditioning in the grade school needs some updating to maintain efficiency and reliability.

The total, when adding up the costs of roofing, heating and air-conditioning, needed asbestos removal, taxes, fees, and a construction cost contingency is an estimated $12.458 million.

The rest of the $18.9 million will transform the old industrial arts shop to a science and technology training space to prepare our students for the changing job market, the library will also be updated to meet and utilize how technology and research will be used today and in the future, and the auditorium will be refurbished back into a cornerstone of our community's activities.

The bond will transform the 1953 gym in the grade school and give a much-needed facelift to the junior and senior high school gym.

Other priorities are parking, student pick up and drop-off areas, locker room updating, bathroom upgrades and many other small projects to improve our schools.

In our conversations as a committee and in the community, we have received great feedback. Colfax as a community understands what the school district provides. It prepares our loved ones for their future, helps the underprivileged reach their potential, draws in families that might otherwise choose larger communities with more modern facilities, provides a center for our community's social life and shows the pride we have in our community.

I am confident we are asking for the correct amount to prepare our schools for the next 20 years. If you have any questions, please contact our committee at [email protected] or check us out on Facebook at "Citizens for Colfax Quality Schools."

Weston Claassen,

Colfax

Serving in a troubled world

Your last edition of 2017 published a heart-warming editorial by Jana Mathia. It was at once thoughtful, poignant, and hopeful. She juxtaposed Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s hopeful poem “I Heard the bells on Christmas Day” against the war-torn Civil War year of 1863, when it was written.

Longfellow, a widower with six children, still mourned the loss of his wife of 18 years. He had little to be hopeful for, save for his faith.

The editorial reminded me of another poet writing about hope in the face of despair. He wrote 200 years ago on another continent. He wrote about faith and hope despite losing his eyesight.

He was John Milton, considered by many to be the greatest writer in the English language. More remarkable is that some of his greatest works were written after he went blind.

Milton was only 44 when his failing eyesight left him. Some believe his blindness developed because of working long hours in poor light while serving his government.

His desire to serve is reflected in a sonnet he wrote three years after losing his sight. It begins,

“When I consider how my light is spent,

“Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,

“And that one Talent which is death to hide

“Lodged with me useless, though my Soul more bent

“To serve therewith my Maker…"

He is, of course, alluding to Matthew 25:14-30, the parable of the talents.

Milton was weaned on the King James Bible, published three years after his birth. He was deeply religious, a God-fearing Puritan. A large part of his life was spent in service.

In the sonnet, he fears his loss of vision will prevent him from presenting his "true account" on Judgment Day, when God might "chide" him.

He asks, "Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?" then answers his own question:

"God doth not need

“Either man's work or his own gifts; who best

“Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best."

Milton did serve after going blind, producing major literary works. He spent years dictating "Paradise Lost," perhaps the greatest epic poem in the English language, to "justify the ways of God to man." It was first published 15 years after he lost his vision.

As we look to an unknown future in a troubled world, we can envision using our own talents in service. As I look ahead, the future is bright. I think, I write, I wait, ever in tune with Milton’s closing line:

"They also serve who only stand and wait."

Pete Haug,

Colfax

Invitation

Travis Brock's letter, "Different View," 10-5-17, requires a response -- a courteous response, because he was powerful in the control of his emotions.

Kneeling is a humbling experience. One lowers oneself in the presence of others. One kneels in prayer.

To all who think that Colin Kaepernick was disrespecting the flag when he knelt before it, in humble supplication that we might join with him, and take the next step in fighting America's disease of racism, I extend an invitation:

Please come to the Pullman Senior Center, located in Pullman's city hall, (on Paradise, between Kamiaken and Pine), on the Friday immediately following the publication of this letter; at 11:30 a.m., in time for lunch. (Dutch treat.)

Homework assignment: search "kneeling man attacked by police dogs," and watch the video.

I invite you to join with me. Let's kneel before the flag and pledge allegiance to liberty and justice for all.

Wiley Hollingsworth,

Pullman

Outstanding possibilities

I hope your readers will consider the outstanding possibilities the 2018 Replacement Bond for the Colfax School District offers. It is a big project but an important one. Re-roofing Jennings Elementary and the junior/senior high school, renovating the gyms for both schools, including the 1953 one at Jennings-important upgrades that have been badly needed.

I'm excited about creating a science, technology, engineering, agriculture and mechanics workshop at the junior/senior high school. As a businessman, with several dozen teammates based just over the hill west of town, I'm excited to see Colfax schools planning for the future. As chair of a statewide Rural Jobs Task Force, we're looking for talented young people interested in rewarding career opportunities and well aware that sound educational roots are vital for the leaders of tomorrow.

There are many opportunities for young people here in Whitman County-in Colfax and other communities, on farms, in our business and many others. During the careers of young people in the Colfax schools today we've got to double food production to feed a fast growing world. Providing excellent facilities to serve students and teachers well for years to come is a big step in the right direction. Please consider voting "yes' on the 2018 Replacement Bond.

Alex McGregor,

Pullman

Support library levy

We are writing to urge you to support our County Library’s bid for the levy restoration. The vote is on February 13, 2018, and your support is needed to ensure the incredible programs our library provides can continue in our communities.

Our family moved to the town of Endicott just over seven years ago from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area of Minnesota.

Moving to a small town from a big city was a dramatic shift, and we have come to love it.

One of the reasons why is our local Whitman County Library branch in Endicott.

Each one of our three children have been enriched through programing at the Library.

They have been exposed to insects and robots, hands on math and of course reading.

They have learned about home and community safety and about service to the community.

All this only a half block away from home in a town of 300 residents.

What a blessing! Each of them looks forward to the programs offered whether special after school programs for our older children or the weekly story-time with our pre-schooler, family trivia nights at the Endicott Food Center or simply picking books and DVDs to check out.

When we think about all that is offered through the Endicott Library Branch and multiply that by the 14 locations throughout Whitman County, it’s incredible to think about how much the Whitman County Library enhances our area. It’s not surprising that over the course of the past year, the children and teen programs had 23,475 attendees. A levy restoration of $0.04 per $1,000.00 (or $6.00 annually for a $150,000 home) is a small price for the services we so greatly benefit from our local libraries. Thank you for supporting our library…and thank you to the Whitman County Library for all that you give us.

Philip and Jamie Misner,

Endicott