Letters: Feb. 1, 2018

Enriches lives

I am writing in support of the Whitman County Library levy.

Our Whitman County Library enriches lives in many ways. With 14 branches throughout the county, WCL offers programs for all ages, including preschool storytime, after school events, teen nights, summer reading, as well as informative speakers sponsored by WCL through Humanities Washington.

Other services offered include internet and Wi-Fi hot-spot access, computer help, services to daycares, senior facilities and home bound residents.

I appreciate the convenience of requesting books online and having them delivered to my local branch for pick-up and the availability of downloadable ebooks and audiobooks though WCL’s subscription to the Washington Anytime Library.

I particularly enjoy WCL’s Whitman Country Heritage Project which documents the early history of the county and is available to all online at the WCL Facebook page.

We are fortunate to have such a strong, vibrant library system in Whitman County.

Carley Dube,

Rosalia

Shoe string

We’re writing in support of the Whitman County Library levy on Feb. 13. Our award-winning library runs 14 branches scattered across a landscape larger than the state of Delaware, and they run it on a shoe string, with mostly part-time staff, building space contributed by local communities, in-kind donations and hundreds of hours of volunteer time.

Believe it or not, the library’s tax rate actually decreases every year, even though our household expenses don’t. Neither do the library’s. Every few years the library has to go out and ask the voters to restore the level of support they’ve previously approved.

That’s what’s happening on Feb. 13. You’re being asked to re-approve the $.50-per-thousand of assessed valuation that you’ve already approved in previous elections. You’re not being asked to increase tax support of the library, simply to restore what you’ve already voted for.

You may be wondering about the various library upgrades you’ve seen around the county in recent years, such as The Center in Colfax. That money didn’t come from your property taxes, but from grants, community fundraising events and individual donations.

The library levy pays for library hours, staff and programs. If it doesn’t pass, those hours, staff, and programs will disappear. Don’t let that happen.

Vote Yes on Feb. 13 for the library.

Scott and Sue Hallett, Colfax

Basic needs

I am voting for the levy and bond for the Colfax School District. The are many sound reasons to vote yes for the Colfax School District. For example, to protect our investment by fixing our current building problems, to have our community be more attractive to new businesses and families, to educate our future generations so they will not need to rely on government assistance and can be productive taxpayers.

The main reason that I am voting for these measures and why I am involved with the Citizens for Quality Schools committee is to give the underprivileged and disenfranchised children of our community a chance to be productive citizens.

School is where most of the children spend their childhood.

Frankly, in the younger grades a teacher may know a child better than his or her parents or caregiver.

Many children in the Colfax school system have a stable home that provides most of their needs, but there are many in our community that don't.

Basic needs of food, shelter, clothing, love and advice are not provided.

How do we fix this? Unfortunately, there is no easy fix.

There are not enough tax dollars, programs, or workers to help all of these families.

So, what is the easiest way to help these children that desperately need help to reach their potential? Have high-quality schools; schools where a child is guaranteed to receive at least two meals, five days a week.

Where multiple high-quality adults can spend time and give love, caring, advice and a watchful eye for the most hurting.

Schools where the temperature and environment is soothing and helpful to a stressful and chaotic life.

Schools where a child can take a shower if no facilities at home are available.

Unfortunately, there are more children in these types of environments than we know.

There are hungry children at our Colfax school.

There are children dealing with stress and emotional upheaval in their homes.

The fact is that school is often the only protective factor in a child's life. A high-quality school is the only economic and social equalizer that is a proven success. An underprivileged child can be educated, cared for and challenged for 13 years. High school students have the opportunity show up for jazz band at 7:30 a.m. and end their day after play practice at 9 p.m. That is potentially 13.5 hours that high-quality adults are watching over them, giving them much-needed advice or lending a listening ear. These are the reasons that I am voting yes for the Colfax School District levy and bond.

Weston Claassen, Colfax

Chairman, Citizens for Quality Schools

Colfax

A grateful yes

My wife and I find ourselves in an unusual situation this year. For the first time in the almost 30 years that we have lived here, we are being asked to support a school levy/bond and we no longer have children left in the school system. And yet we have never felt better about supporting the new school proposal than we do now.

Quality schools are one of the most important investments we can make in our community. I truly believe that funding our children’s education should be viewed as an investment and not an obligation. By having excellent schools, we ensure that our children become educated, responsible, productive adults. But just as importantly, we ensure the vibrant quality of life that this wonderful community offers us. Good schools are the backbone upon which we sustain and attract businesses, stores, medical facilities and wonderful neighborhoods in which to live.

Thirty years ago we would not have moved here if a local school administrator (Jim Rosenbeck, for those of you old enough to remember) had not convinced us that our children could receive the best possible education available anywhere. We believed him and our family has seen the fruits of quality education in all of our children.

This is one investment we would never pass on. Please join us in voting yes for quality schools.

Kim Mellor,

Colfax

Great Community!

The upcoming ballot issues in Colfax need "Yes" votes.

This small county seat, often overshadowed by an unnamed college town to the south ten times its size, serves its county well. Weekly, this paper devotes much space to school sports, community activities and local business enterprises.

To serve and support all these activities and enterprises, schools need modern bricks-and-mortar facilities as well as competitive teaching staffs. It also needs our county library network, which is pretty amazing itself and is often found at The Center of what's going on.

Please vote. That unnamed city to the south is now going through an expensive second ballot because of low voter turnout.

And when you vote, please vote "Yes" on all three ballot propositions to support this great community.

Pete Haug,

Colfax