THANKS FOR SUPPORT
Dear Editor:
To family, friends, and acquaintances of the Methow Valley: Thank you for your cards, flowers, phone calls, visits and kind words. They have all been an inspiration to get well and come home soon from my hospitalization at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. I feel grateful and blessed to be from such a wonderful community.
Marcia Liebl, Twisp
NEGATIVE AGENDA
Dear Editor:
Why does the Methow Valley News continue to “major” in the negative? Last month when one of Bill White’s cows had her newborn calf killed he contacted authorities because every indication showed wolves were involved. A 100-pound calf carried down a hill a good distance would require an animal larger than a coyote. The attack occurred from behind – a skill used by canines. Bears and cougars use a frontal attack. Wolf sign in the area included direct sightings, game camera wolf photos, tracks and scat. Eighty-five percent of the animal was consumed in a very short time.
The night before the calf was killed I was guiding hunters on the Whites’ ranch and observed one large and two medium-size wolves in the very same area as the livestock – more than likely, an alpha male and two of last year’s offspring. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife indicated it was not a wolf because there were signs of coyotes in the area. Of course, if it was a wolf that made the kill, WDFW would have to pay restitution.
Did the News raise these issues? No, they continued their practice of promoting their political agenda instead of the news. Throughout the article they discredited Bill White with those who don’t know him by describing him in terms of his legal issues. Those who know him best would describe him in terms indicating his public service: how he is willing to drop whatever he is doing to help others, how he shares what he has with those in need and that he was willing to accept a conviction on charges, especially the state charges that he could have won but would have required his family’s retirement savings to pay legal fees.
Aaron Burkhart, Winthrop
BEWARE OF ‘BEWARE’
Dear Editor:
“Buyer beware” (May 29) was a doubly well-titled letter, but not for the reasons stated by its author. First, beware before you buy the half-truths and misleading statements about the supposed dangers of smoking marijuana. Skip over the pseudo-scientific paraphrasing of unnamed, “recent studies,” or a “study conducted in New Zealand.” There are hundreds of studies worldwide, with inconclusive or conflicting results about the dangers (or lack thereof) of moderate use of marijuana.
I don’t disagree that inhaling smoke of any kind regularly can have detrimental health effects. Smoke does include carcinogenic substances. However, the quantity inhaled has to be taken into account. You cannot compare smoking 10 to 20 cigarettes throughout the day, 365 days a year, with smoking a joint or two several times per week, or even every day.
Saying the “toxicological similarities are likewise pretty clear” is misleading for another reason. Cigarettes are made in part from a pulp of ground tobacco leaves and stems bound with glues and chemical additives. Cigarette manufacturers have registered 599 additives with the FDA. Some make cigarettes taste better or easier to smoke. Some are believed to make cigarettes more addictive. Finally, some additives affect the lungs in a way to allow the smoke to reach deeper and infuse more lung tissue with smoke from every puff.
In contrast, marijuana is generally smoked from buds or leaves, with no additives. This brings me to my second reason why “buyer beware” is an apt title.
Beware of the big manufacturers getting into marijuana production and distribution. Since those addiction-enhancing and lung-deepening additives are already FDA approved, there may be nothing stopping the big producers from adding them to marijuana. “Buy local” is a good idea for food. It should also be wise for marijuana.
Randy Brook, Twisp
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
Dear Editor:
I was shocked and appalled that a recent Methow Valley News issue devoted so much ink to a boring subject like the fact that anthropogenic heat-trapping carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Earth’s atmosphere has reached 400 parts per million for the first time since humans were created.
When I sit down to read a paper I expect to be entertained. Whether or not our species can adapt to the unprecedented rate of climate change hardly seems newsworthy to me. I mean, the paper didn’t print a word about whether or not Geraldo Rivera will be tapped for the New Jersey senate, if JLo’s outfit was too revealing, or how Michael Douglas thinks he acquired throat cancer.
Seriously though, “All aboard for the global train wreck” (May 29) was a great article, thanks for printing it.
Jim Robertson, Rosburg, Wash.
SUPPORT THE OUTFITTERS
Dear Editor:
Wilderness outfitters need our support, especially while their 10-year permits are being appealed by a so-called “wilderness” organization with a record of poor credibility. My personal professional experience as a wilderness ranger has recently been verified by a visit from an old national park co-worker, and now-retired superintendent of both Sequoia and Wrangell-St. Elias national parks. He knows wilderness horse-packing impacts from intimate field experience, as well as a senior administrator. While a superintendent he investigated Wilderness Watch by telephone and discovered that they had not field checked their sources of complaints.
Our horse packers are the heart and soul of the Methow. Please help them out now by mail, or in person, with the U.S. Forest Service.
Eric Burr, Mazama
KIDS SAY THANKS
Dear Editor:
We would like to take a moment to thank Laurie and Mike Myers, owners of KOA Campground, for allowing the kindergarten class to hold their end-of-year party at the campground. It was a perfect place for running, eating, playing games and meeting other families. We had a lot of fun!
Thanks also to Red Apple Market, Winthrop Mountain Sports, Sheri’s Sweet Shoppe, Rascals, Riverside Grill, The Tenderfoot, Carlos1800, Timberline T-shirts, and Jeff and Kari Taylor. Your donations helped make our event an enjoyable one. Finally, a special thanks to Mark Crum for cooking 144 hot dogs, with a smile!
Kelly Alumbaugh, Sara Crum, Ananda Bajema, Jennifer Taylor, MVES kindergarten class
