Biochar benefits
Dear Editor:
Here’s my contribution toward lowering the political temperature in these times. In that spirit, let’s give credit and appreciation to Sen. Hawkins and Reps. Goehner and Steele for their support of the C6 biochar project. So good to know that Republicans will do the right thing to support an important opportunity that has come up.
Making charcoal from forest thinning makes good sense:
• Most forested areas near homes need thinning for fire safety.
• Thinned trees can become charcoal (biochar) with value in the marketplace.
• Biochar enriches soil by retaining nutrients and water.
• Biochar locks up carbon that contributes to our climate problems.
• The project can provide jobs and money to our region.
To learn more, Google C6 Methow to read Marcy Stamper’s article in the Methow Valley News, Dec.16, 2020.
Dave Sabold, Winthrop
Be a kind skier
Dear Editor:
Just a friendly reminder to skiers: When you arrive at a popular valley ski trail on a gorgeous Sunday and the parking lot is very busy, it’s most likely there are lots of other skiers of all ages and abilities there too. They have come to enjoy the day like you — not to watch you race!
Yes, the trails are crowded and many folks using them are not locals like you –they have paid to use them and are entitled to do so. Frustrating as it may be, you need to slow down while passing groups of less-than-stellar skiers who might have fallen or be pulling chariots or just be unsure what your passing plan is.
Flying by and clipping other’s skis to leave them in a heap in the snow is not OK! And rolling your eyes as you pass is also unacceptable. Please be kind when you ski or go find a trail where you can ski by yourself.
Alisa Malloch, Winthrop
Where were you?
Dear Editor:
Rep. Dan Newhouse stepped up to the plate and voted for impeachment on Jan. 13. Many have praised him for this “brave and courageous” step. In his recent newsletter, he explains that it was “the hardest decision I have made in my career and it was not a decision I made lightly.” He condemned the “unacceptable violence” and blamed Trump for doing nothing to stop it.
However, he condemned only the violence. He said nothing about Trump’s habitual departure from the world of reality. He said nothing about Trump’s inciting the violence on Jan. 6, nor in the prior weeks, how Trump’s perpetuation of manufactured claims of election fraud gave rise to the violence. He said nothing about the 60-plus judges who threw out all of Trump’s court attempts to challenge the elections. He didn’t mention that many of those judges were appointed by Trump or other Republican presidents. He said nothing to acknowledge that there is no evidence to sustain the election fraud myth that could have changed the election results.
Where was Newhouse in explaining this to his constituents? He said “Our country needed a leader and President Trump failed to fulfill his oath of office.” Yes, but where were you, Mr. Newhouse? Your silence helped stoke the violence. Your constituents needed and still need a leader to call out falsehoods, myths and conspiracy theories for what they are. Conservative political viewpoints deserve a representative in Congress, but views based on lies, alternative facts and baseless conspiracy theories do not. A Congressman’s duty is not only to represent his constituents’ views, but also to be a leader in his district for truth, reality and fact. These things do exist and we cannot have a democracy without them.
Kathleen Learned, Twisp
