Patterson Lake concerns
Dear Editor:
We are concerned about the plan to upgrade the Patterson Lake boat launch area (Methow Valley News, Dec. 21, 2022). If implemented, the use and users of the lake may be changed drastically, from quiet and peaceful to noisy and dangerous. The lake is currently a tranquil setting, enjoyed by many locals and visitors. The Methow Valley needs to preserve this small, quiet Lake.
Yes, the boat launch facilities are primitive, but they are useable, even for little old ladies and men (like these writers. We take our 12-foot inflatable boat with an electric trolling engine to the lake often, mostly to fish and just float about watching wildlife and enjoying the scenery. On other lakes, where the go-fast machines exist, this sort of relaxation is impossible and even dangerous, as the jet skiers zoom close, and the wake of power boats rocks us too almost capsizing. Patterson lake is small and narrow, so that even one water skier or jet skier would disrupt and endanger all the other users in small boats or at the shore.
Other compatible recreators use the lake with us, using paddle boards, kayaks and small boats, and, also fishing from shore, with families and enjoying picnics. These are not only local residence, but also include valley visitors (tourists), whom we meet often, looking for local knowledge on where to fish. Some have said that the lake is their main destination when visiting the Valley.
Some improvements are welcome, such as upgrading (and maintaining) the toilets. Even improving the launch ramp would be welcome if the current speed limit were retained — and enforced, which seems unlikely.
This is not a Not-In-My-Backyard protest, but rather is a request that the lake be kept for its current user types. All users should be accommodated, but that isn’t possible at every location. Let’s have a variety of locations, each tuned to a segment of the user population.
Concerns should be expressed to the Okanogan County Planning Department by Jan. 13 or to our local District No. 2 County Commissioner, Andy Hover.
Tom and Carol McCord
Winthrop
Support Ukraine
Dear Editor:
Kevin McCarthy, in his desperation to become House Speaker, has ceded effective control of the functioning of the House of Representatives to a small group of dangerous extremists. Eighteen of the 20 Republicans who voted repeatedly against him over the course of four agonizing days are election deniers. Fourteen of those were representatives in 2021 and voted against certifying the results of the free and fair 2020 election. These people, who seem eager to burn it all down, threaten our democracy.
We need to brace ourselves for serious consequences. There are many things to be concerned about, but right now, I am thinking the danger of failing to continue support for Ukraine in its heroic defense against an unprovoked and barbaric invasion by Russia.
I am inclined to think that basic historical literacy should be a requirement for holding federal office. The parallels between Hitler’s aggression in Europe prior to the full-scale outbreak of World War II and Putin’s behavior since he invaded Georgia in 2008 are striking. In the 1930s, the European allies chose to ignore Hitler’ s aggressions while they were still relatively easy to stop. The result was that he almost succeeded in conquering Europe. The costs of World War II were unimaginable and included an estimated 70 million-85 million deaths, or 3% of the world’s population.
Putin dreams of restoring Russian control over the 2 million square miles of land that became independent after the collapse of the Soviet Union. That involves 15 sovereign states, including three NATO allies. If he succeeds in conquering Ukraine, there is no reason to expect him to stop. The threat of another world war is real; the cost of supporting Ukraine is by far the best option available: our treasure, their patriotic blood. Pretending that the outcome of the war in Ukraine will not affect us here is simply wishful thinking that we cannot afford.
I urge you to unreservedly express support for Ukraine to our elected officials.
Gina McCoy
Winthrop
Thanks to snow crews
Dear Editor:
What a crazy winter of snow! We will all remember this one for many years.
I just wanted to thank the Town of Winthrop and Twisp’s Public Works teams, and of course the Okanogan County Department of Transportation, for keeping all our roads and so many town sidewalks open. Being able to walk on some plowed sidewalks in both towns was not always the case until a few years ago, and it is so nice both towns are doing that more in certain areas.
Thank you also to all the snow removal contractors who don’t work for those organizations! It’s a busy snow removal year, and I notice how well you all are trying to keep up.
Thank you everyone for your hard work, early and late hours, and dealing with your equipment, so we all can get to where we need to go. We are grateful.
Blue Bradley
Winthrop
