Data center dangers
Dear Editor:
“The only reason that communities throughout the U.S.A. should not want Data Centers is if they want to end up being backwards and poor.” — President Trump.
Tucked into the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), are major tax breaks for new data centers/AI campuses, including for siting them in designated Rural Opportunity Zones. Next year those designated zones change. I consulted ChatGPT, about the potential for new data centers in our congressional district (WA-04). Here is what it told me:
“WA-04 has a relatively small number of rural Opportunity Zones, concentrated in a handful of places [but next year] the eligible universe is much larger and much more rural, particularly in Grant and Okanogan counties. That matters because under OBBBA, the rural [opportunity zone] rules are potentially much more attractive for a large redevelopment project…”
Two things data centers need lots of are electricity and water. The OBBBA eliminates incentives for energy efficiency and renewable energy. There are no incentives for conserving water, which will come from agricultural water rights. Declining agriculture and higher electricity costs are part of the data center deal. Like many rural communities, our county is in no position to fend off the resources these companies bring when they set their sights on a new location.
This brings me to the upcoming elections. Amanda McKinney, the Republican candidate to be our representative, is massively supported by dark money from AI and cryptocurrency interests. Her Republican rivals in the primaries got no such support. Why? Maybe because this district is so attractive for new data centers and (assuming she is elected) they can count on her support.
The OBBBA is stuffed with benefits for the ultra-wealthy even as it slashes health care and food assistance, and balloons the national debt. Nine of the 12 hospitals in this district are at risk of closure due to the OBBBA’s Medicaid cuts kicking in this December. This is what our “moderate” Republican representative, Dan Newhouse, voted for. Can McKinney, a MAGA Republican who owes so much to AI and cryptocurrency, be trusted to protect our interests? I think not.
Gina McCoy
Winthrop
Make sure it’s mailed
Dear Editor:
We voted and dropped our ballots into a United States Post Office mail slot on July 27, 2026, for the primary election on Aug. 4, 2026. This was nine days before the election.
They were filled out very carefully, signed and met all the requirements. But our ballots were not counted.
The Post Office did not postmark our ballots until after the election. It did not deliver the ballots until after the election.
In Washington state, at least 20,267 ballots, were not counted — three times more uncounted ballots than any previous election — all for the same reason.
The Okanogan County Auditor’s Office is advising everyone to put your completed ballot into a secure ballot box, if at all possible. They advise not using the Post Office to return your ballot. If you must take it to the Post Office, vote well before the election, take it to the desk at the Post Office and ask that it be postmarked in your sight.
The upcoming elections are vital. Use the greatest precaution if you want your votes to be counted.
Aileen Jeffries
Winthrop
Much gratitude
Dear Editor:
We live in a community where new ideas can take flight. Only with the support of co-producing organizations Confluence Poets and Root.ED Nature School and a host of partners and participants did the inaugural William Stafford Peace Festival — and the new Stafford poetry plaque — fly the nest of imagination.
Gratitude to festival co-producers: Liz Blackman and Imelda Cervantes Barnard of Root.ED Nature School; to fellow Confluence Poets Steering Committee members Christine Kendall, Merry Maxwell, Sam Owen, Greg Wright; to partner organizations The Confluence, Methow Arts, Methow At Home, Methow Rising, Methow Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, The Nature Immersion Program and Stand With Us; to Blue Star Coffee, RYZO, OSB Taproom and Wellspring; to the newly formed Methow Valley Peace Singers, Kathleen Manseau, Anaka Mines, Bahia Rowan, Becca Stott, Avery Young; to Liberty Bell teacher Dani Golden and eighth-graders Kate Carlton, Eliana Lidey, Mina Lyman, Azmun Pixie Plott; to Paschal Sherman Indian School teacher Tatianna Abrahamson and eighth-graders Bodhi Gribble and Royce Timentwa; to Town of Twisp officials, Mayor Hans Smith, Andrew Denham, Bill Gollen, Nick Hershenow, Randy Kilmer and Will Menzies; and to Ken Bevis, Subhaga Crystal Bacon, Sharon Cohen, Rob Crandall, Laura Gunnnip, Jack Kienast, Michael Kirshner, Sheela McLean, Craig Seasholes, Lynette Westendorf and Teresa Williams.
Through this active engagement, power emerged: Power of the First Step — collective agreement arose to continue the conversation on: “Hope is a verb with its sleeves rolled up!”; Power of Handiwork — small and large hands alike waged peace through a cattail weaving project and a communal zine exploring peace, equity and sustainability within the land; Power Across Generations — the Peace Flag featuring leaves of fabric hanging from a vibrant tree bears the imprint and imagination of children, mid-lifers and seniors; Power of Voice — call-and-response and a cool, bidirectional microphone created a harmonious, communal litany for peace; Power of Perspectives — the depth of understanding gained by digging into Stafford poems together was palpable —ah!; and Power of Community — what can be created collaboratively by musician and poet, student and teacher, artist and administrator lifts the spirit. I am because we are (Ubuntu).
Cindy Williams Gutiérrez
William Stafford Peace Festival, Creator and Co-producer
Use ballot boxes
Dear Editor:
As the upcoming election approaches, it is more important than ever that every voice in our community is heard. However, for many of our neighbors — especially the elderly, those with mobility challenges, busy working parents, or those lacking reliable transportation — getting a ballot to a secure drop box can be a significant hurdle.
State election officials frequently emphasize that using an official county drop box is the single best way to ensure a ballot is securely received and counted on time, avoiding any potential mail delays. We can directly support this by looking out for one another.
I want to encourage everyone who is able to reach out to the people living on their block, down the road or on the same side of the mountain. A simple phone call or a knock on a neighbor’s door to ask, “Can I take your ballot to the official drop box for you?” can make a world of difference.
We are fortunate that Washington state does not prohibit us from collecting ballots and taking them to the ballot box for others. In fact, our Secretary of State, Steve Hobbs, encourages us to do so in this election. If you choose to help, always treat your neighbors’ ballots with the utmost care, respect their privacy, and deliver them without delay to nearest official county drop box.
Strong communities are built on small acts of neighborly kindness. Let’s work together to make sure no one in our community misses their chance to vote.
Nancy Aadland
Winthrop
Trapping beavers
Dear Editor:
In response to a letter in the Sept. 23 issue. As a licensed fur and nuisance animal trapper I would like to address the issues brought up.
It is correct that there is no state limit on the number of beaver that a licensed trapper can harvest between Nov. 1 and March 31. However, responsible and conscientious trappers do not take a total family unit from an area for several reasons. One and probably the most important to the licensed fur trapper is that by taking the entire family unit is you won’t have a population to trap in the future, which I believe would be termed conservation and management of the species.
In response to the statement of trappers using underwater cage traps, again a very true statement, but that is because the voters of Washington voted to ban the use of any body-gripping style traps, to include foothold traps, snares, and conibear type traps, and restricted trappers to the use of cage-style traps, which when placed underwater eventually drown the animal.
I want to strongly object to the term “recreational killing of beavers” There is nothing recreational about killing beaver or any other form of wildlife. As a licensed fur trapper, I use the most expedient and humane methods allowed by the state.
Yes I trap, and yes I trap because it is fun and profitable and because it gets me out in nature and where I can spend more time observing wildlife. A successful trapper learns about the animals he/she is after before ever setting a trap.
Also offering a bit of information to the folks that decide to trap their own nuisance wildlife and relocate them off their property: Yes, you can trap them on your own property, however, in order to relocate them off your property you must contact the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and get a permit and permission as to where you can relocate them.
Vern Herrst
Winthrop
