By Jane Ramberg I, and most people I know, are in despair about what’s happening in our country. The vitriol. The huge chasm that divides us. I believe that most people on both sides of this chasm truly love our country and want our democracy to thrive. But our problems are complex. And, solutions that […]
Editorials
My Turn – Neglected USFS trails need everyone’s attention
By Michelle Schmidtke As a long-time hiker (50-plus years) and member of the Methow Valley chapter of the Backcountry Horsemen of Washington, I am saddened by the neglected condition of the U.S. Forest Service trails. Wildfires have been the cause of extensive damage the past 10 years, but the bigger issue is lack of funding […]
Writers on the Range – Coming soon, The Apocalypse — maybe
By Pepper Trail Writers on the Range Just about every video game, young adult novel and buzz-worthy streaming series agree that we need to prepare for a post-apocalyptic world. Up ahead, around a sharp curve or off a cliff, it is waiting — The Apocalypse. Maybe not “the complete final destruction of the world,” but […]
Guest column: Snake River dams integral to our economy
By Don C. Brunell If you want a glimpse of parched river bottoms behind “would be breached” lower Snake River dams, look at recent photos of European rivers and lakes. On parts of picturesque Rhine River there is often more dry land than flowing water. Europe is in the clutches of another drought — the […]
Writers on the Range – Signs of hope in efforts to save Northwest salmon
By Rocky Barker Writers on the Range For the last 35 years I’ve been covering what we call the “salmon wars” in the Pacific Northwest, writing so many stories about salmon heading toward extinction that I’ve lost count. The decline occurred year by year while we spent $18 billion on what’s politely called “mitigation.” That […]
Editorial: Moving on
Last Tuesday’s primary election results, local and statewide, may have determined a few things heading into the November general election, but the voting did not produce absolute clarity. Much remains to be debated and decided in the coming three months, and it behooves us all to pay attention — though politics have become increasingly tiresome […]
Editorial: Primary considerations
Voters have a tendency to overlook primary elections, sitting them out in anticipation of the general election. That’s unfortunate, as some of the most important decisions are made in the primaries — and only the participants are making them. Ballots for the Aug. 2 primary will be mailed from the Okanogan County Auditor’s Office this […]
My Turn – History is written by the victors
By Michael Brady The Supreme Court’s recent decisions on guns and abortion show how predetermined outcomes can be reached by judiciously selecting which strands of history to weave together into a story compelling the desired result. Both decisions were purportedly based on the same neutral, objective readings of history and original intent of constitutional text. […]
Editorial: Not quite a ‘right’
The three candidates for Okanogan County sheriff, including the incumbent, made a rather startling assertion at last week’s public forum. As noted in the Methow Valley News story about the event, “All three said that they reserve the right not to enforce laws they deem unconstitutional.” There is no such right — or at least […]
Writers on the Range – We need every tool to fight today’s wildfires
By Steve Pyne Writers on the Range We know now that the largest recorded fire in New Mexico history was started by an escaped “prescribed burn,” or rather by two. The Hermit’s Peak fire bolted away on April 6 when unexpectedly gusty winds blew sparks beyond control lines. Then the Calf Canyon fire raced off […]
