Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

Act of mercy deserving of pardon

Reporters Bonnie Harris and Jeanette White did a remarkable job of covering the story. I wish I could say the same for your headline composer, who must have had his early training on a tabloid. The big headline, “Mother kills disabled teenage daughter” (Feb. 23) could have been, “Mother ends torture of teenage disabled daughter.”

If you had a family pet which was permanently disabled, you would have no hesitation in having it put away. But in this case, a human being had been on the torture rack for a year and a half, with absolutely no chance of recovery or relief from her pain.

Then we have a mother who has been on duty for about 180 days and nights, performing the heart-wringing task of doing her very best for her constantly uncomfortable baby. It would have been so easy for her to say, “My daughter died.” It would never have been questioned. But there was no question in the mother’s overlabored mind - she went to the police station.

If our system of justice isn’t completely fouled up, they will pardon the poor mother on a charge of temporary insanity. The rest of us say, God bless the mother! Carlton Gladder Spokane

Courage ended tragic situation

My family grew up across the street from Deborah Rockstrom’s family. My sisters and I spent as much time at their house as we did our own. We older kids even let the younger ones play with us - sometimes. She was known as “Little Deb” and I was “Big Deb.”

Upon hearing the news that Debbie gave her daughter Erin exactly what she had begged for, I felt relieved for everyone involved, especially for Erin. The love, courage and strength that Debbie showed and gave Erin during the nightmarish two years of caring for her and during her last, final gift, will always be remembered as acts of extreme love.

In my heart and forevermore, I will always admire the mother she became. In my eyes, Little Deb became Big Deb. Debbie Wilkinson Spokane

Mother gave daughter final freedom

What would you do?

One day your whole life is changed forever. Your 13-year-old daughter is “accidentally” shot in the head. Against all odds she lives. However her brain is severely injured and their is little chance of full recovery.

Initial support is plentiful but time passes and the support fades. Everyone else’s life goes on, as does your daughter’s.

You do what you must. This is, after all, your child. Once home, you give your all to help her recover. There is hope at first, small victories. But in time everyone, including your daughter, realizes that she will never get better. The injury is too severe. She sinks deeper and deeper into depression. All of the love, encouragement and support loved ones give doesn’t help. She does not want to live like this. She’s only 14; she should be a freshman.

Visiting friends try to cheer her up. But their lives are different, too. They are in high school now. They don’t know what to share with her anymore. They update her on people and talk of some day doing things together again. But they and she know it won’t happen. Eventually, she gives up completely. You are watching her slowly die.

Still, you try to save her. You love her. She is your child.

Did Debbie Rockstrom realize that although they weren’t ready for Erin to die, Erin was?

For 17 months, Debbie basically devoted her life to saving Erin and, in the end, she did. What courage. Janice Duvanich Spokane

Park: Again, Anderson is right

It seems like Councilman Chris Anderson is Spokane’s voice of the people. And as I review the letters to the editor each day, I kind of wonder, are all those critical of his logical actions just a bit of the political animals we’ve been trying to get rid of in our country? This man always talks good, common sense.

Mr. park board president, do you really want us common folk to believe that you had worked for a company that coordinated the Pacific Science Center’s move to the pavilion and had no influence in it? Give me a break! We’re not that dumb.

A few years ago, the people of Spokane, with their vote, told the park board they did not want the amusement rides on the grassy area. If we move in a science center, guess where the rides will go? Bingo!

With all the empty buildings in downtown Spokane, why can’t we place the science center there? We don’t have to be like Seattle. George Springer Veradale

Beautiful tree gone from park

During the recent holiday weekend, with tremendous rain falling steadily, we heard the whine of chainsaws for two days. When the rain subsided, we discovered the destruction of the tallest, most beautiful weeping willow.

She stood in splendor, 150 feet tall, arms outstretched in an embrace in the midst of Cannon Hill Park on West 19th Avenue. Her 144-inch base, which has been leveled, indicates it was not a dead tree.

A memorial drinking fountain on a rising, circular concrete base below the tree was a monument to be enjoyed along with the beauty of the pond and park. It had served as a restful area for residents and visitors. It is sad to think that this majestic willow tree of beauty was destroyed forever by the park department.

My ode to the willow: Oh rest in peace. Angela Eudaley Spokane

Let nonresidents check books out

The city-only “public” library move to charge out-of-city residents confuses me. In a time when conserving the tax dollar by avoiding duplication of services seems paramount, why are we drawing lines instead of collaborating as library systems?

I am a city resident, yet I know that as a total Spokane community, we need to conserve resources and cross lines in many ways for the greater good of the people. Perhaps for budgetary reasons it is not possible to mail materials to citizens outside the city. But do let them check out books, for heavens sake - a small concession for the dollars they spend on this side of the “line.” Mary Brown Spokane

Girl Scout cookies overpriced here

In response to your Feb. 17 article, “Bringing in the dough,” the reason Girl Scout cookie sales don’t come “easy” is the exorbitant price. When Spokane’s Inland Empire Girl Scout Council sells its cookies for more than any other council in the Northwest, it’s no wonder the girls get discouraged.

In Western Montana, Girl Scout cookies sell for $2.50; in the Boise area, they sell for $2.75; in Portland, Seattle and Reno, they sell for $3.

How do these other Girl Scout Council offices run efficiently with cheaper-priced cookies? More than likely, it’s by selling in volume. As the law of supply and demand rules, the higher the price, the less they’ll sell. Conversely, the lower the price, the more they’ll sell.

With the $3.50 price per box and only 40 cents going to the troop and 20 cents for awards to the girl, only if she sells enough boxes to earn cookie dollars, they’re definitely not much of a bargain. Steve Jung Post Falls

EDUCATION

Fluff, fads not stuff of better teaching

Lynn Jones (Letters, Feb. 18) gave a limited view of teacher training offerings. In the January-February issue of Focus, put out by Educational Service District 101, taxsupported in-services and training for teachers included “Effective Cycling” (as in bicycling), several courses supporting and teaching various theories as fact, courses defining parents’ roles and classes training teachers to be psychotherapists.

In case the education community has not figured it out yet, the community at large is angry over the fraud, waste and abuse we see in many sectors of our educational system. I would never expect my employer to pay for programs just because I have a whim to attend them. We can no longer afford to have taxpayers pay for classes that are at best fluff and at worst undermining our values.

We would like to believe that teachers could make wise choices for continuing education. Unfortunately, a vast majority of teachers seem too willing to be sucked into the latest fad or the union line over the truth. David L. Turner Medical Lake

Language program source misstated

I take exception to your front page article of Sunday, Feb. 19, regarding the foreign language program in the schools.

Cataldo Catholic School is using a program brought to us by our tutor coordinator parent from Ames, Iowa, in which she taught and worked for several years. We did not at any time contact Jefferson Elementary for advice on its program. We did, however, contact Wilson Elementary to get the name of its Spanish tutor, which the people there were very eager to share with us. We, in turn, shared our language program with Wilson, and have since shared it with Hutton Elementary.

Cataldo is in its second year of planning this foreign language program, working with local colleges to find tutors. We look forward to sharing ideas with District 81. We wish, however, The Spokesman-Review would get its information correct before printing such an article - particularly on the front page. Therese Covert Spokane

LAW AND JUSTICE

Insult called for sharp response

No assault charge, please!

Wanda Wilson, I would like to congratulate you on your action concerning the juvenile you had to immediately take action with (“Woman accused of slapping official’s son,” Spokesman-Review, Feb. 22). It seems taking the law into our own hands is our only option any more.

Josh had no call or business to insult you as he did - another example of no respect. They know they can get away with anything and they do anymore.

Everyone should get together and send you roses.

Just because he is the son of a (Newport) city councilman should make no difference, I hope. Actually, the kid should be charged with something.

Newport City Council ignored the pleas of angry business owners to take action against juveniles for harassing customers. So now what do you think, City Council?

Again, Wanda, good work! Irene Schmidt Spokane

Crack down on deadbeat dads

Most women who have custody of the children receive partial or no child support payment from the noncustodial fathers. Without these checks, we often find these mothers at the welfare office.

To reduce the welfare roll, we need to get tough with these deadbeat dads. We need to enforce the collection of child support. There are many arguments why these absentee fathers do not pay their child support but, regardless of their excuses, it is still their responsibility and it is time they pay.

The battle against poverty for women and children will continue as they try to collect their support and society’s burden will continue to grow until tougher enforcement is applied.

Perhaps public humiliation should be considered. Publicize the names and faces of the deadbeat dads. Revoke their car and driver’s license. Strip them of professional licenses and certifications. Make business licenses unavailable until their obligation has been met.

As a nation, it is time to take a stand for the children, the mothers and to lighten society’s encumbrance. Tammy Graff Colbert

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Yes, do work toward change

Thank you very much for your generous and generally accurate article about the Secular Franciscans in Spokane (Feb. 5). I would like to correct one paragraph in which I was misquoted. You said that I urged Franciscans not to work to change the system, but this is not true.

I believe that we must work to change the system, but that it is so hard to do this that we need to change our neighborhoods and households so that we can garner some sense of hope to persevere. The idolatry of greed, government bureaucracies and profit-obsessed corporations which persist in damaging Creation are so entrenched and resistant to reform that they are suggestive of the “powers and principalities” spoken of by St. Paul (Ephesians 6:12). To persevere against these requires faith, hope, and love. For this we need to hold hands as we travel through the darkness together. Brother Keith Warner OFM Berkeley, Calif.

Strikers should set good example

Regarding the striking Kaiser employees:

“Why are you striking, Daddy? Why are you hitting those trucks with your picket sign?”

What are Kaiser employees teaching their kids? That violence will get you more money? Lori Michels Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Forest Watch criticisms wrong

As one of the “environmental radicals” Robin Stanley referred to (Letters, Feb. 15), I’d like to explain my involvement as a Forest Watcher.

When I lived in the Silver Valley, I became aware of the effects of Forest Service logging in our national forests - hillsides pockmarked by clearcuts, streams full of bedload but no fish, and miles and miles of roads.

Ms. Stanley invites members of the Spokane-based Forest Watch to come to Shoshone County and hug trees. Actually, most people who’ve been involved in timber sale appeals live in North Idaho, i.e. the Kootenai Environmental Alliance, a Coeur d’Alene-based group which has been keeping watch on the forests, lakes, developments and any activity that might harm the environment, for over 20 years.

Sen. Larry Craig’s bill would use the excuse of “forest health” to allow the Forest Service to log our national forests without any public involvement.

Visit Yellow Dog Creek sometime. This drainage and Downey Creek are scheduled for logging to “preserve forest health” despite the fact that both drainages have been ruined by logging: 156 miles of roads, the fish are gone and elk habitat has been greatly reduced.

While the Forest Service plans to obliterate some roads, it will also log over 2 million board feet of timber from the area in five-acre units. Many of the Forest Service’s own scientists agree this land needs to heal before more trees are cut.

We Forest Watchers have never intended to stop logging. We just want it done right. Many loggers agree. Jo Austin Post Falls

Timber sale appeal right is vital

I am astounded that the editorial board would endorse a bill that penalizes the public for trying to make federal agencies obey the law. Sen. Larry Craig’s perversely termed “forest health” bill would do just that (Opinion, Feb. 21).

Craig’s bill strips the public of its rights to oversee public forests by eliminating timber sale appeals and environmental review.

The editorial laments that “fear of potential lawsuits has paralyzed the federal government, limiting the timber cut in the national forests.” Paralysis? You’ve got to be kidding. Are we talking about the same federal government?

The Forest Service consistently and aggressively proposes timber sales fraught with illegalities. It has never demonstrated any willingness to keep timber sales within the law. If fear of lawsuits has in fact become crippling, common sense would prescribe a simpler remedy: Stop breaking the law.

Public appeals aim to keep Smokey from completely ravaging our landscape. Any progress that’s been made in forest management has emerged in the wake of timber sale appeals.

The appeals process is essential to preserve the few remaining roadless areas, protect critical watersheds and habitats, and ensure a healthy environment for future generations. By ignoring their enormous value to a functioning ecosystem and concluding that dead and diseased trees are “wasted,” the editorial board disappointingly parrots the slick hype that Big Timber insults us with daily. Save a forest by cutting it down? Ridiculous.

By no stretch of the imagination can Craig’s bill benefit forests. It serves only to unleash insatiable multinational timber corporations. Scott Morrison Spokane

Clarify appeals, decisions tally

Ed Davis (Letters, Feb. 20) provided incorrect information regarding appeals of Colville National Forest decisions. He stated that “The bulk of 13 appeals received by the Colville National Forest last year came from a Wesleyan University club in Connecticut.” Mr. Davis appears to be referring to decisions involving timber sales.

To set the record straight, there were nine timber sale decisions made during 1994 on the Colville, of which only three were appealed. All three appeals were filed by established interest groups and none by the Wesleyan University group. Edward L. Schultz, forest supervisor Colville National Forest, Colville, Wash.

Editor’s note: The sentence in question in Ed Davis’ original letter should have read: The largest number of appeals received by the Colville National Forest last year (13) came from a club in Wesleyan University in Connecticut.