Letters To The Editor

Wed., March 29, 1995

SPOKANE MATTERS

Make exhibit permanent

The Cheney Cowles Museum satellite exhibit at Riverpark Square is in a prime location, beautifully displayed, almost perfect in every way from concept to motive. I wish it would become a permanent fixture.

If I were the Cheney Cowles Museum director, I would make one change. I’d have a revolving display of the works of Native American art currently inaccessible to the public because of the size of the permanent museum and the magnitude of the collection. Viewing the Indian images of the American West is like looking at plastic flowers while a garden full of creative geniuses are kept underground.

I encourage the director to keep his vision of involving the museum in the community. He has nearly all the elements in place for success, except for the art itself. Tina Wynecoop Spokane

Don’t fund police maneuver

The people of Spokane do not have $60,000 to fund a position - unnecessary at best, illegal at worst - for Cheryl Steele.

This potential manipulation of the system in order to circumvent the law and enable an illegal employee to continue in a job without the requirement of examination or competitive interview is another slap in the public’s face by a police administration that is power corrupt and inept, at best.

Norman Anderson, the bicyclist stopped at 1 a.m. for improper lights should consider himself very fortunate to be alive. He could easily be the fifth officer-assisted suicide in the last year for having resisted being harassed by Spokane’s finest.

The $60,000 we don’t have would be much better spent on police training or perhaps a search for a new top administrator for our police department. James Kilroy Spokane

Avoid big mistake; keep zoo

This is an appeal to the Spokane County commissioners, Skip Chilberg, Philip Harris and Steve Hasson, and to the Inland Empire Paper Co. to work with the management and supporters of Walk in the Wild Zoo to ensure its future.

Walk in the Wild is an educational and recreational gem just waiting to have its potential released. It offers healthy outdoor activities for people of all ages and is something families can enjoy together while getting a little exercise. Residents and tourists alike should be flocking to visit the zoo, with its beautiful natural setting near the river and the Centennial Trail.

I am a resident of Coeur d’Alene and have been a supporter of the zoo for several years. It is an asset for the whole region, not just Spokane.

Would you like to take your kids to the zoo? How far is it to the next closest one? Past problems are in the past and we must look to the future. Letting the zoo close would be a stupid mistake. Leta R. Jessick Coeur d’Alene

The Act is worth taking in

On a recent Saturday, I stopped at the valley theater known as The Act. I watched a children’s theater production called “Red Versus the Wolf.”

I left the theater thinking Steve Hasson is definitely wrong, that we have excellent entertainment in Spokane.

Nestled in the valley on Evergreen Road is a theater that seats around 100 patrons. They put on a show far surpassing recent productions by the Spokane Children’s Theater, which has been doing theater for almost 50 years. Not only was the play a sheer delight, the teacher from Sunrise Elementary who played the wolf was exceptional.

Hats off to this new theater group. Take your children and yourselves to its next play and get a taste of live theater. Don’t let them spend Saturdays in front of the TV. For $2.50, there is a better experience for them. George Springer Spokane

Education Cheers for Chase achievers

Accentuate the positive! Kudos and cheers to the Chase Middle School eighth-grade MESA class and its teacher, Heidi Bauer, for the class’ recent first-place win during science and math competition with other district middle school students held at the East Central Community Center.

MESA (Math, Engineering, Science, Achievement) is a program designed for minorities and females to encourage future participation and interest in the fields of math and science. Enrollment is based upon grades and teacher recommendations. Besides being taught the basic science curriculum, guest speakers, field trips and city and state competitions enhance the program.

Due to the enthusiasm of students and parents for MESA, Chase is the only middle school at this time offering the class to both seventh and eight graders.

Competitive events such as spatial visualization, marble catapults, tangrams, balloon racers and nine man morris have earned these eighth graders a chance to compete at state in May. They have all won my admiration for their hard work and innovative learning skills.

Congratulations and good luck! Patty A. Bauer Spokane

Critic misdiagnoses problem

It amazes me that Deborah Icenogle, M.D., can be the judge and jury of an entire school system (“Reform hardly an improvement,” Letters, March 23).

Two years ago, I got involved in my child’s school and have served on several committees. I was not handpicked, nor have I ever been instructed or groomed by any Rogers High School union representative.

I, along with other parents, have been very involved with the organization of site-based management for Rogers and the charter, which is the consensus process.

My experience comes from the private school system where 99 percent of parents are involved. My exposure to the public school system and parent involvement has been a real eye opener.

I called 90 families to ask that they attend a town meeting to review the charter. From a school that houses approximately 1,550 student, 12 parents showed - half of whom were members of the Parent Advisory Committee.

PAC is responsible for looking at all the school parent groups and getting representatives to sit on the Site Based Council. The school takes no active role in that process. I mailed a parent involvement survey, asking in particular how we could make it easier for parent involvement. Only 16 families chose to respond.

Parents do make a difference. Some desperately needed facility changes for Rogers are taking place. We will have a new library, remodelling is being done in the locker rooms and new grandstands will be constructed.

I’ve been very impressed with the dedication and personal commitment of the staff at Rogers High School. Ruth E. Dearing Spokane

Let each decide

This is in response to the article, “Public schools are no place for Christian crusades” (Our Generation, March 22).

As Nathan Mauger stated, “Isn’t it up to each person to decide what he or she believes?” What gives you or anyone else the right to stop someone from sharing their beliefs?

Freedom like this is what made our nation great. Maybe if you had something important to share you wouldn’t be so critical and bitter against those that do. Wendy Port Cheney

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

No shades of gray just black

In reference to (Editor) Chris Peck’s “Mired in those shades of gray”(March 26), I imagine that most women who read quotes from Mary Alice Theiler’s report on Gov. Mike Lowry’s conduct with Susanne Albright didn’t find it exonerating at all. Quite the contrary.

I find it curious that after all these publicized cases, there seems to be a segment of the male work force that purposely hovers precariously on the cutting edge of impropriety. Shades of gray? They seem obsessed with defining and redefining terms and limits, then testing and retesting.

This reminds me of conversations with my grandsons. When I say, “You may not leave the yard” they begin, “Can I go up to the fence?” “Can I touch the gate?” “Can I open the gate, but stand inside the fence?” “Can I be outside the gate, but still touch the fence?” etc.

Please, no more discussions regarding “clear pathways for women to follow when they feel uncomfortable.” Don’t make us laugh. The gatekeepers are all wolves. Name one time when anyone - except millions of women who have had similar experiences - believed them.

Suzanne Albright, Mike Lowry just isn’t worth losing you over.

Mike Lowry, turn off the hormones at work, avoid alcohol like the plague and stay in the yard and play with your toys. When your term is up, find a new yard. Lucy Forman Gurnea Loon Lake

Investigator’s thinking mystifies

I don’t get it at all. Mary Alice Theiler, who recently completed the sexual harassment complaint on Gov. Mike Lowry, concluded that the complainant was credible.

The complainant alleged, among other things, that Lowry had touched her inappropriately, including on her breasts. This behavior was confirmed by other ex-staffers, who said Lowry had a history of sexual intimidation, as well as by current staff members, who say he kissed them and touched them on their legs and breasts. Now if this doesn’t confirm sexual harassment, what does? A credible person, ex-staffers and current staffers all talk about inappropriate behavior and the investigator concludes that is is not sexual harassment.

Whether boss or a parent, it is the same thing when it comes to this issue. A person in authority should never, not even one time, touch inappropriately. The effects on those subject to this behavior is devastating.

Where investigator Theiler gets her conclusion is way beyond my comprehension. It angers and disgusts me. Barbara Shaw Spokane

MILITIA MOVEMENT

G-men out to take over your lives

It’s time for all America to wake up and take a look at exactly what the government has planned for you and your families (Edward B. Keeley, “So-called patriots treasonous,” Letters, March 24).

Please remember that government officials are employees of the people. We have given the government too much control. It is taking America down a destructive path toward a new world order in which we’d give government all the control because government people think they know better than we do what is best for us. If you research the subject, you will find it’s only what is best for them - total power and domination of this country.

The Militia of Montana people and hundreds of others throughout the country have done research and are on a mission to pull the heads of you ostriches out of the sand and show you what kind of path we’re on.

Get and look at the information, make your own choice. That, Mr. Keeley, is why people have joined the militia. Bill Anglin Ritzville, Wash.

Media influence is what’s scary

Like Edward B. Keeley in his March 24 letter (“Socalled patriots treasonous”), I am concerned about the Militia of Montana arrests, but not for the same reason.

Keeley’s concern arises out of concern the militia was planning a series of terrorist attacks that would bring the government to its knees. Whether there is any truth to these claims must await a jury trial. But it is certain that without substantial popular support, our government will not be overthrown from within.

My more immediate concern is not what the militia movement might do, but what media coverage of these events has done. The media are in the act of lynching the accused in the press. Given the media’s influence in society, that is far more damaging than any yet-to-besubstantiated acts the accused were supposedly plotting. John Powell Spokane

Letters To The Editor

Downtown Spokane stadium groundbreaking set for Tuesday

Pandemic project: Dental lab owner Robert Carnell paints pop art abstracts of celebrities

Gardening: Bird feeders safe to hang this winter after salmonella epidemic in 2020