Thankful for the experience

Dear Editor,

On April 30 Clayton Emry and I were on the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. This was quite an experience especially for me.

I am writing this letter to thank all that contributed to make this possible. We had 36 World War II veterans, the oldest being 97.

The reception given us as we came back to Spokane was unbelievable. Thank you all!

Harry B. Stockwell

Oroville

P.S. Thank you Justin Peterson

Railroad bullying the ‘little’ guys

Dear Gary

I received a registered letter from Rail America last week. Because I share a rail crossing with Gold Digger and the Bureau of Reclamation on the north end of my property they are threatening to take my one LEGAL crossing out. My legal crossing is at the southern end of my place.

Years ago I paid for that crossing. It is my one entry for delivery of wood and other items to my shop and old house. My property is divided in two tax parcels as well. It looks like they are in the bully mode to divide and try to conquer us into paying for rail crossings that are really right of ways established years ago…. Each one of us has a legal right to the crossings. But, we are all “little” guys without the big money to fight them in court one on one…. Thanks for my “letting off steam,”

In only God can we trust!

Betty Roberts

Oroville

Grateful for the support

Dear Editor,

I am writing to thank the community for its support. My senior project was putting together and running the Masonic Golf Tournament for this year. I would first like to thank any of the members of the community who came and participated, without you it couldn’t have been a success.

I would also like to thank all of the Oroville Golf Course staff for providing the course, offering help and putting on the steak dinner afterward. Also I would like to the following people for sponsoring the tournament and donating prizes: Jack Hughes owner of Prince’s ACE, Oroville; Tonasket Building Supplies; Trino’s Mexican Restaurant; and Erik Nelson through his business Jack Hammer. Lastly I would like to thank the Masonic Lodge for their support and for allowing me to do this, Tim Boyer for his extra help and Ali Fulmer for her help. Thanks to all of these people over $840 was raised to go towards scholarships and other Masonic charities that benefit our community.

Sincerely,

Alex Kelly

Oroville

Walk for Peace is the right idea

Dear Gary,

How long will the American people tolerate the obscene expenditures of national resources, and tragic destruction of lives, communities and nations around the earth, and call it “defending freedom?”

President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned our nation of the threat posed to our democracy by the “military industrial complex” 50 years ago and today our nation is in its grip entirely. We spend more on the military than all the other major nations combined. Of every tax dollar, $.56 goes to fund the military budget. The “borrowed” trillion dollar war in Iraq was based on false information from the Whitehouse, no weapons of mass destruction, no connection to 911, but it sure was great for some major corporations. Our war in Afghanistan is another “borrowed” trillion dollar war that will not bring peace or democracy to those poor people, but it will protect the gas pipeline Unocal is building and the trillion dollar mineral deposits just announced last year.

My heart goes out to the men and women of our military, our sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, who served to the best of their ability a doubtful mission. Many did not return and many that have are badly wounded. They deserve every possible assistance and all the love we can share toward their healing. Since 911 our rights are being eroded daily with increasing government surveillance, indefinite detentions, and even assassination of U.S. Citizens. Criminal bankers make millions on fraud, render families homeless, bankrupt entire countries and receive huge bonuses for jobs well done.

This Mother’s Day Walk for Peace will be our 30th meeting with Canadian Peacemakers at the border to share our dream of peace for all mankind. Join us at 12 noon at the Oroville Library for the Walk or the 2 p.m. border Ceremony.

Joseph Enzensperger

Oroville

Administrator needs to go

Dear Editor,

First off I want to start my saying thanks to the constitutional rights we have, Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press. I would also like to say we have the most amazing teachers in our school district, for the most part.

We need to clean the school system out. There are about five people that need to be fired in my opinion. But, we need to start with administration because one member has teachers and community members wrapped around his finger like a pretty little bow on a present.

If I was an employer and someone told me they were looking for a new job, I would take that as a partial resignation. Let them go for heaven’s sake.

This person stated they have over 10 years of experience in schools. If you look this person up, Oroville is his sixth school. Wow, six in 10 years, that ratio is high. Makes you wonder why so many schools, ranging from large communities to our little one, and now maybe applied for the seventh school. Next, we have lost many great teachers and community members over this administrator. Call Tonasket schools and ask their secretary about the delays in district transfer forms from Oroville. The RCW’s state the proper timeline for these forms to be processed and the law is not being followed. We are losing so many students to Tonasket — we didn’t have this may transfer requests before this administrator came here.

In an article in the newspaper a board member requested letters of support be put in this administrator’s file, the bad ones better be in there also as it is only right.

We have many great employees at this school district, I don’t want to lose them over this person.

This administrator recently told me in an email that I could file a written complaint and present it for an executive session meeting. Why would I do such a thing as these “executive meetings” are closed to public? I don’t believe this should be the procedure as the person with the complaint has no proof whatsoever their complaint is being presented appropriately.

One board member needs to go also. This person is a successful business owner in this town, but someone I don’t really care for. The fact is they are the one that is wrapped around this administrator’s pinky finger the worst of them all.

I will stand firm on the fact that we need to start at the top and fire all those in this district that doesn’t look out for our children. This person needs washed out of the school and the town. I’m sorry but I have right to my opinion and this whole letter is just that, my opinion.

Thank you kindly,

Mendy Combs-Boge

Oroville

Choose to be positive

Dear Editor,

I am writing to tell you that I enjoyed your article – “Canadian ownership not a bad thing.”

You mentioned people fussing about it. Well I say it is not a bad thing at all. I was born in Oliver, B.C. You see, it cost my parents about $150 for doctor visits and hospital stay to have me there. They couldn’t afford in 1972 the rising costs of medical in the states, so they went to Canada. I
remember going there as a child lots of times to buy school clothing and see doctors and such. To me Canada is a good country to share with. Note that I said “share with”.

Now let me ask you, do these complainers ever buy clothes, food or gas? Well, they are indeed buying from other countries that own and partner companies with the U.S. So, why is everyone in a tizzy about in the local paper? I just don’t know much about all that I suppose.

What I do know is that if we spend our energy complaining, what are we doing? It’s a ripple effect. That’s a lot of negative energy! I choose to be positive. I welcome our neighbors to Oroville. After all, they are people just like us. The only thing that separates us from them is the politics and governing authorities. A lot of horse pukey as my Grandpa Ed would say.

God made this world. We are all his creation and Jesus wants us to live in peace and harmony, not bicker over who owns what on what land…ya de ya de ya de.

Community you see it’s not about the labels its about people!

We are to love our neighbors. That is the greatest commandment. Jesus says it in Matthew 22:34-40.

Gary, you are right on to express what you did and I commend you for that and as far a the criticism about punctuation in the paper, well your human and it happens. As long as you are open to allowing the freedom of others to write and you publish that, I say that you get the big picture.

Romans 12: 9-13 says, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal but keep your spiritual fevor serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

The loving is not the hard part, it’s getting the bitterness out so that you can love that’s hard and from my experience there’s only one way. Let go and let God work in us. He will take away all the bitterness and give light to see the unseen.

Well, may God bless you all. Thanks again community, family and friends. Test everything, hold onto the good. Avoid every kind of evil. 1st Thessalonians 5: 21-22.

His servant,

Sabrina Rounds

Missoula, Mont.

Justice needs to be done

Dear Editor,

My sister Heather Anderson was murdered on the Colville Reservation Dec. 17, 2009. It is an on-going investigation with no arrest made (yet) and 2 1/2 years later – Nothing! My family and I are not the only ones upset that justice has not been done. I have attached a letter written to John Walsh, from a Fireman named Scott Ross, in regards to my sister’s murder. We are asking for anybody with ANY information to please contact the F.B.I immediately. It has been two years now and nothing, it is sad that the people on the reservation have no morals and refuse to cooperate with the F.B.I hopefully somebody will.

To all at America’s Most Wanted,

My name is Scott Ross, and I am a Firefighter for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection – CAL FIRE, and a Fire Apparatus Operator for the South Lake Co. Fire Protection District, Lake Co., CA.

I am writing you regarding a young woman, Heather Anderson, who was murdered in December of 2009. You have already been contacted by one of her family members, but I am compelled to contact you myself as well.

My first contact with Heather was on duty with CAL FIRE. She was a victim of a vehicle accident to which my Engine responded. Normally, the story would begin and end right there, but I was soon to be involved in this young girl’s life in a way I could not have imagined. Rather than tell the whole story right here, I have enclosed some news articles that paint the picture pretty well.

What ended as (and should have remained) a warm, feel good story, turned to a senseless tragedy. This young lady impacted my life in a positive, inspirational way. As a general rule, I would not attend a funeral of someone I encountered in my line of work. But Heather was different. She showed me a fighting spirit, and gave me a success story that I didn’t even realize I was in such need of. So, of course, the news of her death shook me pretty hard. I had no choice but to attend her service. You couldn’t have kept me away.

Since then, I have remained in contact with Heather’s mother, Diana, and with Elizabeth Larson, the editor of lakeconews.com who ran the articles. Neither one has been given any kind of inkling that anything is being done. Diana has had contact with the FBI Special Agent in charge of Heather’s case, and is in no way satisfied; and frankly, neither am I.

I am, therefore, asking that you take a look into Heather’s case. You have the investigative resources, and the ability to “Get the word out”, that might be the only chance Heather’s family has for justice and/or closure.

I am available to you for any information or back story I am able to provide. I know you must get thousands of these requests, but I hope Heather’s story touches you as much as it has touched everyone I know that’s heard it.

Please take a minute from your busy schedule to read his story… in hopes of getting some leads in her case.

Thank you for your time,

Rosita Anderson

Nice Calif.