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By Sen. Mark Schoesler Eastern Washington has several beautiful and popular state parks, including Steptoe Butte and Steptoe Battlefield in Whitman County, plus Lyons Ferry and Palouse Falls south of Washtucna. Unfortunately, Washington State Parks oversees these parks. It's unfortunate because the agency has a history of bumbling in our part of the state. The latest example is the news that WSP will close the restrooms at the top of the Steptoe Butte State Park Heritage Site. While I'm happy...
WAITSBURG– A giant in the community left us last week, but not without leaving a legacy for future generations. S. R. Hevel, M.D., "Rog," died peacefully at his Orchard Street home in Waitsburg on January 27. He doctored three generations of residents of Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley and was one of several local medicos who were instrumental in the success of Dayton General Hospital. I counted Roger as my doctor until he retired, and that included a small number of silk sutures, o...
OLYMPIA–When Washington's voters adopted the state's Public Records Act (PRA) under Initiative 276 in 1972, they wanted to make sure that state, county, and city governments operate openly and are transparent to the people. They recognized the best way to ensure transparency and accountability to the citizens of Washington is to require that most government records are made available to the public. The PRA, however, was never intended to help some make money at the expense of governments or o...
To the editor, Residents of Dayton School District and Citizens of Columbia County, your vote is a personal decision. The results of elections have consequences. Some consequences are more quantifiable than others. Taxes collected that help fund the school are easily measured, and impact any property owner. How the school spends the money in its budget is public record, and also very measurable. The board and administration can be held accountable to spend your tax dollars on the highest...
"The possibility of a global environmental apocalypse has been dominating headlines and exercises a powerful hold on the imaginations of millions of people," according to optimist and author Marion L. Tupy. Headlines of imminent catastrophe are resulting in public policy driving our nation and our state as well as many other western economies to the brink. OLYMPIA–The Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA), passed in 2019, and the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) of 2021 form the architecture for t...
OLYMPIA–The main event during the opening week of this year’s legislative session was Gov. Jay Inslee’s annual state of the state address. I was surprised he did not pull a muscle from patting himself on the back so often as he addressed legislators, statewide elected officials, and Supreme Court justices. Inslee said, “I’m happy to report we have been, we are, and we will always be the strongest state in the nation,” adding “in fact, the state of our state is stronger than ever.” Not to...
What happens when cold temperatures move across the Northwest, there is less natural gas power available, and wind disappears? We found out on Saturday, as Puget Sound Energy (PSE) had to ask customers to conserve to keep the grid stable. It is a case study of the need to ensure Washington has energy sources that can be turned on when needed, and of the need to empower consumers by making energy prices transparent. As temperatures plummeted across Washington state on January 13, PSE sent a...
By Jillian Linster Interim Policy Director Center for Rural Affairs Across the country, lawmakers are gathering in their respective state capitols and Washington, D.C. to begin another year of debating and passing legislation. The democratic process is something America prides itself on and one that requires input from citizens to thrive. While the process for public input varies by state, there is one commonality that exists-lawmakers need to hear directly from their constituents on issues...
To the editor, Usually, you have zero say about taxes. But this February, you have opportunity to say No to a tax, when the Dayton School District puts forth two special levies seeking to extract from taxpayers, beginning in 2025, $1.41-$1.48 per $1,000 of assessed home value for a Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy AND $1.50 per $1,000 assessed home value for a Replacement Capital Levy for Technology, Safety, and Facility Improvements. Often, school levy supporters like to...
By Eric McKeirnan Guest contributor Not so long ago I submitted a piece to the paper for consideration. Not my best stuff, I would agree. My really good stuff is sitting in a short stack on the right corner of my desk. The paper labeled my submission as a "rant." I thought I understood the meaning of the word rant, but I looked it up in my dictionary just to make sure. My book is a Webster's dictionary, copyright 1942. Rant- (noun) 'High sounding language without dignity of thought, boisterous,...
By Greg Hall Certified Substance Use Disorder Professional Blue Mountain Counseling Dayton Happy New Year! For some maybe. For others it is just another day. Another day of wondering how they are going to get what they need. I don’t mean food, shelter or clothing. I mean alcohol and/or other drugs. There is a lot of misinformation in the area of drug and alcohol dependence. One such myth is that people do drugs to get high. Although this is true in the beginning for some, after a certain amount of time, alcohol and drug use become a need and n...
A great many farmers and ranchers identify with Paul Harvey’s iconic poem, “So God Made a Farmer,” but this time of year, I prefer the editorial from Francis B. Church, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.” Whether you read Paul Harvey’s poignant poem or Francis Church’s editorial to set the tone for your holiday season, both point to the need for belief and hope. Harvey wrote, “And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, ‘I need a caretaker’ – so God made a Farmer.” Similarly, Church penned, “Yes, Virginia,...
To the editor, Recently in a volley of texts with the editor we each made case of how to handle and how best to respond to the way the leadership is destroying our country, and how best to showcase their talents. My subtle way to bring light to the situation was to take a twenty-inch, three-day old, dead sucker fish and slap them silly across the face with it. I interpreted the editor's solution, as to shaking a finger at them while having a stern look on our face and tapping our feet angrily....
Washington's new tax on CO2 emissions ended up adding about 43 cents per gallon of gas for 2023. The final price was reduced by several market interventions by Department of Ecology staff, but prices are likely to increase next year. Ecology staff released the results from the fourth-quarter auction of CO2 emission allowances. The settlement price was $51.89, a significant drop from the previous auction price of $63.03. The average tax on CO2 in 2023 ended up at $54.74 per metric ton, which...
To the editor, Christmas season is upon us. From the time we were children, most of us heard carols, sung songs, sent cards with, "Peace on Earth, good will towards men." Yet, we humans continue the violence and killing. This year it is especially terrible because it is taking place near the headquarters of religions that claim peace and where Jesus was born. Concerning the war on Gaza, experts keep saying that the situation is very complicated and solutions do not come easily. The conflict has...
While January 8, 2024 is the first official day of the Washington State legislative session next year, things are already happening in Olympia. Legislators have the ability to ‘pre-file’ bills to get new legislation into the hopper ready for consideration in January and things are already happening. One such bill, Senate Bill 5793 (SB 5793), filed by Senator Saldaña (37th Legislative District), would expand Washington State paid sick leave law adding new qualifying events including work site...
The Letter to the Editor space on the opinion page provides a forum for local residents to express their opinions and concerns about matters of public interest as part of the "community conversation." Letters may be mailed to Letter to the Editor, 163 E. Main Street, Dayton, WA 99328. Pomeroy and Garfield County residents may email the editor at [email protected]. Dayton and Columbia County readers may email letters to [email protected]. Please include a telephone number and...
By Eric McKeirnan Guest Columnist I ran into an old friend a few weeks ago who was all juiced up with the excitement of traveling with his wife and friends and former pastor to the land of Jesus Christ. Nearly four years ago a core group of about a dozen locals, (local includes Waitsburg and Tekoa), set off to the Holy Land. During the Covid lockdown I entertained the idea of writing about our adventure on the other side of the planet and having my traveling companions include their thoughts and impressions with mine. If you would like that,...
To the editor, After attending the last Library Board meeting, it seemed clear that the Library Board has no intention of acting on the concerns of parents who want sexually explicit books out of reach of small children. I was told that a board member made a motion months ago, when this concern was first brought to the library board's attention, to relocate sexually explicit books out of the reach of small children, but it failed to pass with two members voting in favor and three voting...
By Chris Corry The ongoing battle over Washington’s unconstitutional capital gains tax continues. The Freedom Foundation has filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the US Supreme Court. The petition asks the US Supreme Court to overturn the decision made earlier this year by the Washington State Supreme Court. In the filing, the appeal presents the following question: “Upset with what they saw as an unduly regressive tax system, a narrow majority in the Washington legislature recently enacted a 7% long-term capital gains tax that exe...
To the editor, I find it interesting that you want to shut down the library because you don't like some of the books that are on the shelf. When I was a teenager, they had an adult only section in the library. I couldn't check out any books from there. Are you also going to ban TV shows and movies? Some of the shows now have same sex couples groping each other and deep kissing. I've stopped watching two of my shows for this reason. I did let the producers know why I've stopped watching them. I...
To the editor, I am concerned about the current situation with our library. It makes no sense to me that anyone would want to close such a valuable resource in our county. When the first petition to close the library showed up at the Senior Center, I read it (as I was taught to read anything before, I sign) and was immediately incensed that this was in the works! Then, I read some of the letters to the editor in the Chronicle. This motivated me to go do my own research. I do not listen to...
By Eric McKeirnan Guest Columnist It was asked of me if I had thoughts about the upcoming indictments of former President of the United States, Donald Trump. I do have thoughts on the subject, but it was unclear if I was to respond to the fake charges in Georgia or was it perhaps the made-up garbage run by suspected corrupt prosecutor Jack Smith? Or maybe it was the next new “fresh off the grill” impeachment concerning the cocaine found at the White House. Trump lived in the White House, “lets pin it on him!” The FBI, DOJ, Secret Service...
OLYMPIA–The state held its special auction for CO2 allowances last week. When the results were announced, they indicated that higher gas prices may be coming. As part of the state's new tax on CO2 emissions, known as the Climate Commitment Act, organizations that emit CO2, like BP or Washington State University, must purchase permits for every metric ton (MT) of CO2 emitted by their operations or products. There are a limited number of permits available, so the price is set at an auction. Regula...
By Sandra Renner There’s a certain charm and nostalgia related to farmers markets in rural communities. The tradition of farmers, gardeners, artisans, and bakers bringing their wares to town to sell at the market has been around for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. From August 6 to 12, communities across the country will come together to celebrate National Farmers Market Week, highlighting the role these venues play in supporting healthy communities, growing local food systems, and stimulating rural economies. Always focused on selling f...