I am writing this letter because I believe Sarkinen Plumbing should get recognition for going above and beyond their responsibilities to provide me with excellent service.
It is rare to find this kind of honesty and integrity where a company would treat me as an important client and make certain the job they do is of the highest quality.
The owner oversees the job to make sure his business is giving the service people want and need. I highly recommend Sarkinen Plumbing to others.
I hope the editor of this newspaper will print my letter. I think it is important that our town honors the businesses that do right by people.
Mary Morgan
Battle Ground
In an article written by Jeffrey Mize in The Columbian on 5 June 2008, titled: “Jefferson Davis sign stolen,” I was taken aback by the quote that Brent Jacobs had “submitted an order to Clark Public Utilities to have the sign lighted.” Was Clark Public Utilities somehow involved in this heinous display of racism? Fortunately, when I spoke to Mick Shutt, Corporate Communications Manager for Clark Public Utilities, he explained the utility had no connection with Jacobs’ group.
I was shocked and disappointed when I saw the racist park had been built. I know the First Amendment allows such displays. Were Jacobs the descendent of German Nazis, he might well have a Nazi flag flying and celebrate the Holocaust.
I visited the site and was expecting to find a “whites only” drinking fountain.
Honored to serve 24 years in the U.S. military, I lived and worked with people of all different colors of skin. I can state emphatically that skin color was never a determinant of their ability. Certainly we are all born with a blank slate and must be taught to hate and despise those with differing colors of skin. Jacobs and his ilk learned the lessons from their parents well.
Jon Haugen
Vancouver, WA
Forget Obama’s eloquent oratory. Look at his record instead. He’s the single most radical, left-wing Senator in the entire U.S. Senate.
In Illinois, he supported a ban on all handguns. Obama’s solution to everything is to have big government take it over. He’s big brother on steroids, funded by our paychecks. He promises to raise our taxes to fix Social Security, Medicare, and prescription drugs. Worst of all, he sponsored the Global Poverty Act, (S 2433) that would, in the next decade, toss at least $845 billion of U.S. taxpayer money to third world nations -- and directed not by Americans but by the United Nations.
He voted to give amnesty, (and our Social Security money) to illegal aliens. He supports that barbaric practice called partial birth abortion, and promises to appoint Supreme Court justices who will rule restrictions on it “unconstitutional.”
Robert Wassman
Vancouver, WA
by Commmander Mike Cooke, Clark County Sheriff’s Office
One of the more common problems plaguing our neighborhoods is the issue of graffiti.
The Sheriff’s Office receives many calls each week from residents and business owners regarding graffiti. Although graffiti is not a violent crime, it still has a tremendous impact on the community, not only due to the cost of removal, but also due to the fear and intimidation that is inherent in some types of graffiti.
Graffiti in our community comes from several different sources. One of the more common types of graffiti is committed by taggers. Taggers are people, most often young males, who have a unique tag which they apply to fences, walls, or buildings. A tagger’s tag is much like a signature. It is usually a nickname or moniker that the tagger has picked for himself.
Taggers take great pride in placing their tag in as many places as possible and also in as many unique places as possible. You’ve no doubt seen the work of taggers on freeway overpasses or bridges.
Political graffiti, although less common, is also a problem. Political graffiti would include the defacement of a political sign, as well as the spray painting of slogans related to issues such as fur, meat, or the environment.
Perhaps the most troubling form of graffiti in our community is gang-related graffiti. Gang graffiti not only causes visible damage requiring costly repairs, but it also creates fear in our neighborhoods. Gang graffiti is often used by gangs to mark their perceived territory within specific neighborhoods. Often times gang members will mark over a rival gang’s graffiti as a kind of challenge or calling out. Our deputies who patrol your neighborhood are very interested in observing and documenting gang-related graffiti.
Fighting graffiti crime is difficult for obvious reasons. It’s the rare vandal who will strike in broad daylight and will wait around long enough for a deputy to catch him. We do, however, attempt to fight graffiti crime by gathering intelligence information on gang activity and active taggers. Much of this information is gathered by deputies assigned as School Resource Officers to our local high schools and our deputies who are working in your neighborhoods.
Residents can also help in gathering information by reporting vandalism to the Sheriff’s Office. If your home or business is vandalized, you should call 911 to report it. You should also take a picture of it before it is cleaned up. The picture should be digital if possible so you can email it to the deputy who takes the police report.
Regarding the clean up of graffiti, it is extremely important that the graffiti be cleaned up as soon as possible. This sends a message to the miscreant who applied the graffiti, as well as the neighborhood, that the neighborhood cares and will not tolerate graffiti. If the graffiti is on private property, such as a residence or a business, the clean up is the responsibility of the property owner. If the graffiti is on public property, the clean up will be the responsibility of the county, city, or state agency which manages the property.
Graffiti will never go away completely, however we can reduce the amount of graffiti by reporting new graffiti incidents and by cleaning it up as soon as possible.
In a letter to the editor, Mr. Monty Center of Amboy claims kids gathering in the parking lot of Fred Meyer are simply hanging out with their friends and that we should be happy these teens “are not sitting around at home in front of a computer, or getting into trouble doing the things that are of real concern.”
I have a simple question. On Sat., June 29, while driving to Fred Meyer to conduct my weekly grocery shopping, I came across two police cars with lights flashing, and a plethora of teens gathered around. Am I correct in assuming that said incident is an example of “kids simply hanging out having fun with their friends?”
I personally am very tired of maneuvering through the reckless drivers coming into and out of said parking lot and am most happy to see the Battle Ground police officers taking action to deal with what has become an incredibly dangerous situation.
The community of Battle Ground does not owe these teens a place to hang out. Instead, community members deserve to be safe while traveling out and about running errands. Mr. Monty appears to be a passionate advocate for these teens. Therefore, I challenge him to invite them over to his house and set up their speed-way in his front yard where they can continue to “simply hang out with their friends.:
Jennifer Bohn
Battle Ground, WA
We live in the greatest nation in the world. We enjoy the most freedom of any people on the planet. We have the finest legal and law enforcement system the world has to offer. These are things we actively teach our children.
Last week, I had the pleasure of having my vehicle damaged by a hit and run driver. I heard the screeching tires and was able to accelerate forward and almost get out of her way. She took off my rear bumper rather than T-boning me in the driver’s door. In my haste to get out of the way, I was not able to read the license number of the blue Dodge Neon careening out of control toward me.
After the impact, the driver ground the car back into gear, drove back over the median she had just bounced across and sped away, running a red light to do so. The local police politely took the report but regretted they could do little in the way of catching the criminal even though there were two witnesses that provided vehicle and occupant descriptions and a partial license number.
How many blue Dodge Neons can there be in Clark County with the same partial license number? I petitioned the state for a list of registered Blue Dodge Neons in Clark County that fit the partial license information. They refused my signed, notarized request and advised me to hire an attorney to petition the state for the information. It seems businesses like attorneys and insurance companies can get such information but not individuals.
The insurance company knows it will cost more to track down the criminal that probably has no insurance and no ability to pay for the damages than to just pay the $1,500 in repairs, so they are not interested. I am left with the option of hiring an attorney at my expense, to do what a police officer with access to DMV records could hopefully do in 30 minutes.
Oh well, no system is perfect I guess.
This point was really driven home yesterday when my wife and I took a dozen kids ranging from age 11 to 16 up into the state forest land east of Hockinson to play with paintball “markers.” I am told repeatedly they are not guns.
The kids were taking a break and eating hot dogs we had cooked on a tailgate BBQ. I looked up to see a police officer in the middle of the group of kids with his hand on his gun. He had not announced himself and the kids being engaged in their business did not even notice him at first.
As I approached him, I was told we must move our vehicles because they were blocking a fire gate and fire season is coming. Yes, it is, in a month or two, I thought to myself. We are in sight of the vehicles. If someone needed through the gate, we would gladly move them, I offered. Doesn’t matter. Move the vehicles. Okay. And on public land you must use bio-degradable paintballs. Yes, they are. We have never seen or purchased any that were not. Well, not all paintballs are, so you need to make sure. Yes officer. And when you have a bunch of people in camo running around in the woods, it puts law enforcement at risk if they have to enter the area so laws are coming that will require you display a sign indicating a paintball game is in process. One kid was wearing camo. He was 4’10” and weighed 80 pounds. The rest were wearing T-shirts and jeans and all the paintball markers had fluorescent pink or orange streamers tied to them. There were trash bags tied to bushes on both sides of the area and not so much as a gum wrapper on the ground, a folding table with a tablecloth in the middle of the area was covered with condiments and chips and a dozen kids were sitting around eating hot dogs and drinking bottled water, no soda pop allowed. I’m sorry if walking into the middle of such a group makes an officer feel his safety is at risk, I thought, but we made a sign of a paper plate and displayed it at the entrance of the trail to comply with a law that does not exist. The encounter ended politely and the kids went on with their game.
We have the finest law enforcement and legal system in the world. I believe that, but sometimes I could use a little more help proving it to my kids.
Troy Collison Vancouver, WA
I read your editorial in your newspaper labeled “Could Work out” and I just wanted to pass along a positive reveiw.
It takes fresh perspectives and voices from concerned citizens to get local officals to rethink their efforts and re-evaluate if they are serving in the best interests of their constituents. As an active civic volunteer/activist and long term Battle Ground resident, I applaud your voice. Keep up speaking up.
Adrian Cortes
Battle Ground, WA
I applaud your comments regarding the new I-5 bridge and light rail. Portland is forcing every other jurisdiction to go along with their vision of what should be built, and Vancouver and Washington are going along with it. Three through lanes now - three for the new bridge. Don’t want light rail? Too bad, Portland says the bridge will not be built without it. This is a very one-sided proposition. Portland gets the benefit, Washington gets the bill. Portland wants to build light rail to the north side of the river so that Washingtonians can get in their cars, drive to the park-and-ride, then use light rail to get across the river and spend their money in Portland while decreasing traffic and congestion in Portland. Whether one is in favor of the tribal casino or not, it will probably be built. If so, it will draw thousands of people from Oregon. If light rail is so commuter-friendly, let’s extend it to the casino with stops along the way. Portland is not interested in what we want, but they are forcing us to pay for it. We need to start looking at ways to make the new bridge benefit all who are paying for it.
Ron Fitch La Center, WA
I would like to thank L. M. Patella for his service in the United States Navy, but being a veteran does not give him the right to spread rumors and downright lies. He needs to do some fact checking before he sends his opinion to The Reflector for anyone to read. If Mr. Petella has a computer, he can check the facts for him self.
Senator Obama has never been a Muslim, was not raised as a Muslim, and is a committed Christian.
Senator Obama was not sworn into the U.S. Senate using the Koran. Barack Obama was sworn in using his family Christian Bible.
Lie: Barack Obama won’t say the Pledge of Allegiance. Barack Obama won’t put his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance.
Barack Obama does wear a flag pin on his suit lapel. It is true that Barak Obama does not wear a flag pin all the time but his opponent doesn’t wear a flag pin all the time either. Barack Obama has never turned his back on our precious and honored flag.
Lie: Proven GOP sleazemeister Roger Stone said on Fox News on June 1st that there’s a buzz, which I believe now to be credible, that some indelible record exists of a tape of Michelle Obama using the term whitey.
Truth: Stone conceded on June 2nd that he hasn’t met anyone who has seen the tape and that it therefore may be a hoax.
I suggest that Mr. Petella go to Fight The Smears website and find the source of these rumors and downright lies.
These smears were created to discredit Barack Obama because the other side can’t compete with him on the real issues like health care, fuel prices, jobs and things that really matter to the American family.
George Fountain
United States Air Force,
Korean War Veteran
Woodland, WA
It is a great honor and a privilege to serve you as your Clark County commissioner. It is my hope that I have earned your trust and respect for your vote this coming election.
Because of this newspaper’s commitment to better government and a greater understanding of political views, I hope to convey my thoughts to continue Clark County’s great heritage and help form our bright future.
It has been a privilege and a personal blessing to work with my fellow commissioners who take so much pride in forming our county’s future. Commissioners Morris and Stuart have taught me how to be more thoughtful on policy as well as really seeing the benefits of protecting our county’s environment.
The last four years have brought many changes--re-negotiating a rail contract between Eric Temple and BYCX, bargaining with Washington State University to get the county’s poor farm back, spending hours trying to get a deal with the U.S. government to clean up camp Bonneville, completing a growth plan that is realistic and pays for itself, placing 16 new sheriff’s deputies on the streets, and funding a treatment program for those in our county who deal with drug and mental health issues.
Within my first term, I have been honored to work on these and many more issues which I will explain in the next few months. I look forward to our future. Thank you to The Reflector and to all of you who will read these articles.
God Bless.
We are a diverse county of urban density, rural lands and natural resource lands. From high rise to single family, blueberry farm to timber lands our character is unique and special and deserves leadership that values all of it so it will be here for generations to come. Our way of life shifted when the price of gas went up so dramatically in the last couple of months. People are struggling to adjust to paying more at the pump and in the grocery store. To become independent of oil, we need to think more creatively. Clark County should be a leader in the use and production of alternative sources of energy. We must offer more choices to walk, bike, use public transit, as well as the car. We must keep viable farmland to grow and market local fresh foods. Healthy kids and creatures need a healthy habitat. Our rural centers play an important role in keeping services close to all parts of the county.
For over 12 years as someone elected to represent my community my approach has always been to engage, listen and make decisions that value all the voices at the table and serve the greater good.
Our quality of life far into the future depends on what we do today. I want Clark County to be an attractive place for business to grow or locate here. If we commit to being sustainable, livable and green, we will not only attract family wage jobs, we ensure them for the future.
When asked why I support the proposed Cowlitz tribal casino/resort, my answer is simple--jobs, jobs, jobs. It is estimated approximately 3,000 new jobs plus 2,000 to 3,000 construction jobs will be created.
These jobs will not only provide jobs but health care and benefits. The casino/resort is a win-win opportunity for the citizens of Clark County. There will be part and full time positions available. Many retired senior citizens have stated that a part time paycheck would be welcome.
Vendors will have a new enlarged market area selling items such as food, brochures, landscaping etc. Hence more monies will ripple through the county and towns. The casino can provide millions of dollars a year to local governments in lieu of taxes. A good deal to say the least.
In addition, the tribe will have a longtime commitment to improve roads and the I-5 interchange to accommodate increased traffic.
Four county-wide casino hearings have been held recently. An estimated 200 people turned out for each of the four headings. Each hearing appeared to be split 50-50 percent.
All three Clark County commissioners oppose the casino. Two positions are open for election. Hence the election will offer the citizens a clear choice, jobs or fewer jobs in commissioner district #2.
Please vote. Democracy works best when we all participate.
I am a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, served 10 years on school boards, and owned a small business. I know what it takes to meet a weekly payroll.