Sequim Gazette Editorial and Letters to the Editor

To Kill a Mocking Herd



The original story by Harper Lee has primary themes of racial injustice and the destruction of innocence. In Sequim, the great white hunters are out in the Smith Farm field creating their own brand of injustice and destruction of innocence.

As I stopped and witnessed the killing of elk herd members who are so habituated to the presence of people that they just stand there in a huddle waiting for death to come, five brave men herded the group together so that the bravest of them could aim and shoot their high-powered rifles into the herd.

They claim this is a "controlled hunt." It looks more like a controlled assassination. Hunting requires skill in tracking, reading terrain, understanding the animal's habits, maintaining stealth and cover. I just hope that those brave hunters in the Smith Farm field don't go around bragging about the bull elk they shot as they mount those trophy antlers on the wall. This was not worthy of being called a hunt.

William Newland

Sequim



Awesome appreciation



Last Friday, yes the 13th, I was in the Jamestown Clinic parking lot. I wasn't looking as I walked backwards. A little dog ran behind me and I fell over backwards hitting my back and head on the asphalt. There were two women, Angie and Jen, and a boy, whose name I've forgotten, who came to my aid. They summoned the absolutely wonderful paramedics. And Dr. Michael Crim's nurse Erin and another employee with long black hair (who held my hand through it all) came with blankets.

Once it was determined I didn't need stitches, I opted to not go to the hospital. I was wheeled into the doctor's office where I was iced on my head and back and someone stayed with me until Dr. Crim was able to check me out. My husband, who had an appointment with Dr. C., drove me home. I am recovering well.

I think it is important to tell people who help and care for us how much we appreciate them. I am sorry I can't remember the names of the paramedics who helped me. As my granddaughters would say, "You are all awesome!"

Lynn McGuire

Sequim



Thanks, United Way supporters!

We are in the process of wrapping up the 2008 United Way campaign drive for Clallam County and on behalf of myself and my co-chair, Bob Schilling, and all of the United Way agencies, I would like to thank each and every one of you who contributed to our Sequim campaign this year. This year the Sequim community raised more than $212,000.

Your contributions will go to help support the 27 member agencies serving Clallam County children, families and residents. Last year more than 76,000 people were served by these agencies. Obviously, some community members do participate in the programs of several agencies, but this is still an impressive service statistic.

I am honored to be continuing as the Sequim chair for this fall's campaign and look forward to having the opportunity to work with the our community team members and to telling you more about the variety of services provided by United Way agencies.

The campaign officially is still open through the end of March and you can still make a contribution by contacting the United Way office at 457-3011. Again, thank you for caring about the quality of life in our community and in Clallam County.

Sharon DelaBarre

Sequim United Way 2008 co-chair



Working together,

buying locally



There is always a lot of talk and encouragement during the holidays to focus your shopping locally. And now with a struggling economy, I believe that's more important than ever.

Although it's easier - and sometimes there is no other option - to stroll into Walmart and buy a less expensive version of your necessity, I hope that we, as a community, can continue to support local business as much as possible.

With the upbeat article announcing the move of an IHOP to our humble town, I hope my message stands clear: Support local businesses.

We are all struggling, so let's work through it hand-in-hand.

Shop at the grocery store for your breakfast cravings, but if you do have that desire to eat pancakes out on the town, please go to our local shops that have been with us for decades.

Go get a famous omelet or full-stack from everyone's favorite breakfast joint, The Oak Table Cafe. Or meet your friends at Gwennie's for that monthly morning gathering.

Why support an international chain that has no grounding here or a reputation of supporting our community?

These breakfast restaurants have poured money and support into our community, offering their services to families in need, sponsoring community traditions and creating good food from scratch.

Can't say the same for IHOP. Get the money symbols out of your eyes for one minute and take a really good look at what our community is turning into.

Spend wisely, but if you're going to put money into our economy, support a local business.

Ash Merscher

Sequim



Flooding damage

inconvenient, expensive



I read with interest the Feb. 4 article by Mike Dashiell about the flooding of our indoor Sequim baseball facility. It is located at West Seventh Street in Sequim.

We were shocked at the amount of water damage done by the ditch that runs in back of the building.

Since it was at holiday time and we had tournaments scheduled, it saddened and inconvenienced many local baseball players. We had to cancel activities for several weeks until turf was pulled out and replaced. Much other work also had to be accomplished.

A large concern is the expenses involved with our nonprofit facility.

The newspaper article gave the explanation by the Sequim Prairie Tri Irrigation Association that the ditch had been turned off at the time of the flooding.

However, regardless of that, it is still channeled in the direction of the building and runs directly behind and, consequently, into our facility.

We are hoping the county will somehow help us pay for the damage and enable us to get ready for the baseball season. The high school teams and also Little League teams practice here. We have been privileged to have this facility to practice inside this past year.

Jason Baker

Sequim



Any other laws?



So let me get this straight, the protestors on the front page of (the Feb. 11) Sequim Gazette don't want U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to perform their sworn duty.

Are there any other laws be they federal, state or local, these people don't want enforced by the law enforcement officials?

Great job, Border Patrol, please keep up the good work.

Roger Torgeson

Sequim



Abraham Lincoln

vs. Charles Darwin

Both born on Feb. 12, but what a difference!

Lincoln knew and believed the Bible. I own a book of "Lincoln's Private Devotional Readings."

When Mrs. Lincoln joined a church, the pastor gave them both a copy of a book entitled "The Christian's Defense." He read the book and was interested in attending the church even though he didn't join as his wife had done.

In 1852, he received another book, "The Believer's Daily Treasure," possibly from his wife sometime after 1847, and a vest-sized Bible that he could carry on the old 8th Circuit. He then gave her a large family Bible (wouldn't it be interesting if this is the same Bible used in the swearing in of the current president?)

The family owned several Bibles. In 1864 he received a beautiful Bible from a group of Negroes in Baltimore. In acknowledging this gift he said, "In regard to this great book, I have but to say it is the best gift God has given to man." These notes are gleaned from my book's introduction by Carl Sanburg.

Darwin may have read the Bible but he decided his theory was far superior to God's.

These days we read people have parties to celebrate evolution. Even some so-called "men of God" have joined. Pretty amazing and scary calling God a liar when He is the greatest scientist, designer, gardener, astronomer, judge, creator of all kinds of life - even giving us life and free will to obey his truth or find another religion which also takes faith to believe.

Patricia Eifert

Sequim