Mayor David Poucher and the White Salmon Pool

My children have passes to the white Salmon Pool again this year after a bad experience last year with a very irresponsible staff. They have used their pass two times when another kid rummaged through everyones belongings and stole items from everyone including my childs money.

I don't hold the city personally responsible for this but I do want to be refunded for the pass that we will no longer use. I called the Mayor numerous times with promise of a return call - nothing - finally he called and informed me that they do not issue refunds even if never used no exceptions. That policy is not written nor spoken when you purchase the passes.

I feel robbed by the City of White Salmon which in affect makes me feel very unsafe. Where is the city headed? What will they do next to make a buck? Unfortunatly I feel after speaking with our Mayor I feel he has no control over the city or he greatly encourages greed in our small town. I am losing hope for hummanity. Please everyone in this (what used to be a close friendly) city lets pull together and take our city back. thank you for reading this.

Mary England

CBS 60 Minutes: Columbia & Snake River Salmon Problems

I thought this might be of interest to some of our readers...

"This coming Sunday evening, June 22, CBS News 60 Minutes will feature an expose on the severely depressed salmon populations in the Columbia and Snake Rivers. The story will spotlight the tremendous amount of taxpayer dollars our federal government continues to spend on ineffective programs that are failing to restore an endangered national treasure - wild salmon of the Columbia and Snake Rivers."

CBS News - 60 Minutes
Sunday Evening, June 22, 2008
Check Local Listings For Time

From: Joseph Bogaard "Save Our Wild Salmon" 206-286-4455, x103

My Property Assessment Is....What?????

Is anyone else astounded by their new property assessment?

Vandalism at Heinkle middle school

Sometime on the 7th or 8th of this month, people (presumably students) vandalized our Middle School. Pictures of the vandalism are here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27509435@N08/2562794088 * http://www.flickr.com/photos/27509435@N08/2561964541 * http://www.flickr.com/photos/27509435@N08/2561958543

My unsubstantiated guess is that this is because White Salmon won the baseball game against Hood River last week. It is highly unfortunate that someone would do this considering the amount of money it will cost to clean the paint. I don't know that it can be cleaned without damaging the murals that the students worked so hard on.

Joshua Drake

White Salmon Water Advisory Info

Follow this link for detailed information on White Salmon water restrictions:

City of White Salmon

Presidential Candidates And Their Spiritual Advisors

So much has been made of remarks made by pastors Jeremiah Wright and John Hagee and their relationships with Barack Obama and John McCain. Is this really what we need to focus on when we choose a presidential candidate?

Are these relationships of equal importance when compared the issues that face our nation?

Is Obama's relationship with Wright more of an issue than Hagee's endorsement of McCain?

Jonathan Blake
White Salmon

Clintons in HR Tonight! Obama in Portland Tomorrow!

FYI:

Tonight -- May 17th!!!

Bill and Chelsea Clinton
Hood River Library

Rally starts at 7pm


Tomorrow -- Sunday May 18th!!!

Obama in Portland
Waterfront Park

Rally starts at 12:30 pm

Common Grounds Community Gardens in Bingen and White Salmon

Two community garden sites will open April 28th for gardeners:

• Humboldt in Bingen across from Daubenspeck Park
• Skyline next to Rhine Village

Garden plots range in length from 10-25 ft. and are all 4 feet wide. The cost is based on the length and includes water, tool use and soil amendments. Four by four fruit bins are available for children, seniors and physically challenged gardeners at $5. Registration for the plots began yesterday.

The gardens begin to fulfill the first priority identified by the Horizons program - to provide safe, sustainable food sources - and Common Grounds' sponsor WGAP (Washington Gorge Action Programs). Future plans include expanded sites, farmer's markets, communal food preservation site and more.

Gardeners registering yesterday represent a broad community with a strong desire to teach children to both garden and give as a third of the plots were dedicated to children's gardens and the Food Bank.

The volunteer Common Grounds team will have some non-GMO seed and starts available for the gardeners in the next few weeks. Organic practices and materials are utilized as much as possible.

Registration continues next Saturday, April 26, at both sites from 10 to Noon.

Volunteers are welcome!

Timi Keene

Police Response to Pharmacy Shoplifter

(Moved from comment section to a new topic)

Last Thurs. evening, while we had no police coverage in the city due to the mayor's decree, the pharmacy had a shoplifter. 911 was called, Mgr. Paul Doty chased the guy down after running all over the city. The police, finally getting authorization, dispatched an officer over a half hour later to respond. Turns out the guy was wanted on a parole/probation violation from a murder charge.

Is this what we're paying for?

Anonymous

Tonight ** Earth Hour 8:00 PM ** Lights Off!!

*** Earth Hour on March 29th ***

If you are reading this before 8pm on March 29th, you might consider joining in on Earth Hour.

On March 29th, whenever 8pm rolls around, over 350 cities in 35 countries, millions of individuals, the Sears Tower, the Golden Gate Bridge, and 2,100 corporations including HP, Coca Cola and McDonald's, are all turning off their lights <http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/1485/71/> .

It's less a measure to save a small amount of energy than it is to demonstrate solidarity with others about making a visible statement and agreeing that something needs to be done. Take some time to remember what darkness is, it's good for you. And when you turn your computer back on on the 30th, be sure to check back at EcoGeek for pictures of darkened skylines from around the globe.

Last year, Sydney Australia turned off its lights for an hour in order to, I guess, save some energy. Mostly, however, it was a statement. To see the combined effect of a lot of people agreeing that something needs to be done. The event was such a success that the World Wildlife Fund decided to take it global in 2008.

So on March 29th, whenever 8pm rolls around, over 350 cities in 35 countries, millions of individuals, the Sears Tower, the Golden Gate Bridge, and 2,100 corporations including HP, Coca Cola and McDonald's, are all turning off their lights

From Ecogeek.org