Child categories
| Category | Path |
|---|---|
| Editorial | /Opinion/Editorial |
| Letters-to-the-editor | /Opinion/Letters-to-the-editor |
LETTER: It’s time for our leaders to listen to the people
In her “I Remember Korea,” Linda Granfield includes a letter by James Landrum titled “Special Missions.” Reflecting on the terrible cost of a war the Japanese people never wanted, Landrum wrote: “The warlords had not learned from the people.” That single sentence captures what I – and many other Americans – sense today. Too many leaders in Washington, D.C. seem to hang their morality on the coat rack when they report for work and then pursue power, wealth, and immorality at great cost to ordinary Americans. What such leaders forget is legion, but among those ideals are these: morality is never optional; the Golden Rule is always the best option; and living in peace with other nations is always a choice. We can see this clearly in Costa Rica, which abolished its military in 1948 and has lived in peace for nearly 80 years. Other nations – Panama, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, Nauru, and Vatican City – show that peace is not naïve; it is a deliberate national decision. These countries chose peace. Why can’t we?
LETTER: Reflecting on America’s 250th Anniversary
How do the freedoms granted us as Americans shape our lives? How do we define ourselves? What does the Declaration of Independence mean when it says to “mutually pledge to each other”? The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence marks an occasion for us to celebrate, but also to pause and reflect. This country finds itself at this historic moment in a place of increased division. At the same time, we hear from our communities a clear yearning for meaningful connection. What does it look like when we sit down together with an open mind and truly listen? Is it possible to bridge some of those gaps and find areas of shared understanding?
LETTER: Better manners would be welcome at graduations
On June 9, our family had the pleasure of attending the Moses Lake High School graduation ceremony at Lions Field. It was the 11th graduation ceremony for us since 1978. The wind was really blowing, but with caps flying all over, it was really good. All the 300-some graduates turned their tassels and filed out together with loud applause, music and cheers, the way it should be. On June 18, my great-nephew graduated from the flight program at Big Bend’s ceremony at Lions Field. “The Squad” from the coast were here, plus us. Everything went well for quite some time.
AI overreliance is holding back local artists
It’s not often that I’m on social media, honestly the only time I am is usually work related, but in recent times I have noticed a disturbing trend. Most of the posts that I’m seeing these days...are not real.
GUEST COMMENTARY: The progress at Moses Lake is worth continuing
For decades, Moses Lake has been one of the Columbia Basin's greatest assets. It supports recreation, tourism, local businesses and a quality of life that attracts people to this region. Whether it's fishing, boating, swimming, or simply enjoying time on the water, Moses Lake plays an important role in our community and local economy. It has also faced significant challenges. For years, harmful algal blooms fueled by excess phosphorus have impacted water quality and raised concerns about the future of the lake. Residents have watched as blooms became more frequent, threatening recreation, aquatic health and public confidence in one of our region's most important natural resources.
COMMENTARY: The Fourth of July isn’t just about fireworks – it’s about showing up
By the time the sun sets on the Fourth of July, we’ll be gathered in parks, lining sidewalks and watching fireworks light up the sky. It’s a tradition that most of us look forward to every year. But as meaningful as those moments are, they only touch part of what this holiday is about. Independence Day isn’t just something we celebrate; it’s something we take part in. Freedom doesn’t just take care of itself. It’s not kept alive by parades or speeches alone. It lasts because ordinary people show up, day after day, in ways that don’t always get noticed.
COLUMN: An honor to be on the fire line
As reporters, we spend a lot of time telling other people's stories. Every once in a while, though, you find yourself in the middle of one. On the Fourth of July, I spent nearly 14 hours alongside Grant County Fire District 7. I arrived at the station around noon expecting to learn more about the department, cover the holiday festivities and maybe respond to a call or two. Instead, I witnessed firsthand how quickly a celebration can turn into an emergency.
GUEST COMMENTARY: Sports and music bring good things to the world
I hope everyone had a wonderful, safe Fourth of July weekend, plus the 250th birthday of our beautiful USA. Me, I chose to watch the World Cup. The game between Cape Verde and Argentina was totally amazing. Cape Verde, ranked 67th in the world rankings, battling No. 1 in the world, Argentina. A lot of people were rooting for Cape Verde, the underdog. Argentina was victorious in OT, 3-2, and goes on to play Egypt. The USA team plays Belgium in Seattle on Monday. By the time you read this, it will already have been played. Hopefully our young men have advanced to the quarter finals.
LETTER: Listen to firefighters when it comes to fireworks
I just read Nance Beston’s column in today’s paper, “An honor to be on the fire line.” It certainly lets us know where our fire people spend their Fourths. I have something that has struck me wrong the last couple of weeks. A while ago I heard on the Spokane news that some community was threatening to sue if fireworks were banned, as it was a violation of their rights on the Fourth. Question: Where were fireworks first used?
LETTER: Sheriff no-confidence vote seems like political tactic
I've lived in Grant County long enough to know the difference between a real problem and election-year politics. A so-called vote of no confidence suddenly appears just before ballots are mailed? That doesn't pass the smell test. If these concerns were truly about improving the Sheriff's Office, why weren't they brought up months ago? To me, the timing screams political motivation. Here's what I do know: Crime is down. Sheriff Joey Kriete is accessible to the public, engaged in our communities, willing to learn and improve, and fiscally responsible with our tax dollars. Those are the things I expect from my sheriff.
