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Opinion / Editorial


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  • Demand direct access to elected officials

    Roger Harnack, The Gazette|Oct 3, 2024

    There’s a disturbing trend among tax-payer funded agencies that needs to be nipped in the bud. If you haven’t noticed, public agencies like hospital and utility districts, school boards, city councils, and others have been taking steps to insulate — dare I say isolate — elected board members from the public. Have a concern about something in your local school district? Don’t like a utility rate increase? Want to know if your local public hospital is making a profit? Have questions about city taxes and fees? As a state resident, taxpayer...

  • Return site control to local level

    Roger Harnack|Sep 19, 2024

    You shouldn’t be surprised the state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council last week voted to accept a site application for construction of more wind turbines atop Horse Heaven Hills. It’s all part of Gov. Jay Inslee and his financial supporters plan to breach our dams and replace them with unsightly, unpopular and unreliable wind power. The council was pushed by Gov. Jay Inslee, who didn’t like the fact Tri-Citians outright rejected his plan to supplant dams with the unsightly wind turbines on Horse Heaven Hills. Local roadblocks to his plan...

  • Whitman Hospital officials' conduct inappropriate at public meeting

    Roger Harnack, Whitman County Gazette|Mar 28, 2024

    It’s not a private hospital. Apparently, Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics employees and commissioners need to be reminded that they work for the taxpayers. But, from the way the Whitman County Public Hospital District No. 3 Commission meeting was conducted March 20, it appears they’ve gotten too big for their britches. From our perspective, the leadership at the hospital may have violated several provisions of the state Open Public Meetings Act at last week’s meeting. Let’s start with th...

  • Forest bill offers a welcome change

    Roger Harnack, Whitman County Gazette|Feb 22, 2024

    Funny how it took a move into the country before a Democrat would support efforts to clean up our forests. Last week, Senate Bill 6121 passed the Senate unanimously. The bill sponsored by Sen. Kevin Van De Wege — a Democrat who now lives at Lake Sutherland — encourages the removal of downed timber and other “fuel” that could feed a wildfire. He should be commended for being the first Democrat to step out of the party box and recognize the importance of removing downed timber, dead snags and othe...

  • Get kids off electronics and on the field

    Roger Harnack|Oct 13, 2022

    Six-man football. I’d never heard of it before mid-August. When I played football, it was the traditional, 11-man variety. Heck, I didn’t even know there was anything else. Playing for Kiona-Benton, my team always had more than enough players to have mostly different players on offense and defense. But over the last few years, I’ve learned about – and developed an appreciation for – 8-man football. Along with it, I’ve gained a lot of respect for the athletes playing both sides of the ball. As mo...