Opinion
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 3207
Why no Easter lily sightseeing tours?
Easter is when potted Easter Lily plants start showing up in nurseries and supermarkets like poinsettias during the Christmas season. They adorn the altars and pulpits of most... — Updated 4/3/2024
Jobs suitable for kids
When I was growing up in Palouse, I always had a job, or two. One of my early jobs wasn’t one of my best. In fact, it was often dangerous. We had a small bowling alley, six lanes if I remember correctly. I set pins. We didn’t hav... — Updated 4/3/2024
Rooster racket ruins REM
I want to know after several complaints to the City of Grand Coulee, one formal, one handwritten, that after three months of waiting for something to be done, about a rooster in the city limits on Gardener and Bowman St. I live on... — Updated 4/3/2024
Signs installed in wrong spot
Last year I wrote several letters to The Star paper addressing people entering Grand Coulee at high rates of speed from the Bridgeport highway. Over the summer there was no traffic control, but I do feel good knowing the city... — Updated 4/3/2024
Bob Moore's final bow noted in the Big Apple
Who would have thought that a small Oregon natural grain mill owner’s death would make national news or be the subject of a lengthy feature article in the New York Times (NYT)? H... — Updated 3/27/2024
Buck kicked the bucket
One of the things we liked to do when growing up in Palouse was go to the Washington State College baseball games. We really didn’t care about the game, but we went to see baseball coach Buck Bailey kick the bucket. Buck came to WS... — Updated 3/27/2024
Artificial Intelligence is coming, good or bad
Young soldiers sometimes cite a particular military weapon and pose the question: Is that a defensive weapon or an offensive weapon? Almost invariably, the answer is: It depends on the intent of the user. Whether artificial... — Updated 3/27/2024
Still living the American Dream
A growing number of Americans think the American Dream is out of reach, but I think they are wrong. According to a recent Wall Street Journal poll, only 36% of voters said the American Dream still exists, way fewer than the 53%... — Updated 3/20/2024
When America had to stand together to win
I was just a kid during World War II but I still remember a lot about that time. I remember how America was very close to being beaten by the Axis (Germany, Japan and Italy), they did unspeakable things against the rest of the... — Updated 3/20/2024
Listening for that whistle
Answering an advertisement started my love of the railroads. I saw the ad in our hometown newspaper, The Palouse Republic. The ad was seeking people to apply for menial labor on our section of the Northern Pacific Railroad. The... — Updated 3/20/2024
The way it works, or doesn't
Sometimes city governments run smoothly, but as they operate with humans in a democracy, rough patches happen. Balancing human needs, egos, ambitions, desires, skills, or a lack of them, all within the confines of public... — Updated 3/20/2024
Looking back in the coulee
Twenty Years Ago Concerned about the effect a new sidewalk would have on the parking and safety of his building, a Grand Coulee businessman disputed the cities plan to repair Burdin Boulevard. Milt Snyder does not want a sidewalk... — Updated 3/13/2024
On Israel and America
The United States recognized the state of Israel 11 minutes after formation of the state was announced in 1948. We have maintained a very close relationship since the founding. Israel is now receiving widespread criticism for its m... — Updated 3/13/2024
Fighting the snowbelt
The recent snowstorm in the Sierra Nevadas will cure a lot of ills for the people of California. Officials predicted that the storm would dump some 12-14 feet of snow there. The spring runoff will do wonders for farmers and fruit g... — Updated 3/13/2024
McMorris Rodgers could help reform immigration
Among Cathy McMorris Rodgers’s negative legacies she leaves as US Representative, her most impactful may be on immigration. However, she still has time to improve that. Donald Trump cares nothing about our country, just his e... — Updated 3/13/2024
You can skate anywhere
This is about ice skating. I wish I could claim to be good on a pair of ice skates. But, no luck. When I was growing up in Palouse, we were able to ice skate on the Palouse River. It would nearly freeze solid so there wasn’t m... — Updated 3/6/2024
Your right to vote
We view voting as an acknowledged right here in the United States. In Washington state, we receive our ballot in the mail, we do our personal research, make our choices, and mail... — Updated 3/6/2024
Giving back
Have you noticed how many retired school employees regularly volunteer throughout our Okanogan County communities? Retired school employees have told me that helping community members is hard work but extremely satisfying. You may... — Updated 3/6/2024
Amazing teamwork
The picture of the LRHS Boys’ Basketball Team (in color) on the cover of The Star newspaper last week was amazing! They have been exciting to watch all season and this picture captured the joy and fun they’ve shown. So much cla... — Updated 3/6/2024
Recognizing our nation's future farmers
As a third-generation farmer from Sunnyside, I understand the crucial role agriculture plays in our region. From tree fruits and hops to apples, potatoes, and wine grapes, Central Washington farmers produce over 300 different... — Updated 2/28/2024
Gotta watch the Zags
We are a Gonzaga household. Not the usual kind of specific fans. For instance, I don’t focus on the individual players. I don’t know them by number and can seldom identify any of the players while watching the games. I leave tha... — Updated 2/28/2024
Religion and women
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all originated in the greater Middle East. The most fundamental believers of each of these religions treat women as second-class citizens. Why? During most of the time that humans have existed,... — Updated 2/28/2024
Tweed a Dem in sheep's clothing
Looks like James Tweed must be a Democrat in sheep’s clothing of a Rino. We have the most inept destructive administration in my lifetime. Over 13 million illegals’ coming across the border from Mexico not counting the ones com... — Updated 2/28/2024
Unlocking our nation's domestic energy potential
The United States produces the cleanest and safest energy in the world from traditional resources like oil and natural gas as well as from emerging resources and innovative technologies. This is something we should be celebrating,... — Updated 2/21/2024
Oblivious to the obvious
Beware of people who are oblivious to the obvious. People who lose an election, and believe they won. Not based on evidence. But based on what they “feel.” I am a conservative. Many Republicans today delude themselves by calling me... — Updated 2/21/2024