Opinion
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How I became a cat person
Disclaimer: No pets die in this column (but they sometimes smell like they did). As I write, I’m trying to relax in my recliner on a cold winter’s day next to a roaring fire, yet my feet are freezing because a large, sem... — Updated 1/24/2024
Those basketball seasons…
Palouse was the easternmost team in the Whitman County basketball league. We usually ended up as one of the top teams in the league. Colfax, the county seat, and the largest city in the county, was often the leader. So when... — Updated 1/24/2024
Advocating for common sense on the ballot
The new year is here, which means the Washington State 2024 Legislative Session has just begun. On January 8th, our state legislature began consideration of a multitude of new bills, which could impact just about every aspect of... — Updated 1/24/2024
Those pesky initiatives are back
After a brief hiatus, those pesky citizen initiatives are back, much to the chagrin of three-term Gov. Jay Inslee and Democrats who have an ironclad grip on our state Legislature.... — Updated 1/17/2024
Just a taste of winter
We are finally getting an idea of what winter is all about. It was decided that the playoff game at Buffalo was important enough to play Monday, despite the weather. However, the last week was hardly a blip as far as winters go.... — Updated 1/17/2024
Agreeing with Cheney, not McMorris Rodgers
I can’t remember when I agreed with her policies. And I definitely disagreed with her father and opposed his controversial actions. But Liz Cheney, with her new book, Oath and Honor, is certainly again My No. 1 Hero. She shows once... — Updated 1/17/2024
Brunell hysteria misses facts
Don C. Brunell really outdid himself with his January 10th column, “Biden needs to expose his secret Snake River dam plan to reality.” Despite his somewhat hysterical and overwrought tone, no “secret plan” was hatched in “the Wh... — Updated 1/17/2024
Idaho wagon train massacres
While traveling in Idaho, we ran into a group of wagons doing a reenactment of the Oregon Trail days. Those on the wagon train reported how much fun they were having. It was a far cry from two wagon trains that ended as massacres... — Updated 1/10/2024
Could you pass a citizenship test? Really?
Okay, maybe I’m approaching this from a position of privilege. One of my earliest memories is of tagging along to my mother’s former grammar school when she voted. Social Stu... — Updated 1/10/2024
Biden needs to expose his secret Snake River dam plan to reality
The $33 billion secret Snake River Dam plan that President Biden and friends cooked up in the White House basement needs to be exposed to the light of day and thoroughly aired by... — Updated 1/10/2024
New Medicare benefits will help millions
My name is Priya Helweg, and I am the US Department of Health and Human Services Deputy Regional Director for Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and 272 federally recognized Tribes in Region 10. The new year is a time of hope and r... — Updated 1/10/2024
Home Country
It was half-past second coffee and darn near to French toast time and it had been very quiet at the round table, that general headquarters of the World Dilemma Think Tank. “Heard something interesting yesterday,” said Herb. “Ki... — Updated 1/3/2024
Tom Smothers was serious about politics
Tom Smothers wasn’t the first performer to weaponize comedy for political purposes, but he was perfectly suited for it. During the height of his career with brother Dick in the ’60s and ’70s he took on Lyndon Johnson over his V... — Updated 1/3/2024
Made those resolutions yet?
How about making an effort to visit a national park this year. It’s a great way to rebuild your appreciation of our country. We have three great national parks in our own state and a couple of others within a day’s drive. One of... — Updated 1/3/2024
Here's a great New Year's resolution: get a pet
As we wrap up a very inflationary 2023, pet shelters across the country are at maximum capacity and they don’t have room to house the pets people are turning in. ABC News reports that animals entering shelters began to climb in 2... — Updated 12/27/2023
Dairy farmers push green cow power
In the 1990s, “Things go better with Coca Cola” was the catchy slogan that dairy farmers dreaded. At the time, milk producers were in a head-to-head battle with soft drink gia... — Updated 12/27/2023
What gift would you give America?
It is the season of giving, forgiving, renewal, and hope. If you could give a gift to America, what gift would you give? We all appreciate our country, and we are grateful for all that it offers. But we also know that there are... — Updated 12/27/2023
Coulee Pride
Remember the Coulee Card. It was handy and fun and I wish it would make a comeback. It is awesome to call the Coulee home. Here are a few people and places I’m proud of that make the Coulee area so special – Caden Portch rep... — Updated 12/27/2023
Local police staffing shortage is unsustainable
The Grand Coulee Police Department is critically understaffed, yet the city council has declared a hiring freeze for an unspecified length of time. Currently, the department has six full-time officers. A fully staffed local police... — Updated 12/15/2023 Full story
I'd take a small plane anytime
My love for flying in a small plane came gradually. The first small plane ride was when I lived here the first time, in 1954. I was a lumber grader at the small planer mill above the dam. There was a guy working on the crew who... — Updated 12/13/2023
We can show them how it's done
We have to remember how to act in a democracy if we expect it to last, and for a while there, it seemed we might not be able to do that. But it could be that those troublesome signs are waning, even if our troubles aren’t. Maybe i... — Updated 12/13/2023
Meetings and Notices
Fire Dist. 14 to Meet Grant County Fire District #14 will hold its regular monthly meeting Monday, December 11, 2023, at 6:00 at the Electric City Fire Station. Area AA Meetings In Electric City, the New Hope group holds its... — Updated 12/6/2023
Finding the power for future Griswold Christmas lightshows
It is that time of year when people put up their outside holiday lights and displays. Judging from our neighborhood, they are decorating more than usual. In our country, 90 percent... — Updated 12/6/2023
Watch out for the Mormon crickets
America has a love affair with ghost towns. I’ve visited several, but the most memorable is Silver City, Idaho. Silver City is about 75 miles south of Boise and is probably the most significant thing in Owyhee County. This c... — Updated 12/6/2023
Risk insurance premiums out of control
For 2024, Lincoln County will be paying over $1,500,000 in risk insurance premiums. This represents a drastic increase of over 83% from just two years ago and 53% over 2023. And … these rates are expected to escalate next year a... — Updated 12/6/2023
