OpinionFebruary 13, 2004

Election helpers

Baffling, isn't it, that the cohorts of Idaho County Commissioners [Pat] Holmberg and [Alice] Mattson believe that writing letters to insult and chide recent recall petition signers, and simultaneously [Lewis] Ulmer write-in voters, is wise. I don't see how insulting the many hundreds of signers and the more than 2,470 voters who cast write-in votes in the last election could possibly help the two controversial commissioners.

The petition signers and write-in voters come from all walks of life -- agriculture, timber, business, recreation, health care, homemaking, education, tourism, government, retirement and others. These people are telling the commission that there is a huge number of voters in the county who are caring, serious and concerned enough to sign petitions (in some cases, despite fear) and to write in a choice on a ballot. Neither act was taken lightly or thoughtlessly by these people.

The letter writers may wish to know that their insulting letters are serving to arouse increased dissatisfaction toward both the two commissioners and their cohorts and increased solidarity among the signers and write-in voters, and also among the hundreds of other voters who side with the signers but who favor using the ballot to remove an elected official.

So, anti-recall letter writers, keep it up. By the time Commissioner Holmberg is up for re-election in May, your insults will have the petition signers, write-in voters and other voters even more determined to vote her out of office.

Borg Hendrickson

Kooskia

Support Moscow VFD

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Please remember to make your donations to our Moscow Volunteer Fire Department. Last year, on your behalf they responded to 499 rural and city fires and over 1,209 ambulance calls.

This department has only five paid employees The rest of the crew is made up of 85 volunteers from our community.

During last year's dry, hot summer, the members of our fire department saved lives and property at a great risk to their own safety. Of the five homes lost during the Flannigan Creek fire, let us remember that 13 homes were saved from destruction. There were even more homes that were in harm's way that were saved by the well-trained and responsive firefighters that day.

Each year, we face a season much like the previous one. So let us show our support of our competent firefighters and emergency volunteers under the able leadership of Chief Strong in order that they will have the resources to be there when you need them.

Donations to the Moscow Volunteer Fire Department have nothing to do with the city budget. All of such moneys go directly to the training of volunteers, maintenance of facilities for the volunteer organization, matching funds for grants for volunteers, etc. ...

Checks can be mailed to: Moscow Volunteer Fire Department 306 South Main Moscow, ID 83843. Or drop your donation by the station. ...

Alethia Fasolino

Moscow

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