COVID poem, Road 68, vaccine, Snake River dams and other Herald letters to the editor
Put higher priority on Road 68 work
I am a student voicing a concern about an intersection by my home on Road 68 and Court Street in Pasco. I have lived at my address for two years and have witnessed five accidents at this intersection. I did some research and found out that the City of Pasco has been planning improvements and will start the bidding process next year, however will not be starting construction until 2023.
I have looked at records dating back to 2015 of traffic accidents that occurred in the same intersection, and it was really upsetting to know the issue has gone on for over 6 years and still has to be delayed an additional two years to see “real action” on the improvements. According to the City of Pasco’s website, “The intersection was noted in the 2020 Local Road Safety Plan as a prioritized roadway location of risk based on frequency and attributes of collisions.”
Why should our residents have to wait any longer for construction to start? Why did the city wait five years to look into an improvement plan? What can our community do to speed up the process before anyone else gets hurt?
Esmeralda Blanco, Pasco
‘Onto the next’ touched reader
I just read the poem called “Onto the next,” written by Sara McDonald, a nurse at St. Luke’s in Boise.
I want to write Sara and say thank you for what she is doing. And for the poem that she wrote, that just left me sobbing as I thought of the people who are suffering, and the nurses and doctors who live out what the poem said, every day, caring for them.
Is there a way to get a message to Sara? If so, please let me know.
Here’s the poem: www.tri-cityherald.com/news/coronavirus/article254774567.html
Jacqulyn Nelson, Richland
What’s Bible say on vaccination?
For those requesting exemptions from being vaccinated and using the Bible as a reference, I’d like to see where in the Bible it says, “Thou shall not be vaccinated.” Amen.
Jim Homan, Richland
Raceway event was outstanding
For those who questioned whether the West Richland race track could be successful and benefit the community, that question was answered this past weekend. The race was a total success with visitors from all around the Northwest. The stands and parking lot overflowed, there was no trouble and things went rather smoothly. Sure there are things to improve, like parking, stands and traffic logistics, but for a first-time event in 17 years, it was fantastic!
A huge American flag hung over the center of the race track and the prayer and national anthem were a real nice way to start each race day. With all the race teams, support staff, volunteers, officials and fans, I’ll guess that there were at over 6,000 people there. The organizers greatly underestimated the participation and attendance! I feel confident that local restaurants and hotels greatly benefited.
Yes, there are things to improve, but let’s recognize that the organizers and the Red Mountain Event Center put this together in only 100 days!! They deserve a real big round of applause for putting together an event that benefits the Northwest and our community! And, again, in only 100 days. Imagine what next year’s events will be like!
Walt Tamosaitis, West Richland
Drive-thru for flu shots well done
Many thanks to all who helped with the Oct. 2 drive-thru clinic for 2021 flu shots. It was well staffed, highly organized and very efficient. As the captain would say, “Well done.”
Iral Nelson, Richland
Scalise endorses GOP’s ‘Big Lie’
Steve Scalise, R-La., on Fox News on Oct. 10 once again asserted the unproven claim the November 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump.
Where do these people come from? How are they elected? Why the homage to a failed businessman and grifter?
Chris Wallace and I waited to hear him bring to our attention just how and where this “theft” occurred and who were the perpetrators. He (Scalise) never offered any proof, he could not substantiate his claim, he believed and proclaimed over and over his opinion — following Hermann Göring’s edict that telling the lie repeatedly will soak into the heads of citizens too lazy to do the research, so will swallow Scalise’s notion because, after all, he’s a “respected and educated” member of Congress, hence, his buffoonery must be true.
The party of The Big Lie continues the fantasy despite the re-audit outcome in Arizona. Pathetic.
Bink Owen, Walla Walla
Is it our duty to act or to refuse?
Winning COVID’s war against humanity will require us “to all pull together as a team.”
Too many justify inaction as protecting our “rights,” vaguely bestowed by God and/or the Constitution. COVID-19 doesn’t care about rights. It doesn’t respect religion or nationality.
The question isn’t what our rights to refuse are, but what is our duty to act?
Do we have a duty to protect ourselves, our loved ones, our community or our country?
Hundreds of thousands of service members have died, performing their duty to protect America.
Should we wait passively for the government and courts to dictate what is legally required? Or do we take individual, moral responsibility now, acknowledge our duty and get vaccinated?
Safe, effective vaccination is our most powerful protection.
The war was almost won. By June, Washington’s infection/death rates had fallen so low that public health experts advised we could take the masks off. Almost 70% of us had acted on our duty and gotten vaccinated, without being required to do so.
Unfortunately, not enough acted responsibly. By September, mask wearing was back, demanded by the currently skyrocketing “pandemic of the unvaccinated.”
This preventable pandemic wouldn’t be happening if more of us had simply done our duty.
Michael Harrington, Pasco
He wants water ahead of salmon
I see we are starting up with talks on removing the dams on the Snake River. I could argue against all the reasons you want to, but I’m only permitted so many words. At present the argument to remove the dams is if we don’t we will soon have no more salmon. So I ask you how long can you go without eating fish? Right now a person’s average age is 70 with or without fish. Now how long can you go without water? Three to seven days then you die. Clearly water is more important than fish. So let’s hear no more about removing the dams.
Ira Johnson, Kennewick