To the editor,

On Wednesday, Aug. 6th, I was one of several who served at a barbecue for our men and women of 2-146 FA BN at the Training Center. I had a wonderful, but nevertheless humbling experience.  

Some of the volunteers did the barbecuing of different kinds of meats, and others, the serving of the side dishes, plates, silverware. A majority of everything was donated and included pasta salads, potato salads, luscious bread/rolls all made by Selah’s local businesses, chips of all kinds, along with some great Army corn on the cob, watermelon, etc.

Volunteers brought in baked beans. One gentleman brought in a huge container of homemade potato salad which came just in time as the other salads were depleting fast. Anything “homemade” outside of the Center was a sacred dish to these soldiers!

Another gentleman brought in 8, count ’em, 8 large foil pans of layered bean dip. The soldiers’ faces lit up when they saw those.
Whoa! I should have had a stopwatch on the time it took before they were all gone!

And then two turkey roasting pans of a pasta dish were put out on the tables. I thought to myself, I gotta hire these folks to cater my next holiday dinner! One soldier asked me what the dressing was that made the pasta so good........well, I told him, but I better not say publicly because it might be a family secret.

As the soldiers came down the line, we heard over and over “thank you ma’am, thank you sir”. And yet it was us who couldn’t say thank you enough for all they were sacrificing for us.

Some said there was so much to eat, they didn’t know where it was going to fit on their plates. As someone who is no slouch on the intricacies of dining, I gave a bit of advice......start eating while you’re moving on down the line, and there should be room for the meat & dessert. And then I told them to start all over again. (My husband told me to also give them large helpings. He’s on his 4th year in Iraq and he misses the good food here.)

The only thing I could think of to add to this great menu was a bit of the Valley...apple or huckleberry pie.

And Mary & Bessie, see you Aug 19th at Wixson Park for another barbecue send-off.

Renee Heide
Selah

To the editor,

On June 25, the man that meant the world to our whole family, Arthur Eddy, passed away. We want to thank everyone involved, who made the days following, bearable.

Officer Sergio Reyna, from the Yakima County Sheriff’s Department was the first one on the scene at Mom and Dad’s house. Thank you for comforting our mother in her time of need until we arrived. She told me that you reassured her that she had done everything that she could have.

Second, we would like to thank Janet Roy from Langevin Mussetter Funeral Home. Without you having all the answers to all of our questions, we could never have made it. You are an angel!

A big thank you to the Selah City Hall, Mayor Bob Jones and the Selah Chief of Police for all the phone calls and the decision to let our family give our father the Military Honors that he deserved. When we found out from the funeral home that Dad would have full Military Honors at his Memorial Service, we thought the only right thing to do is get permission for the city to have guns discharged at Wixson Park. A call to the fire department, a drive to city hall, a call to the chief of police, who called the mayor. And in a few short hours, we had the city’s blessing to give our dad the full Military Honors that a Veteran of the Korean War so rightly deserved! And a thank you to the extra Selah Police officers, who were put on duty for the afternoon, to patrol the park during the memorial service.

I would like to take a moment to thank each and every person in the park that afternoon. While our family grieved during the honors, and the American flag was being presented to our Mom, the honor guard played “Taps.” The whole entire Selah City Park came to a standstill.

Everyone in the park stopped and stood at attention. Everyone at the city pool stopped what they were doing and stood at attention. I heard from a friend of ours, who attended, that there were cars driving by the park, that were stopped in the middle of the road, until “Taps” was over.

What a great country we live in that small town America would pay tribute to a real American Hero! Thank you Selah!

I would like to thank the United States Air Force Military Honor Guard, who drove all the way over from McCord Air Force Base, in one hundred degree weather, in full military uniform, to give our father such great tribute.

Thanks to all of our friends and family for their support, that day and everyday. Without your hugs, thoughts and prayers, each day would have been harder. Life is too short.

God Bless America

We love and miss you Dad!

The Arthur Eddy Family
Anita Hoxie
Selah WA

To the editor,

A big thank you to Dave Thome of Howard’s Drug Store.  He was so kind recently to help us fill a prescription for our grandson who was visiting from Yelm, WA.  His medicine was accidentally left at home. 

We made a phone call to Dave saying, “Help, what do we do now?”  He solved the problem quickly and we picked up his medicine the next day.

My insurance company wants me to order through the mail and this is just one reason why I don’t.  I know I can count on Dave to be there when I need Rx help.  He and his staff are always pleasant to work with and we appreciate it. 

Thanks again Dave.

Bob and Donna Ruud

To the Editor,

After generations of living under communism and tyranny, the Chinese are transitioning from riding scooters and bicycles to driving cars and trucks.  After generations of living under freedom and democracy, Americans are transitioning from driving cars and trucks to riding scooters and bicycles.

Thanks to all the Republican and Democrat politicians who have made this backwards transition possible.
And the other good news and a sign the Chinese are moving into the 21st century, they saw fit to have dog meat removed from the menu at the Olympic venues.  I don’t know about you, but I’m going to be keeping a close eye on my household pooch in the coming months.

Thomas Mitchell
Selah, WA

Pictured: Back Row: Bill Gilman, John Cavanaugh, Jonathon Cruz, Andrew Gonzalez, Nick Ranger, Kurt Lindemann, Conner O’Malley, Dick Graf, Michael Espinoza; Front Row:  Jack Cavanaugh, Cole Gilman, Corbin Richardson, Mason Hall, Derek Wood, Frank Rowland, Scotty Graf.

To the Editor,

My wife just tried to call me on her new earpiece cell phone.  It works about like crap tastes.  Like every liberal do-good legislation, it makes the situation it proposes to protect us from, worse. 

Senators running for Washington State Senate say they are the “most Alex Deccio” like.  Deccio voted for the bloated budgets that are going to require tax increases to keep the State out of bankruptcy because of Democrat spending.  They all need to be kicked out. 

To all the Teamsters and other union members, it’s time to dump your leadership.  The Teamsters Union and all other unions are the largest contributing entities to the Democrat Party and being such, is helping to elect members of the House and Senate who are working to get you laid off because they refuse to allow drilling for more of our own oil off the coasts and production of shale oil and other oil production including increasing our refining capability.

To all the retirees, you continue to vote for Democrats who are killing any chance I have for Social Security.  My Social Security has been SPENT by Congress long ago.  Now they steal my money to fund your retirement to keep you placid.  The President proposed a solution, and the Democrats shot it down and you fell for it.  My personal IRA gets me about 3 1/2 percent on my return.  Social Security will give me a negative return on my money taken by the thieves in Congress by the time I retire, when I’m what….80 friggin years old.   Give me a break right across my head will ya!  And give me my money back!

When we continue to vote in liberal communists, I am losing faith in the American people.

Thomas Mitchell
Selah, WA

Up Crusher Canyon Road, just past the end of the new sidewalk, is a draw on the north side of the road with a stand of trees that has hosted a red-tailed hawk nest for years.  Following a recent City of Selah annexation, the stand is now within the city limits. This year, not only has the nesting pair returned to the nest, but a juvenile hawk born last year has also returned with them.  The juvenile is the same size as the adults, but is more vocal, hoping someone else will feed it.

Pictured: Two Redtail Hawks, parent and fledgling, sit in a nest above Crusher Canyon Road. Michael Martin photo.

To the editor,

My name is Karissa Brandhagen and I have a Father’s day story to tell that means the world to me and my little sister.  When I was three years old my dad decided to take a path that led him away from my mommy and me. Our world turned upside. I don’t know how my mom did it but she kept me safe and secure and told me everyday that my daddy loved me very much and someday he would realize all that he missed. That leads me to my story about my stepdad, Dan Dimick, my mom, Trina Dimick, my baby sister Courtney Dimick and myself.

To the Editor,

Kids in Selah at both John Campbell and Lince Elementary Schools deserve a great big “congratulations” for their hard work week after week in the Mileage Clubs, held weekly at their schools during lunch recess.  As volunteer coordinator for John Campbell’s club, I was impressed beyond words at the perseverance and great attitudes displayed by the kids as they walked and ran their way around the playground, earning awards for each 5 miles completed, all the while improving their fitness.  We had nearly 100 percent participation from students in grades 1-4, with 174 students (plus one teacher, Mitch Richards) earning the free T-shirt  awarded for completion of 25 or more miles, and eight students earning a 50 Mile Club cap as well!  When you see these bright green Mileage Club T-shirts and caps, be sure to congratulate these kids!

Thank you to the parents and grandparents who volunteered to track student laps, serve water, encourage runners, and make awards, spending many hours a week to encourage the kids in their fitness goals.  Teachers and staff at both schools gave excellent encouragement and support as well.  Thanks also to both school PTO programs and as well as many local corporate sponsors who donated incentives and funds to cover the cost of the T-shirts!  Corporate sponsors include Brian Harris Used Cars, Clark Custom Remodeling, Coffee at Tiffany’s, Domex Fruit Co., Helm’s Hardware, Java Jitters, McDonald’s, Morton Supply, Pinnacle Plumbing, Red Apple Market, Royal Bavarian Bakery, Selah Fitness Express, Selah Gym Kids, Selah Kiwanis Club, Selah Subway, Tamaki Law Firm, Teriyaki Grille, and Torkelson Construction.     

I was pleased to serve our kids in this great fitness program, along with Diane McDevitt , coordinator at Lince Elementary.  Thank you Selah, and great job kids!   We look forward to next year and welcome your continued support.

Dana Kuhn,
Selah Parent and Volunteer

To the editor,

First, I am not racist nor feminist and certainly do not think I know it all. I am female, politically informed, and concerned about where our country and society is headed. The recent campaign results have increased my concern. None of the candidates has ever verbalized a serious word of what or how they will confront the many problems we as a nation are facing.

Only vague hints at vague solutions. It is going to take more than a presidential term or two and some very tough decisions. The biggest hindrance is the fact that the president has little to say; it is Congress who makes the rules and passes the legislation. It will take more than movie star looks or tears; it will take guts and I have yet to see that. The next hindrance will be we, the people. We are spoiled rotten. Any solutions are going to hit us hard in the pocketbook and the lifestyle. Life as we know it will never be the same. Some people can handle that; most will not want to.

At present, I will not vote for Obama. He is too young; not yet dry behind the ears and inexperienced with the ways of our enemies. Also, do you realize due to his age how many years we will be paying his pension, health care, and secret service protection? It is something to consider.

I don’t think McCain will take us too far from the path we’ve been on. He is too soft-spoken and there doesn’t seem to be any fire to the man...and fire is what it will take. I think, for me it will hinge on whom each selects as a vice-presidential running mate and what they can bring to the mix. I will be watching closely between now and November and will not be swayed by sweet or soft words or vagaries. I want guts and fire!

Joanne Sapik,
Selah