Trying to See: Be Careful What You Wish For
Posted on December 3, 2023 by Editor
By Michael Randall
Here’s a serious question for you: should we be concerned about the 2024 presidential election’s outcome? Let’s examine what one of the leading candidates thinks about and speaks about widely. When he ran in 2016, he said, “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters, OK?”
We found out that might be true, though he never tested his theory so violently during his presidency. But he did his best to undermine the integrity of the 2020 election, and has challenged its outcome ever since with his “Big Lie,” even when told by his own senior staffers that he lost that election. Also, he incited an insurrection in January 2021 to try to stay in power.
Why is his repeated lie and his illegal efforts to stay in power OK with so many people, people who fervently want to see him elected president again? Apparently, some of us do not mind having to live under a totalitarian system in which the dictator says what the law is and is not, where citizens’ fates are determined by the dictator alone.
What is the wide appeal of this “not-even-a-man” (“NEAM,” my new acronym to counter “MAGA”)? He has called veterans “chumps” and “losers” and “suckers,” and has called desperate people on our southern border “criminals and rapists.” If elected in 2024, his team is already planning for him to invoke the “Insurrection Act” so that he can use the military to quell citizen protests. His team now plans to build massive camps to hold illegal migrants after sweeping the country for them prior to their deportation. Also, they are now vetting the names of people they would appoint to roughly 1,500 higher level positions in different federal agencies, people who will swear loyalty to Trump rather than to the US Constitution. These plans actually are underway for 2025, if he wins. Don’t believe this? Look it up.
Do his supporters like to be told what to do by a dictator? He pleases millions of these folks, gets their juices up with his seething anger against immigrants, senior military officers, the media, federal agencies, and the courts. On the Veterans Day just past, he pledged that “…we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and radical-left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country….” He claimed, “They’ll do anything to destroy America, and to destroy the American Dream.” This rotten-flesh rhetoric is putrid meat to feed his disciples. Where are the communists? Where are the vermin? Most importantly, what are the people like who believe in and support his ridiculous garbage?
Johns Hopkins University did a study in 2011 before Trump came onto the political scene, a study in which they evaluated a large sample of people, part of which was to identify personal characteristics of people who held negative attitudes toward minority groups, especially African Americans and Muslims. In 2018, they decided to go back to those same people to see what they felt about Trump after he had been in office for two years. They found that people with negative attitudes toward minorities were widely supportive of Trump. What are they so afraid of regarding people of a different skin color or different religion?
Much media coverage asserts that Trump created the current angry, hateful atmosphere in American politics. But the Johns Hopkins study found that he was simply the flame that attracted angry moths from the dark. Such animosity (full of fear, angry resentment, and the sense of being victimized) has always been present in any human population. But Trump’s unhealthy mental condition, belligerence, racist language, and fine-tuned cunning drew this kind of person to him. He knew just how to appeal to them and make them into what psychiatry calls “totalists,” people who are totally committed to some idea, and whose minds are closed to new information that contradicts their current thinking. (Of course, many “progressives” on the political left are totalists, too.)
A former senior Trump White House official is quoted anonymously in Jonathan Karl’s new book, “Tired of Winning.” The man worked closely, daily, with Trump and says, “HE LACKS ANY SHRED OF HUMAN DECENCY, HUMILITY OR CARING. HE IS MORALLY BANKRUPT, BREATHTAKINGLY DISHONEST, LETHALLY INCOMPETENT, AND STUNNINGLY IGNORANT OF VIRTUALLY ANYTHING RELATED TO GOVERNING, HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, HUMAN EVENTS OR WORLD AFFAIRS. HE IS A TRAITOR AND A MALIGNANCY IN OUR NATION AND REPRESENTS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO OUR DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW.”
Trump’s thought process and political language closely resemble those of Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Mao Tse-tung, whose tyranny killed many millions of people, crushed their surviving citizens into submission and made them silently obedient. Many Americans do not think such things can happen here. But in times of confusion and crisis like now, many people among us would welcome being told what to think and do by their chosen dictator, and would be glad to see violators punished for disobeying.
They should be careful what they wish for. Trump has openly expressed admiration for Russia’s Putin, China’s Xi Jinping, Hungary’s Orban, Turkey’s Erdogan, and North Korea’s Kim Jung Un–all dictators who have severely tightened the screws on their people to create police states. Everything Trump (remember “NEAM”) says points us in that direction if he is elected President a year from now.
I want to provide you with some addresses where you might send money or donate food over the holidays. Nehalem Senior Lunches can be reached at 503-368-5612 or PO Box 156, Nehalem, Oregon, 97130. This would be for Senior Lunches provided on Tuesday and Thursday.
Meals for Seniors located in Rockaway Beach, PO Box 852, Rockaway Beach, Oregon, 97136. Free lunches are provided on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
North County Food Bank, PO Boxx 162, Wheeler, Oregon, 97147. Remember they also have a clothing bank.
Rockaway Beach Lions, PO Box 611, Rockaway Beach, Oregon 97136. Lions will be providing Christmas dinners for several families.
The CHILD Program run by the Nehalem Bay United Methodist Church is providing clothes and toys for many children for the holidays. It’s getting a bit too late to shop now, but they could always use cash donations. Please be sure to write CHILD on your check. Address is Child Program, PO Box 156, Nehalem, Oregon, 97131.
OK, here is the list I got off the internet:
1. Everyone donates Kraft Mac and Cheese in the box. They can rarely use it because it needs milk and butter which is hard to get from regular food banks.
2. Boxed milk is a treasure, as kids need it for cereal which they also get a lot of.
3. Everyone donates pasta sauce and spaghetti noodles.
4. They cannot eat all the awesome canned veggies and soup unless you put a can opener in too or buy pop tops.
5. Oil is a luxury but needed for Rice a-Roni which they also get a lot of.
6. Spices or salt and pepper would be a real Christmas gift.
7. Tea bags and coffee make them feel like you care.
8. Sugar and flour are treats.
9. They fawn over fresh produce donated by farmers and grocery stores.
10. Seeds are cool in Spring and Summer because growing can be easy for some.
11. They rarely get fresh meat.
12. Tuna and crackers make a good lunch.
13. Hamburger Helper goes nowhere without ground beef.
14. They get lots of peanut butter and jelly but usually not sandwich bread.
15. Butter or margarine is nice too.
16. Eggs are a real commodity.
17. Cake mix and frosting makes it possible to make a child’s birthday cake.
18. Dishwashing detergent is very expensive and is always appreciated.
19. Feminine hygiene products are a luxury and women will cry over that.
20. Everyone loves Stove Top Stuffing.
21. Diapers
22. Wipes
23. Buns
24. Baked goods
25. Potatoes
26. Nuts
27. Seeds for eating or cooking
28. Raisins
29. Dishwashing pods
30. Rags and cleaning supplies
31. Pet food
32. Pet supplies
Thank you all!
Patty
Update to Lawsuit Response
I want to acknowledge that the Pioneer updated the article Cara Mico wrote. They removed the word lawsuit after the article posted. While I got it right about Will Stone’s posts, I was mistaken about Randy Kugler’s use of the word lawsuit. I believed he used that word in a response to someone’s post but when I looked, I couldn’t find it. I want to apologize for my mistake. In future posts I’ll make sure to slow my roll and include direct quotes as I usually have in the past.
Kim Rosenberg
loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com
Give yourself the gift of self-care with 10% off full-priced spa treatments for our residents who live within 20 miles of Manzanita and all who work here. Just tell us you’re a “local local” or where you work when you book.
Book online @ spamanzanita.com
or text/call at 503.689.8679 or call 503.368.4777.
Check out our Winter Wellness packages and other specials (sorry, specials can’t be combined with the locals discount)
3-PACK INTRODUCTORY INFRARED SAUNA PACKAGE
Infrared saunas offer a multitude of health benefits including detoxification, improved heart health, faster muscle recovery, pain relief and more.
WINTER WELLNESS PACKAGE
Sink into relaxation and soothing warmth with this package perfect for the cooler days. Hot stones reach deep into tense muscles to help you relax and release. During the massage a magnesium-packed warming mud is applied along the spine to detoxify, warm, re-mineralize and relax tight back muscles. You’ll finish with an infrared sauna session to close out this warming, soothing and oh-so relaxing Winter Wellness treat.
RENEW & REVIVE PACKAGE
Restore your skin’s glow with our ultimate age-defying facial. The cleanest, purest ingredients, White Algae, White Wine, White Tea, and Copper Peptides blend with Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, Probiotics, and an intense marine-based oxygen serum to give the skin a superior boost. Then relax into a red-light therapy infrared sauna session to allow all of those nourishing products to absorb and renew your skin.
If you miss us today, remember that we have collection boxes throughout the community for the holiday season.
Thank you for your support!
FRIDAY, December 15
Please RSVP by December 13 so we know how many folks to plan for an evening of good cheer and great music!
Send your RSVP email to Mary Moran at: moranmem@gmail.com
NOT A MEMBER, JOIN AT THE DOOR FOR $20 ($40 per couple)!
Pine Grove Holiday Party on 12/15/23
Time: 5pm – 8pm
Place: Pine Grove Community House
Put on your holiday duds and join us…
A community gathering to celebrate the holidays.
Music by Stay Tuned 1st set – 45 minutes
Sing Along with Rob Borgford after 1st set of Stay Tuned. Holiday music – 30 minutes
We will have a visit from Santa who will draw names for our door prizes.
2nd set by Stay Tuned.
Appetizers and desserts:
We are hoping some of our community members will contribute a favorite holiday appetizer or dessert.
Tela Skinner will be organizing this.
If you are interested in bringing a special appetizer or dessert, please email Tela Skinner: telaskinner@gmail.com
We will serve beverages: wine, beer, coffee and water.
There will be 3 special door prizes. As people check in they will fill out a ticket giving them a chance to win one of our door prizes. All door prizes have been donated by members or businesses of our Manzanita community.
Come and dance, sing and/or connect with your neighbors.
Feel free to reach out with questions:
brentanctil@gmail.com
anctilaaron@gmail.com
I have a few CHILD TAGS which need filling. CHILD is a program sponsored by the Nehalem Bay United Methodist Church. This is a program which gets Christmas gifts, clothing, and toys for children in our community. This note will let you know the age of the child and what is on their Christmas list. You can return these gifts, unwrapped please, to the Nehalem Bay United Methodist Church in Nehalem. Tuesday and Thursday are probably good days to take presents to the church. A number to call would be 503-368-5612. If you would like a receipt for your gift, please enclose a receipt and how we might reach you.
Girl-Age 5-Anything to do with Mermaids or Rapunzel
Girl-Age 5-Pants, top, and PJ’s girls’ size 5
Girl-Age 9-Jacket Jr. small and shoes size 3 youth
Girl-Age 9-Jeans size 9 girls, tops and PJ’s girls’ size 8/10
Girl-Age 9-Drawing supplies
Girl-Age 15-Pants miss 6/8, Tops miss medium
Girl-Age 15-Drawing supplies and Brain Games
Girl-Age 15-PJ’s miss large, shoes size 8.5
Boy-Age 9-Jacket boys 10, PJ’s boys 9, Shoes 3 youth, favorite color purple
Boy-Age 9-Pants and tops boys’ size 9
Boy-Age 9-Crocs size 3 youth, RC Car, Squishmallow, dinosaurs, Slippers 3 youth,
Boy-Age 12-PJ’s Men’s small, shoes 7.5
Boy-Age 12-Legos
Boy-Age 12-Sweat Pants, men’s small, tops men’s small
Boy-Age 16-Jacket men’s medium, shoes size 9, favorite color black
Boy-Age 16-Pants 28×30, tops and PJ’s men’s medium
Boy-Age 18-Jacket men’s medium, Shoes size 8
Thanks to all who have helped with this project. You are making a difference for so many families!
I don’t know if it has registered yet with many people around here, but a community landmark is in the process of being destroyed. Another part of our visual history has been condemned to the breaker’s bucket and the picker’s axe as a demolition crew ignominiously removes the quonset structure that has guarded the east end of Manzanita Avenue and east entrance of our little town for more decades than I can imagine. To many new people around here that building is little more than a reminder of all that’s old and in their way in our once quaint little community. In their haste to create their vision of a future that these few new people hold for our town they seem compelled to obliterate the last remnants of our storied past – and replace them with something new and shiny, with something that speaks of their power and progress, I guess.
For me that building is a reminder of my earliest days in this once delightful little town – before much of the rest of the world discovered us. Very, very many summers ago I split my shopping between the little grocery store “downtown” and Neahkahnie Bob’s store that used to occupy the unusual object of this reverie, when I moved here in the 1970’s. I recognized early on that our distinctive little building was clearly modeled after the imposing blimp hangers down in Tillamook complete with the blocky, but functionless, poritcoes at the south end of “our hanger” that faithfully mimicked the real thing the US Navy built up and down all of our coasts to house the aircraft that were sent aloft to protect our shores during the Second World War. I always like to believe our little “hanger” was designed and built as an homage and even as a memorial to the men and women and their Service that rose to the occasion to defend our Nation in the time of our greatest peril. As you go about your errands in the coming days – and if your travels bring you into Manzanita from that compass quarter – you might at least give a moment’s pause for that building and it’s significance to our community for all of these years, and a final nod to it’s part in our collective story as it completes it’s rendezvous with time. I also invite you to give a thought to those young men and women for whom in it’s youth it was valued as much more than just an old eyesore.
Richard Mastenik, Manzanita
We still have collection boxes available throughout the community for the next couple of weeks, so we welcome all pet food donations to those locations!
We are also going to have a box at the White Clover Grange holiday bazaar on Saturday, December 9 (starting at 11am).
Rather than falsely accuse me of saying things that I did not say, how about accurately reporting what I have said? My direct quotes follow on what I have written follow:
“As a citizen, I expect full disclosure of the actions of all of our public officials. If Mayor Simmons’s actions were such a threat to our City, I certainly want to know the details.”
“How much of that $90,000 is for the never ending investigation of the complaint filed by the City Manager against our now ex Mayor and when will citizens be allowed to review the investigation’s findings?”
Had you accurately described to readers what I have written, most fair minded citizens would likely conclude that I am interested in the facts and truth surrounding this investigation.
The investigator’s report and all fees paid by the City surrounding this investigation are public records. Citizens have a right to inspect public records without undue delays and burdensome fees and that is what we all should expect from our City officials.
The public’s right to know the details of an investigation concerning the City’s highest elected official outweighs any expectation that the complaining party’s accusations should be withheld from the public and their identity remain anonymous.
You state that “the city attorney’s job is to protect the city’s interests”. If protecting the city’s interests includes legal reasons for the refusal to release public records that are not a part of any lawsuit, I would expect citizens would have a problem with that.
If you or someone you know might be able to help, shoot me an email. Thanks
Lawsuit: A Fact Check
Less than a month after being sworn in—February 2023, the former mayor called her lawyer, and her lawyer called the city’s attorney incurring legal fees which have continued to accrue since then. I wrote about that awhile back.
The city of Manzanita is our attorney’s client. Council and the mayor act as agents of the city while in office, so it’s odd that a mayor would use a personal lawyer for anything to do with city business, but that’s what happened.
An executive session was scheduled near the end of February. There was no employee complaint at the time.
The city’s attorney duty is to protect the city’s interests and once the mayor involved her lawyer, it must have been clear that all was not well in Manzanita. I mean, when a volunteer member of a governing body for a town of about 600 residents shows up with their personal lawyer in tow, it probably isn’t a good sign.
The employee complaint wasn’t received by the city’s attorney until May and once he and the city’s insurance company saw it, they suggested an independent investigation to protect the city’s interests. Council voted unanimously at the regular meeting in June to approve the expenditure.
It took time for the independent investigation to be completed. I’m sure there were hours of interviews with multiple people to schedule and I assume some people were interviewed more than once.
During the investigation, the mayor continued to use her personal lawyer which increased the workload for both the city attorney and the investigator. That’s one reason why the legal bills and bills for the investigation have grown so large.
In a recent article Cara Mico wrote for the Pioneer and in posts by Randy Kugler and Will Stone on North County News and North Coast BBQ, they’ve each stated that the city manager is involved in a lawsuit with the city.
But, there is no lawsuit. Never has been. Lawsuits are a matter of public record as Mico, Kugler, and Stone all know. It’s an easy thing to fact check. There is no public record because there is no lawsuit. This begs the question—Why would a former journalist, a working journalist and a former city manager continue to repeat something that they straight out know isn’t true about a city employee?
So far, no details have been released about the investigation. The city’s attorney’s job is to protect the city’s interests and he’s taking care to do just that. Anything that you might hear or read about the investigation is speculation or just plain old gossip. The only source of information would be one of the four sitting members of council and they’d need to be willing to disclose privileged information from executive sessions risking censure. And that would beg the question who would want to do that and why?
Kim Rosenberg loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com
On Thursday, December 7 at 6:00 pm, Herb Hammond, a forest ecologist and retired professional forester with over 45 years of experience in the fields of forest research, ecologically sustainable forest plans, consultation, and public education, will give a Zoom talk entitled “Forests for Water or Timber: A Clearcut Problem.” Mr. Hammond and his spouse, Susan, co-founded the Silva Forest Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to research and guidance in ecosystem-based conservation planning. He has helped Indigenous and rural communities across several continents create over 25 ecosystem-based conservation plans. Mr. Hammond has been the recipient of Canada’s Gold Award for Sustainable Living and has authored several award-winning books, including “Seeing the Forest Among the Trees: The Case for Wholistic Forest Use.”
The presentation is being coordinated by the North Coast Communities for Watershed Protection, in collaboration with the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition, the Lower Nehalem Community Trust, and the Peachland Watershed Protection Alliance (Peachland, BC). In his presentation, Mr. Hammond will address what comprises a healthy watershed, how watersheds provide high quality water in moderate flows, and how water may be degraded by inappropriate human activities. He will also discuss the current health of watersheds, both forested and clearcut, ranging from coastal Oregon to British Columbia. This will provide insight into the direct interactions between deforestation, extreme weather events, and climate change. Mr. Hammond will address what needs to be done to restore and safeguard forested drinking water sources. He will include his personal insights based on his review of reports and images on the current condition of Jetty Creek Watershed, which is the primary source of drinking water for Rockaway Beach. Mr. Hammond’s talk will conclude with a question-and-answer period.
Register here: secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/VPHvQ4TcXM3dGGdiF8OAAQ?t=1699485596.
This event is hosted by the North Coast Communities for Watershed Protection (formerly known as Rockaway Beach Citizens for Watershed Protection), a 13-year-old grassroots organization located on the North Coast of Oregon. While NCCWP opposes logging and spraying in all drinking watersheds, we continue to focus on Jetty Creek in Rockaway Beach because it offers the best example of how logging activities were allowed to compromise, and possibly destroy, a town’s drinking water. Our goal is to prevent logging and spraying in our drinking watersheds. Our mission is to raise awareness to accomplish this goal.
The web – healthywatershed.org
Facebook – www.facebook.com/NCCwatershedprotection/
Instagram – www.instagram.com/nccwatershedprotection/?hl=en
Email – rockawaycitizen.water@gmail.com
Read our eNewsletter December 5, 2023
– Are You Winter Storm Ready?
– The Great Shakeout
– Website Upgrade
– Volunteer Spotlight
– Neighborhood News
– Pop-Up Shop and Classes
SMART Recovery USA – a 501(c)3 organization – is a fresh approach to addiction recovery. SMART stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training. This is more than an acronym: it is a transformative method of moving from addictive substances and negative behaviors to a life of positive self-regard and willingness to change.
Groups are open to anyone.
For more information about SMART see smartrecovery.org.
DECEMBER 15TH (last day school – Christmas break begins)
5:00-6:30 Christmas Caroling on Laneda, Manzanita (weather: drizzle=sing; hard rain=cancel)
》》4:45 meet at Visitor Center
》》6:00 end with hot cocoa
DECEMBER 17TH (RSVP Only – Must attend Dec 12th Practice)
1:00-2:00 Christmas Carols before Matinee Show of A Christmas Story @ NCRD Performing Arts Center
DECEMBER 24TH (Christmas Eve)
3:30-4:00 Christmas Carols before Candlelight Service @ St. Catherine’s Church (meet at 3:15)
If you would like a text reminder, text “Christmas Caroling” to 503-440-7861
Whatever level you feel called to participate, we welcome your quiet energy…your resounding spirit…your soothing voice.
For more information:
Email: oquinnhomestead@gmail.com
Text/call: 503-440-7861
www.facebook.com/NCO.ThresholdChoir/
We currently gather (in person) once per month on 2nd Tuesdays, 6:00-6:45pm to practice giving/receiving healing through song, learning from the Threshold Choir Repertoire (in both English and Spanish).
For those who wish to stay later to sing with the St. Catherine’s Community *Song Circle*, they begin at 7pm, and all are welcome.
Let us Sing!
2nd Tuesdays 6-8pm
St. Catherine’s Church in Nehalem, Oregon
DECEMBER 12TH
5-6 Christmas Carols Practice
@ St. Catherine’s Church (Dec 17th RSVP = Free Tix to Show!)
DECEMBER 15TH (last day school – Christmas break begins)
5:00-6:30 Christmas Caroling on Laneda, Manzanita (weather: drizzle=sing; hard rain=cancel)
》》4:45 meet at Visitor Center
》》6:00 end with hot cocoa
DECEMBER 17TH (RSVP Only – Must attend Dec 12th Practice)
1:00-2:00 Christmas Carols before Matinee Show of A Christmas Story @ NCRD Performing Arts Center
DECEMBER 24TH (Christmas Eve)
3:30-4:00 Christmas Carols before Candlelight Service @ St. Catherine’s Church (meet at 3:15)
If you would like a text reminder, text “Christmas Caroling” to 503-440-7861
Interview with Pepe Escobar, ( not the drug lord):
For those of you who don’t know, Pepe has the respect of journalists and political analysts around the world for his depth knowledge and history regarding the grand chess board. Despite his accent, this wide angle discussion presents probably the clearest possible picture of where and why the players are doing what we see in real time and since events are moving at breakneck speed, someone like Pepe is worth listening to for an hour. And if one is not familiar with the various acronyms, like BRICS, BRI, ( the silk road), SHANGHAI CORP., IMEC, or the Ben Gurion Canal, etc, take some notes, because this is an honest, unfiltered view.
(might have to copy and paste to a new window?)
www.sott.net/article/486510-Pepe-Escobar-US-needs-Gaza-war-to-destabilize-BRICS-Greater-Eurasia
OK, the event-NCRD’s Holiday Social, is going to be at NCRD on December 16th, a Saturday, from 11-1. There will be childcare, delicious food, and some information about the new pool being built. And the nice thing is that it is all FREE!
Come and support this community treasure! See below for recipe for gingerbread. For a poster for the event please contact me.
www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_make_a_gingerbread_house/
In FY 2019 – 2020, the Council made a direct transfer of $113,675 from the Water Operating Fund to the City Hall Expansion Fund with no explanation of why this was justified. The following Budget year, the same amount was included again in the Budget to be transferred to the City Hall Expansion Fund. John Kunkel, an experienced City Manager who was serving as our interim at the time and had inherited that year’s Budget, advised the Council that he would not be making that transfer as there was no justification for it. Club Members privately fumed but could not publicly dispute Mr. Kunkel’s decision.
In FY 2020 – 2021, the City cut timber from the Alder Creek watershed and received $500,000 in timber sales. This was the first timber cut since 1995 when all of that initial sale went to construct the blue water reservoir to avoid having to ask citizens for a Bond to finance its construction.
You would think that some portion of this $500,000 sale from watershed property would again find its way into the water construction fund to help pay for the millions of dollars of needed water system improvements. Unfortunately, all $500,000 was put into the City Hall Expansion Fund and has been spent to pay City Hall consultants and the loan to pay for the Underhill property.
In the past four years, $675,000 of your monthly water bill payments have been pulled out of the Water Fund and sent to the General Fund where once transferred can now be used for whatever use the Council wants. This year the Council, needing cash to continue to pay its City Hall consultants and demolition costs, sent $700,000 from the General Fund to the City Hall Expansion Fund.
The City has no internal accounting controls to explain how these Water Fund overhead allocation transfers are spent once they arrive at City Hall. It is not possible to give an exact amount as to how much of your new monthly water bill is now being diverted to build City Hall but there’s no disputing the fact that it is.
For the past two years the City has collected approximately $1 Million dollars each year from water customers that the City Charter says shall only be used for the costs of operation and maintenance of the City water supply system. During this time, not a single dollar of your monthly water charge has been set aside in reserve for future water system improvements.
Not much of a mystery as to why revenues to both operate and make needed water system improvements are not keeping up with expenditures when you shuffle hundreds of thousands of dollars each year out of the Water Fund with unknown amounts then ending up in the City Hall Expansion Fund.
Citizens have to work hard just to follow all the moving pieces in this slick hustle and like any successful shell game, the operator always has the advantage.
This shell game with the Water Fund, while not formally listed with other recently unveiled options, is the most successful revenue diversification program that the City has come up with. Questions that were raised about this deception have gone unanswered and the construction of the most expensive City Hall project in State history for a City of our size moves ahead.
Randy Kugler
This beautiful, brilliant, Pink Sapphire ring was discovered by our very own local company, Pacific Northwest Dirt Fishing. Remarkably it was discovered almost 2 feet underground in the back field of the White Clover Grange. A testament to the diligence and expertise of Tiffany & Ronnie. The ring is likely from the 1920-30’s and is in a unique molded 14k gold, 5 prong solitaire setting.
An appraisal by Fred Meyer Jewelers valued the ring at $800.00, it is likely from the 1920-30’s, is laboratory grown pink Sapphire, round faceted and approximately .72 carats, copy of appraisal available.
Raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. Tickets will be on sale at the White Clover Grange on Saturday 12/9 during the Holiday Bazaar, 11-3pm. Other options for purchasing raffle tickets will be forthcoming, this is truly a sweet and unusual ring.