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  • No tax and spend politicians

    TOM H. HASTINGS, Contributor|Updated Sep 8, 2016

    What is the new frame for Republican Senate candidates? In Arizona, John McCain claims that once Hillary Clinton is elected, only he and the Rs can stop her from reckless spending. This is the general “Big Lie” used by Republicans over the years and this should be the election when it evaporates into its plainly empty vapor. In the harsh light of the actual budget day, Republicans are the champions of a war profiteering budget that routinely outspends everybody everywhere. They fund massive weapons programs to bomb acr...

  • Change needed in 5th District

    Updated Sep 8, 2016

    How many of you think this country is progressing in the right direction? How many of you think that our Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is representing and supporting your positions? How many of you can count on being heard when you call, send a letter, email or attend a town hall meeting? Probably most of you would answer no to these questions. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, our representative in Congress for the 5th District, has been our representative in Congress for five terms, and she doesn’t need a sixth. She has lost touch w...

  • Trump rhetoric puts citizens at risk

    Updated Sep 8, 2016

    My son and daughter-in-law instruct farmers worldwide in sustainable agriculture. They’ve worked in Muslim countries without incident for over 10 years. But now they fear for their safety if Donald Trump is elected president. Even before Trump was the presumptive Republican nominee, the Islamic State recruited terrorists using videos featuring Trump’s call to ban Muslims from the U.S. And if elected, terrorist recruitment featuring his bigotry will be even more effective. Such Trump-inspired terrorist recruitment tactics can...

  • 9/11 anniversary is a reminder of freedom's vulnerability

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Sep 8, 2016

    This Sunday marks the 15th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon — now knowingly referred to as 9/11. In the days leading up to it as well as Sunday itself there will be many remembrances of that awful Tuesday morning 15 years ago when, as many have put it, “our world changed forever.” It’s a fair statement to make, regardless of where you live on this globe. The remembrances taking place will range from simple memorial ceremonies to broadcasting of numerous documentaries about t...

  • Cat-calling not as innocent as one may think

    Updated Sep 8, 2016

    Most of us at some point in our lives were walking down the street and we heard a complete stranger whistle or shout at a woman, complementing on their body or their clothes. Or it might have been a driver honking at someone and asking for their phone number. Many of us refer to this behavior as “cat-calling.” Cat-calling is something that might seem innocent to some — after all a person who is doing this to a stranger isn’t physically harming them. Rather, they’re just trying to illicit a response and/or bring attention...

  • Wind energy payments contribute to local roads 

    LUCAS NELSEN, Contributor|Updated Sep 1, 2016

    The Mower County Board of Commissioners recently voted to dedicate revenue from local wind farms to road repairs and maintenance. The payment, likely $330,000 to $500,000 each year for a 10-year period, will contribute significantly toward fixing important infrastructure in the county. Renewable energy generation continues to grow as an industry. New infrastructure has made it possible for projects to be built across the Midwest, bringing with them a range of benefits, some obvious, others less so. At the Center for Rural...

  • The best laid schemes of mice and men make fine excuses, too

    PAUL DELANEY, Staff Reporter|Updated Sep 1, 2016

    “The best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry.” Author John Steinbeck borrowed these well-worn words from poet Robert Burns when he wrote his 1937 novel, “Of Mice and Men.” Today, the word “scheme” is often replaced by “plans,” and it just seems to sound better. Schemes just seem to have rocky connotations, where plans appear well drawn out. Regardless, the meaning holds true. In not so many words, the plot of the book follows Depression-era migrant workers, George...

  • Late fire season serves as a reminder to us all

    Updated Sep 1, 2016

    For the better part of the summer of 2016, the Inland Northwest has been living on borrowed time when it comes to wildfires. It was just a year ago, as school was about to start, that a dingy horizon and smelly air greeted us for seemingly days on end as fires torched hundreds of thousands of acres in Okanogan, Ferry and Stevens counties. This year, both mornings and evenings, have been generally delightful. But on the afternoon of Aug. 21, the predicted dry cold front that passed through our region proved to be the trigger...

  • Endorsement dishonors, disrespects others

    Updated Aug 25, 2016

    Washingont 5th District Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers endorses and supports a person to lead our nation who disrespects and dishonors the very citizens of the nation he wants to lead. Cathy has not unendorsed or unsupported this person, thereby embracing the future he promotes in degrading individuals, and showing her lack of character and courage in facing up to it. Cathy’s endorsement means she openly approves of this person’s positions that dishonor and disrespect Sen. John McCain as no war hero because he was captured and...

  • Focusing on the positive can help relations

    Updated Aug 25, 2016

    Concert goers to hip-hop/jazz/funk/reggae artist Micheal Franti and Spearhead’s recent appearance at Spokane’s Knitting Factory as part of his “Power to the Peaceful” tour were treated to over two-and-a-half-hours of danceable music with good vibes. Franti told his audience at one point that only about 10 percent of an individual’s personality involves negativity, while the remaining 90 percent is all about doing good things for others. And yet, we tend to let this 10 percent influence our interactions with others. For insta...

  • U.S. Olympic success leads to Internal Revenue Service gold

    DON C. BRUNELL, Contributor|Updated Aug 25, 2016

    Guess who was among the first to welcome our Olympic athletes back home from Rio? None other than the IRS. For U.S. athletes, winning an Olympic medal comes with pride, glory — and a hefty federal tax bill. According to TIME magazine, Michael Phelps owes over $55,000 in federal income taxes for his five gold and one silver medals earned at the recently concluded summer games. That’s a whopping amount even for someone whose net worth is $55 million. The U.S. is one of a few...

  • Investors want high tech companies to save water

    DON C. BRUNELL, Contributor|Updated Aug 18, 2016

    Recently, Bloomberg reported that investors in massive data centers are making water availability a critical measurement in their decisions — especially in drought-ridden California. Data centers, giant buildings packed with servers which power our virtual world, generate tremendous amounts of intolerable heat. Traditionally, the centers have large cooling systems which require millions of gallons of freshwater. That’s a big problem because water is increasingly in short sup...

  • Airway Heights Recreation Center can be benefit to many

    AL STOVER, Staff Reporter|Updated Aug 18, 2016

    The dream of Airway Heights having its own recreation center is one step closer to becoming a reality. Airway Heights’ Proposition 1 bond initiative, which would help fund a proposed $13 million recreation center, is expected to pass with 61.12 percent (503-320 votes) of the vote total. The bond will be levied against all taxable property within the city. Homeowners with a $100,000 house will pay an extra $11.56 per month in property taxes. A resident with a $200,000 home will pay an extra $23.21 per month. If all goes a...

  • President is wasting America's energy windfall

    Dan Kish, Contributor|Updated Aug 18, 2016

    Oil imports could soon be a thing of the past. That’s the main takeaway from a new report from Nordic consulting firm Rystad. Researchers estimated the total recoverable oil reserves still buried under American soil. The final figure is astonishing: 264 billion barrels —more than any other nation in the world. Unlocking these reserves would generate tremendous benefits for the economy and move America towards full energy independence. Yet the White House has repeatedly stood in the way. Time and again, this adm...

  • Thank you from Tennis-A-Thon

    Updated Aug 11, 2016

    The 24 Hour Tennis-A-Thon committee would like to thank the sponsors for another successful year. This year we were able to bring in $4,000 to support the local food bank, outreach program, and high school tennis teams. This event is successful because of our loyal sponsors and volunteers. We look forward to seeing everyone on the court next year! 2016 sponsors: Career Path Services, European Autohaus, Jake Robinson Signs, Washington State Employees Credit Union, McDonald’s, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Davis Com...

  • Tom Hastings' utopia is dangerous to personal liberty

    Updated Aug 11, 2016

    The Guest Commentary from July 21 begs for response to Tom Hastings’ primary assertions: (1) conflict transformation can lead to a conflict-free world and (2) to get there requires social “experimentation.” Short answer: Seeking peace is laudable, but (1) Ain’t gonna happen. (2) His plan comes at the expense of your liberties. Re: point (2). Social experimentation is central in any attempt to create Hastings’ utopia — and it is utopia. Plato’s Republic, More’s Utopia, Hobbes’ Leviathan and Marx’s Communist Manifesto...

  • Debates should be more important than football

    Updated Aug 11, 2016

    Good, political discourse has been hard to find in this presidential election year. Not that it’s easier in other years – mudslinging, name-calling and other forms of personal attacks seem all too common methods for gaining the highest office in the country. But this year has been particularly rancorous, if the primary season was anything to gauge the future by and especially with the Republican field. Just to be fair though, Democrats weren’t exactly all charm and manners. Part of political discourse stems from debat...

  • Getting help from where you might least expect it

    John McCallum, Editor|Updated Aug 11, 2016

    So there I was, slogging my way down a foot path carved along the slope of a rainforestcovered Guatemalan mountain in the fading twilight of a late-July Saturday evening. My head, shoes and cargo pants were soaked by the torrential rain, my pants caked in layers of mud after slipping and impacting the gooey red, Guatemalan soil that made walking in my eight-year-old Teva hiking shoes akin to dancing on ice in bedroom slippers. Even under my plastic poncho, loaned to me by my friend Nancy because I had forgotten to include my...

  • Dow brought personalities to life

    Updated Aug 4, 2016

    Luella Dow was an amazingly large lady in a tiny body. As reported last week, she told the stories of many who would have otherwise gone unnoticed through her Cheney Free Press column “Of Cabbages and Kings.” Her warm, friendly writing style brought personalities to life on the written page. But her presence in the community did not end there. She was a long-time member of Tyler Grange 610 and continued to support that organization even as membership and participation dwindled. While Luella made it clear she did not att...

  • Trump unqualified for president

    Updated Aug 4, 2016

    People are sick and tired of Donald Trump and his nasty attitude. He is a mean, rude and nasty person — he has so much hate in his heart for so many people. The things he has said about our wonderful black and Latino brothers and sisters is incomprehensible, and also many of the media and whites as well. He is without question a racist. Do we honestly want him in the White House? Trump is unqualified, he does not want to lead this great country — he wants to rule. Personally I cannot justify voting for this man who I feel in...

  • Just what makes news and what doesn't in this election?

    PAUL DELANEY, Staff Reporter|Updated Aug 4, 2016

    It’s certainly an interesting time to be observing what makes the news. While sipping coffee on the morning of July 27, I had the opportunity to channel surf. And how can one not stop when the image of Donald Trump appears on the screen? Because after all, you always wonder what will next come out of his mouth? Turns out Trump was conducting a press conference at Doral, Fla. and taking questions from the assembled press corps whose job it is to report on what the R...

  • The Olympic message has certainly been lost with Rio

    Updated Aug 4, 2016

    The nations of the world funnel many of their finest athletes into Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the Games of the XXXI Olympiad for an event that seems to be making more news even before the competition starts. The Rio Olympics begin their 18-day run Friday, Aug. 5 with the opening ceremonies in the nearly 70-year-old venue known as the Maracana, the stadium that hosts both the torch lighting ceremony and the closing ceremonies, Aug. 21. Perhaps in another year — or location — the games themselves might be the topic of con...

  • Cheney Friends thank you

    Updated Jul 28, 2016

    The Cheney Friends of the Library thank everyone who donated books or purchased them at our recent sale. Proceeds help fund learning and reading programs and the purchase of special materials and furnishings for the Cheney Library. We also give special thanks to the following groups for their help behind the scenes: EWU Women’s Basketball team, West Plains Kidz and Chickz 4-H and Cheney Garden Club. Jeri Morgan Cheney...

  • Grade school dropout Henry Kaiser also made America great

    Don C. Brunell, Contributor|Updated Jul 28, 2016

    Between now and November, you will hear lots about “How to Make America Great Again!” Much of our country’s greatness is because of our “entrepreneurial spirit.” It is our unique trait that makes us the envy of the world. America has been blessed with industrious leaders who are optimistic, forward looking and passionate. They are tireless men and women who take calculated risks and pull themselves together after failure. They have the drive to get things done no matter wh...

  • Full story rarely being told in today's political world

    Updated Jul 28, 2016

    Quite the Republican Convention last week in Cleveland, huh? In an event where some figured there would be demonstrations and possible walkouts of delegates over Donald Trump earning the party’s nod to face Hillary Clinton, none of that happened. The biggest controversy centered on speeches delivered at Quicken Loans Arena. There was the dissing of Trump by former rival, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in a speech last Tuesday night. Also interesting was how so many media outlets thought Trump’s acceptance speech was considered so “da...

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