Columns

Some politicians are gambling with our future

I was living in the San Francisco Bay Area when the 1989 6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake broke the Bay Bridge. The hardest hit areas were the bridge, the marina area of San Francisco, and in West Oakland where the double decker Cypress elevated freeway collapsed, killing 42 people. Many people wondered why the hardest hit areas were 40 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake with so little damage closer. It was explained that ...

• 0 comments
• by By Ralph Schmidt, Guest columnist
• November 20, 2012

Ballots should be due on Election Day

Several state races on election night 2012 looked a lot like the 2004 race for governor with the races for governor, Initiative 1240 for charter schools and secretary of state being too close to call.

These races ultimately wouldn’t be decided until later in the week.

On election night 2004, then Attorney General Chris Gregoire led state Sen. Dino Rossi by 7,000 votes. By the time all the ballots had been counted (the ...

• 0 comments
• by By Jason Mercier, Guest columnist
• November 13, 2012

For manufacturers, action speaks louder than words

Barack Obama and Mitt Romney tell voters they want manufacturers to stay in America and create new jobs. The president even promised an audience in New Hampshire that he’d create 4.5 million new jobs, half of those in manufacturing.

Why all the talk about manufacturing?

Our country is the world’s largest manufacturing economy with 21 percent of the global manufactured goods produced here. China is second at 15 percent, and Japan is ...

• 0 comments
• by By Don C. Brunell, Guest Columnist
• September 18, 2012

Public works outsourcing: Proceed with caution

I read with interest the article in this newspaper about the city of Washougal’s plans to explore the feasibility of outsourcing the work now performed by employees in its public works department. Affected public works employees would most likely be laid off and the work would be done by employees or contractors working for the outsource company.

Having written about outsourcing in the legal industry and having led a delegation of lawyers to India ...

• 0 comments
• by By K. William Gibson, Guest Column
• August 28, 2012

Farmers markets offer more than food

Farmers Markets are popping up in small towns across rural America. Increasingly, farmers and ranchers realize there is interest in fresh, locally-grown food. And while it may not be their only source of income, it puts local dollars in local pockets and impacts the health of local folks.

• 0 comments
• by By Kathie Starkweather, Guest columnist
• August 21, 2012

Primary election politics can have significant impacts

Primary elections are funny creatures. They can take on many different meanings. For candidates who win the primary, they point to the results and declare themselves on a roll and deserving of support. Politicos study the results much like they do polling data. This helps them determine who should be considered for general election support both financially and otherwise.

• 0 comments
• by By Mark Johnson, Guest Columnist
• August 14, 2012

The tragedy in Aurora, can it happen here?

So many of us send our kids and loved ones off to the movie theater and assume they are safe. After all, this is one of America’s favorite pastimes that is cherished by young and old alike. My teenage boys attended a midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises.” They went with my blessing. Little did I know that at the same time their movie trailers were starting, a horrific tragedy had just unfolded ...

• 0 comments
• by By Margaret Svilar Guest columnist
• July 31, 2012

Be fully informed about EMS levy facts

Recently there was a letter published regarding the upcoming Camas EMS renewal levy, and I want the readers and voters to be more fully and factually informed.

Since the late 1970's voters have repeatedly supported the emergency services provided to the community by approving levy ballot measures. The initial rate of 25 cents per $1,000 assessed value, and then a subsequent voter approved rate increase to 35 cents per $1,000 to continue ...

• 0 comments
• by By Greg Anderson Guest Columnist
• July 24, 2012

Celebrating July 4th a neighborhood tradition

If you’re someone who appreciates the Fourth of July holiday as much as I do, you know your reasons for it being such a special day.

• 0 comments
• by By Mike Gallagher, Post-Record Publisher
• July 3, 2012

Small businesses need more than bread and circuses

May 20–26 was National Small Business Week. Around the country, government officials paid homage to the small business owners who drive innovation in our national and state economies.

The recognition is certainly well deserved, but small businesses need more than a week of ceremonial platitudes in order to create the jobs that will spur our national and state economies out of recession.

• 0 comments
• by By Erin Shannon, Guest Columnist
• June 26, 2012

Yes, your student is smart but...

Can they make good decisions? I often wonder about this because as I am writing this, my senior is at a presentation at his high school about the perils of alcohol and drug use while driving.

I hope it's kind of a "Scared Straight" presentation, complete with a car that has been crashed to an unrecognizable pulp, simulated blood and guts, EMT and firefighters giving sobering facts, and hopefully a young adult giving a ...

• 0 comments
• by By Margaret Svilar Guest columnist
• June 12, 2012

Will the Northwest economy be a casualty of the war on coal?

Activists waging a national war on coal have turned their sights on the Pacific Northwest, targeting proposed shipping terminals in Washington and Oregon that would export coal to China.

• 0 comments
• by By Don C. Brunell Guest Columnist
• May 29, 2012

Voters deserve the light rail vote promised

If anyone had any doubt why light rail to Vancouver is so controversial, look no further than what the city of Vancouver tried to do.

In November 2011, voters approved Proposition 1, which raised the sales tax rate in the Clark County region by 0.2 percent. C-Tran officials promised voters then that the new revenue would raise between $8 million and $9 million per year, and they would use this new money to preserve ...

• 0 comments
• by By Michael Ennis, Guest columnist
• May 22, 2012

Camas EMS levy rate: The time has come for an increase

In 1979, four visionary fire chiefs came together to ensure the public safety needs for our community for generations to come. Deloy Little of Camas, Darrell Alder of Washougal, Bob Holland of Clark County Fire District 1, and Clyde Webberley of Clark County Fire District 9, signed a document that established what has come to be known as the “Three Parties Agreement.”

This agreement provided for the funding of a paramedic transport service in the ...

• 0 comments
• by By Nick Swinhart Guest columnist
• May 1, 2012

Real jobs created by small businesses will lead Washington out of recession

Governor Gregoire kicked off 2012 with a strong statement about the importance of the state’s small businesses in creating the jobs that will turn the state’s economy around: “...If we can make it easier and cheaper for them [small business owners] to do business, they can afford to add more employees. This is the key to our economic recovery...”

• 0 comments
• by By Erin Shannon Guest columnist
• April 24, 2012