Opinion

Freemarket not turning out to be so free after all

            Sothe U.S. House decided to reject the unprecedented bailout plan cooked upbetween the current administration and a Congress trying to stop what was beingdescribed by Treasury Secretary Paulson as the second coming of the GreatDepression.

Whether we are about to experience a complete collapse of our financial system is not completely clear. The stock market has been up and down like a roller coaster since the politicians forecast a complete “meltdown” if their bailout wasn’t approved.

High gas prices got you down? Get a bike

    Just a few minutes staring out the window of our Main and Central office will tell you there is a new trend in the area – people trading four wheels for two. Sure, it is summer, but gas prices seem to be the main influence on what folks are driving, or should I say riding, nowadays.

Fourth of July about Independence, escape from tyranny

    As we approach the Fourth of July and enjoy a nice barbecue, rodeo or fireworks – maybe all three, take a moment at some point during the day to remember just why we are celebrating.

View Newt Gingrich’s plan to lower gas prices.

TheFourth of July is one of my favorite celebrations of the year and here in theNorth Okanogan we’re lucky to have both the Chesaw Fourth of July Rodeo and theOroville Community Fireworks at Deep Bay Park.

Somewhere along the way certain factions have tried to sell us on the idea that hydropower is not a clean, renewable source of energy — yet every year the cycle of snow in the mountains and melt in the spring renews the waters that our hydroelectric system turns into clean, electric power. Because of this cycle and the mighty Columbia River and its tributaries we in the Pacific Northwest from B.C to Oregon, are truly blessed.

Dear Editor,

Why was no one hugging that very old, very big tree that has been a landmark on Highway 20 since anyone around here can remember?

Dear Editor,

This last week we lost a landmark…the “Old Pine Tree” on Highway 20.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) had it cut down and removed. I did some calling and according to the DOT a tree specialist determined the age of this historic Landmark tree to be 163 years. They also told me that the reason for cutting this Landmark tree down was traffic safety. But folks, we all know that there have been many accidents near the Landmark “hangin’ rock.

Dear Editor,

I would like to respond to the letter in last week’s paper over the concern about “wasted gas used by our school, for a field trip to Spokane.”

All year long, a volunteer group of parents has been in place to help support the staff and students, and help raise funds for educational activities for our Oroville Elementary students, it is called E.P.E.C. Our goal is to bring awareness of just how important being involved in our student’s education really is. Students do better when they have the support from parents and their community.

We all would like to be recognized for our hard work, and rewarded for it. Why should our students feel any different? This particular field trip was used as a motivational tool to give the children a goal, because of their hard work in math, reading and science. Every class had a certain goal to achieve, and given a reward for it.