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I think Washington State is a great place to live. However I have my share of bitches and complaints. I have been annoyed for years that the state requires a “Discovery Pass” to use state lands. This is generally purchased from DOL and was $45.00 last I knew.
I don’t understand why they do not just put an extra 25 cents on the fishing license fee, I don’t think anyone would complain and it would save tons of useless paper (well, computer) work.
Now they are hitting us again with the same stupid, complicated system.
“Columbia River salmon and steelhead endorsement”, known as CRSSE. This costs between seven and nine dollars per year depending on your age and it applies to more than 50 rivers. Now in these rivers for salmon or steelhead, you must possess a fishing license, a Catch Record Card and a CRSSE.
This was instigated to offset funding cuts but I say again why not just raise all fishing licenses 25 cents and be done with it!
Roger Castle Newport
Economy based on scarcity
It is such an interesting concept to realize that our economy is based on scarcity and how to allocate diminishing resources, while the economics of Nature is based on abundance and reciprocity.
We are trained to accumulate and consume. But these activities lead us further away from a natural way of being. I read about another way recently.
An anthropologist was observing a hunter-gatherer community in Brazil. He noticed a hunter come home one day with a large kill. He asked how the hunter might plan to store the excess. The hunter was puzzled at the question, “why would he store the meat?” Instead, he sent out an invitation to a feast and soon the neighboring families were gathered around his fire.
This made no sense to the anthropologist who asked him again, “with the uncertainty of your next meal, why don’t you store the meat for yourself?” The hunter replied, “Store my meat? I store my meat in the belly of my brother.”
One good deed creates an unwritten imbalance which is balanced with the reciprocity of the debtor when he is able. This keeps the abundance circulating throughout the whole community. We have much to learn.
Stacy Cossey Priest River
Trump is a national disgrace
Think about this. If our town elected a mayor and when the city council met many people showed up with questions. The mayor just insulted the person asking the question making them feel inferior and insulted. The city council was speeding through town breaking laws, as stealing from the stores, and just doing whatever they wanted to do. Criminals were let out of jail that should have been sent to prison.
Ok. This isn’t our little town and not our mayor I speak of. It is our country! People do nothing. The President of the United States gets worse by the day. People he likes can do whatever they want. He said that about Pete. We know Pete, he’s the guy that is killing people on fishing boat with no proof they are loaded with drugs. The time has come and come again and again that our childish President continues to throw tantrums and insult and deflect. Everything is Sleepy Joe Biden’s fault. This comes from someone who can’t stay awake during any meeting He is a National disgrace. It is time to say enough is enough. We wouldn’t take this from our local leaders why would we tolerate it from the President of the United States?
Jeannie Hutchins Newport
Want transparency on EMS district
Pend Oreille County has spent nearly nine years discussing an EMS district. After this week’s reporting, one question remains unanswered: what is still preventing a decision?
Rural emergency response isn’t theoretical. It’s measured in minutes and miles. Our county is large, our volunteers are stretched thin, and families rely on a system that cannot afford uncertainty.
Some fire chiefs support the district; others are cautious. Commissioners are split. Yet everyone agrees EMS matters and must remain sustainable.
So the public deserves clarity. If the hesitation is financial, show us the numbers. If the concern is governance, explain it plainly. If districts disagree, tell us what steps remain to resolve it. If the proposal is flawed, let us see where.
What doesn’t help is limbo. I’m not promoting a specific plan. I’m asking for transparency, consistency, and a clear path forward.
An informed community is a safer one.
Saundra Park Newport
Spend time
I’m going to do something a bit different this week. We live in a politically charged world. Let’s leave that behind for now. Now we are rolling into Christmas. This week I want to focus on that.
The reason for this season is celebrating the birth of Christ, God’s gift to humanity. Take this time to celebrate with friends and family. Set politics aside and enjoy the season. It’s not about the gifts we receive, rather it’s about the gifts we can give. Pay it forward by blessing others. The time you spend with friends and family are as important as the conversations you have with them.
May God bless you and your family, even if through tough times. He has the answer to all of your questions. Encourage one another as I believe our world will get better.
Merry Christmas and have a great 2026! Newport and surrounding are great communities!
Glen Pierce Spokane/Cusick
Trump is contemporary Jim Jones
Glen Pierce can’t get enough MAGA/Trump Kool-Aid. Trump is the contemporary version of Jim Jones. Drink Trump’s Kool-Aid and your troubles will be over. Drug boats are now weapons of mass destruction, and the USA is going to invade Venezuela to keep American drug addicts from overdosing.
I don’t know which is worse: MAGA or drugs. The addiction seems to be stronger for MAGA and Trump. The political high from MAGA lasts longer than any drug. What else explains consumers accepting increased costs from tariffs or believing that healthcare isn’t worth the cost?
During my long life I have seen American political folly repeating itself. Remember Viet Nam, Iraq and now it’s going to be Venezuela. Are we going to drop a million tons of bombs on another country, kill and injure innocent people and our own soldiers for another presidential political folly? Is that going to stop American drug addiction deaths?
Glen, brown people are not shoving drugs down the throats of white American addicts. Killing brown people isn’t going to cure our addiction to drugs. Resourceful American addicts will always find a way to feed their addictions no matter how many drug boats we sink.
Pete Scobby Newport
