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Regarding Mr. Knapp’s statement last week, the majority of Pend Oreille PUD ratepayers comprehend the logic of keeping salaries competitive to attract top talent. However, if the goal was truly to attract the best candidates, the time to increase the general manager’s pay was before the search began.
Raising the salary and benefits package seven months after hiring Chris Jones completely contradicts that logic. This backward timeline creates the distinct impression that the board hired Jones, realized a higher salary could have secured better talent, and is now retroactively adjusting the budget.
How does that make sense? Our community deserves transparency from the PUD board on why this search was poorly planned from the start, and why stakeholders are adjusting the financial goalposts after the fact.
Beth Anheier Newport
Take back our country!
In my observation, the DSA (“Democratic” Socialists of America) are beginning to show their true colors. Even readers of the NYT and the Washington Post can catch a glimpse. Suddenly DSA candidates are taking the Democrat Party by storm, proudly declaring their loyalty to that platform. They promote nothing short of tearing up our constitution and installing a new system of governance where the most powerful positions are appointed, rather than elected. In short: communism.
Historians have understood that socialism is an inch-by-inch stepping stone to communism. They use information warfare and unconventional warfare to infiltrate and gradually set the stage for a total upheaval – a revolution from within. We can already see their methods employed in our country: 1) Overwhelm the native population by mass immigration. 2) Compromise the media, then provoke polarized divisiveness and paint the current administration black. 3) DSA political candidates exploit the disadvantaged by promising “free” everything. 4) When sufficient infiltration is accomplished through elections, hiring and appointing cronies, and enough of the population have been propagandized, they instigate an insurrection.
Thankfully, enough independent journalists are able to publish on free-speech media that people worldwide are waking up to this crisis.
-Kamori Cattadoris Newport
Under the Radar
While we point and laugh at the reflecting pool and ballroom, the Trump administration continues to wreak havoc with societal norms in the background. These policies won’t make steak or gas cheaper! They will, however, lower the quality of life for the average American.
First up: new rules allowing guns to be sold by mail over the internet, bypassing screening designed to limit sales to children and criminals. Another rule change would allow people with a history of mental illness to possess firearms.
Next, rule changes putting political appointees in charge of all government grants. So research working for a cure for herpes or cancer, wildfire mitigation or even childcare will now be controlled by political appointees who’s only job qualification is how much they bribed Trump.
Then there’s a rule change specifying that only the federal government can sue polluters for violations of clean air and water standards. Under the proposed rule change it might be up to a former Fox News reporter to decide whether such polluting would be worthy of objection.
While Trump fearmongers about communists, he sponsors price controlled discount gas and his government buys stock in private companies. Truly the twilight zone!
-Gloria Coppock Chewelah
Supporting hospital bond is investment in community
I strongly support the hospital bond because it is an investment in the health, safety, and future of our community. Our hospital has served us well, but its facilities are no longer adequate.
This bond will fund needed improvements that will benefit every patient. A top priority is expanding the Emergency Department, including dedicated behavioral health space. This will create a safer, more appropriate environment for patients in crisis and improve safety for patients, visitors, and staff.
The bond will also add new operating rooms, improving surgical care and helping obstetrical patients who need emergency C-sections stay close to home. Other important upgrades include new laboratory and physical therapy spaces, a permanent MRI in radiology, and relocating the on-site pharmacy.
These improvements will expand access to care and create the potential to add chemotherapy services in the future, sparing patients and families long trips for treatment. I am voting yes on the hospital bond. Together, we can build a healthier future for our community.
Lynnette Elswick Board Chair Newport Hospital & Health Services
Mail ballot back early
You recently received your primary election ballot in the mail. It is time to remind everyone that the US Postal Service established new policies effective last Jan. 1 that changed the timeframe for how mail is postmarked. Currently our mail is transported to Spokane for postmarking meaning at least a one-day delay (or more) between the time you mail it until it actually is postmarked. This means that mailing your ballot on election day will likely result in your vote NOT counting.
To account for this, the USPS recommends returning mail ballots at least 5 days prior to election day. Alternatively, you can drop a completed ballot into ballot drop boxes located throughout the county up to 8 p.m. on election day. For locations, you can reference the mailed voter’s guide or call the Pend Oreille County elections office at 509-447-6472. Lastly, you can present your ballot on election day at your local post office and request a hand postmark.
Our mail voting system is supervised by trained professionals and has a nearly flawless history of security and accuracy. We can all do our parts to assist them by getting our completed ballots returned in a timely manner.
-Roger Haick Loon Lake
Writer misses his pal
I am now 2,100 miles from Newport but still receiving the Miner. I already miss bantering with local people with opposite points of view. Watching President Trump’s speech on last Thursday I wondered if Citizen Scobby would be accepting of any of his comments or rhetoric.
Well, not really. Regarding the economy, I know his response would be it’s not that good. Regarding Iran, we are killing civilians and should never have attacked in the first place. Regarding the Save America Act he would say there is no need for proof of citizenship to vote in Federal elections.
A bold argument with 80% of Americans saying we need to have honest elections. BTW he did say there was no problem with illegal aliens crossing our southern border. How has that worked out? Murderers, rapists, assaults, thefts, all across America. He would ask, would I feel better if those crimes were committed by American citizens? Point is they would never have happened if the illegals were not here. Yes, I will miss the interaction and my pal Pete.
-K.C. Hunt Murfreesboro, TN
Save America, vote for Democrats
I just filled out my ballot. Our country really needs Democratic leadership. What we have is not leadership. What we have right now is someone trying to keep his worthless, crooked ass out of prison. They would let our country burn to the ground instead of being honest about one single thing.
Vote blue! Save America!
-Jeannie Hutchins Newport
Do the math on hospital bond
Yesterday we received a mailer regarding the Newport Hospital’s proposed expansion and improvement. I found it to be truthful but a bit deceptive.
Under the heading “What will this cost?” it states that a property assessed at $300,000 will have an increase of an estimated $37 in monthly property taxes. If my math is correct, and it is, that means an increase of $444 per year for 30 years, and that’s if your assessment never increases. Believe me, proper- ty owners in this county have been experiencing huge gains in assessed values for a few years now, and it isn’t likely to start going down anytime soon. Do the math for yourself, multiply $1.47 times each $1,000 of your assessed value, you just might be surprised. I say make some improvements but scale it way back.
-WL Mitchell Newport
Vote with confidence
Last week’s letters to the editor provided a segue to discussing election fraud.
Trump blames his loss in 2020 on fraud, claims that lack legal evidence.
Trump is just plain a sore loser but uses the 2020 “stolen” election claims as a test of loyalty amongst his fans – a modern version of the story “The Emperor Has No Clothes.” A couple of months ago Marianne Nichols (Pend Oreille County Auditor) appeared at an informational public town hall in Newport and discussed her department’s procedures to ensure that voters’ ballots are counted correctly. To those of you that fear for election integrity I would strongly recommend you express your concerns to the County Auditor’s office; I think you will be amazed, as I was, at how thorough and carefully our ballots are handled.
The issue is not that voting fraud exists – it does, but rather how prevalent is it and how much do the “solutions” to preventing voting fraud instead restrict legitimate voters.
Last night, July 16, 2026, Trump again attacked our elections. I have little doubt he will declare a national emergency this Fall, post ICE agents at polling stations, and seize ballots.
Please vote with confidence in our election.
-Sandy Nichols Newport
Our time to shine
The Washington State primary elections are coming August 4, and ballots are in the mail.
Elections are important because all eligible citizens can choose their representatives in local, state, and federal offices.
We also vote on initiatives and other ballot measures.
Citizens are stakeholders! Elections are our opportunity to make our voices heard to determine the path forward for our country- politically, economically, and socially.
Such is the power of our vote! First time voters may still register. All voters may find sos.wa.gov/ elections a valuable resource.
Engaging with, and supporting, our community through protests and marches is visible, uplifting, and influential. However, voting is the key to affecting change; voting is our fundamental right and responsibility.
If you support high gas and grocery prices, shrinking health care and housing availability and affordability, then you will vote to maintain the status quo. If you support an administration that is focused on retribution and self-enrichment while stealing from its citizens, then you will vote for the status quo.
However, if you envision a different government – one being of the people, by the people, and most importantly for the people, then you must vote for immediate, transformational change.
-Julie Rose Deer Park
Repeating falsehoods makes us all dumber
The Trump MAGA propaganda of “free and fair elections” brainwashed two letter writers last week. This is abuse of language intended to make voters believe in political fantasy. Trump uses words like a mass shooter uses bullets. The words go into our brains, and we become programmed mostly like that jingle saying, “1-800 cars for kids.” Hear it enough and you can’t get it out of your brain.
We find ourselves believing in things that never happened or don’t exist. I often engage with strangers and after a few minutes, I can identify such programming. Voter ID is a farce and has zero to do with free and fair elections. If you need ID to confirm who you are to yourself, family and friends, then you don’t know who you are. At some point Trump will want a fingerprint card and DNA sample to vote.
How else can we prevent people with fake ID from voting in our place?
I implore fellow letter writers to stop abusing language by repeating political programming.
Please stop believing that an election isn’t fair unless your candidate wins.
Every time that Trump claims a stolen election, we all lose thousands of brain cells.
-Pete Scobby Newport
