Lower Columbia Area speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of Jul. 11, 2025
- Updated
Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Daily News.
I recently read about Moses in Deuteronomy 10:18-19.
He was telling the Israelites that God “... loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt."
I thought that scripture was applicable to today — that we Americans should also love the foreigners among us because we, or our ancestors, were all immigrants into this country at one time or another. When I hear stories of immigrants who’ve come to the U.S. with very little, and have built successful lives through hard work and perhaps some help from the community, it makes me proud of our land of freedom and opportunity.
But lately, when I hear of other immigrants, who were in the midst of a productive life, being deported, I am sad and embarrassed for our country. Yes, they were mostly undocumented and some were criminals. But most were fleeing wars, persecution or poverty and simply wanted asylum or legal entry. With today’s strict policies, that is almost impossible to achieve.
For many of our ancestors, immigration was not so difficult because there were few or no quotas. And like me, most of us received the gift of citizenship simply by being born here. Conversely, those who are desperately seeking a slim chance at citizenship today, do so knowing they face great danger and sacrifice.
So let’s not be greedy with our abundance and good fortune, and remember to show compassion to our fellow foreigners.
Stan Noteboom
Longview
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
Editor's note: This letter has been updated to include the book of the Bible the verse is from.
I have known Wayne Nichols for over 40 years. He is intelligent and hard working.
His responsibilities and involvement in various community areas over the years have honed his skills in listening and sense of compassion.
He has the ability to work with a variety of inputs to help craft a compromised solution to complex problems. He will work for all of us!
His open-mindedness and honesty are needed in our Longview City Council. Please vote for Wayne in 2025.
Greg Lapic
Longview
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
Why would the city detour traffic down Pennsylvania Street between 42nd and 48th because 42nd is closed?
Unless you live on that street, or one of the cul-de-sacs, you can't get off it until 48th. It makes more sense to stay on Pacific Way until 48th where you can at least go 35 mph legally.
Why funnel more unnecessary traffic on our narrow, sidewalk-less road for the most part with a speed limit of 25 mph, which most think a just a suggestion?
Cheryl Karr
Longview
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
Recently retiring from his law practice, Mike Claxton is running for City Council position 5 with the intention of implementing his skills as a negotiator and advocate for Longview residents.
In his Sunday meet-and-greet, he impressed on all his desire to restore trust between local government and its citizens. Claxton has ample experience with discord and will strive to maintain good relations with all remaining members on council, especially with those he may not entirely agree with.
He said he wants them to feel heard, referring to prospective disparities in issues and solutions among the current council majority.
He wants to bridge the growing gap that many residents perceive between the council and its constituents.
Active listening was a significant portion of his near 30-year role as an attorney, and he vows to carry that into this occupation, should he be elected. He wants anyone who might oppose his views to feel heard.
In addition to quality communication, Claxton values community safety, affordable and sustainable housing, and exercising wisdom with appropriate allocation of taxpayer dollars. Heart posture is important for Mike; he is not approaching this task for a lofty reward of adulation. He is seeking this position for the desire to bring transparency, unity and calm to a profession ripe with cynicism and deceit.
Manon Kauffman
Longview
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
Oliver Black has a proven track record of success — in education, in his career and in his service to the community.
While many young people move away after college in search of opportunity, Oliver and his family chose to put down roots right here in Longview, recognizing it as a great place to live, work and raise a family.
And now, the best news — Oliver is running for Longview City Council!
Oliver understands that our city needs leaders who help our community grow and thrive — not divide. As a high school civics teacher, he knows firsthand the value of listening to all voices and perspectives. He’s passionate about civic engagement and excels at bringing people together to find common ground. For Oliver, real solutions come from collaboration and respectful dialogue.
His commitment to unity and progress is matched by his drive to build economic opportunity. Oliver brings fresh thinking, creativity and fiscal responsibility — exactly what Longview needs to attract new jobs and ensure long-term prosperity.
Let’s support a leader who believes in us — who will roll up his sleeves and work for all of Longview.
Vote Oliver Black for City Council.
Mary Jane Melink
Longview
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
I am getting sick and tired of our money going overseas, giving the rich tax cut while people are starving.
Elected officials are turning a blind yet.
The rich don't need tax cuts, they have money.
Who does Trump think he is anyway? He doesn't care about the poor, he just cares about him and the rich jerks.
When is our government going to start taking care of us?
Kent Disney
Longview
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
This response is in regard to the column "Trump preserved the Snake River dams. It will benefit the Northwest," published on tdn.com on June 27.
President Trump’s abandonment of the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement was a short-sighted error that harms the Pacific Northwest.
The agreement offered the best chance for all stakeholders to work collaboratively to replace services of the dams and settle a decades-long lawsuit. With the agreement scuttled, the court battle will resume.
One claim of the column is that hydropower is “clean.” It is not.
The slack water behind the dams emits methane, which is 80 times more harmful in fueling climate change than carbon dioxide.
But “clean” should also mean “does not directly exterminate wildlife and destroy ecosystems.” Fossil fuels mainly cause indirect danger to ecosystems, by pumping out greenhouse gases and pollutants that poison air and water.
Hydropower dams cut out the middleman and destroy wildlife and forest ecosystems directly, as a daily, inherent function. Despite $26 billion in mitigation efforts, almost all wild salmon runs are nearly extinct, and the high-altitude Idaho forests where they used to spawn by the millions are now ailing from the lack of nutrients historically provided by salmon.
The services of the dams (a total of 4% of the northwest power grid; irrigation water; transportation for grain) are all replaceable. The river is not. The latest scientific studies acknowledge that breaching the dams is a critical step, needed immediately, for recovery of the Snake River fish and ecosystem. No abandonment of an agreement changes that.
Marjorie Millner
Vancouver
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
Throughout history, we have seen a variety of governmental forms: monarchy, totalitarianism, fascism, oligarchy, communism, parliamentary, socialism, plutocracy and others.
Each one has had two major flaws that have led to their failures, the overwhelming quest for power and the need to be re-elected or stay in power. This has led to the total disregard for those being ruled.
Add to the list of failed government types: American “democracy."
Even those who voted for the recently approved reconciliation bill admit it's a terrible idea, and a large majority of citizens opposed it. Congress simply does not care.
They are so cowed by our fascist president that they lack the courage to vote their conscience. We need to admit that our American democracy has failed. The Trump authoritarianism has succeeded and we will see a further encroachment on our Constitution and freedoms.
Mike Phillips
Kalama
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
Recently my husband and I joined some friends for a kayak outing on the Cowlitz River. We all decided to try a new stretch from Blue Creek boat landing just outside of Toledo.
We all had experience with the Cowlitz River in different sections. However, this morning the Cowlitz offered up some challenges that were a bit more than I expected. Once on the river and running some fast currents, three of us got dumped into that fast water.
Fortunately for us, Reece Wallace of Wallace Waters Fishing guide service was right there to our rescue. He and his fishermen buddies plucked my husband and his kayak from the river, rescued me and my kayak (without my paddle) from shore and rescued my friend as she tried to maneuver across the river to a safe shore.
Since another member of our party had punctured a hole in his kayak, he was done. It was a pretty unanimous decision to abandon our trip. At that decision Reece and friends offered to haul all five kayaks, gear, and five kayakers back to our original boat launch at Blue Creek.
To say that they were life savers is an understatement. He rescued us, kayaks, and floating away gear with such easy maneuvering of his boat — I could tell he is truly a professional at his trade. And all the time asking each of us if were OK, or need any more assistance.
Many praises to Reece and his buddies.
Kathy Demarest
Kelso
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
More like this...
I recently read about Moses in Deuteronomy 10:18-19.
He was telling the Israelites that God “... loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt."
I thought that scripture was applicable to today — that we Americans should also love the foreigners among us because we, or our ancestors, were all immigrants into this country at one time or another. When I hear stories of immigrants who’ve come to the U.S. with very little, and have built successful lives through hard work and perhaps some help from the community, it makes me proud of our land of freedom and opportunity.
But lately, when I hear of other immigrants, who were in the midst of a productive life, being deported, I am sad and embarrassed for our country. Yes, they were mostly undocumented and some were criminals. But most were fleeing wars, persecution or poverty and simply wanted asylum or legal entry. With today’s strict policies, that is almost impossible to achieve.
For many of our ancestors, immigration was not so difficult because there were few or no quotas. And like me, most of us received the gift of citizenship simply by being born here. Conversely, those who are desperately seeking a slim chance at citizenship today, do so knowing they face great danger and sacrifice.
So let’s not be greedy with our abundance and good fortune, and remember to show compassion to our fellow foreigners.
Stan Noteboom
Longview
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
Editor's note: This letter has been updated to include the book of the Bible the verse is from.
I have known Wayne Nichols for over 40 years. He is intelligent and hard working.
His responsibilities and involvement in various community areas over the years have honed his skills in listening and sense of compassion.
He has the ability to work with a variety of inputs to help craft a compromised solution to complex problems. He will work for all of us!
His open-mindedness and honesty are needed in our Longview City Council. Please vote for Wayne in 2025.
Greg Lapic
Longview
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
Why would the city detour traffic down Pennsylvania Street between 42nd and 48th because 42nd is closed?
Unless you live on that street, or one of the cul-de-sacs, you can't get off it until 48th. It makes more sense to stay on Pacific Way until 48th where you can at least go 35 mph legally.
Why funnel more unnecessary traffic on our narrow, sidewalk-less road for the most part with a speed limit of 25 mph, which most think a just a suggestion?
Cheryl Karr
Longview
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
Recently retiring from his law practice, Mike Claxton is running for City Council position 5 with the intention of implementing his skills as a negotiator and advocate for Longview residents.
In his Sunday meet-and-greet, he impressed on all his desire to restore trust between local government and its citizens. Claxton has ample experience with discord and will strive to maintain good relations with all remaining members on council, especially with those he may not entirely agree with.
He said he wants them to feel heard, referring to prospective disparities in issues and solutions among the current council majority.
He wants to bridge the growing gap that many residents perceive between the council and its constituents.
Active listening was a significant portion of his near 30-year role as an attorney, and he vows to carry that into this occupation, should he be elected. He wants anyone who might oppose his views to feel heard.
In addition to quality communication, Claxton values community safety, affordable and sustainable housing, and exercising wisdom with appropriate allocation of taxpayer dollars. Heart posture is important for Mike; he is not approaching this task for a lofty reward of adulation. He is seeking this position for the desire to bring transparency, unity and calm to a profession ripe with cynicism and deceit.
Manon Kauffman
Longview
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
Oliver Black has a proven track record of success — in education, in his career and in his service to the community.
While many young people move away after college in search of opportunity, Oliver and his family chose to put down roots right here in Longview, recognizing it as a great place to live, work and raise a family.
And now, the best news — Oliver is running for Longview City Council!
Oliver understands that our city needs leaders who help our community grow and thrive — not divide. As a high school civics teacher, he knows firsthand the value of listening to all voices and perspectives. He’s passionate about civic engagement and excels at bringing people together to find common ground. For Oliver, real solutions come from collaboration and respectful dialogue.
His commitment to unity and progress is matched by his drive to build economic opportunity. Oliver brings fresh thinking, creativity and fiscal responsibility — exactly what Longview needs to attract new jobs and ensure long-term prosperity.
Let’s support a leader who believes in us — who will roll up his sleeves and work for all of Longview.
Vote Oliver Black for City Council.
Mary Jane Melink
Longview
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
I am getting sick and tired of our money going overseas, giving the rich tax cut while people are starving.
Elected officials are turning a blind yet.
The rich don't need tax cuts, they have money.
Who does Trump think he is anyway? He doesn't care about the poor, he just cares about him and the rich jerks.
When is our government going to start taking care of us?
Kent Disney
Longview
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
This response is in regard to the column "Trump preserved the Snake River dams. It will benefit the Northwest," published on tdn.com on June 27.
President Trump’s abandonment of the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement was a short-sighted error that harms the Pacific Northwest.
The agreement offered the best chance for all stakeholders to work collaboratively to replace services of the dams and settle a decades-long lawsuit. With the agreement scuttled, the court battle will resume.
One claim of the column is that hydropower is “clean.” It is not.
The slack water behind the dams emits methane, which is 80 times more harmful in fueling climate change than carbon dioxide.
But “clean” should also mean “does not directly exterminate wildlife and destroy ecosystems.” Fossil fuels mainly cause indirect danger to ecosystems, by pumping out greenhouse gases and pollutants that poison air and water.
Hydropower dams cut out the middleman and destroy wildlife and forest ecosystems directly, as a daily, inherent function. Despite $26 billion in mitigation efforts, almost all wild salmon runs are nearly extinct, and the high-altitude Idaho forests where they used to spawn by the millions are now ailing from the lack of nutrients historically provided by salmon.
The services of the dams (a total of 4% of the northwest power grid; irrigation water; transportation for grain) are all replaceable. The river is not. The latest scientific studies acknowledge that breaching the dams is a critical step, needed immediately, for recovery of the Snake River fish and ecosystem. No abandonment of an agreement changes that.
Marjorie Millner
Vancouver
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
Throughout history, we have seen a variety of governmental forms: monarchy, totalitarianism, fascism, oligarchy, communism, parliamentary, socialism, plutocracy and others.
Each one has had two major flaws that have led to their failures, the overwhelming quest for power and the need to be re-elected or stay in power. This has led to the total disregard for those being ruled.
Add to the list of failed government types: American “democracy."
Even those who voted for the recently approved reconciliation bill admit it's a terrible idea, and a large majority of citizens opposed it. Congress simply does not care.
They are so cowed by our fascist president that they lack the courage to vote their conscience. We need to admit that our American democracy has failed. The Trump authoritarianism has succeeded and we will see a further encroachment on our Constitution and freedoms.
Mike Phillips
Kalama
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
Recently my husband and I joined some friends for a kayak outing on the Cowlitz River. We all decided to try a new stretch from Blue Creek boat landing just outside of Toledo.
We all had experience with the Cowlitz River in different sections. However, this morning the Cowlitz offered up some challenges that were a bit more than I expected. Once on the river and running some fast currents, three of us got dumped into that fast water.
Fortunately for us, Reece Wallace of Wallace Waters Fishing guide service was right there to our rescue. He and his fishermen buddies plucked my husband and his kayak from the river, rescued me and my kayak (without my paddle) from shore and rescued my friend as she tried to maneuver across the river to a safe shore.
Since another member of our party had punctured a hole in his kayak, he was done. It was a pretty unanimous decision to abandon our trip. At that decision Reece and friends offered to haul all five kayaks, gear, and five kayakers back to our original boat launch at Blue Creek.
To say that they were life savers is an understatement. He rescued us, kayaks, and floating away gear with such easy maneuvering of his boat — I could tell he is truly a professional at his trade. And all the time asking each of us if were OK, or need any more assistance.
Many praises to Reece and his buddies.
Kathy Demarest
Kelso
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
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