Letters to the Editor

Condemnation of sign is ‘silly’: Letter

I found the condemnation of a recent sign encouraging people to vote silly. The sign said, 'Ready, Aim, Vote!' with gasp! gun sights. Anybody can tell it was not encouraging violence, but encouraging people to take charge of their future by voting.

  • Feb 14, 2011
  • BY Wire Service

Senior drivers need more training, too

I do agree with the assessment that police officers do need more training before going solo on the streets but I also see a need for more training for senior drivers. Once retirement age hits a more extensive retesting and retraining should be in place for all drivers. I recognize that my eyesight and reflexes are not what they were at 18, but not everyone is aware and may fear having less independence in the "golden years."

  • Feb 14, 2011
  • BY Wire Service

Traffic impact fees too high for Kent: Letter

I attended the Economic Development Committee meeting held on Jan. 24, 2011, and was pleased that the board is willing to review the Traffic Mitigation fees, as to the effect they will have in attracting new business in Kent. I do feel however the graphs - showing new investors in our city - to be a bit deceptive.

  • Feb 14, 2011
  • BY Wire Service

Senior drivers not respected or understood

I’m a senior citizen and a long-time resident of Kent. I’m also an avid reader of the Kent Reporter. I read the feature article of Nov. 19, 2010 titled: “Senior driver at odds with Kent Police” with interest and thought it was one of the more interesting human interest stories published in the Kent Reporter. I also read Chief Strachan’s column of Dec. 24, 2010 and several articles related to his departure and selection of the new Chief, Ken Thomas.

  • Jan 27, 2011
  • BY Wire Service

Letter does not promote civility

After the terrible events in Arizona, the national media also rushed to judgement, only to learn the tragedy had no connection to any specific political discourse, person, party or target graphics on a map that have been used for years in political campaigns.

  • Jan 25, 2011
  • BY Wire Service
Kent Reporter reader Bryan Kesterson took this photo of a Republican campaign poster this election season. Promoting three local candidates

Gun-themed campaign ads even happened in Kent: Where is the civility?

Whatever you believe about the Jan. 8 shooting of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, it is clear that now is the time to reflect on the nature of political discourse in this country. The very foundation of a democracy is the free and peaceful interchange of ideas. Recent political discourse has crossed the line with references to violence and suggestions that “Second Amendment remedies” may be somehow justified if victory cannot be had at the ballot box.

  • Jan 19, 2011
  • BY Wire Service
Kent Reporter reader Bryan Kesterson took this photo of a Republican campaign poster this election season. Promoting three local candidates
Karen teens lead a New Year’s celebration with song and dance Jan. 1 at Kent Covenant Church. The celebration was a traditional Burmese event

A new year full of new hopes

Today, the Karen people celebrate their 2750th New Year day, which is also the Karen National Day. In Karen History, the years are counted from the day when the first Karen tribe migrated from Mongolia, and settled in the Kawthoolei State of Eastern Burma, 2750 years ago!

  • Jan 15, 2011
  • BY Wire Service
Karen teens lead a New Year’s celebration with song and dance Jan. 1 at Kent Covenant Church. The celebration was a traditional Burmese event
A night beacon in the Kent skies: The long-anticipated ShoWare Center marquee lights up the night Jan. 7 - its first day of operation.

ShoWare sign tip of the iceberg

Coming soon: $20 increase in car tabs for Kent residents to pay for the capital fund they raided to pay for this sign to market the building to lose money on non-existent events.

  • Jan 15, 2011
  • BY Wire Service
A night beacon in the Kent skies: The long-anticipated ShoWare Center marquee lights up the night Jan. 7 - its first day of operation.

Listen up, Al Gore: Global warming a perpetuated myth

Though a British Court found Al Gore’s scare-film more full of factual holes than Swiss cheese, the most “inconvenient truth” is Mother Nature’s. While we rejoice over rescued snowshoe enthusiasts found yesterday on Snoqualmie Pass the snow quietly falls across the nation to testify against global-warming quackery.

  • Jan 15, 2011
  • BY Wire Service

Toys for Joy brings Kent together

With record layoffs, home foreclosures, and many families turning to public assistance, 2010 has been tough for many in our community. But true to form, the Kent Fire Department comes to the rescue once again. The Kent FD has for many years now organized the Toys for Joy program that collects, wraps, and gives out toys to disadvantaged children in the Kent community.

  • Dec 29, 2010
  • BY Wire Service

Right to Repair act protects small businesses, car owners

The Automotive Oil Change Association (AOCA) strongly supports the Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act (S 3181/HR 2057) and urges Congress to pass the pro-consumer, pro-small business legislation.

  • Dec 20, 2010
  • BY Wire Service

Be aware of hidden dangers in toys

Although there have been great improvements to product safety, an alarming number of children are the victims of toy-related injuries in the U.S. each year. As the holiday shopping season nears, toy safety needs to be considered as adults head out to buy gifts for small children.

  • Dec 20, 2010
  • BY Wire Service

Socialism: An experiment that failed

Socialism has failed. The bipartisan White House National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform titles their report "The moment of truth". Frankly I am glad… Continue reading

  • Dec 20, 2010
  • BY Wire Service

Demos engineer election fraud

Why is it that Washington State still has so many flaws in the voter-registration rolls? Why have elected Democrats opposed Republican attempts to clean it up?

  • Dec 2, 2010
  • BY Wire Service

Ways to clear Kent road congestion

In regard to the recent articles on Kent’s road projects and traffic impact fees (TIFs), there’s other projects that will improve congestion besides the railroad-crossing projects.

  • Dec 2, 2010
  • BY Wire Service

A chance to thank the Morford family

Well, it being the season, our daughter lil’ Abby is once again looking forward to the Morford Family Carousel. You’ll find it just south of Kent Station. Put it on your holiday list to enjoy this treasure the Morford Family has donated for use by (us) children of all ages!

  • Nov 19, 2010
  • BY Wire Service

Kentridge veterans ceremony rewarding

I was extremely fortunate to be invited by my daughter Teresa Espinosa to attend the community Veterans Day observance at Kentridge High School on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 9.

  • Nov 19, 2010
  • BY Wire Service
Dean Saggau

Kent Sunrise Rotary event was a major success – thanks to all who made it possible

Thank you for the wonderful coverage of the Kent Sunrise Rotary’s recent Harvest for the Community auction and awards dinner. M.C. Mike Painter put it best when he remarked on stage that “for a smaller club like ours – about 20 members - to put on an event such as this is no small feat.” Club president Tray Svendson concurred: “It is a ton of work, but look at the results!”

  • Nov 15, 2010
  • BY Wire Service
Dean Saggau

Random act of kindness appreciated

We read so much about bad things happening these days, it’s nice to be able to report something nice that happened to us last week. On Monday night, Oct. 4, we were at Applebees in Covington for dinner and after we finished our meal our waiter told us our meal had been paid for by the gentleman who had been sitting across from us.

  • Nov 11, 2010
  • BY Wire Service

Seattle homeless issues bring back memories of Wink, Texas

Reading about Seattle’s homeless of over 2,000 reminds me of the Dust Bowl Days in Texas in the 1930s. Even these cold days here in Kent. Almost all of the local cowboys living in Wink, Texas, had to live where they could, and most of them lived in dugouts with a pole to tie their horse to overnight.

  • Nov 11, 2010
  • BY Wire Service