Community Thanks September 25, 2011

ECONOMY: Best to buy American

Republicans-Democrats, it really makes no difference. The only way to improve this nation's economy is to start buying American-made products again. Go into a department store and tell them you will buy a 50-inch TV IF they can sell you one made solely in the US. You won't be buying a TV.

LEVY: We can't just keep cutting

Tuesday, March 8, is going to be a very important day for us here in Coeur d'Alene. On that day, we'll vote to determine if we're going to support the renewal and essential levies for the Coeur d'Alene School District.

SCHOOLS: Bond first, dress later

Mr. Purtee, I beg of you to stay focused on the upcoming bond election for the school district. Please don’t dilute the work that is being done within our community by introducing a mandatory dress code for the district. There are studies that show dress has an impact on schools and particularly inner city school such as Philadelphia however, Coeur d’Alene does not have those same issues. Our issue is health and safety for our children in the buildings.

REUNION: Joy of coming home

I am a Coeur d’Alene born and raised Idahoan who is returning for our 45th high school reunion next weekend. I have been gone for 45 years but want the public to know how proud they ought to be of the great mark the class of ‘67 has left on the world and they have done so throughout the world.

VOTE: Oust the gay agenda

Gay, homosexual, bisexual, lifestyles are sin all the time. As a concerned citizen and one who loves this beautiful state of Idaho, I believe that our current

CLUB: Great for kids, community

A big shout out to the Coeur d’Alene Garden Club whose continuous support of the greenhouse and the gardens at Hayden Meadows have been unfailing. I want to thank the club once again for this support. Their donation gives us the supplementary income that allows us to improve and sustain our gardening projects. Thanks to them, all the little hands (and big ones too) at Hayden Meadows get dirty while planting seeds and starts in our greenhouse. Sadly, there are some blisters from pulling weeds in the gardens, but in the end, there are many smiles and smarter children. These projects are but catalysts Meadows’ teachers capitalize on while teaching just about every subject. Math to Writing, Art to Music, and Character Building are all part of this program. Further, children at Meadows are growing and harvesting vegetables for our local food banks.

OBAMA: Hit wall on health plan

The rollout of Obamacare has been challenging. But, let’s not forget why it was proposed. Our health-care costs have averaged approximately twice that of other industrialized nations. Our nation’s health is rated last of those same nations. Our higher costs reflect business interests that don’t exist in other countries. Medicare and the VA (our two government programs) have the most positive ratings by health-care consumers.

Movers and shakers

Community 1st Bank reports first quarter gains

IDFG: Listen up, Legislature

We are FORTUNATE to live in a state with tremendous opportunity for hunting and enjoying the outdoors.

HEALTH CARE: Ask the right question

In exploring a critical issue, columnist Chuck Malloy and the leaders he quotes ask the wrong question. The fundamental quandary our society faces is not whether health insurance is a right, but whether health care is.

SCHOOLS: Reasons for yes

Tuesday, March 14, is a very important day for us in Coeur d’Alene. This upcoming vote to determine if we’re going to support the renewal of the Maintenance and Operations Levy and the Construction Bond for the Coeur d’Alene School District. For both items, we have the opportunity to vote “yes” twice without raising our tax rates.

IRS: Ending a nightmare

In April 2016, we sent a significant check to the U.S. Treasury Department to pay our 2015 tax bill. Unfortunately, we misaddressed the letter. The government cashed the check, but our payment was lost in the bureaucracy and our account wasn’t credited.

SCHOOLS: Safety comes first

The No. 1 priority of our schools should be the safety and well-being of our students. Unfortunately, we know more than one predator has been hired by the Coeur d’Alene School District due to lack of due diligence and students have fallen victim.

OP-ED: Ignored other extremists

In response to Chief Justice Jones’ op/ed “Bringing Extremism Under Control,” he’s looking for extremists in the wrong places.

THANKS: Home on the range

Heartfelt thanks to the community for their incredible generosity!

SCHOOL LEVIES: Vote yes

I have been a teacher and a resident/homeowner in Coeur d’Alene for 13 years.

CDA SCHOOL LEVIES: Failure is ‘unthinkable’

On March 14, our community faces two critical votes to support Coeur d’Alene public schools.

DIFFERENT: Is not wrong

It seems the world presents us with qualities we desire and some we don’t, with features we understand and some we don’t, and so on. Contrasts exist and the world around us seems not tailored solely to our personal tastes, but rather to its own varied forms of expression.

GROWTH: Water usage should be considered

There was a lot of helpful, though unsettling, information in the article, Our Gem: Climate and Health. Coeur d’Alene Lake is being impacted by global climate changes and local activities, so the community is encouraged to do our part for the good of the lake, tributaries and communities, including water conservation (protecting the aquifer and watershed), and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change.