SCHOOLS: An inside view

With the vote on our local school Bond and Levy coming up in a month, I did not want the assertions made in Jim Hollingsworth’s recent letter to go unanswered.

BROWNINGS: A fond farewell

To our friends and neighbors at North Idaho College, the greater Coeur d’Alene area and beyond:

AMADOR: In touch with voters

North Idaho District 4B finally has a choice for strong and sensible representation in the Idaho House of Representatives. Paul Amador is running for the seat currently held by Kathy Sims, and Paul is by far the better choice.

ELECTION: Come together

In the wake of the pending changes to our national leadership, the Board of Directors of the North Idaho Pride Alliance acknowledges the sadness, fear and anger that many LGBTQ+ people and their loved ones are experiencing. We encourage people to reach out to each other, offering support and creating hope where you may see despair. We will not fight hate with hate. We will not give power to fear and anger. We will stand together and we will create change. We are not giving up and we are not shrinking. Our community has worked too hard and too long to create a more just and safe place for all of us.

VOTE: For best qualified people

Please vote on November 4th and consider qualifications and character over party affiliation when exercising your citizenship responsibility. It defies both common sense and logic to presume that either party’s candidates intend harm to citizens and communities, our state, or our system of government in the course of their service to us all.

LEVY: Reasons to say 'yes'

I am the proud parent of three children, one of whom attended Borah Elementary and is now at Lakes. Another is in third grade at Borah. I would like to thank the Coeur d’Alene taxpayers for generously funding the last bond issue, which included remodeling Borah. It has been such a blessing to have a school that meets the needs of our children. For example, the new gym enables us to hold all-school assemblies and student concerts without breaking fire code capacity limits.

BLESSING: Highlight of NIC ceremony

I am a proud member of the North Idaho College graduating class of 2014. Thank you for your coverage of our commencement that took place on Friday, May 16.

PLEASE: Hear this, men

From mothers to our sons:

MIRANDA: For county commissioner

As a lifelong resident of this great state, I care deeply about Idaho and her communities. My wife and I retired and moved from eastern Idaho to Coeur d’Alene in 2010. We are now close to our daughters and their wonderful families.

TAX PLAN: Burden for the young

For decades the Republican Party has touted the need for fiscal restraint and a balanced budget. In reality, even with a Republican majority in Congress, their new tax plan has added $820 billion to our nation’s debt in a period of only 11 months. One percent of our population controls 52% of our nation’s wealth; that number is certainly not going to decrease. The President and Congress will point to the economy and the low unemployment rate; however, when you spend a trillion dollars more than you receive in revenue, in one year, the economy should be rosy. Congress should have listened to Warren Buffet’s advice.

Community Thanks May 25, 2014

CHIP: Kids' critical care

What will it take for Congress to act on funding the bipartisan Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)? When my son Brady was born with Cystic Fibrosis in 2007, my husband and I were completely shocked, and frightened about our ability to provide everything he needed to manage his complex disease. CHIP was there for our family, and helped us all survive the darkest, scariest time of our lives. There is absolutely no question that CHIP is a vital program for Idaho’s most vulnerable children. The fact that Congress has failed to act on funding this program is a referendum on the ethical priorities of our elected officials.

SCHOOLS: Hear what people say

We have heard from the teachers and the politicians. Let us hear from the parents and the students.

WALL: Tale of two sides

Central America’s recessive economy is adversely affecting our own economy. Many of the families showing up at our southern border are desperate for work. Most were displaced from small family farms located in the highlands of Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. They raised, harvested and processed coffee beans, but drought took its toll. When their farms failed, they moved to urban areas looking for work, but found that there were not enough jobs for those looking for employment.

BUS: Unusual use explained

In his letter Sunday, Bill Hamilton questioned a decision by Coeur d’Alene Public Schools to park a couple of school buses at the construction site of our next elementary school along Prairie Avenue with banners announcing the new school will open in September 2020.

CONSTITUTION: Time to stand and defend it

You either support the Constitution and our country’s laws, or you don’t. Somehow Trump and his MAGA crew have decided that following the facts and enforcing our laws is “weaponizing” the F.B.I. and the justice department. They have determined that if they don’t win in a free and fair election that it is OK to subvert the Constitution, conduct an illegal scheme to overthrow the duly elected president, and disregard the votes of millions of people.

RIVER RESCUE: Gratitude and a warning

On July 16, our family of nine adults experienced the danger mentioned in the Coeur d’Alene article about floating the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River.

DEMOCRATS: Bad for society

Time after time, after reading the Coeur d’Alene Press, one would think only the Republicans are the bad guys!

WORK ETHIC: Made in America

I evaluate America, I observe work is being replaced by cravings for free stuff.

ELECTION: Support slate of proven leaders

As the May 21 primary election approaches, I urge all citizens to exercise their right to vote and participate in shaping the future of our community. One crucial way to do this is by casting your ballot for your precinct committee person.