Answers for the declining orca population

Lynda Mapes, a reporter for The Seattle Times, has been writing articles large and small for several years on the plight of the Southern Resident orca, and they all seem to blame the same problem. She harps and harps about how they don’t have the adequate, quality food, especially Chinook salmon.

She states that scientists believe that this food shortage is the largest factor in the fact that the orcas only number 73 in population. At the end of her latest article she states that the lack of food, noisy waters that make it hard for them to hunt and contaminants in their food are the contributing factors but offers no advise on how to solve these problems.

Idea number 1: Severely cull the pinniped and merganser population.

Idea number 2: Forget the noisy water thing as they have all grown up with the noise pollution and have learned how to ignore it.

Idea number 3: Clean up the sewage discharge from some or all of the 50-odd communities that contaminate Puget Sound.

Idea number 4: Realize that there is nothing you can do to rectify the problem of there being a small, limited gene pool and resultant inbreeding that is going on.

Ray Messenger

Hoquiam

GOP members need to protect us from Trump

The convicted felon found guilty of 34 counts of fraud is sitting in the White House.

His actions on Feb. 28 in the Oval Office disrespected the president of Ukraine. President Zelensky is a good man fighting to protect his country against the invasion of Russia.

President Trump is a poor excuse for a human being. So is Vice President Vance. Both are a disgrace and an embarrassment. Most of the Republican Party members are cowards and will not dare criticize Trump. They can destroy or protect the United States of America.

Please save us.

Please help us.

Beth Ray

Hoquiam

New north county hospital is affordable

The community of north Pacific County has an opportunity this April to vote yes on the bond to build a new, modern hospital in Raymond to replace the old, dated hospital in South Bend.

The old hospital has done its duty for years, but frankly must pass the baton to a new, updated facility that can give patients so much more than the old one can. The South Bend hospital has limited function and limited time left in service. It will be the end eventually when the grandfathered exceptions demand we move on. We need to prepare for that now by passing the bond and building the new hospital. It will only get more expensive by waiting!

I know that paying more taxes is not something that most anyone would want, but something that needs to be done from time to time, and that time is now. When I calculated the monthly increase in property taxes, it came out just over $50 a month. That’s affordable for us, and a much higher priority than some of our discretionary spending. How many trips to the coffee stands for a latte?

Some of our fellow taxpayers loudly complain about paying more taxes on this bond. They state that the whole community is opposed to the bond. Not true! I proudly want to pay these taxes for me, my family, and the community. Vote yes.

Michael D. Sturgill

Raymond

Support new Willapa hospital proposal

I urge our community to support the proposed bond for a new healthcare facility — this issue is deeply personal to me because my brother, Joe, owes his life to our hospital’s emergency room.

During the pandemic, Joe was critically ill with COVID pneumonia, struggling to breathe. The medical team acted quickly, saving his life. A couple of years later, he suffered a blockage in his lungs, and once again the hospital’s swift care made all the difference. Both times, the proximity and expertise of our hospital were crucial.

Built in the 1950s, our hospital can no longer meet the needs of our community. Engineers have confirmed it is structurally outdated and nearing the end of its useful life. The building lacks space, privacy, ADA accessibility and fails to meet modern healthcare standards.

We have two choices: do nothing and watch our hospital deteriorate, leaving us with the nearest hospital 30 minutes away — or vote yes to build a new, modern healthcare facility. For less than the price of a cup of coffee a day through a small property tax increase, we can ensure our community has access to life-saving care when we need it most.

By voting in favor of this bond, we are not just investing in a building, we are investing in lives — our lives. Please consider the future of our community and vote yes to build a hospital that will meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Your life, and the lives of those you love, depend on it.

Touk Sinantha

Raymond