To the Editor,

I would like everybody to know that Zillah has unlimited downtown parking. There have been only a few that have taken advantage of this over the last several years. The only requirements are that the vehicle must have current license tabs, inflated tires and be able to be started. If these requirements are met, you may park your vehicles in town 365 days a year for as many years as you please. To verify this information, call City Hall of Zillah or the Police Department of Zillah.

Merchants of Zillah have requested that the parking in Zillah be regulated for many years, but the city has ignored all of our requests. City Hall has private parking and the police department has two designated parking spots. Businesses in Zillah that have street frontage entrances rely on public parking for their patrons. Requests for regulated parking have been ignored by the city year after year. Businesses may be denied the right of having the street clean in front of their business and snow removal in winter with no legal recourse.

When we live in a polite society, we respect one another and use common courtesy in the business district. We do not live in a polite society any longer. We live in a town where a few are aware that they can park their cars in town for several consecutive years without moving them one time and there is nothing anybody can do legally to make them move it. What would our nice little town look like if we all parked our unused vehicles in town for years?

Force the City of Zillah to do something. Park the city full. They will not listen to reasonable requests. Maybe they will respond to action.

Debbie Campbell 
Zillah

To the Editor:

The Zillah Chamber of Commerce board would like to say “Thank You” to all of
you who supported the Not-Just-A-Farmers Market this year with your
donations and hard work!

A special thanks to Sharon Smith, Lloyd Smith, Bruce Dokken, George Pinell, Zillah Public works dept. and Stadelmans.

Again thanks to all as this could not happen without your dedication.

Ken Waymire
President of Zillah Chamber of Commerce

To the editor:

I attended the August 14 Sytsma family’s forum in the Yakima Convention Center where the intention was to convince attendees that the development of a 7,000 dairy cow feed lot  operation would not be harmful to residents, air or water of the Yakama Nation. 

Health of the communities surrounding the dairy location and of the Toppenish Creek is at high risk for contamination from ground and air pollution. Seven thousand cows in a confined area could easily saturate the ground’s absorption capabilities leading to runoff.  The land is located above the level of the Toppenish Creek and residential wells.  Emission of noxious levels of gasses generated by factory farm feeding lots can cause illnesses such as headaches, nausea, and respiratory disorders.  Air borne toxins will definitely impact families and the environment not immediately adjacent to the feedlot operation.

The Yakama Tribe has a water code which includes the issuance of well permits; no wells on the Reservation can be drilled legally without this permit.  The Yakama Nation does have authority over this 480 acre feeding lot.  The Tribal members have spoken:  No feed lot or dairy operations shall be established or expanded on the Yakama Reservation.

Colleen Meachem Reimer
Tribal Member, Toppenish

To the Editor,

I am writing in support of Kevin Bouchey, who is running for County Commissioner in district 2. He understands the need for economic growth in Yakima County and will utilize our resources in new ways to add that growth.

Kevin has a wide variety of skills and experience that will greatly benefit the residents of the Yakima Valley. He has been successful in business and understands the administration of a budget. He is also a consensus builder and will work to bring county residents together to move forward with common goals.

I have known Kevin for many years, and know him to be a person with integrity. He has the common sense we need to meet the challenges we face. For great leadership on the county level, I encourage you to vote for Kevin Bouchey for county commissioner.

Dan Johnson
Toppenish

To the Editor,

While this will not come in time for it to be printed before Tuesday’s primary election, but I want to express my support for Kevin Bouchey.

It is time to elect a County Commissioner in the District 2 position who will study the issues carefully and make informed decisions that are sound and based on the best interests of the taxpayers of Yakima County.  

Kevin Bouchey is a lifelong resident of the Yakima Valley and has operated a successful agribusiness for 27 years.  He and his family have been great supporters of the community for many years.  He has served on several state councils and commissions and has the ability to bring people together to solve problems such as crime and planning issues. He has the experience in running a business and providing employment that is essential to meet the future economic needs of Yakima County.  Kevin will work full time to provide a better environment for all of us.  

To provide a brighter future for our County, vote for Kevin Bouchey for County Commissioner.   
 
Barbara Brost
Zilllah

To the Editor,

Thanks to the community, the Toppenish Western Art show was again a brilliant success.  

Twenty-five artists and their support teams from all through out the Northwest came and stayed in our hotels, ate in our restaurants and drew their patrons to Railroad Park in spite of the blistering temperatures.  

The weekend ran like a well-oiled machine thanks to our membership and board.  I wish I could thank you each personally for your jobs well done.

Thanks to Paul Newman who once again helped out as auctioneer to raise money for our scholarship.

Thanks to our patrons who give the seed money to make the event possible.  

We also appreciate the share of the Toppenish Tourism Fund that helped us promote the event.

And thank you, Review Independent, for putting us on the front page two weeks in a row!

Linda Steinmetz, President
Toppenish Western Art Show

To the Editor,

Thanks!  I read the bike law article when it was in the paper, and I thought it was quite good. 
Thank you for your continued coverage of matters that are important to the people living in and near the city of Wapato, as well as the rest of the Yakima Valley.
 
Sara Watkins

To the Editor:

Last Tuesday night, 7/22, I attended the Forum your newspaper had in Wapato for the candidates for County Commissioner.

It was nice to see so many folk out to listen to the answers of these four men to the questions your reporter, Rob Chandler, put to them. The whole evening was very professionally conducted, with time limits for the candidates and screened questions from the audience. Even when one person started shouting about his rights to speak, Mr. Chandler calmly assured him that he would have his chance to speak to the candidates after the Forum was completed.

I still don’t know who I will vote for, but I did meet some of my neighbors, and I feel I was part of a very important event. Congratulations to Yakima Valley Newspapers and to Mr. Chandler!  

Joe Pearcey
Lower Yakima Valley

To the Editor:

Regarding Mr. Burger’s commentary “Pollution evolution,” it was interesting to note that while the commentary downplayed the importance of environmental protection, an inspection of the Letters to the Editor published below the same commentary finds readers writing to oppose all sorts of environmental degradation (aka pollution).

Captain Smith of the Toppenish Fire Department reports a decline in property loss over the Fourth of July as a direct result of the fireworks ban. Toppenish City Manager Murphy and Mr. Gordy oppose the blight of graffiti in the Valley. Ms. Whitefoot and Ms. Beard, both of the Yakama Nation, report the ban of dairies on tribal land to preserve sustainability for the people and the wildlife.

Contrary to Mr. Burger’s impression of “environ-mental” activists, not one person advocated the removal of Homo sapiens from the Yakima Valley, yet all are fighting to help keep the land, water, air, and communities as pristine as possible. A person should be proud to be included with these “enviro-nuts.”

Mr. Burger should re-examine his sources, and take a good, hard look at his community before trying to write with any authority.
 



Frank A. Chandler

Zillah

To the Editor:

As I am here for my grandmother’s funeral, I have found these articles about the Sunnyside’s Sytsma Dairy buying land on Pumphouse Road near the Toppenish Creek Federal Wildlife Refuge to put a new dairy in very disturbing.

Why would the Sytsma Dairy move here without asking if it was okay to put a dairy in the first place? Why spend the money? Why would you move? No clean water left?

Makes me wonder...Maybe people got tired of the pollutants and stench?

If the operation was truly “state of the art technology,” wouldn’t Sunnyside welcome them and the so-called “boost” to the economy?

What were you thinking? Buy property on the reservation, and maybe the Indians won’t figure it out until it’s too late?
Sytsma Dairy, if I decide to come home to the Yakima Valley to live, I don’t want you in my backyard! Stay in Sunnyside!

Tina Cooper (Ohms)
Sioux Falls, SD