Standing at the site of the macabre scene where once speeding Amtrak passenger cars tilted at contorted angles, the now oversized caskets dangling precariously from the bridge above to Interstate 5 below, Richard Anderson took out his cell phone and texted Ken Hylander with a simple message: ‘We need you.’ Hylander had developed the safety […]
Letter: Glut and greed – Marijuana goes to seed
We told you so. Legalization has led to proliferation which is leading to liberalization. Imagine that. Connect the pot dots. Fourteen months ago, John Arbeeny, former deputy mayor of the City of Lakewood, WA, predicted what was then already happening but a portend of things to come: “a glut of pot in the market from […]
Letter: Keeping out those who don’t belong
Within minutes of my phone call police had arrived. Even though no known guns or drugs were involved. Even though there was no name calling, slamming of doors, or other altercations. After all, the suspects were sleeping. We’ve had hasps and locks ripped from doors; a window broken; full gasoline cans stolen; and the list […]
Letter: A Father's Influence – answering my critics
Among the many examples my dad set for my life – he loved our country (served in the 10th Mountain Division in WWII); he loved my mom (58 years married); he loved our community (instrumental in obtaining the playground equipment) – and the roles my dad played in my life – baseball coach, Soap Box […]
Letter: A quiver full
It’s a great comfort – as much as can be had given the circumstances anyway, those circumstances being conflict – to have, going into battle, your quiver full of arrows. I do. My quiver is full. Of grown children who likewise have children and who work with children and who are instilling in them the […]
Letter: No Amtrak trains until all safety steps are taken
That’s the position of the Lakewood City Council in a resolution (pp.305-318) supporting the safety recommendations approved by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on May 21, 2019. Noble, but inadequate. Even with the replacement “as soon as possible” of current passenger conveyances with more substantially built rail cars, somehow the recommendation to “secure potential […]
Letter: A Voter’s Guide – Hit the road, Jack (but look for Mike or Debbie)
We were there the night the Seattle Mariners got pummeled by the hated A-Rod, always-booed-when-he-comes-to-the-plate Yankees. That wasn’t what we hoped to see given the King was on the mound – briefly – but it was what we saw. It was our first time so there were a lot of firsts for us. First it […]
Letter: I love all our grandchildren
It’s just that this one seems like I’ve had opportunity to hold more than any of the others. At four months now since she’s been born, she’ll want to go to the mailbox with me. At least I think she does. Or anywhere else for that matter. I’ll do anything to get her to smile […]
Letter: Safety first. Then why wasn’t it?
Beginning December 18, 2017 Sound Transit said 14 Amtrak trains, at 79 mph, would pass through Lakewood at the following times: A.M. – 7, 8:25, 9:40, 10:35 and 11:05. P.M. – 12:20, 2:10, 3:15, 5:30, 6:15, 7:10, 7:50, 8:45 and 9:35. One, just one, the first one, made that trip. But never reached its destination. […]