Saturday Soapbox: School testing fails test

May 18, 2013

I was happily surprised to see your Feb. 15 editorial, “Time to test whether tests help educate our students.” The evidence says no. State budgets …

Saturday Soapbox: More questions need asked on immigration

May 11, 2013

Immigration reform: We hear that constant drumbeat. What we don’t hear are the obvious questions that should be asked. Politicians want more votes, employers (a …

Saturday Soapbox: Community unity can fight graffiti

May 4, 2013

EDITOR’S NOTE: Graffiti is an expensive blight on our community. It’s also a real-life learning experience for Franklin Middle School teacher Kacey Royce’s sixth-grade class. …

Soap Box: Save Bumping Lake

April 27, 2013

I was born in Yakima and raised in the Valley. My father, Van Nutley, worked for the Bureau of Reclamation early on and then became …

Saturday Soapbox: Abused children need caring voice

April 20, 2013

In a typical year, some 500 Yakima County children are removed from their homes and involved in our court system because their caregivers (usually their …

Saturday Soapbox: Consider history when considering future of America

April 6, 2013

America, it would seem, is in a pickle and that of the dill variety. Our leaders have come to an entrenched, ideological stalemate. And yet …

Not open for debate: Kudos for these teams

March 30, 2013

It amazes me that our local high school students can bounce, run with or hit a rubber ball across some kind of court and get …

Saturday Soapbox: Might be surprised by Founders on the militia

March 23, 2013

A March 6 letter, “In defense of militias,” included this: “I dare the letter writer and those like him to go back and read the …

Saturday Soapbox: Catholic stands firm in faith

March 16, 2013

A recent, scathing letter regarding the Catholic Church and resignation of Pope Benedict XVI is not at all unusual in its content. There is always …

Saturday Soapbox: Concerned father speaks out in defense of guns

March 2, 2013

After having read all of the stories of grief and death with guns involved, I feel the need to write about another side. When my …

Saturday Soapbox: Workers’ wages can sow seeds of prosperity for all

February 23, 2013

As a daily reader of the Opinion page, I would like to thank the Yakima Herald-Republic for beginning to print both sides of important issues …

Following the rules is the right path to citizenship

February 16, 2013

The Feb. 1 article, “Restaurants at the heart of immigration raids,” made me reflect on my own steps to become a legal U.S. resident. I …

Tieton’s cafe served up life lessons for teenager

February 9, 2013

It was with sadness that I read in the Jan. 21 Yakima Herald-Republic, that Vickie’s Cafe in Tieton was closed for a time. The article …

Saturday Soapbox: War on Poverty needs new battle plan

February 2, 2013

The quest for “fairness” and “social justice” is the effort of every honest parent, sociologist and true leader, and defining its terms falls within a …

Remembering a brother: Make sure all veterans get care

January 26, 2013

My two older brothers both served in the military. Steven S. Crosier served with the 101st Airborne and was killed in action in Vietnam in …

Saturday Soapbox: Fear driving debate over guns

January 19, 2013

I am a Vietnam veteran. I graduated from the Infantry School at Fort Benning where I trained on many weapons for war, including the M16. …

Saturday Soapbox: Rational thinkers needed

January 19, 2013

Some weeks ago, I underwent a checkup, and the doctor, who had read letters to the editor that I have submitted over time to the …

Civilian gun owners must shoulder responsibility for gun safety

January 12, 2013

The debate over gun control goes on ad infinitum, ad naseum without ever touching on what may be the most important issue: the responsibility of …

Want to stop more tragedy? Outlaw gun-free areas and arm yourself

January 5, 2013

Here we go again: the debate over gun control. The shootings of schoolchildren is completely incomprehensible and heartbreaking. In fact the killing of anybody, except …

Public, not lobbyists, should dictate gun control issues

January 5, 2013

I am heartbroken over the Newtown slaughter. I find it hard to fathom the utter horror of that day. We quickly learned who the shooter …

Time to change channel on Kittitas TV district

December 29, 2012

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Saturday Soapbox: Three wise mechanics and a Christmas miracle

December 22, 2012

Christmas Eve began very early as five excited elementary age children clipped their seatbelts in the family van. Dad had announced the night before that …

Saturday Soapbox: Regulations take away personal responsibility

December 15, 2012

The freedoms granted by living in the United States are a burden as much as they are a gift. As Americans, we have the freedom …

Saturday Soapbox: Why we need a strong America

December 8, 2012

I am a baby boomer, born in the 1950s and raised in the ’60s and ’70s. My childhood years in rural Kentucky were idyllic. We …

Saturday Soapbox: Historic trolleys could carry Yakima Valley into the future

December 1, 2012

Our Valley has, for most of its existence, been driven by a very productive agricultural sector. In 1906, the Yakima Valley Transportation Co. (today simply …

Saturday Soapbox: For your dog’s safety, always keep it leashed

November 24, 2012

In the past week I’ve heard two separate stories about local dogs that were let off their leashes to run and play off their owners’ …

Saturday Soapbox: Honor American veterans for service, sacrifice

November 10, 2012

Veterans Day is an American holiday honoring military veterans. It is celebrated on the same day as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts …

If you vote, do your homework; if you don’t, don’t complain

October 27, 2012

As a rule, I never write about or discuss politics. But as this year’s presidential election nears, some of the remarks that I have heard …

Understanding debt, defitcit, federal taxes and economic growth

October 20, 2012

I believe the U.S. government’s federal debt and ongoing deficits are the greatest threat to our country’s national security, economic growth and our individual financial …

Let’s focus on electing the best Congress possible to do the most good for people

October 13, 2012

Am I the only one who feels we are going at this election process in a way that proves nothing? Let’s say you had a …

There are a million reasons gay couple wants to marry

October 6, 2012

Before I knew what the word “gay” meant, I knew it was part of me. At 6 I wanted to marry Counselor Troi from “Star …

Bible doesn’t condone gay marriage, nor should society

October 6, 2012

Some time ago, I read in the Yakima Herald-Republic that both sides of the gay marriage debate had philosophical and biblical arguments for their side. …

Helping others: It’s what we should be doing like we used to

September 29, 2012

On Aug. 25, my wife and I headed west on Interstate 90 from Billings, Mont., for Yellowstone National Park. About seven miles out of Billings, …

Medal of Honor represents nation’s gratitude for bravery

September 22, 2012

The Medal of Honor has been in recent news headlines and feature stories. Some people don’t understand the purpose of the award. The proper term …

Let’s take country back, starting with your house

September 15, 2012

I could be a tea party member. I’m old, white, Christian, a military veteran and live in a semi-rural part of our country. I’m often …

Losing a team, and a chance to connect

September 8, 2012

It was my wife’s idea. I took her to a Yakima Bears game in late June 2010. She heard the request for host families for …

Republican ready to lay to rest egregious myths from the left

September 1, 2012

I have voted Republican since I registered. I am angry at the accusations from the left that perpetuate the myth of how uncaring and unfeeling …

OK, Yakivegas: Insert tongue into cheek and let the mottoes roll

August 18, 2012

Every time a famous visitor comes to town, we in Yakima are reminded of our unfortunate sign (set on untouchable private property) which proclaims Yakima …

Voter registration subject to fraud without oversight

August 11, 2012

A very biased letter recently charged the Republicans with attempting to eliminate half of Philadelphia voters from participating in the upcoming presidential election. A Pennsylvania …

All eligible voters deserve the right to cast a ballot

August 11, 2012

One of the privileges and responsibilities I have as an American citizen is to vote. Currently, in many of our states restrictive voter registration is …

America’s killing culture: a string of deadly shootings

August 4, 2012

You can’t open a newspaper or turn on the evening news without hearing about gun violence. Individuals with guns have sent a hail of gunfire …

Saturday Soapbox: Public debt helps economies recover from recessions

July 14, 2012

By DON HINMAN Free markets depend upon debt. Both the Great Depression starting in 1929 and the Great Recession beginning in 2008 were precipitated by …