LWSD was mistaken in dismissing cheer coach | Redmond Reporter Letters to the Editor

I was pleased to see the article in the Oct. 29 issue about the Redmond High School cheer coach being dismissed. I am equally disturbed by the actions of the LWSD. The kids on the cheer squad are devastated by this situation. It appears that complainants have succeeded in railroading the coach out the door.

LETTERS

RHS CHEERLEADING

LWSD made a mistake

I was pleased to see the article in the Oct. 29 issue about the Redmond High School cheer coach being dismissed. I am equally disturbed by the actions of the LWSD. The kids on the cheer squad are devastated by this situation. It appears that complainants have succeeded in railroading the coach out the door.

Dysfunctional parents who take on problems which belong to their children don’t seem able to set aside their own selfish wants for the greater good. I am grossly disappointed in the LWSD response to those parents/complainants. What lessons are modeled here for our children?

Ronda is one of those coaches who imparts lifelong values to the team, a very valuable asset to our community.

Why has she been pushed out by a few discontented parents? I, too, want an explanation of how this was allowed to occur.

Ann Killian Redmond

RHS CHEERLEADING

King was a strong coach

I’d like to make a correction to the story about the Redmond High School cheerleadering program of the past.

Past cheerleaders, particularly those who cheered under Chris King during the 2004-05 season performed stunts and gymnastics, had lots of crowd interaction, did community service and supported all the sports at the high school.

Many of the cheerleaders represented RHS at a regional stunt competition held in Oregon, in which they won first place. The article in the Redmond Reporter on Oct. 29 made it sound like only Ronda Thomas had made this happen, when in fact Coach King worked hard to bring the cheer squad to new levels of athleticism through hard work.

Shawna Hilton

Redmond

GOOD SAMARITAN

A great act of kindness

On Oct. 22 at 11 a.m. I was grocery shopping at Fred Meyer on Northeast 76th Street in Redmond.

I am a young mother and I had my baby in the shopping cart. I had only brought a certain amount of cash with me to pay for the groceries, with no backup of a credit card or anything in case I went over.

I was trying to quickly shop with my baby and add in my head as I went along. I was at the register checking out and there was a gentleman behind me with only two items. I nicely told him there was an express lane if he didn’t want to wait. I was hoping he would walk away because the cashier was nearing the end of my order and I could see I was going to go over budget.

Embarassment was setting in. The gentleman said, “I don’t mind waiting.” Finally, with only seven items left, I had to tell the cashier I was sorry but I went over and if she could stop ringing up my groceries. She said sure. I quickly made my way out of the store as I could feel tears coming from embarassment.

I was at my car loading up the groceries and the gentleman that was behind me in line, came walking out with the rest of my groceries that I had left behind.

I was blown away by the kindness of this stranger and I could hardly speak. I tried to get the bags from his hands fast because I was so embarassed. I’m not sure if I got a proper thank you out because I was trying to hold back my tears.

As soon as he walked away, I was bawling and waved goodbye to him as he drove off. I was too embarassed to walk back in and ask the cashier if she got his name, so I drove off. I have not stopped thinking about it. This is the sort of kindness you do not see these days and especially in these economic times when everyone is struggling.

For a stranger to go out of his way like this was very admirable. I want to say thank you very much to this person, the generosity and kindness you showed to me will never be forgotten.

I hope that a situation presents itself to me to be able to offer the same help directly to another person one day.

Miranda Tartar Redmond

ELECTION 2008

Goodman should be commended

In my experience as a police officer, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people show up for a DUI court appearance who have driven themselves there illegally.

The reality is this: A suspended driver’s license due to drunk driving doesn’t stop a person from driving drunk again.

All too often when a convicted drunk driver (who continues to drink and drive albeit without a license) gets into an accident, they are much less likely to cooperate in exchanging information or to wait for the police to arrive in order to investigate. And all too frequently, registered owners of vehicles that are involved in hit and run accidents are those with suspended driver’s licenses.

Last month there was a University of Washington student that was struck crossing the street by a driver that did not stop. The registered owner of the suspect vehicle has a suspended license.

Based on the erratic driving behavior described by witnesses (meaning that in all likelihood the driver was intoxicated) an Interlock Ignition Device probably would have prevented this accident.

I, like many others in the world of public safety, commend State Representative Roger Goodman for introducing and getting passed the Ignition Interlock Bill which is projected to save 100 lives each year in Washington State.

The current law suspends the licenses of drunk drivers … this law keeps them from driving drunk again.

Robert Benson

Kirkland

ELECTION 2008

Vote no on I-1000

It seems all you hear about I-1000 is that it has to do with the “Right to Die.” Or maybe I should use the term “Death with Dignity.”

All they seem to say is that if you are going to die within 6 months, why suffer?

Why sit there in pain, whether physical or emotional? But there is nothing said regarding the alternative! It is as if they want all us old timers to die and get out of the way.

I remember when my dad was dying with bone cancer, it took only a very short period of time and he was in no pain at all. And when he did pass on he did it with real dignity.

Personally, I am voting against I-1000 and I encourage all to do the same.

James L. Robinson

Redmond