Consider vets through holidays

I applaud you for the coverage Nov. 11 honoring the veterans of our United States. As I ride through town, I still see jack-o-lanterns on porches, and I look forward to the time of thanks and family called Thanksgiving. Yet I also hear Christmas music on television promoting places to spend your money. Christmas is Christ’s birthday not a day to spend money.

I never went into the military and was spared by the draft through the lottery system. Many of my friends were not.

I was so proud that Mary Purcell and Central Elementary showed their support for the young men and women of our veterans past and present. They sometimes are forgotten. Never forget. They gave their lives and courage to this country. They are still at this time defending our country. Maybe instead of maxing out your credit cards for gifts, send the money to organizations that support the people who are defending your well-being.

I thank all veterans for all they give and have given.

Jeffrey L. De Boer
Sedro-Woolley

Islanders’ use justifies ferry hours

Regarding the Guemes ferry fares article Nov. 11:

Ms. Jackets (see Page A10, Nov. 11) and Mr. Wertheimer (Nov. 13 letter to the editor), who feel somewhat unrepresented by the county’s “lack of communication,” surely must know that the five-member ferry committee claims to represent a majority of islanders.

The committee was engaged by the county to work with three county public works staff members, the ferry manager, and one each from accounting and engineering, to evaluate the past five years of the ferry service and draw up both fare and schedule proposals, so the board could set the 2009 service.

It’s a roundtable group, and the public can attend. Had Ms. Jackets and Mr. Wertheimer been there, they would have learned that the two-year extended (evening runs) trial carried 54,000 passengers, predominantly islanders. The Guemes ferry committee disputed it but finally conceded that its “constituents” did use the late ferry but only because it was available; they “didn’t intend for it to become permanent.”

If that isn’t absurd enough, how about claiming that by giving islanders more choices as to when to get home at night, the county “forced the islanders to change their behavior.” There’s not much point in trying to reason with unreasonable people, but the county staff always presented the facts in a professional and easy-to-understand manner, even when under attack.

They’d also have learned the cost of each trip the ferry makes in fuel and maintenance expenses whether it carries two or 20 cars. Daytime runs are frequent. Money could be saved by eliminating runs showing historical losses.

People ask, “Why does the ferry make so many runs for such a small population?” I suggest they ask islanders why they prefer paying for diesel rather than saving on fares just by waiting a while and giving the crew some breathing time between runs?

Elenor Powers
Mount Vernon

Blanket sewer fee raise a bad idea

Once again, the Sedro-Woolley City Council, along with a resident, expressed its opinion on something but to no avail.

Socialist Woolley Mayor Anderson with his almighty powers of an elected official chooses not to listen, saying he will try to implement his $2.75-per-month sewer raise to every household before January.

Why should my wife and I, retired and having no children in the household, pay the same rate as people with four and five residents flushing toilets, doing laundry and washing dishes at many times the rate we do?

The only fair way to determine the rate is by using a water-consumption rate in January and February to determine what is going to the sanitary sewer system.

Residents should pay for what they use rather than expecting others to subsidize their impact on the system.

Don’t you just love these budding rookie politicians who close their arrogant ears to their constituents’ opinions?

Rich Kruml
Sedro-Woolley

Editor’s note: This letter is being reprinted to correct an editorial error.

Cost of running a dairy way up

The ups and downs of a dairy!

We started about 40 years ago. A decent cow was $300. A ton of hay was $30 — in the barn. A ton of dairy grain was $65. A beef cow sold for $200. The price of milk per 100 pounds was about $4.

Now let us jump forward 40 years and compare! Right now, a good cow is $2,100. A ton of hay is more than $300. A ton of dairy grain is $280 to $300. When we sell a cow for beef, we get between $600 and $650, depending how much she weighs. The bull calves we give away; nobody raises them any more because of the high grain and hay prices. The average milk price for 2008 was less than $17, and they expect by the end of the year a price of below $14, and well into 2009.

To sum it all up: To buy a good cow is seven times as much; hay is 10 times as much; grain is five times as much; and while it took one and a half beef cow to get a milk cow, now it takes three beef cows! The milk price is not keeping up! By the time the creamery takes all the cost of hauling, etc., we end up with less than $16 per 100 pounds! Now do not get me wrong; I would not do anything else but dairying. It is a good place to raise a family, and we love to work with livestock.

On a final note: Gas, diesel and fertilizer have doubled in cost in the past years and, yet, I love to go out there in the fresh air. Please drink milk; it’s good for you and me!

Frank Sybrandy
Mount Vernon