Your recent article regarding La Grande Main Street Downtown looking for a new executive director is comical. I suspect the present individuals responsible for the hiring of said director are unqualified, and the results prove this.

Save the taxpayers’ money and try listening to downtown business owners. Collectively they know what the city needs to prosper and flourish. Bringing in someone from the Tri-Cities is not the answer. What exactly is the parallel between Kennewick-Pasco-Richland and La Grande? Zero! A much more logical move would be to examine what Walla Walla did to receive not one but two national awards for its beautiful downtown.

The statement “We need someone familiar with doing a lot with very little” is a clear indication that this organization is aimlessly adrift, as the search for another savior begins.

John Shea

Elgin

I would like to respond to the letter Mr. Fonger wrote that was published on Oct. 31. He mentioned he was not familiar with any efforts to recognize men’s health and cancer awareness similar to “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” or other similar women’s health initiatives.

May I point Mr. Fonger to the “Movember” campaign where men are encouraged to grow out their mustache as a visible symbol to raise awareness of health issues plaguing men — prostate health, colon health, mental health, suicide prevention, and much more. The campaign encourages men to de-stigmatize men’s health, promoting healthy lifestyles, health screenings, mental health treatment and preventative care. Many early deaths in men (and women) are preventable with these measures.

There are national campaigns aligned with the Movember movement, but if those interested would like to have a more direct impact locally, I would encourage them to go to www.grh.org/healthiertogether and make a donation to the Grande Ronde Hospital Foundation. This campaign is helping to support capacity growth at GRH, which includes the new surgical center housed in the campus expansion building currently under construction. This will house new procedure rooms that will increase the volume of cancer screenings such as colonoscopies and biopsies, as well as help purchase enhanced diagnostic equipment that will aid in essential screenings. Other future projects include the expansion of access to primary care and behavioral health care.

I hope Mr. Fonger will join me in growing out a (admittedly meager in my case) mustache to join my chin goatee for the month of November!

Patrick Flynn

La Grande

One thing has become abundantly clear, the Russian military cannot do anything well at all. I jokingly say the Russian military cannot cross a mud puddle without drowning. I am not sure how untrue that really is. Conversely, the Ukrainian military seems to do everything well.

Russia is slowly strangling on their own ineptness at war. The recent events in Avdiivka illustrate what Einstein said about one definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results. The Russians continue to use 19th century tactics in the 21st century. Human wave assaults are one way to commit suicide or maybe it is genocide of their own troops. As this problem persists, Russia has already lost this war tactically and strategically.

The only question remaining is how long before Russia must surrender and leave Ukraine. Fair winds and following seas to all. God bless Ukraine as they are protecting their own.

Bill Laffen

Umatilla

As a longtime resident of Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District, I was disappointed with Rep. Cliff Bentz’s votes supporting MAGA extremist Jim Jordan in his bid for Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. It is hard to imagine a worse choice.

Bentz squandered a golden opportunity to distinguish himself from MAGA Republican extremists as a courageous and principled leader who we could count on to uphold his oath of office and protect our democracy from those who would take away our votes. Jordan dishonored himself by planning and supporting the attack on our nation’s Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He demonstrated his utter contempt for the Rule of Law by thumbing his nose at congressional subpoenas from the bipartisan committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Bentz appears to suffer from the cowardice that afflicts many MAGA Republicans. They are paralyzed out of their fear of disgraced ex-president Donald Trump.

The people of Eastern, Central and Southern Oregon are known for their courage, sense of fair play and fierce independence … traits Cliff Bentz does not seem to understand, let alone possess.

Rick Swart

Eagle Creek