6-5-2006
The Last Word by Lary Coppola
Will the REAL Josh Brown please stand up…
Josh Brown, the 20-something Democratic Kitsap County Commission hopeful, took umbrage with an earlier piece I penned about him in this space. Much of it was based on a vague, poorly written, press release Brown sent me that was only notable for its amateurishness. The other part concerned comments he made while speaking to the 26th District Democrats. He took exception to the way that was reported as well...   (Full Article)
6-5-2006
POLITICS
An explanation of NSA eavesdropping
By Adele Fergusen
The day after the news broke about the National Security Agency tracking telephone patterns in the U.S. in its terrorist surveillance, I caught Bill Bennett’s morning radio show and he had on the federal prosecutor who handled the case of the first bombing of the World Trade Center, Andy McCarthy. Very bright guy, he’s on frequently...   (Full Article)
6-5-2006
David Clark
An ugly reality
We’ve heard about videos of cloak-wearing men beheading those they’ve kidnapped being regularly shown on Arabic news...   (Full Article)
6-5-2006
Washington lawmakers should at least
consider the facts about NASCAR proposal
By Don C. Brunell, President
Association of Washington Business
Over the last two years, NASCAR investors have searched for a site in the Northwest to build a new track. After an aborted attempt to build a racing oval near Marysville, people in Kitsap County embraced a proposal to locate it near Belfair, about ten miles southwest of Bremerton...   (Full Article)
6-5-2006
Guest Opinion
Be prepared and plan for our
state’s continuing growth
By Mike Eliason, Association Executive
Kitsap County Association of REALTORS®
Washington’s population is on target to grow by a million people during this decade. In 2004 the growth in families — our friends’, neighbors’, and our own — accounted for more than half of the 88,000 new Washingtonians. The rest came here to take advantage of the Northwest’s legendary quality of life: a beautiful natural setting and the jobs and opportunity offered by an awakening economy. Protecting that quality of life should be among our highest priorities. There’s only one way to ensure growing population doesn’t erode Washington’s legacy: prepare now for the growth we know is coming...   (Full Article)
6-5-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Ferries
What? Another election looming where the people have already said “NO?” It will cost $250,000 and all of us won’t even get to vote this time. We will all pay the extra tax of course, but those who most definitely opposed it before are to be excluded in the vote this time...   (Full Article)
6-5-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Drug Smuggling 101
Why is it that the Bainbridge High School freshman health class is being taught about the financial rewards for drug dealing? Why are they being given instructions on how to make meth and ecstasy, as well as the names of Web sites with instructions for making meth and ecstasy and where to buy the chemicals? Why are they being taught how to avoid getting caught when smuggling drugs across the border, and being given statistics showing that most drug dealers don’t get caught...   (Full Article)
6-5-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Sex Predators
Lets see, Olympia voted to protect people based on their heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, and gender expression or identity, which means having or being perceived as having a gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior, or expression, whether or not that gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior, or expression is different from that traditionally associated with the sex assigned to that person at birth...   (Full Article)
6-5-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
I-933
The Oregonian reported that on the first day Measure 37 went into effect, citizens came in to file claims for such developments as a coastal subdivision with 400 one-acre lots, a farmland subdivision consisting of 350 two-acre lots, a plan for a rural subdivision with a gambling casino, as well as numerous small rural subdivisions. It also claimed that planners are “expecting proposals to build large retail centers or destination resorts on farmland that’s been in the same families for generations...   (Full Article)
6-5-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
I-933
Get ready for the mother of all wars of words, as well as for the biggest bombardment of TV, radio, print and Internet advertising you’ve ever seen. Initiative 933 is going to bring the environmentalists out of the woods and right into your face...   (Full Article)
5-5-2006
The Last Word by Lary Coppola
Handicapping the upcoming election…
Now that I’m not running for public office, I get to go back to sitting in the catbird seat observing and commenting on local politics — because there are no political ramifications for myself...   (Full Article)
5-5-2006
POLITICS
Will the people of Washington ever
be able to kill the Estate Tax?
By Adele Fergusen
Initiative 920, repeal of the state estate tax, remains a bit murky to me, although I have listened to a pitch for it by sponsor Dennis Falk and read the material I got from him and from the state Revenue department...   (Full Article)
5-5-2006
When government goes too far
By Don C. Brunell, President
Association of Washington Business
In a unanimous ruling, the Oregon Supreme Court recently upheld a controversial property rights measure known as Measure 37. Approved by voters in 2004, the measure requires the state to compensate owners when land use regulations reduce the value of private property...   (Full Article)
5-5-2006
David Clark
Who represents Americans?
We’ve all heard the raging debate about illegal immigrants. Different polls show different results. Some of the poll results don’t come close to what I’ve heard said by the “man on the street...   (Full Article)
5-5-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Kilmer vs. McMahon
And so it begins. Derek Kilmer and Lois McMahan are running for the same legislative seat in the 26th district. I recently received a political flyer with the title, “By now you’ve seen the lies about Derek Kilmer. Here’s the truth.” And it concludes with a statement: “Call Lois and tell her we want an honest and clean campaign...   (Full Article)
5-5-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Kilmer vs. McMahon
I recently read a Letter to the Editor that implied that Derek Kilmer is unethical and that the writer had, “heard Lois McMahan many times during political events and she has never lied about anything. Her ethics are above reproach...   (Full Article)
5-5-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Kilmer vs. McMahon
I’m addressing a recent statement Derek Kilmer made about Lois McMahan, his opponent in the 26th District Senate race. Kilmer said he was “able to get things done on issues people care about...   (Full Article)
5-5-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Kilmer vs. McMahon
As the current political season begins, I think that it is important for your readership to take the practical business measure of considering what side their bread is buttered on...   (Full Article)
5-5-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Kilmer vs. McMahon
Business is about results, performance, and finding out what works and what doesn’t. By those measures, Derek Kilmer has been the new best friend for businesses in the 26th legislative district in Olympia. He has sponsored bills to reduce personal property taxes on small businesses and to provide workforce assistance to businesses that will create family wage jobs...   (Full Article)
5-5-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Adele
Adele Ferguson missed a great opportunity to make some thoughtful comments about the increasing rancor of the political and civic discourse in Washington State and, in fact, throughout the country. Her article, Stopping free speech – Olympia-style, was so focused on her political agenda (ie; Democrats/bad – Republicans/good) that she simplified a very complex and important issue as if it is a matter of good vs. bad, right vs. wrong and free speech...   (Full Article)
5-5-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Senate Race
In reading the article about Lary’s political decision, not to run for the Senate, I was really impressed by the reasoning he gave for bowing out of the race. Integrity seems hard to come by these days and it’s refreshing to see there’s still someone who has it!

Tom Woltjer, Port Orchard
4-8-2006
The Last Word by Lary Coppola
Is it just me, or…
The Kitsap County Public Works Building, constructed in 1992, needs over $1 million in repairs. Part of it is because materials unsuitable for this climate were used, but there’s also an issue of substandard construction — things like windows being installed upside down and backwards...   (Full Article)
4-8-2006
POLITICS
Stopping free speech — Olympia-style
By Adele Fergusen
As if they didn’t have enough to keep them at each other’s throats in Olympia in the final days, House Democrats decided it was no longer allowable for one member to refer to another in government-funded writings as “lacking in honesty with taxpayers,”’ or be called “tax and spend liberals,” or “disingenuous...   (Full Article)
4-8-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Adele
I am deeply saddened by Ms. Ferguson’s column (March 2006) in which she impugns God with the wretched acts of human beings in enslaving Africans. I may agree with Ms. Ferguson that throughout history God has transformed human greed, stupidity, and evil into good...   (Full Article)
4-8-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Adele
Wow!!! How can anyone allow this woman to write an editorial regarding the experiences of blacks? I completely understand the fact that this is an opinion of someone, but to allow her to say “The pony hidden in slavery is the fact that it was the ticket to America for black people” is insane...   (Full Article)
4-8-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Adele
It absolutely blows my mind that you would even consider printing such uninformed dribble. Adele Fergusen is a complete idiot who talks about things she has no education or knowledge about. Yet because it is printed in a newspaper, people will automatically consider her misinformation to be true...   (Full Article)
4-8-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Adele
I suggest everyone read Adele Ferguson’s article with an open mind. Then decide for yourself whether in the sixth year of the 21st century, free thought and expression should be censored or banned from the American media...   (Full Article)
4-8-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Adele
I read Adele Ferguson’s column, and saw absolutely nothing wrong with it. Just another sad day in the world of journalism when a paper knuckles under to a bunch of ignorant ranters and diversity enablers...   (Full Article)
4-8-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Adele
Adele Fergusen’s editorial regarding slavery (“Why do blacks continue to support Democrats?”) is as shocking as it is disgraceful. To suggest that the lives of black American slaves were in any way comparable to the lives of indentured servants shows an ignorance of American history that is stunning...   (Full Article)
4-8-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Adele
I read Adele Fergusen’s column. Several times. I still haven’t found one redeeming sentence in it. The entire column seems designed to buttress her racist and repugnant views about African-Americans, slavery and religion...   (Full Article)
4-8-2006
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Adele
Editor’s Note: The Adele letters above are a sampling of the 1,500+ email responses we received in response to Adele Ferguson’s column last issue — after it hit the blogosphere...   (Full Article)
4-8-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Kitsap County DCD
Kitsap County’s record on employee retention is abysmal within the Department of Community Development (DCD): notably, with planners in the Community Planning Division and at higher management levels...   (Full Article)
4-8-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Kitsap County DCD
I read your recent editorial and couldn’t help but laugh about your North Carolina planning department experience. I’m finishing up some subdivision projects in Port Orchard, but spend most of my time now down in Asheville, NC, where it takes 10 days to short plat...   (Full Article)
3-13-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
NASCAR
I applaud your recent editorials about The Sun’s lack of objectivity about NASCAR. Tim Botkin stated in two different columns that “half the people in Kitsap County” are against this. Exactly what “proof “does he have of this?

Has any credible research been done to prove that statement? If not, by allowing Botkin to present it as a “fact,” the editor of The Sun has proven your point.

Denise Norman
Silverdale
3-13-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
NASCAR
I totally agree with your assessment of the uneven coverage of NASCAR by The Sun.

I was beginning to think I was the only one who noticed, although, to tell the truth, I am never quite sure from one day to the next whether The Sun is fer it or agin it.

I, personally, am “agin it” but, as the old woman said, “Each to his own taste.” as she kissed the cow.

Thanks for your OP/EDs. I always look forward to them.

Muriel Williams
Poulsbo
3-13-2006
The Last Word by Lary Coppola
Media ethics, the marquee and Keith Richards
I was amused reading Editor Scott Ware’s Super Bowl Sunday defense of the Kitsap Sun’s coverage of the NASCAR issue. He made mention of my last column chastising his paper for its coverage — but didn’t refute a single fact I presented...   (Full Article)
3-13-2006
Green Power Initiative targets dams
and coal-fired power plants
By Don C. Brunell, President
Association of Washington Business
Supporters of the newly filed Energy Independence Initiative say their measure protects electricity consumers from volatile fuel prices, boosts the state’s green energy economy and decreases dependence on foreign oil, but is their real goal to discourage hydropower and stop new coal-fired power plants...   (Full Article)
3-13-2006
MY TURN
Patients have the last word at Harrison
By Scott Bosch, President and CEO
Harrison Medical Center
This time last year, 52-year-old Port Orchard resident Richard Chwaszczewski never imagined he’d be needing triple-bypass heart surgery...   (Full Article)
3-13-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Editor vs. Editor
Lary Coppola is NOT the only one who believes a local daily “news” paper has compromised itself ethically, not just over its coverage of NASCAR, but over nearly every “controversial” issue that crosses their “news” desk...   (Full Article)
3-13-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Editor vs. Editor
Your analysis of the Kitsap Sun’s coverage of the NASCAR issue was right on the money...   (Full Article)
3-13-2006
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
NASCAR
So, the state Democratic Party adopted a resolution prepared by Democrats in the 35th district and approved by the Democratic Central Committee that opposes building a speedway in the district...   (Full Article)