FORKS FORUM
2 • Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015
Letters
TO THE
The Forgotten Blue Line
Forks Weather Report By Jerry R. King Nov. 23-29, 2015 Date High 11/23 43 11/24 44 11/25 50 11/26 42 11/27 39 11/28 39 11/29 39
Low Rainfall 34 0.21 32 0.17 28 0.00 25 0.01 25 0.00 22 0.00 22 0.00
Total rainfall for year ������������������ 86.78 in. November rainfall............................ 15.96 Average rainfall ������������������������100.03 in. Snow Year......................................... 0.00
Forks Nov. Weather Facts: High Temp 73° on Nov. 1, 1962, Low Temp. 8° on Nov. 23, 1985 Average High Temp. 51°. Average low temp. 37°. High rainfall 36.20 in 2006. Low Rainfall, 3.91 in 1936, Average Rainfall 16.39 High Day Rainfall 8.85 Nov. 3, 1955 High snowfall 14.50 in 1985
Editor
Dear Editor, If you drive 35 minutes north or south of Forks, you will find a prison; to the south is Olympic Corrections Center and to the north is Clallam Bay Corrections Center. The two facilities together house nearly 1,300 inmates with crimes ranging from drugs to aggravated murder. I am sure you know at least one person who works as a correctional officer at these facilities, so I am asking you to do a couple of things this holiday season. First, think about the personalities that officer has to interact with every single day. Prisons have become the default mental health institutions for the nation where officers, many times completely alone, must walk in the midst of inmates who are always looking for an opportunity to hurt them or manipulate them. While nearly all of us go about our business day after day on “cruise control,” officers can never let their guard down. Eight to 16 hours of constantly being on guard, one eye over their shoulder, hoping that a riot doesn’t break
West End Business Professional Association and Congregational Church presents
out or a fellow officer doesn’t get stabbed or assaulted. They must remain professional to inmates who have “F*&$ Officers” tattooed in plain sight (except that word is not blanked out!), run to the rescue of inmates who are being beaten to death by other inmates, or bust into a cell when an inmate attempts suicide, or throws a “milkshake” (a mixture of urine, feces and blood) on them in the hopes they contract AIDS or hepatitis. Inmates accuse officers of raping them, of beating them, and they bring lawsuits against officers just because they can. Yet still officers remain professional, talk to inmates and try to make a difference. While other professions love it when things are quiet, that’s when an officer has to be the most alert, for it is often the
quiet which signifies something bad is about to happen as inmates who don’t want to be involved retreat to their cells. Officers are the first ones to respond to inmate on inmate rape, aggravated assaults, attempted suicides, fights with homemade weapons and fights involving dozens of offenders. Did you know that I have watched a handful correctional officers rush into the inmate recreation yard where 30 inmates were fighting? These officers carry no weapons but their courage and a duty to respond. Would you do that? While the rest of us get to enjoy the holidays, correctional officers will be required to work extra hours and be especially alert as inmates often act out even more during the holidays; in part because it is so hard being in prison during the
This multiple vehicle accident at the intersection of Calawah Way and Blackberry Avenue happened late Monday afternoon Nov. 23. Multiple ambulances were on scene, but no further details were available. Remember to not only pull over for emergency vehicles, but if you have a flashing light behind you in a non-emergency vehicle, it most likely is someone trying to get to the hospital or the fire hall. PULL OVER. The life they save might be someone you know. Photo Christi Baron
Celebración a la Virgen de Guadalupe
Saturday, December 5th 8:00-11:00am
Adults: $5.00 • Children under 12: $3.00 Pictures with Santa: $5.00 a picture Breakfast includes: Biscuits & Sausage Gravy, Scrambled Eggs, Link Sausage, Total rainfall for year ������������������ 86.33 in.and French Toast. Your Choice: Coffee, November rainfall............................ 15.51 Juice or Hot Chocolate Average rainfall �������������������������� 95.59 in. Snow Year......................................... 0.00
We would like to say how much we have loved and appreciated helping the patients at the Forks Dental office with their dental needs over the past years. We have both moved on to new opportunities in the dental field. The love and support we have received while navigating this change has been truly heartwarming. Thank You! Our little community never ceases to amaze us! While we will no longer be seeing you in the Forks office, we look forward to seeing you around this amazing little town we all call home. Lauren Pederson, RDA Diane O’Hara RDA
Se invita a todos los feligreses a participar en la celebración de la virgen de Guadalupe, el sábado 12 de diciembre, las mañanitas y rezo del rosario será a las 5:00 a.m.; la misa a las 6:00 a.m. y después de la misa habrá desayuno y almuerzo en el salón adjunto a la iglesia. Como devotos tenemos la oportunidad de regresarle un poquito a la virgen por haber concebido a nuestro Salvador Jesucristo, y por todas sus intercesiones por nosotros ante Él. Unámonos y colaboremos a este evento. El dia 11 de diciembre a partir de las 5:30 p.m.se necesitara ayuda para enflorar a la virgen y arreglar el salón y para el sábado 12 puede donar lo que guste para el desayuno y almuerzo, no se requiere cantidad, si no voluntad, participación y unión. Si no puede donar igualmente es bienvenido. “Recuerde que la unión hace la fuerza” -Su participación es muy importante- Lo que proveamos nos será multiplicado. Gracias Si tiene preguntas comuníquese con
Rosalia Mendoza 374-5088 y Eulalia Salazar 374-3150
holidays. So they take it out on the officers and they take it out on each other. So, I am asking you: If you know someone who is a correctional officer, please thank them for the work they do. If you are married to a correctional officer, please give them an extra hug and maybe slip an extra present under the tree this year. And may all of us understand the stress they are under and give them a little extra grace. Miles Lawson Forks
Congratulations Sandy Schier Dear Editor, We had the pleasure of operating the Lunsford Real Estate office for over 30 years. It was an amazing experience working for and with some of the best clients and staff on earth. We believe each and every Associate at our office had the best interest of their clients at heart, for that we are most thankful. Sometime back our office was obtained by Lyle and Sandy Schier. We were so excited to see the operation going to someone that believes in and loves our community as much as we do. Sandy has just completed her time requirement and passed her State test as Broker for the firm. We send our congratulations, we are so very proud of you and know you are putting together your team that will serve our community well into the future. Carrol & Ann Lunsford Forks
As a year has gone by since Nick Rodriguez was taken from us, on Nov. 24, 2014, not a day goes by that we do not think of those and are grateful for all who helped, cared and shared during that difficult time and continue to do so even now. A heartfelt Thank You to all, The Leppell and Miller families