I would like to respond to the letter from Clean Industries in the letter section of the St. Helens Update. Marty who owns and operates KOHI has proven in the past that he dislikes caller's who participate in his Friday call In Show who do not adhere to republican ideology. Marty's apparent rant and his abrupt and rather rude hang up against community volunteer Bill Eagle was uncalled for.

Unfortunately Marty is a typical republican and resents people from having their own opinion, and takes offense if individuals question corporations.

Marty pulled this type of censorship before when a group of concerned citizens called in on the Friday call in show, voicing their concerns from bad management at the County Fairgrounds, political mudslinging, to the apparent special consideration for not enforcing ordinances against corporations in the county. Such as not collecting the transportation fees on natural mined minerals that are being brought into the county. This action has cost the county coffers millions in uncollected taxes. These people wanted the rest of the community to know both sides of the issues. Marty objected to the callers saying that they were too negative, in my opinion negative or not, people needed to know what kind of monkey business was going on in their government, how their tax dollars were being spent or wasted. Bringing forth facts that are not reported by the local media. I feel that these people were doing a good service for the community. Whether anyone agreed completely with his or her opinion is not the point. But getting all the information on an issue is important.

I understand that Marty wants a feel good call in, but lets face reality. Call in shows are suppose to be controversial that's what makes a good show many different opinions popular or not.

Why should Columbia County let every filthy corporation in? We let Burgeso in and the taxpayers had to pay for the clean up when they shut down, the tire plant is another good example of a company that sweet talked the leaders of the community when in fact they were feeding the community hogwash, the tire plant moved on and went belly up. Just because a corporation wants to settle here and it would create a few good jobs does not out weigh the cost when the corporation is an environmental disaster or an economical suicide.

The taxpayers of Columbia County subsidize all these corporations with urban renewal, or enterprise zone benefits. Look at the Port Westward development, the county borrowed approximately $35-$38 million to bring industry in. What happened? The ethanol plant went bankrupt, that was no surprise to many of us but once again bad decisions cost the tax payers a good chunk of change, The taxpayers will have shelled out approximately $52-$54 million when the bill is finally paid off in the next decade or so. The community needs to be aware of what these companies produce in both product and by products, and at what cost to the taxpayers and the community. These are simple and important questions that should be addressed

I would like to thank Bill Eagle for questioning the bottle recycling plants operation and I would like to criticize Marty's censorship of community participation in his radio show. I understand that the call in is Marty's show but if he wants community involvement then he must expect people to call in with questions, after all his web page says "Call in and talk about issues important to you."

I guess questioning corporations is a no no on KOHI call in. Call in and talk about issues important to you! Call in and talk about issues important to in and talk about issues important to you!

Marty needs to watch real news outlets like MSNBC, Olbermann, or Big Eddy, other than FOX, Rush or Glen Beck. Then he can run a Call In show that is actually fair and balanced, instead of a show that is designed for community bobble heads that have drank the kool-aid.