We hear plenty in the news about the soaring price of many foods and, of course, fuel. These are needs over which we often feel that we have little control. We must eat, and we do need to get around, although many of us are reconsidering even trips to Bellingham when gasoline is nearly $4 a gallon. More people are applying for food stamps because there is not enough money available each month to cover the basics.

  For how it could have been, the trial of Ryan Franks and Vitaliy Sushch went better than a multitude of alternatives.
  The pair of then-Meridian High School students were involved in a deadly vehicle crash in February 2007. The pair were cutting class and racing south on Guide Meridian, weaving in and out of traffic, according to witnesses.
  Police experts say that Sushch’s vehicle was traveling 93 mph when it struck a turning pickup, killing 62-year-old passenger Fred Boettner.

Food drive helps locals

EDITOR, The Tribune:
  A huge heartfelt thanks to the Lynden postal carriers for their part in collecting nearly 16,000 pounds of food for the Project Hope Food Bank over the Mother’s Day weekend. Extra thanks to the Lynden School District National Honor Society members and also community volunteers who helped receive and stack the food at the food bank office.

Wednesday, May 14
  Lynden Municipal Court, main chambers, City Hall Annex, 205 Fourth St., 9 a.m.
  Whatcom Community College Board of Trustees, Laidlaw Center board room, 237 W. Kellogg Rd., Bellingham, 2 p.m.
  Lynden City Council Community Development Committee, southeast conference room, City Hall Annex, 205 Fourth St., 4 p.m.
Thursday, May 15

  Perhaps at the time Congress decided to subsidize the production of corn for ethanol fuel, it seemed like a good idea. But it doesn't make sense any longer.
  The demand for corn, and in turn the pressure on other grains, is driving up the price of these agricultural commodities. What should be available primarily to be made into food staples for human consumption or feed for animals is instead going into what is really a fairly inefficient means of production of fuel.

  Cooperation, locally or federally, is a great approach that will strengthen public agencies in Whatcom County. Such cooperation was seen in action last week and again on Tuesday.
  A national multi-level disaster response drill Tuesday brought U.S. military personnel and equipment to Whatcom County -- including Lynden’s Northwest Washington Fairgrounds -- to work with local police, fire and disaster response agencies.

LHS teachers
are wonderful

EDITOR, The Tribune:
  In honor of National Teacher Appreciation Week, I would like to give accolades to the wonderful teachers in our school district. I have been so blessed to be able to interact with teachers from each school and I have consistently been met with courtesy, enthusiasm and kindness. I believe our teachers have played a vital role in influencing our community and have had an incredible effect on their students.

Wednesday, May 7
  Lynden Municipal Airport Advisory Board, City Hall Annex, 205 Fourth St., 10 a.m.
  Lynden City Council Public Works Committee, second-floor conference room, City Hall, 323 Front St., 4:35 p.m.
  Berthusen Park Advisory Committee, Berthusen Park, 8837 Berthusen Rd., 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 8
  Whatcom County Planning Commission, Northwest Annex conference room, 5280 Northwest Dr., 6:30 p.m. This is a work sesssion on three topics for ordinances or zoning amendment: 1) limiting the size of large commercial retail establishments; 2) removing the lot clustering provision from Whatcom County's Rural Forestry District; 3) preventing garage-dominated streetscapes.

  Youth and teens within our local area have reached achievements recently that make us all proud of them, and we hope that the community responds with its praise and its financial support as well, if that is needed.
  This is a review of some of those achievements that have been reported in the Lynden Tribune:
  • The Ebenezer Christian School archery team, formed only last fall, won first place in the middle school competition of the state of Washington April 12 in East Wenatchee. Three individual or team records for points in archery were set along the way.

What is the deal with fire districts?

EDITOR, The Tribune:
  Help, help, help, I keep saying to the gods above, but I don’t know which God is in charge of the North Whatcom Fire Department.
  Am I the only one down here who doesn’t understand this overgrown bureaucracy? Could I be the only doofus in the crowd?
  First, they say a merger is the only solution to their problems, which they never made clear. Then it’s we need more money for personnel. I thought this was a volunteer operation. Now the need is more stations.