Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
I took a look at the state Department of Health non-essential business complaint list over the weekend.
I didn’t really expect to see much. And I would’ve been correct if I had only looked at Adams County, where two complaints had been filed, so far.
But to my surprise, there are approximately 7,700 complaints filed statewide — and counting.
I noticed that several serial tattletales are at work in some communities around the state. That isn’t the case here in Adams County.
In Othello, Luvia’s Salon and Barber shop was targeted by a drive-by tattletale shortly after midnight March 31. The complainant alleged the barber “continue open to the public many people saw in and out.”
In Ritzville, a complaint was filed at 5:01 p.m. April 22 against Ritzville Pasttime Bar and Grill.
In this case, an anonymous tattletale alleged the Pasttime was “operating with black plastic covering the windows.”
But I don’t put much stock in an anonymous complaint. Regardless, the state dismissed the complaint, along with the one against Luvia’s.
For the record, the complainant in Othello only had one entry on the state’s list.
Nearby, there were 76 complaints filed in Pasco, many against car dealers and car washes.
One person alone accounted for at least nine of the complaints. But many were made anonymously.
To the west of Adams County, there were 45 complaints filed against businesses in Moses Lake. Like Pasco, many were anonymous, too.
I could go on, but what’s the point.
It’s obvious the governor has managed to get people to snitch on their neighbors. It’s also obvious that most of the complaints lack credibility.
We teach our kids not to be tattletales, and to take responsibility for what they do and say.
It’s a shame our state encourages tattletales to complain and then hide who they are. It’s an affront to due process.
— Roger Harnack is publisher of Free Press Publishing. He can be reached at [email protected].
Roger Harnack is owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. An award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher who grew up in Eastern Washington, he's one of only two Washington state journalists ever to receive the international Golden Quill for editorial/commentary writing. Roger is committed to preserving local media, and along with it, a local voice for Eastern Washington.
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