Member of the family

As a fresh graduate engineer, Alcoa (Wenatchee Works) hired me in mid June, 1952. In the years since, I have experienced many Alcoa functions. However, I have never witnessed a better designed and performed Alcoa event than the recent Wenatchee Works 60th anniversary open house! Exhibits were cohesive and well presented. The employees I met were enthusiastic and exemplary hosts.

In my estimation, it would be difficult to find a better maintained and more modern aluminum smelter. New techniques, environmental protection, and emphasis on work safety were much in evidence in every department we toured. I was told that yet another plant improvement project was then being completed. And, though I had worked there for several years before retirement, the ingot plant was almost a new entity. The 1,500 pound ingot products were of physical quality not obtainable 25 years ago.

It was one of the few times I was glad to be handicapped! I got to ride in a motorized cart instead of having to walk the whole tour. Ours was driven by a very personable “good guy” who treated us as honored guests. He was not just driving us around. He acted as our personal tour guide, answering questions, pointing out points of interest and making sure that we knew what was what. He even coaxed a completely outfitted potroom employee to show off the preventive clothing and equipment that Alcoa freely provides to those at risk. This, and our whole visit, was impressive!

Your Sunday news edition carried a subhead, “Having produced aluminum for 60 years, it’s part of Wenatchee’s family.” That struck a familiar chord. In 1952, the term “Alcoa family” was freely used as a kind of corporate logo. It was certainly true of us at Wenatchee Works. I am very happy to be a member of both families!

I send my special thanks to all of you “Alcoa family” people who worked so hard to provide me with with this visitation opportunity! Great job!

John Gunn

Wenatchee

Best burger?

In March, a survey of the “World’s Best” winners was reported in The Wenatchee World. There are many who strongly disagree with the opinion on the area’s best hamburger. The best hamburger/cheeseburger in the Wenatchee Valley is not found in Wenatchee, but in Cashmere at The Best Bite. Their awesome burgers and mouthwatering french fries are unsurpassed, even better than homemade. Whoever is responsible for next year’s survey for best hamburger, please visit The Best Bite in Cashmere (closed Sunday and Monday) before you make your final decision on the “Best” winners of 2013.

Myra Roy

Cashmere

Obama incompetent

Do we have an incompetent president, or what? Several things bring up this question.

It seems he is bent on turning the United States into a socialist state like Europe. Europe is an excellent example of why socialism does not work — ie, unions in control, bloated governments, 35-hour work week, retirement at age 53, etc.

Who in their right mind would ever think of starting a business under these restraints, which keeps their unemployment figure between 10 to 20 percent?

President Obama seems intent on pursuing the same policies. He feels the rich guys are the bad guys. These are the ones in the private sector making it possible for the public sector to exist (policemen, firemen and government workers of all sorts and kinds). President Obama is spending more time campaigning and preaching redistribution of wealth than working as president (maybe this is a good thing, come to think of it).

The prime minister of Canada announced (The New York Times) that Canada’s oil reserves equal or surpass Saudi Arabia’s. He stated that Canada will not be held hostage by the Keystone Pipeline and they will pursue refining and shipping their oil to China and Japan, etc. Here the United States has a neighbor that can greatly assist us in our energy shortage and what does President Obama do — he says no pipeline.

This guy has to go soon or we will never recover.

Tom Hohn

Wenatchee

Soap Lake should be heard

Soap Lake wants to create a Transportation Benefit District (TBD). Soap Lake has scheduled a public hearing on the evening of July 3 at 7 p.m. Citizens will be preparing for the July 4 holiday and will opt not to attend. There are 17 TBFs in the state, and all are cities larger than Soap Lake. These districts are a government within a government with offices and employees who can collect taxes and impose fees on building construction and land development.

These all discourage businesses from locating here or for home builders to build here. Apparently the city feels the current avenues to tax residents are not enough.

I would urge residents to write letters of opposition to the newspaper editors and send a copy to city hall at Box 1270, Soap Lake, 98851.

Maynard Hagen

Soap Lake

All letters must include the author’s signature, address and telephone number. There is a 300-word limit, and all letters are subject to editing.

Send letters to The Safety Valve, Box 1511, Wenatchee, WA 98807.

Fax letters to 665-1183, e-mail to Newsroom@wenatcheeworld.com.