To the editor:
We started Save Our Siletz River in May 2018 when we met Betty Kamikawa, who is now the group’s soil scientist. Together and individually we have spent more than two years years of volunteering, attending city and county meetings, holding and attending a biosolids summit, conducting workgroups, going to state hearings, and more. We are trying to protect the Siletz River from the spreading of toxic sewage sludge on farms along the river, particularly above the water intake for the cities. Due to SOSR’s efforts the city of Newport is the only remaining municipality to apply biosolids on land above the water intake, despite all evidence presented and shared with them on the potential serious adverse to human health and the environment.
Betty Kamikawa continues to educate on alternate disposal methods for biosolids and work on SOSR’s goal to gain collaborative effort in building a plant that supports environmental and sustainable benefits by processing biosolids into clean renewable energy.
Some more of Betty Kamikawa’s volunteer work includes being a Girl Scout leader for Toledo since 2003; chair of the Newport Childcare Committee from 2000 to 2014, and being a member and serving as president of the Lincoln County Association Family & Community Education. She is also an advocate for the homeless in Lincoln County as board president of Grace Winds Haven and has assisted with the shelter at the county Commons. She also a member of the Toledo City Council — all while working full time.
Anyone who works so hard, for no pay, is someone to have working for Lincoln County as your commissioner.
— Alan & Kayleen Davis, Logsden