Cheers & Jeers: Bridge support; barriers to aid

Cheers: To building a bridge. The federal government has committed an additional $1.5 billion toward a replacement Interstate 5 Bridge. Last week’s announcement brings the federal commitment to $2.1 billion of the estimated $6 billion cost; the legislatures in Washington and Oregon each have pledged $1 billion for the project. “Now, with the biggest federal transportation award in Washington state history, replacing the I-5 Bridge is finally going to be a reality,” Sen. Patty Murray said.

Much planning remains to be done, and additional funding must be defined, but each step toward a new bridge is a positive sign. The latest funding comes from the federal Bridge Investment Program, which is part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. As Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, said: “We’re now one major step closer to getting the I-5 Bridge replaced and powering good, family-wage trades jobs in Southwest Washington.”

Jeers: To hindered first responders. A recent Columbian article highlighted a persistent problem for emergency responders — gated communities. “If someone’s in cardiac arrest, if they’re not getting (chest) compressions, their chance of survival goes down 1 percent every six seconds,” East County Fire and Rescue Chief Ed Hartin said. “Every delay reduces somebody’s chance of survival.”

Often, a coded gate hampers responders from reaching a house fire or somebody in need. Residents are reminded to alert local responders about their gate code or to install a device that can allow access. As one fire official said: “When people put gates in, they don’t necessarily think about the fact that they’re going to have to have somebody come and help them. If we know about it in advance, we can plan on how we’re going to deal with it.”

Cheers: To honoring a soldier. Thanks, in part, to the Fort Vancouver chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the grave of Blandaman “Blandy” L. Smith has received a headstone for the first time at Brush Prairie Cemetery. After serving with the Union Army out of Missouri during the Civil War, Smith lived and died in Brush Prairie; he was buried in an unmarked grave in February 1915.

Several of Smith’s descendants were in attendance recently as a government-furnished, Civil War-era commemorative headstone was installed at his burial place. It serves as a reminder of this nation’s history and the long-ago efforts to preserve the Union.

Jeers: To shortages in special education. While discussion continues about a lack of funding for special education throughout the state, a new audit highlights another aspect of the issue.

The study found that a “significant number of those in the classroom do not hold full teaching endorsements for special education or are comparatively inexperienced in this field.” Additional funding is needed, and so are efforts to train qualified teachers to meet the special needs of students.

Cheers: To calm drivers. According to a recent study, Washington ranks among the states with the lowest rate of road-rage incidents. Looking at six factors, including the number of firearm-related incidents and the percentage of crashes involving aggressive or careless driving, Washington ranks 44th among the states.

There is room for improvement. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Washington ranks 25th in traffic fatalities per mile driven. But at least we aren’t as angry when behind the wheel as drivers in most states.