They’re not out of place in the valley

I am a native of Everett now living in the Tri-Cities. I keep up with my “hometown” by reading The Herald online. I am writing in response to the July 25 letter, “Radio Towers: What a fine gift for the environment.”

I just returned from a trip to visit family in Everett and Marysville and I had the opportunity to go by and see those radio towers the letter writer was speaking about, southeast of Snohomish. From the letter, I expected to see the beautiful Snohomish River Valley completely destroyed and ugly. I saw three unpainted short radio towers that were steel colored and one taller tower painted orange and white that was free standing without guyed cables. In fact, all four towers were free standing.

I know that it is the “appearance” the letter writer (and others) do not like, but it really doesn’t ruin the view from or of the valley and it is not the Skotdal family that chose the orange and white paint on the tower. The color is required by the Federal Communications Commision.

KRKO has had two radio towers in the Snohomish River Valley for 50 years on Larimer Road, so radio towers are “not something new to the valley!” The AM towers have to be in damp soil for conductivity, such as where they are being erected. They are not out of place in the valley. Travel across America and you will see radio towers in such settings as this (even in the Tri-Cities, which also is beautiful)!

The towers have a right to exist for broadcasting, but only you will have to decide if you will be a good neighbor. Exist as neighbors with the Skotdals, not as neighbors like the Hatfields and the McCoys.

Larry W. Powers

Pasco