Editor,

Let me begin by saying I’m happy that Garrett Newkirk is being kept from polluting on your websites.

It’s an important step in getting the Whidbey community back to some kind of normal, civil dialogue, plus welcoming and respectful of our military.

So too is the work you, Janis Reid, Jessie Stensland and the rest of your crew do.

But, with the lies, just blatant lies, being put out there by anti-military advocates week after week that the Growlers were sent from other bases to NAS Whidbey Island, I wish your newspaper would ever so kindly clear that up.

Sort of like the lie the left/COER puts out there that NAS China Lake can take Growlers.

I wish your newspaper would follow up and please correct these propagandistic, untruthful statements.

Finally, because I believe fundamentally in integrity and full disclosure, there is also the myth yours truly has previously perpetuated that “my” Skagit Regional Airport/KBVS could take EA-18Gs for bouncing.

I have spoken to several U.S. Navy officials based both at NAS Whidbey and Norfolk and heard basically the same message, that it would take another Environmental Impact Statement and therefore three years.

There also would have to be congressional tasking to move bouncing even to the only viable local industrial airport, where air show fans could congregate.

One of the reasons why the increased bouncing well before the fans’ requests is there will be a U.S. Navy exercise to see the utility and need of 22 more EA-18Gs from the Boeing factories in St. Louis.

I salute Janis for staying on top of this.

Joe Kunzler

Sedro Woolley