Letter To The Editor: Walmart Needed
To the editor:
There was a question asked in your last publication of letters to the editor stating, “why do we need another Walmart when there’s one in Hood River?”
Well, I’ll tell you why. Our ecomony is not healed and this American company is huge and can employ a lot of local folks that need jobs. That and it will be a super store that the Hood River Walmart is not.
True, it might hurt established department stores, but I have frequented these stores and in my humble opinion they need a little competition to keep them on their toes.
I am a retired small business owner and competed with the large chain stores for years and I adjusted my promotions to enhance my customer base. I never ran out of customers, since that’s what I catered to.
As a US citizen, I do 90 percent of my shopping in The Dalles and could change and go north to Yakima and spend my dollars, same distance for me, so I welcome this new Walmart.
It’s about time this part of the country caught up with the rest of the Pacific Northwest. Could use a Costco or Sam’s Club too.
Jo Sowards
Goldendale
Read more at The Dalles Chronicle
read moreLetter: Walmart Welcomed
I’m certain the unheard majority of Northwest Oregonians hope Walmart doesn’t give up on the idea of moving here, but you wonder how long they’ll endure the hate groups who want to stop them. Liquefied natural gas, the coal facility in Longview, Wash., the chance to level the old and ugly outdated hotel at the Port of Astoria and build a brand new motel with a beautifully landscaped green belt walk way, have been derailed – now Walmart.
It’s unbelievable how these small groups of local/state bureaucrats, and a very loud, vocal minority of Walmart haters jumping up and down, with the help of groups with names like the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals and Clatsop Residents Against Walmart (CRAW), keep from improving our community. Their primary goal is always to halt businesses and jobs, and thus much needed tax revenue from coming to our area.
Wal-Mart Coming to Sherwood as Anchor for Town Center Near Downtown
Wal-Mart is coming to Sherwood.
The 145,000-square-foot building will be the anchor store for the Sherwood Town Center development, off Southwest Langer Farms Parkway and Southwest Tualatin-Sherwood Road. Construction is scheduled to start in June.
The supercenter will include groceries, a drive-through pharmacy, and optical, photo and garden centers, according to a press release.
Sherwood Town Center is part of the 55-acre Langer Farms Redevelopment Project owned by Gramor Development and the Langer family. The center is divided in two parts with two development phases. Wal-Mart anchors a section of about 20 businesses that is expected to open in July 2014.
Wal-Mart Stock Finds Way to Charity
A windfall of donated goods from Wal-Mart found its way into the hands of the less fortunate around Deschutes County, thanks to the county Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s Office Receives Donation From Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart donated $2,500 to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office’s Shop with a Cop program during the store’s Supercenter grand opening event Wednesday.
The Shop With a Cop program gives children from low-income families the opportunity to shop for gifts with a police officer during the holidays. Wal-Mart has donated $50,000 to the Sheriff’s Office over the last 13 years.
Donated Walmart Goods Finds Way to Charity
A windfall of donated goods from Wal-Mart found its way into the hands of the less fortunate around Deschutes County, thanks to the county Sheriff’s Office.
More than $20,000 worth of shoes, clothing, toys, games and other unused, unsold items were distributed by the Sheriff’s Office to charitable organizations and public agencies. Those organizations include the sheriff’s Central Oregon Partnerships for Youth, the county Home Health Programs, The Bethlehem Inn, Head Start and Neighbor Impact, and 20 others.
“We were able to provide items to hundreds of families throughout Deschutes County,” Sheriff Larry Blanton stated in an announcement about the program.
Sheriff’s Capt. Shane Nelson said the merchandise donation by Wal-Mart in Bend was a one-time event. The store was remodeling as it transitioned into a “supercenter” and decided to unload the merchandise.
Donations Disbursed to Community
Left to right: Mark Wirges, Sr., USMC, Central Oregon Toys for Tots, Susie Fage-Wirges, Central Oregon Toys for Tots, Deschutes County Sheriff Larry Blanton
During the months of February and March, the Bend Walmart Supercenter donated over 20 pallets of brand new unsold merchandise to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office for distribution to local community organizations.
The over $20,000 worth of donated boxes of product included shoes, clothing, hats, gloves, puzzles, games, and toys. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office disbursed the boxes of items to over 25 not-for-profit organizations that help less fortunate citizens in the Deschutes County area.
Community organizations who received items:
- Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Central Oregon Partnerships for Youth (COPY)
- Deschutes County Home Health Programs
- Grandma’s House
- Angel’s Wing
- The Bethlehem Inn
- Bend/La Pine School District Family Access Network Advocates (FAN)
- Redmond School District Family Access Network Advocates (FAN)
- The Head Start Program
- Neighbor Impact
- La Pine Community Kitchen
- Bend Community Center
- Saving Grace
- KIDS Center
- Central Oregon Council on Aging (COCOA)
- Nancy’s House
- Central Oregon Veteran’s Outreach (COVO)
- Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office Victim’s Assistance
- Toys for Tots
- Operation Elf Box
- Terrebonne Boys and Girls Club
- The Loft
- Icon City
- The Salvation Army
- Shepard’s House
- Jericho Road
- “The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office was proud to provide an outreach program to over 25 local organizations of merchandise donated from Walmart. We were able to provide items to hundreds of families throughout Deschutes County. Community Programs are a very important part of our mission at the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.” Sheriff Larry Blanton, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office
- “I have already been able to watch two boys smile from ear-to-ear when I handed them some new shoes!” Erin Brown, Bend/La Pine School District FAN Advocate
- “Recently the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office assisted our District Attorney’s Victims’ Assistance Program by providing this program with much needed new clothing items that had been donated by Walmart. We were very much in need of children’s clothing/shoes and other items. Now we have some wonderful outfits for children who are in urgent need as a result of a crime or emergency! We are truly grateful to DCSO and Walmart for the opportunity to access those items!” Diane Stecher, Victims’ Assistance Program Director, Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office
- “The generosity and coordination from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office allowed me an opportunity to provide new clothes and shoes to 11 homeless families! That is 29 kids and adults with new, clean clothes.” Amy Martin, Housing Advocate Coordinator, Neighbor Impact
- “Oregon has always prided itself on the strength of its individuals and their determination to build strong, caring communities. In these challenging times, it is encouraging to see how many individuals and institutions support our friends and neighbors. Jericho Road wishes to thank the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office for their continued support and encouragement. Their generosity has yet again been shared with the children of our area through the donation of clothes, shoes, hats and gloves. Since Jericho Road is directly involved with supporting children of all ages with hot meals, weekend food bags and supplies, these items will be especially appreciated. Thank you again, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. Your caring and sharing shows a depth of compassion and professionalism that should serve as an example to others.” Don Senecal, Jericho Road
- “I was born and raised in Bend and have seen many, many changes! But the one thing that hasn’t changed is the giving spirit of the Central Oregonians.” Susie Fagen-Wirges, Central Oregon Toys for Tots
- “I think it goes back to childhood. As children, we all looked under the Christmas tree with so much excitement. You want that for every kid.” Mark Wirges Sr., USMC, Central Oregon Toys for Tots
Family Access Network (FAN) Advocates. Selecting items for distribution to children.
Remarks by Walmart President and CEO Mike Duke Introducing First Lady Michelle Obama at the Business Roundtable
Walmart President and CEO Mike Duke will introduce First Lady Michelle Obama at the Business Roundtable and deliver the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, today, March 13th at approximately 11:40 am EDT:
“We are pleased to be joined by our guest today, First Lady Michelle Obama. Mrs. Obama speaks movingly about the service, strength, and sacrifice of our current generation of troops, veterans, and military families. It is a personal privilege to share some of her work and to start our discussion around creating opportunity for this new group of heroes.
Walmart Plans to Hire 100,000 Veterans Over Five Years
Walmart Stores Inc (WMT.N), the world’s largest retailer, said it plans to hire more than 100,000 veterans in the United States over the next five years, a move supported by First Lady Michelle Obama.
Most of the veterans will be placed in the company’s stores and clubs, and some will be employed in distribution centers, Walmart U.S. Chief Executive Bill Simon said in a speech to be to delivered on Tuesday at the National Retail Federation conference.
Beaverton’s Second Walmart About to Open
Beaverton’s second Walmart store will celebrate its grand opening Wednesday, Jan. 16, with a ribbon-cutting and $8,000 in donations to local organizations. Around 70 employees were hired for the 25,000-square-foot grocery store, which includes a pharmacy, digital-photo processing center, deli and bakery. Each of Walmart’s Neighborhood Markets, as its midsize grocery stores are called, donates $8,000 to local organizations annually, said Rachel Wall, a spokeswoman.
