Presumably, The Columbian has policies that prohibit the publication of racist or sexist content. I would humbly suggest The Columbian broaden their policies to prohibit anti-intellectual content.
For example, maybe a letter like Mickie Enders’ Sept. 27 letter, “Hoax suspected in clock scare,” might not be published, so as not to give people outside Clark County the idea that we’re a bunch of dolts.
Enders starts with guilt by association by saying “Just look at what has been happening in the areas surrounding this town, just check the world news and how about the father’s background?” But then Enders really demonstrates knowledge with “Lastly, just look at this ‘clock’ that the boy took to school — does it even faintly look like a clock?”
Of course it looks like a clock. Clocks can be microscopic to Big Ben-sized. If Enders had spent a few minutes on the Internet, that would have been easy to learn. Building a clock with readily available electronic components is one of the first things any young electronics enthusiast might build on the way to being a technological leader who will use their skills to change the world.
I, myself, have been known to make a clock or two in my life, before I helped invent a whole bunch of stuff that makes your smartphone work.