Opinion
A4
Tuesday, March 22, 2022
OUR VIEW
DOJ takes
step to halt
poaching
T
he news the Oregon Department of
Justice hired a special prosecutor to
crack down on poachers did not roll
across social media or the news wires
with a snap, but it is a move that most hunters
should, and do, applaud.
The new slot appears to have been created in
response to a surge in unsolved illegal killing of
deer and elk.
Jay Hall was hired recently by the justice
department to be the new assistant attorney gen-
eral focused on enforcing anti-poaching laws.
Finding a way to stop poaching was also a pri-
ority, in the past, for lawmakers as the Oregon
Legislature approved money to boost the eff ort in
2019.
The move to hire a special prosecutor to focus
on anti-poaching initiatives is a good idea. The
more that can be done in this regard, the better.
Poaching is a terrible crime that damages
one of the region’s great attributes. For most
law abiding and sensible hunters, poaching is a
crime that wouldn’t even enter into their thinking.
Those who cherish our regions attributes —
including the ability to go out each season and
hunt game — know that poaching hurts many
while helping very few.
Our ability to hunt each year is one of those
sacrosanct features many of us enjoy yearly and
when someone poaches an animal — whether
its deer or elk — it impacts every one of us who
hand over cash to get a tag.
Legal hunting is one of those intangible ele-
ments to our area that make it such a great place
to live, work and play. When someone breaks the
law and kills game out of season illegally, the
entire community suff ers.
There is no doubt that poaching will be a part
of our western landscape, regardless of how
senseless it is. However, a move like the Depart-
ment of Justice to create a position that will put
a spotlight on the crime is good news. The more
emphasis we can put on stopping the crime of
poaching, the better off our unique way of life
will be.
EDITORIALS
Unsigned editorials are the
opinion of The Observer editorial
board. Other columns, letters and
cartoons on this page express the
opinions of the authors and not
necessarily that of The Observer.
LETTERS
• The Observer welcomes letters
to the editor. We edit letters for
brevity, grammar, taste and legal
reasons. We will not publish con-
sumer complaints against busi-
nesses, personal attacks against
private individuals or comments
that can incite violence. We also
discourage thank-you letters.
• Letters should be no longer than
350 words and must be signed and
carry the author’s name, address
and phone number (for verifi -
cation only). We will not publish
anonymous letters.
• Letter writers are limited to one
letter every two weeks.
• Longer community comment
columns, such as Other Views,
must be no more than 700 words.
Writers must provide a recent
headshot and a one-sentence
biography. Like letters to the
editor, columns must refrain from
complaints against businesses or
personal attacks against private
individuals. Submissions must
carry the author’s name, address
and phone number.
• Submission does not guarantee
publication, which is at the discre-
tion of the editor.
SEND LETTERS TO:
letters@lagrandeobserver.com
or via mail to Editor, 911 Jeff erson
Ave., La Grande, OR 97850
YOUR VIEWS
Not all rural Oregonians
want to be Idahoans
I’d like to tell everyone to go
outside and sing a song. I recom-
mend “What a Wonderful World.”
Oregon has a thriving economy.
The only ones who experi-
ence real hardship here are the
poorest. Some have been victims
of neglect all their lives. Polluted
water, air and soil are harmful
to development. Financial strug-
gles are accompanied by lower
school attendance. Behavior prob-
lems often become aggravated and
cumulative.
Investing in healthy fami-
lies isn’t just a softhearted liberal
policy. Even the most conserva-
tive capitalists must be waking up
and saying to themselves: Oh my,
I guess we should have put money
into a clean environment, good
schools and economic support for
struggling parents. Then their kids
could have grown up to be smart,
trustworthy workers capable of
learning new technologies. (And
getting along well with others.)
Oregon is not perfect but is cer-
tainly capable of turning these
concepts into reality.
Those who are unhappy with
our state should go live in Idaho
for a few months. Just try it out
before you push your separatist
ideology. The media is in grave
danger of presenting a distorted
picture of rural Oregonians. They
are failing to cover anyone here
who believes in keeping Oregon
whole.
Mary Cooke
Cove
able facilities, with the local bond
rate remaining the same. I sug-
gest the district take the following
actions to improve public under-
standing of the district mission.
These would also be at no addi-
tional cost, since district staff are
already responsible for them.
1) Provide complete transpar-
ency of social studies instruc-
tional materials (Power Points,
articles, videos, etc.) in the curric-
ulum guides, and improve clarity.
Making these materials readily
available to the public online
would avoid time-consuming
public records requests.
2) Remove the material
regarding critical race theory
from the district website. No other
school district in Eastern Oregon
has seen the need to have such
material on their websites and
its presence is an invitation to
controversy.
3) Comply with board policies.
Students and district residents
are expected to abide by board
policies, and District staff and
teachers should too.
4) Replace or remove the
incomprehensible eduspeak from
the LGSD Culture of Care Frame-
work web page. One figure has
71(!) bullet points. Focus more
on academic programs and prog-
ress (e.g., figures tracking stan-
dardized testing, graduation rates,
how the district is helping students
overcome learning deficits due to
COVID restrictions, dangers of
social media) and a little less on
brain physiology.
Stephen Boe
La Grande
LGSD should make other
cost-free improvements
Landowners could leave
legacy of generosity
The La Grande School Dis-
trict, through the proposed bond
issue, will improve use of avail-
Legacy building is a powerful
human drive.
We yearn to leave something
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
STAFF
SUBSCRIBEAND SAVE
NEWSSTAND PRICE: $1.50
You can save up to 55% off the single-copy
price with home delivery.
Call 800-781-3214 to subscribe.
Subscription rates:
Monthly Autopay ...............................$10.75
13 weeks.................................................$37.00
26 weeks.................................................$71.00
52 weeks ..............................................$135.00
enduring to be remembered by.
Opportunities for creating leg-
acies vary. Leo Adler’s generosity
will be celebrated for generations
by individuals and organizations
in Baker City. La Grande’s Cook
Library and Max Square com-
memorate Maxine and Tom Cook.
Most legacies strive to enhance
quality of life by expanding access
to education, recreation, human
interaction and nature.
Community trails have all the
qualities great legacies are made
of. They connect towns, friends
and families to nature and healthy
activities. The world needs more
opportunities for communicating
and exercising in nature.
Uncounted hours and dollars
have gone toward the creation of
two public trails, one from Elgin
to Joseph and another between La
Grande and Island City. Finances
were lined up and enthusiastic
anticipation nearly unanimous.
However, vehement opposition by
a few property owners brought
both dreams to a halt. That could
well become their legacy.
Landowners along other public
trails have learned their fears were
unfounded and that trails improve
their lifestyles and land value.
They are happy to have opened
their hearts and land to others.
Let the Wallowa Union Rail
Authority, county commissioners
and a few dedicated trail people
schedule a conciliatory meeting.
Local landowners could review
their initial responses: fear of
strangers and loss of privacy. They
could emerge as local heroes today
and be remembered for genera-
tions for generosity rather than
obstructionism.
Mary McCracken
La Grande
Anindependent newspaper foundedin1896
www.lagrandeobserver.com
Periodicals postage paid at Pendleton, Oregon 97801
Published Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
(except postal holidays) by EO Media Group,
911 Jefferson Ave., La Grande, OR 97850
(USPS 299-260)
The Observer retains ownership and copyright
protection of all staff-prepared news copy, advertising
copy, photos and news or ad illustrations. They may
not be reproduced without explicit prior approval.
COPYRIGHT © 2022
Phone:
541-963-3161
Regional publisher ....................... Karrine Brogoitti
Multimedia journalist.........................Alex Wittwer
Interim editor ....................................Andrew Cutler
Home delivery adviser.......... Amanda Turkington
Assistant editor .................................... Ronald Bond
Advertising representative ..................... Kelli Craft
News clerk ........................................Lisa Lester Kelly
Advertising representative .................... Amy Horn
Reporter....................................................Dick Mason
National accounts coordinator ...... Devi Mathson
Reporter............................................Davis Carbaugh
Graphic design .................................. Dorothy Kautz
Toll free (Oregon):
1-800-781-3214
Email:
news@lagrandeobserver.com
POSTMASTER
Send address changes to:
The Observer,
911 Jefferson Ave.,
La Grande, OR 97850
A division of