Opinion
A4
Tuesday, June 7, 2022
OUR VIEW
A fi rst-class
show in Union
T
here is a great deal to be said of tradition,
and a prime example is the annual ritual
of the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show.
Those who can attend this week’s great event
should do so.
The livestock show dates back to 1908 and
since then it has become a mainstay of the local
area. The rodeo takes center stage for many, but
the foundation of the week are the animals and
the 4-H and FFA youth who raised them. While
there isn’t a carnival this year, there is plenty of
fun to be had.
For Union, the event is an important money-
maker. Businesses in town get a huge shot in the
arm fi nancially when the livestock show opens,
and that kind of economic impact in such a small
area goes a long way.
The event owes its success, of course, to the
many, many people who support it. From vol-
unteers to those on the EOLS board, all deserve
a great deal of thanks from the community for
what they do every year.
Without their dedication and determination,
the livestock show would not be what it is. It is
easy to forget there are local people behind the
scenes who give their time and eff orts to ensure
success. We depend on these people to put
together a fi rst-class show, and they do so year in
and year out, ensuring the tradition continues.
We are fortunate in a real sense that Union
County can look to such an event as the Eastern
Oregon Livestock Show every year. Other coun-
ties don’t have a tradition that marries the
allure of the rodeo and horse racing with Future
Farmers of America, 4-H and other service
groups in a days-long celebration.
So, if you can, drive over to Union this week
and take part in what has become an infl uential
event that delivers fun for just about everyone.
We’re pretty sure you won’t be disappointed.
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.
CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
U.S. PRESIDENT
GOVERNOR
Joe Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, OR 97301-4047
503-378-4582
U.S. SENATORS
STATE
REPRESENTATIVES
Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Offi ce Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
La Grande offi ce: 541-962-7691
Bobby Levy, District 58
900 Court St. NE, H-376
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1458
Rep.BobbyLevy@state.or.us
Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Offi ce Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753
Pendleton offi ce: 541-278-1129
Greg Smith, District 57
900 Court St. NE, H-482
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1457
Rep.GregSmith@state.or.us
U.S.
REPRESENTATIVE
STATE SENATOR
Cliff Bentz
2185 Rayburn House Offi ce Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6730
Medford offi ce: 541-776-4646
Bill Hansell, District 29
900 Court St. NE, S-415
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1729
Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us
OTHER VIEWS
No regular citizen should
have an AR-15
I am writing because I am beyond
heartsick about mass gun shootings.
No one is going to take anyone’s
gun away from them, that’s pretty
obvious at this point. Congress is
afraid that their constituents will not
vote for them if they take action on
gun control. Well, I’m here to say
that I don’t think anyone should vote
for them until someone stands up
and does something to at least try to
help the situation.
Honest and upstanding gun
owners need to lead the way to solu-
tions. But all I ever see or hear is
about the NRA and “Don’t take
my guns away.” No-nonsense gun
owners know that what is going on
is insane. Come on people, stand up
for what’s right. Show Congress that
you stand with them on a solution.
Guns are everywhere, which means
that it could happen here. It shouldn’t
happen anywhere. Get a grip and
show your humanity and your sense
of community.
No regular citizen should have
an AR-15. If you need one to hit a
target, get glasses or stop shooting.
If you hunt, you have a rifl e to do
that. People that purchase an AR-15
do so because they can, not because
they need one. It’s a status symbol or
ego trip. Are all these children really
a threat to you?
Show the world that you care
and want everyone to know you are
a responsible, family-loving gun
owner, I am begging you. Show your
red, white and blue colors. We have
to show Congress that it has to stop,
and it must start with you.
Kay Durham
La Grande
Investment in county
deputies must not be
wasted
I just read the article on the Union
County budget (“Proposed Union
County budget calls for cuts,” The
LETTERS
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SEND LETTERS TO:
letters@lagrandeobserver.com
or via mail to Editor, 911 Jeff erson Ave., La Grande, OR 97850
Observer, May 28). We taxpayers
have spent thousands of our dollars to
hire and train law enforcement per-
sonnel either jailers or deputies. Now
the commissioners are willing to
throw that investment away. The sher-
iff ’s department needs more deputies
not less. Find the money, pass a bond,
do something to save our investment.
Kenneth Parsons
La Grande
We need humane and
eff ective mental health
institutions
I am writing because it appears
that those suff ering acute mental ill-
ness are not receiving adequate treat-
ment. This is despite the best eff orts
of law enforcement and mental health
providers. My concern is for both the
individual patient and the safety of
our community. There is an urgent
need for a new approach.
I served as Circuit Court Judge for
Union and Wallowa counties begin-
ning in 1974 and continuing on either
a full-time or part-time basis until
2014, a span of 40 years. Early in my
tenure, if a person was brought into
court and found to be mentally ill due
to danger to self or others, that person
could be committed to the Mental
Health Division for treatment at the
state-run mental hospital. Then that
person could be treated with medica-
tion and released if the condition sta-
bilized. It was not uncommon for the
release to occur in a matter of days,
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but usually on a supervised basis. If
the person failed to follow the terms
of release, re-hospitalization could be
required for further treatment. How-
ever, the other option available at that
time was to hospitalize that person
for an extended period of time if the
illness was serious enough to warrant
that treatment.
This process was, for the most
part, disbanded as state-run hospitals
were closed and replaced with care
provided on a local basis. As a result,
today we may fi nd the mentally ill
living on the streets as homeless in
diffi cult conditions and they are often
self-medicated with drugs or alcohol.
Or, we may fi nd them in jails or
prisons because they have committed
crimes, sometimes tragic crimes such
as shootings. Or, we may fi nd that
the mentally ill person has returned
home and on occasion that return has
caused pain and trauma to family
members. And sadly, we may fi nd
that the mentally ill person has com-
mitted suicide, which is the second
leading cause of death of people ages
15 to 34.
We need mental health institutions
that are safe, humane and eff ective.
We need the legal means to compel
treatment at these institutions while
recognizing the civil liberties and due
process rights of the mentally ill. The
current method of treatment has been
an experiment that has often failed
the patient and the community.
Warner Wasley
La Grande
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