Opinion
A4
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
OUR VIEW
No toilets,
no tourism
T
he campaign to secure $3 million for the
upgrade of water and wastewater infra-
structure at the Union County Fairgrounds
received a big boost recently when the county
accepted a $1 million outlay from the state.
The money pushes the eff ort for the upgrade
almost to the halfway point and should be good
news for elected leaders and residents of the
county.
The water infrastructure upgrade at the fair-
grounds is needed. The facility now has only
one set of fl ushing toilets, and the $3 million
would allow offi cials to install more permanent
restrooms. For now, portable restrooms have to be
delivered for events at the fairgrounds. While that
is a good stopgap measure it is not a long-term
solution.
A long-term solution such as the water infra-
structure upgrade is necessary so the fairgrounds
can become a viable platform for an array of
events.
A community fairground should be a show-
case for visitors and it should be a place that can
attract big-name entertainers and other events.
That kind of venue, over time, can become a
mainstay for a community and trigger an infl ux
of tourism dollars.
Money generated from tourism is a big deal.
In 2018, for example, visitor — or tourism —
spending in Eastern Oregon was more than $300
million and helped fuel more than 6,000 jobs.
The Union County Fairgrounds could join such
venues as the Liberty Theatre downtown as a
place where tourists want to come. It could be a
shining light for the town and county but it won’t
get there without basic working infrastructure
like toilets.
In short, the $3 million goal needs to be met as
soon as possible. Union County Commissioner
Matt Scarfo said he will push the Oregon Leg-
islative Emergency Board — which meets next
month — for help to fi nd the last portion of funds
to reach the $3 million goal. We hope Scarfo is
successful and we urge lawmakers on the Emer-
gency Board to listen carefully to his pitch. We
also encourage our representatives in the state
Legislature to put a good word in for this neces-
sary upgrade for our fairgrounds.
Working together, as politicians, residents
and offi cials, we can reach the goal and create
a prime-time venue at the fairgrounds that will
continue to enhance our region into the future.
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.
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YOUR VIEWS
Idaho Power’s B2H would
create unnecessary
problems
“A clever person solves a
problem. A wise person avoids it.”
— Albert Einstein
Idaho Power Corporation’s pro-
posed “B2H” power line is outdated
and creates problems we’d be wise
to avoid.
The B2H power line off ers no
benefi ts to Oregonians, only many
burdens. We would endure perma-
nent problems: damage and deface-
ment to our hills, views, plants and
wildlife. While there are many rea-
sons not to build B2H, the most
compelling to me is the increased
risk of wildfi re. Power lines are a
common cause of fi res.
At 6 a.m. on Nov. 8, 2018, a
power line started the Camp Fire 8
miles from Paradise, California. One
hour later, the fi re ripped through
the town of 26,000 people. That fi re
killed 86 people, scorched 155,000
acres and destroyed 19,000 build-
ings. Idaho Power wants to put B2H
within a mile or two of La Grande.
Did I mention that La Grande is far
drier? We get about 18 inches of rain
yearly, while Paradise receives 60.
Recent advances in technology,
changes in economic factors and
concerns about hacking, ter-
rorism and our planet’s health make
long-distance power lines outdated.
Local power production — like
OTEC’s community solar project —
is safer and more secure.
Idaho Power Corporation’s clev-
erness will cause unnecessary
destruction and risks to Eastern Ore-
gonians. Let’s be wise and avoid this
project. Show your disapproval of
this bad idea. Visit www.stopb2h.org
for more information.
John Winters
La Grande
Urbanites unlikely to
welcome wolves
I would have to say that reading
the recent article on OSU proposing
management changes on western
federal lands that would ultimately
result in more wolves and beavers
gave me a chuckle if not a true belly
laugh.
There is minimal chance that any-
body west of the crest of the Cas-
cade Mountains (actually the I-5
corridor) will sit back while “author-
ities” place wolves in their back-
yards. That is why I have person-
ally suggested multiple times that
Western Oregon should try that out
… also throw in some bears, cougars
and more skunks. Point being some
think it is OK for urbanites to force
wolves, cougars and bears to over-
populate the rural areas on the east
side of the mountains.
Just stop and imagine the cost to
everyone to return wolves after years
of peace and quiet for us (ruralites).
It will take millions of our dollars
to place, watch over, pay for dam-
ages while it’s OK for wolves to eat
baby deer and elk or an occasional
beef cow. I am hopeful that OSU
will consider others points of view
and especially confer with Eastern
Oregon ruralites who are truly
I am writing this letter after
reading an opinion submitted by
another individual regarding health
care in the United States. The author
of this letter off ered some pretty
scathing criticism of the VA health
care system. The author off ered
anecdotal scenarios describing
horrible outcomes for several VA
patients.
As a veteran myself who has
accessed VA health care over the
decades — I served with the 11th
Armored Cavalry Regiment in the
Republic of Vietnam in 1969 and
early 1970 — I would like to state
that while no health care system is
perfect, I have received very ade-
quate and very comprehensive care
from the VA. The VA caregivers I
have encountered have all been very
capable and competent clinicians. I
have never had a bad experience in
the VA health care system.
The waits for VA care are some-
times longer than one would wish
here in Northeastern Oregon, but the
waits are not as long as one would
experience in a non-VA health care
clinic.
As a veteran, I appreciate that
my country thinks enough of its vet-
erans to provide a pretty darn good
health care system for veterans.
Thomas Berry
La Grande
STATE REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR
Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, OR 97301-4047
503-378-4582
Bobby Levy, District 58
900 Court St. NE, H-376
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1458
Rep.BobbyLevy@state.or.us
STATE SENATOR
Greg Smith, District 57
900 Court St. NE, H-482
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1457
Rep.GregSmith@state.or.us
Bill Hansell, District 29
900 Court St. NE, S-415
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1729
Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us
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impacted by such decisions.
Ken Parsons
La Grande
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