Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 2015)
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015 4 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS Opinion — Editorial — Starbucks and the red holiday cup controversy There are so very many reasons to boycott Starbucks: We prefer to sup- port local businesses. We detest their anti-gun policies. We dislike Howard Schultz’s ultra-politically correct, über-liberal stances on pretty much … everything. We don’t agree with the fact this company donates money to Planned Parenthood, which in turn harvests and sells baby parts … However, this year’s silly red cup controversy isn’t included in the reason-to-boycott list. Starbucks’ 2015 holiday cup is a red ombre design, lighter red on top, darker red on the bottom, with white and green on the logo and lid. Fes- tive enough. In years past, the cup has boasted red pine bows, ornaments, reindeer, etc. This year’s cup isn’t re- ally a change of pace for that com- pany; it remains brightly colored with no tribute to any religion. Just like it’s our right not to frequent a business whose practices we oppose, it’s Starbucks’ right to not practice or promote any particular religion, including Christianity. We don’t think the red cups are exactly an attack on our religion of choice anyway, an opinion that seems to fall in opposition to that of at least a few folks out there. We don’t believe most Christians give a darn about the red cup, though. After all, how many of our local restaurants print “Jesus Saves” on their to-go boxes or paper coffee cups? The frustrating part about this social media-driven brew-haha (lame pun intended) is that in so many areas, Christians are actually being perse- cuted. They are targeted, tortured, beheaded, forced from their homes, imprisoned and uprooted from their lives. When something so silly as a coffee cup garners so much attention, the biggest shame in the situation is that the controversy almost always serves to deflect from an actual issue, and makes those who wish to speak out on that actual issue hesitant for fear of being lumped in with the type who would complain about the design of a paper cup. We think if a red paper cup some- how makes a person feel persecuted, then they probably have no idea what the word really means. —The Baker County Press Editorial Board — Letters to the Editor — FOIA Response Disappointing To the Editor: It was disappointing to receive a pre- liminary cost assessment for a Freedom of Information Request to the Malheur National Forest from Supervisor Steve Beverlin on my request as to the contact his forest has attempted with Sheriff Palmer. It’s disappointing to see the County Court lining up in a feeding frenzy to marginalize a man so well respected in our community, but is more disappointing to see the Supervisor Beverlin hide behind excessive fee gouging to hid the truth. I submitted my request as a member of Citizens for Public Access so that I could make sure the full story was told, whether or not it was in the Sheriffs favor or not, but obviously, Supervisor Beverlin would rather hide behind $1,680 worth of fees in order to keep the truth from coming out. Just so everyone is clear, you pay your taxes to employee people, and that is not enough to retain public information that has already been paid for, but again, when you can hide the truth with excessive fee’s it’s pretty simple to justify. Law Enforcement: 6 hours @), $45/ hour = $270.00 Fire Staff Officers: 4 hours a $45/hour = $180.00 District Rangers: 18 hours a $45/hour = $810.00 Forest Supervisors: 7 hours (a $50/hour = $350.00 Freedom of Information Act: 2 hour@ $35/hour = $70.00 For a total estimated cost of $1680.00 There is no freedom of information at the Malheur National Forest, especially when dealing with men that threaten to stop vegetation projects (i.e. logging) if roads are not closed along with them. Don’t you wish you were making that $45 or $50/hr. to develop all those sup- posed meeting request to then stand back and thumb your nose at the public and keep them from the truth? John George Bates Owyhee Canyonlands thoughts To the Editor: I’m becoming increasingly concerned we are going to end up visitors to areas our families have freely accessed since settling in Eastern Oregon. Letter to the Editor Policy: The Baker County Press reserves the right not to pub- lish letters containing factual falsehoods or incoherent narrative. Letters promoting or detracting from specific for-profit business- es will not be published. Word limit is 375 words per letter. Letters are limited to one every other week per author. Letters should be submitted to Editor@TheBakerCounty- Press.com. Advertising and Opinion Page Dis- claimer: Opinions submitted as Guest Coming away from the public meeting in Adrian, on the latest threat of over 2 million acres being signed into a monu- ment, I’ve switched my attention to a co- alition between the green machine Oregon Natural Desert Ass., Pew Charitable Trust, and Sierra Club joining with recreation based businesses such as Keen Footwear. This is some of the principles, but not all, pushing the Owyhee monument. Is it about saving the Canyonlands or selling more sandals to fill the coffers of private companies. Self-serving coalitions with no interests to the negative impacts imposed on the local population that will result in families being displaced. No recreationists are being held back from enjoying the Owyhee Canyonlands at the present time. If you were to believe the presentation from Oregon Natural Desert Association everyone comes out a winner. Access would remain, but failed to mention clos- ing the scores of spur roads locals have historically used for sustenance. Failed to mention grazing will be negatively af- fected. Economic values from the mineral resources would be lost. Urbanites all decked out in their subtle, “look at me attire,” could breeze in, spend a few days and dollars, and be gone just as they are free to do presently. Is it hard to under- stand, we are not for sale, our historical cultural access is not for sale. We are doing just fine without your money. A new Presidential Memorandum, “miti- gating impacts on natural resources from development and encouraging related private investment.” Encouraging related private investment, what in the world does this mean? The term “invest,” means putting money in business etc, in order to get a profit, this implies our public lands are for sale. This is a general term that can and will be used to implement more redundant regulations from out of control bureaucratic agencies. Will people push back, I hope so. Noth- ing has worked to stop the land grabs swirling around us. We desperately need representatives to serve the people they represent, be our voice at the table. Play- ing politics, has not been a winning hand, time to quit bargaining away the very items you are entrusted to protect. Wanda Ballard Baker City Opinions or Letters to the Editor express the opinions of their authors, and have not been authored by and are not necessarily the opinions of The Baker County Press, any of our staff, management, independent contractors or affiliates. Advertisements placed by political groups, candidates, businesses, etc., are printed as a paid service, which does not constitute an endorsement of or fulfillment obligation by this newspaper for the products or services advertised. — Guest Opinion — Old-fashioned conservation methods By Sandra Ghormley Special to The Baker County Press I vividly remember how annoyed I became after hearing my dad shout, “Don’t forget to turn the lights off when you leave the room.” “Okay, Dad, I got it. You’ve said it 100 times!” I’d reply. You see, Dad grew up in the 1930s when electricity had not reached every neighborhood in America and many homes where lit with oil lamps. Back then only 10% of the farms had elec- tricity and flipping a switch to light a room was still considered a luxury. Yet, even then, people realized how important it was to conserve energy. Decades later, shutting off lights may be a little old-fashioned—but it is still a good idea. Combine it with new lighting technology and real savings result. In the 1960s, the economy was booming and energy was abundant. Consumers gradually moved away from thinking about conservation and developed an insatiable appetite for electricity. From the early days in the 1940s to 2007, electric usage in the U.S. more than doubled. America became the largest consumer of every- thing electricity could offer. As a result, more dams were built and more petroleum, coal and natural gas powered electric generation plants were needed to satisfy the growth. New transmission and distribution power lines were constructed con- necting, expanding and crisscrossing the countryside in order to handle the increased loads and keep pace with customers’ expectations. This increas- ing demand for electricity was met with building more generation and power lines. Today, we cannot image our lives without electricity. It is no longer a luxury but a way of life. According to a 2013 report from the US Department of Energy, the U.S. is now the 2nd largest energy consumer and producer of electricity in the world, following behind China which has moved ahead to first place. The good news is if you are a mem- ber, Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative (OTEC) can help you find ways to take action on that inner voice. Since 1990, OTEC has offered conservation programs to teach responsible electric use and to help members make wise energy choices in their homes and businesses. We joined with Bonnev- ille Power Administration (BPA), our power producer, to offer many attrac- Submitted Photo Sandra Ghormley is a 20-year vet- eran of the electrical utility industry. In 2013, she joined OTEC as the Director of Member and Program Services. Before coming to OTEC, Sandra served as the Manager of Member Relations at Homer Electric Association in Kenai, Alaska. tive *rebates that can offset the cost of purchasing lights and upgrading fixtures to more efficient, energy sav- ings devices. Over the last two years, OTEC has assisted more than 150 local business- es to upgrade their lighting systems to a variety of Light Emitting Diode (LEDs). Many of the new LED lighting prod- ucts offer brighter, more widespread illumination of areas while at the same time use 1/10 the energy to achieve a greater output. LEDs last much longer than incan- descent or compact fluorescent bulbs, light quickly, and do not radiate as much heat. There is a wide range of LED lamps and fixtures on the mar- ket today to customize your specific lighting solutions. The last two years, OTEC has made it worth the invest- ment by helping members save over four million lighting kilowatt hours, reducing electric consumption, and lowering electric bills. OTEC has the proof—listening to that inner voice and taking action to conserve makes a difference. Today, most everyone recognizes the importance of conserving electric energy. Although our motivation for conserving electric energy may differ from altruistic to personal gain, every time we act on that small inner voice, we lower our electric bill, put less pressure on building any new electric infrastructure, and make the world a little better for the next generation. Combining old-fashioned ideas for conserving electricity with new light- ing solutions is good advice. I must admit Dad got a few things right. And, yes, I catch myself offering similar advice to my children, “Let’s change it out to an LED bulb, and, oh, before you leave the room, turn the lights out.” *Rebates subject to available funds and program criteria. — Contact Us — YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS The Baker County Press President Barack Obama PO Box 567 Baker City, Ore. 97814 202.456.2461 fax Open Monday-Thursday for calls 9 AM - 4 PM Open 24/7 for emails Office location: TBA Phone: 541.519.0572 TheBakerCountyPress.com 202.456.1414 Whitehouse.gov/contact US Sen. Jeff Merkley 503.326.3386 503.326.2900 fax Merkley.Senate.gov US Sen. Ron Wyden 541.962.7691 Wyden.Senate.gov US Rep. Greg Walden Kerry McQuisten, Publisher Editor@TheBakerCountyPress.com Wendee Morrissey, Advertising and Sales Wendee@TheBakerCountyPress.com David Conn, Advertising and Sales David@TheBakerCountyPress.com 541.624.2400 541.624.2402 fax Walden.House.gov Oregon Gov. Kate Brown 503.378.3111 Governor.Oregon.gov Published weekly every Friday. Subscription rates per year are $29.95 all areas, e-mail delivery. $39.95 print issue, home delivery, Baker City city limits only. $49.95 print issue, mail delivery, outside Baker City city limits only. Payment in advance. A division of Black Lyon Publishing, LLC State Rep. Cliff Bentz 503.986.1460 State Sen. Ted Ferrioli 541.490.6528 Baker County Commissioners Bill Harvey; Mark Bennett; Tim Kerns 541.523.8200 541.523.8201 Copyright © 2014