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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2016)
FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2016 4 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS Opinion — Editorial — Mudslinging and much ado about ... coffee A couple weeks ago another publication ran a poison pen piece about Baker Coun- ty Commissioner candidate Kody Justus. The editorial insinuated that Justus had perhaps delivered something unseemly to the occupiers at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge—and apparently based on these pulled-out-of-thin-air assumptions, labeled him a “right wing extremist.” The editorial then went on to state of those deliveries that “Baker County voters have the right to know.” Well, yes. They do. They also have the right to responsible journalism. We actually took the step to speak with Justus at the time of his trip to Burns. We communicated directly with him prior to writing this week’s editorial as well. The politically twisted accusations currently being spread throughout the community stem back to the support rally in Burns—the support rally for the Ham- mond family to which hundreds peace- fully traveled and marched. Somewhere in the middle of that rally, plans were announced by Ammon Bundy to occupy the refuge. These plans had nothing to do with 99% of the rally attendees present, and caught most, including Justus and everyone else who attended from Baker County, completely off guard. Not long after, however, Justus and his family planned a trip to Harney County. Like many of us had heard at the time, there had been a run on supplies at local stores due to the sudden population boom in that small town, and coffee of all things was in short supply. Justus had decided two things: First, he was curious to meet the players at the Refuge himself and hear their side(s) of the story rather than rely purely on media, which as we’ve just seen, can be grossly skewed. Second, he and his family decided to stock up on coffee and deliver it to the ranchers who had traveled to Burns near and in the Refuge, and to law enforcement. Being Christian, he thought his trip might double as a lighthearted “humani- tarian effort,” an attempt to sooth frayed nerves, which we’re guessing couldn’t have been made better by caffeine with- drawal. He ended up delivering coffee to whom- ever he saw at the Refuge, got cornered by some major media and one yahoo with a camera, tried to respond graciously, ate a meal, and went on his way with his family. Bear in mind, those with whom he supped had in no way been charged with a crime at that time, some haven’t to this day, some never will be, and a few of the others whether we agree with them are not, truly are innocent until proven guilty. From there, Justus knew that law en- forcement from Baker County (and later Baker City) had been called to support other law enforcement in Burns, and he attempted—with more coffee to give away—to locate those folks as well. He never could find them and ran out of time. So ... if there are any other “right wing extremists” out there reading this, we prefer Breakfast Blend here at The Baker County Press. Just sayin’. —The Baker County Press Editorial Board — Letters to the Editor — Voting for Kody Justus Justus has my vote To the Editor: We had the opportunity to meet Kody and his family about two years ago. He is one of the most honest and loyal people we know. The love of our country and our county that he shows is refreshing. Kody stands for our Constitution, which is the backbone of America. He grew up on a ranch, left for the military, and came back to Baker County where he is involved with the County and the local Republican Party. If you want someone who will be boots on the ground the day after the election, this is who you should vote for. Ramona Creighton Baker City To the Editor: We have elections coming up in May, several very important ones. The County Commissioner race has three candidates who are vying for the position. One outstanding candidate in the Com- mission race is Kody Justus, a Keating Valley rancher. I’ve known Kody for years, not only is he a honorable man, but Kody is a con- stitutionalist, believes and lives it. He is against the Federal overreach on our pub- lic lands, stands square behind grazing, agriculture, water rights, timber harvest, mining and access to our public lands. Best of all, when he tells you something you can “take it to the bank and it don’t bounce.” Kody is all the things that have made our county what it is today. Kody will defend our county and help build our economy back to what it used to be before the Federal Government shut down and took away our economic resources. Stand with me and vote Kody Justus for Com- missioner. Chuck Chase Baker City From a proud sister To the Editor: I am writing today about the best big brother a girl could have. He is intelligent and witty. He is honest and trustworthy. He has always been very transparent. You know what he is thinking and how he feels. I haven’t known him to be mean- hearted or unkind. He is the type of man that if you want to know something about him, just approach him and ask. I watched him with pride as we were setting up for the Republican Banquet and he greeted Jeff Nelson with a huge grin and handshake. They are both running for the position of Baker County Com- missioner. They seemed to both believe that there was no need to be anything but welcoming and kind to one another. I watched them support and respect one another as they both gave their speeches that night as well. They were the only two running for that position who honored us guests with their presence. The big brother I am writing to proudly tell you about is Kody Justus. I want you all to know that this kind- hearted man is not a politician. He is a rancher, a father, a husband, a Baker County resident, and a friend of many. He always greets friends with a huge hug and handshake. That’s just the kind of guy he is. I wanted to not only tell him that I am proud of him, but I wanted to share truth with all you Baker County residents. I want you to know that if you were to vote for and elect Kody as your next County Commissioner, you would be getting a good, honest, and trustworthy man. One who wants to stand up for you and for your rights. He loves this nation and he loves this county. Kadie Cosby Baker City — Special Column — So I was thinking ... Life before and after kids By Jimmy Ingram Special to The Baker County Press I am the proud father of two wonderful kids— a four-year-old boy and a two- year-old girl. Most people would agree, being a parent is rewarding, challenging, and fun (well, most of the time). Seeing your kids grow, learn and experience new things is what life is all about. It also puts time in perspective like almost nothing else. Though I’ve only been a parent for a few years it’s given me plenty of time to reflect on what life is like before and after kids. And man, is it different. Eating out: Before I was a parent, go- ing out for dinner at the end of the week with my wife was something I very much looked forward to. We could go at any hour of the evening and head home when we pleased. A perfect chance to see some friends and enjoy a nice relaxing meal. Eating out with little kids feels like the journey of Lewis and Clark to the Pacific Ocean; you don’t know what you’re going to find over the next mountain range, but it has the potential to be scary. Logistically, parents have approxi- mately a 60-minute window to load up the kids and two of their favorite toys, head to restaurant, order, eat their meal and make their escape. Any extension of this hour-long win- dow is considered borrowed time and has potential to throw the rest of the evening into a tailspin. Waiters and waitresses will do their best to provide coloring books, crayons, and extra napkins but they undoubtedly live in fear of the carnage that awaits them on the floor after you’re gone. While I do miss the relaxation of eating out as a couple, the challenge of doing so with small children has its own rewards. Family time is nice, but you better be on top of your game. And be sure to tip well because the server will have earned it. Laundry: Before kids I could do a load of laundry every three or four days and even some of those loads were of modest size. Doing laundry was, dare I say, a “ca- sual” experience. Laundry when you have kids is a far different responsibility. Clothing stains are no longer the excep- tion but the rule. You find yourself won- dering crazy things like “is stain remover sold in 55 gallon barrels?” and, “I wonder if LG designed this washing machine to hold 75 pounds of clothing per load?” Folding laundry after kids becomes optional because no sane human being would dedicate three hours per day to folding this much laundry. But there is good news—once or twice per year you will see an empty laundry Submitted Photo Jimmy Ingram is a local farmer and father of two who enjoys people watching within our wonderful community and beyond. basket and get a feeling of tremendous satisfaction that all the laundry is done. Enjoy it, because it won’t last long. Impressionable eyes and ears: I’m a farmer by trade and any human being that works around equipment will attest to the fact that working on/operating equipment and cussing go together like peanut butter and jelly. I’m convinced the Pope himself would cuss his way right out of the priesthood if he had to work on a hay baler long enough. So in the past when I wanted to let my favorite four-letter word fly out of frustration, I did so guilt free. Now that I have kids that has changed. Knowing that my son or daughter could hear me, and dealing with the guilt that would go along with them repeating something unsavory I had said would be embarrassing. Adults don’t always keep their emotions in check but chances are your peers under- stand. Your kids don’t. I’m sure someday down the road my son will accidentally smash his finger with a hammer or raise his head up and hit it on a plow shear. And when the day comes and he lets a bad word fly as a result I’ll reprimand him. But then I’ll have to turn away and snicker a little. It’s tough to be at your best all the time but when you have kids around you just have to try harder to set a good example. They see and hear everything you do, and that can be scary. Money: Remember all the extra dispos- able income you had before you had kids? Me neither. I do however, remember being able to make selfish purchases with a clear conscience. New shoes? Sure. A moun- tain bike? Why not. I work hard after all. Having kids puts a new perspective on finances. Impulse purchases of the past suddenly turn into well thought out financial planning. Does this mean you’re becoming (gasp) a responsible adult? There’s no doubt that having and rais- ing kids is expensive. But I think of it this way: having kids has allowed me to talk myself out of buying a lot of junk that I probably would have spent my money on 10 years ago. Stuff I really don’t need. Yes a boat would be nice, but good health insurance is more important. Besides, A boat has moving parts ... that need fixed ... which means potential cuss- ing. Maybe we’ll all go out for a relaxing dinner instead of the boat idea. Voting for Nichols To the Editor: I am a volunteer with Best Friends, and I am writing in support of Bruce Nichols. Our organization actively works to find adoptive homes for animals that have been abandoned or must be given up by previ- ous owners. We are a last resort prior to euthanasia. Our operating monies come from “adoption fees” on placed animals, memberships in Best Friends and funding from Baker City and Baker County. Although the $2,000 from Baker County is not a large sum in terms of the entire County budget, to us it is hugely signifi- cant in our work. It pays for the boarding fee at the Baker Animal Clinic, where animals are safely, and securely, kept for up to a maximum of five (5) days until a new home can be found for them. Bruce understands that there is a need for the County to continue to support the important work of Best Friends in placing abandoned animals in loving homes. I have known Bruce Nichols most of his life, and consider him the best candi- date for County Commissioner. Bruce is personable, likable, and very honest. Additionally, he cares a lot about the well being of his community. His strong financial background will be an asset in keeping the County well man- aged and in a good financial position. Carmen Ott Baker City — 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 202.456.1414 Whitehouse.gov/contact US Sen. Jeff Merkley 503.326.3386 503.326.2900 fax Merkley.Senate.gov Phone: 541.519.0572 TheBakerCountyPress.com US Sen. Ron Wyden 541.962.7691 Wyden.Senate.gov Kerry McQuisten, Publisher Editor@TheBakerCountyPress.com US Rep. 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