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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (April 21, 2017)
FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2017 4 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS Opinion / Politics — Editorial — Sanctuary, sanctuary ... We keep hearing Oregon Governor Kate Brown refer to Oregon as a “sanctuary state” for illegals. By executive order back in February, Brown gave Oregon a stron- ger version of this designation than had existed before, hanging a welcome sign out not for legal immigrants, but rather for those who are here breaking the law and acting as a drain on taxpayer resources. Brown’s confused declaration means that state agencies, including law enforcement can’t seek out or detain illegals if the only specifi c law they broke is the very act of their being here to begin with. But here’s another head-scratcher—no State em- ployee should break State or Federal law, her order states, in order to comply with her order. Hmm. Then we skip down south to California, where a sanctuary state bill has passed through the senate and is headed to the house. Senate Bill 54, if passed, means that no state or local agency could comply with a “hold request” from U.S. Immigration and Customs. It bars agencies from arrest- ing, searching, or interviewing an illegal alien—essentially hamstringing law enforcement entirely. Schools, libraries, hospitals, courthouses, jails and the like become “safe zones” from deportation if you’re in the U.S. illegally. Sheriffs around that state have pointed out that the new law would send peace offi cers into communities, which are not safe zones, looking for criminals who have broken laws in addition to immigra- tion laws, rather than being able to simply search the prison system. In response, bill authors added that law enforcement would be notifi ed if a violent felon who happened to be an illegal alien is to be released back into the community from jail. Comforting, no? How long California’s economy can hold up under millions who drain it via receipt of free benefi ts, and put nothing back in, is questionable. Combine this problem with California’s extreme taxation and fee system, with other legislation stripping away basic rights—such as medical deci- sions about which, if any vaccines your own child should have injected into his/ her little body—and it’s a wonder anyone still lives in California. They shouldn’t fl ee to Oregon; it’s be- coming California Lite more by the day. —The Baker County Press Editorial Board ORP files complaint against judge Oregon Republican Party Chairman Bill Currier fi led an offi cial Judicial Complaint with the Oregon Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability against Multnomah County Judge Monica Herranz for her role in helping a crimi- nal defendant to escape Federal ICE Agents on January 27th, 2017. The complaint fi led by Currier alleges, based on an audio recording and local press accounts, that Judge Herranz aided and abetted Diddier Pacheco- Salazar, a suspected illegal alien, in escaping ICE agents by opening a secure door in the back of the judge’s chambers to help him evade capture by the agents who were wait- The ing to detain him in the hallway outside of Judge Herranz’s courtroom. Mr. Pacheco-Salazar had just pleaded guilty to a DUII in her court prior to escaping the Multnomah County Courthouse by means of the Judge’s private route. On the audio recording of the court proceedings after Pacheco-Salazar’s guilty plea and the conclu- sion of the hearing, Judge Herranz can be clearly heard stating, “We don’t want him to go back out there,” in an apparent state- ment of her intent to help Pacheco-Salazar avoid capture. It is also believed that the door opened to enable Pacheco-Salazar to exit the Judge’s chambers and avoid the notice of the ICE agents is a secure door that can be opened only by authorized personnel using a credential unique to each. The Oregon Code of Judicial Conduct prohibits a judge from committing a criminal act. OCJC 2.1(B). A judge may not use the judicial position to gain personal advantage of any kind for another person. OCJC 2.2. Any willful action by the Judge with the intent of circumventing court- house security protocols to help an admitted criminal who may pose a danger to the community to evade Federal law enforcement offi cials is a severe ethical breach, and may qualify as a violation of the judicial code of conduct. Baker County Press Subscribe Today! Name: Address: City, State, Zip: Email address: An update on Brownlee Reservoir By Idaho Power Idaho Power frequently receives questions and comments regarding its operations in Hells Canyon and their impact on reservoir levels. The com- pany understands the impact changing water levels in Brownlee Reservoir has on public recreation and busi- nesses that rely on boating and other reservoir-based recreation. Above-average snowpack means the volume of water fl owing into Brown- lee Reservoir is higher than normal, and infl ow is expected to remain elevated for several weeks. At the direction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Idaho Power is required to lower the reser- voir level to capture this runoff as part of regional fl ood-control efforts. Snowpack in the basins that feed the Snake River above Brownlee are seeing some of their highest levels in decades. The amount of water fl owing into Brownlee is already very high com- pared to recent years, with average daily infl ows well over 60,000 cubic feet per second in April. Those fl ows will remain high during the spring runoff. Idaho Power is committed to refi ll- ing the reservoir as rapidly as con- ditions allow once we are released from fl ood control constraints in May. Water in Brownlee not only benefi ts boaters, campers and anglers, it en- ables Idaho Power to generate clean, renewable electricity for our custom- ers in Idaho and Oregon. Brownlee is the largest single generation resource on our system, and the three-dam Hells Canyon Complex accounts for about 70 percent of our total hydro- electric capacity. Brownlee is considered full when the water elevation is at 2,077 feet above sea level. As of the second week of April, the elevation was ap- proximately 2,020 feet. This is below the level at which existing boat ramps reach the water. The April 30 target set by the Corps of Engineers is 2,012.6 feet (about 64 feet below full), so further drawdown should be expected. The Corps manages reservoirs throughout the region to reduce the risk of fl ooding in the Columbia River Basin. Idaho Power hopes to raise the reservoir to 2,069 feet (within eight feet of full) by the end of May. All developed boat ramps on Brownlee are usable at 2,055 feet. In addition, the company plans to open a new public boat ramp at Moon- shine Mine near Richland, Oregon, sometime in May. This new facility, which includes some camping spots, vault toilets and trailer parking, will reach the reservoir all the way down to 2,020 feet (57 feet below full). Future expansion will extend the ramp further. Idaho Power research shows the an- nual spring drawdown does not affect the overall spawning success of small- mouth bass or crappie. Most spawning for these fi sh happens after mid-April. Spawning will be delayed this year due to cooler water temperatures. More information about bass and crappie in Brownlee Reservoir is available at the link below. Idaho Power appreciates the public’s understanding of the need to balance fl ood control, power generation and recreational opportunities at Brownlee Reservoir. Reservoir Facts: Dam completed: 1958 Generation capacity: 728 megawatts Length: 58 miles Capacity: 1,426,700 acre feet Surface area: 15,000 acres Namesake: The Brownlee family settled the area in 1862 and operated a ferry across the Snake River in the late 1800s. Daly Creek Updates: Spring has brought a lot of activity to Idaho Power’s Daly Creek Habitat Management Area. Idaho Power owns and manages more than 20,000 acres in Hells Canyon, most of it at Daly Creek. Th ese lands are intended to mitigate for the ongoing operation of the company’s three hydroelectric projects in the canyon. Management is guided by the terms of our federal license to operate the Hells Canyon Complex. Here’s a brief update on some of the things happening at Daly Creek New headquarters: Management of our habitat land programs in Hells Canyon is based in Daly Creek, south of Richland, Oregon. Th e building that had served as the primary offi ce for our employees there was demolished and will be replaced this year. What’s Going on at Daly Creek? Riparian restoration: In 2016, Idaho Power planted several rows of native plants near the confl uence of Eagle Creek and the Powder River. Th e purpose is to demonstrate how similar projects might work on tributaries of the Snake River to improve shading, bank stability and habitat. High river fl ows damaged part of the planting over the winter, while a signifi cant portion remained intact. Ongoing habitat improvement: Idaho Power continues to develop wildlife food plots and restore degraded range- lands to perennial grasses and shrubs. Our biologists also control noxious and invasive weeds . — Contact Us — Phone: E-Only $29.95/yr. — Guest Opinion — Print (Delivery) $39.95/yr. Print (Mail) $49.95/yr. Inside Baker City City Limits Only Outside Baker City City Limits Only 1. Make check payable to: Black Lyon Publishing, LLC 2. Mail the check with this completed form to: PO Box 567, Baker City, Ore. 97814 To pay by credit card, please visit www.Th eBakerCountyPress.com 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 specifi c for-profi t 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. 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