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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 2017)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017 4 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS Opinion / Local — Editorial — Let’s repeal Oregon’s barbaric abortion law Thanks to the efforts of Republi- can signature-gatherers and peti- tion signers from all parties and walks of life, Oregon has a chance to appeal newly passed legislation. The laws that came from the 2017 legislative session were hor- rific in large part—from a ridicu- lous gun grab bill cloaked beneath the illusion of suicide prevention, to a bloated Transportation Pack- age that gave new meaning to the phrase “taxation without represen- tation.” But perhaps the most barbaric of all were the changes to Oregon’s abortion laws, making Oregon the number one most liberal state in terms of ending the life of a baby in utero. In Oregon if a woman decides at eight and a half months—or even nine months—into her preg- nancy that she maybe wanted a boy instead of a girl, she can abort that baby. And if she can’t afford it, taxpayers are forced to fund it. If that woman is an illegal trespasser from another nation who lands on the doorstep of an Oregon abortion clinic, taxpayers will be forced to fund her abortion as well. One petition effort this fall, though, was a success. Another is still in the works. Voters will hope- fully see on their ballots in the next election two ways to slay this legal beast. Voters will absolutely have the ability to vote to simply de- fund it, thanks to petition success. The second petition, which would repeal it entirely, is ongoing … —The Baker County Press Editorial Board Local Soroptimists offer scholarships! Baker County Sorop- timists are pleased to announce two $1,000 High School Scholarships to a girl continuing her educa- tion. She must be a current graduate of Baker County (North Powder also), or within the last five years, and must be attending and/ or accepted to a Higher Education School. (Col- lege, Trade, etc?) Call Jo Hinrichsen at 541- 523-7778 for more. — Obituaries — CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 Brandi Lee Jones La Grande, 1991-2017 Brandi Lee Jones of La Grande, Oregon, passed away peace- fully Friday, Brandi Lee October 20, Jones 2017, in La Grande, with her mother and step- father at her side. A Traditional Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints in Baker City. A dedication of the grave will be held at Eagle Val- ley Cemetery in Richland, Oregon at 11:45 a.m. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception to be held following the interment at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Baker City. Brandi was born in Portland, Oregon, January 11, 1991, to Ricky Jones and Stephanie Jones (now Hensley). Brandi later moved to Baker with her family. She attended Baker schools. Brandi began los- ing her eyesight at about age 8. She refused to let that slow her down (liter- ally), often to the dismay of family members. The blindness progressed and a few years later she was completely blind. She still was not ready to slow down. She had several great summer experiences at the School for the Blind in Salem. She participated in a summer hiking trip and campout, swimming, a talent show and fencing. (We were pretty sure the weapons were not “real”.) Brandi was able to go to Space Camp (for the visually impaired) and had a great time. With her mother and siblings, the Make-a-Wish Foundation sent her on a Disney Cruise. The Church of Jesus Christ in Baker City pro- vided teachers who loved her and helped to teach her the Gospel. The girls in church her age also gave her great support, especial- ly when she attended Girls Camp during the summer. Brandi always wanted to do what the girls her age were doing. Some of her teen years were in Cornelius, Oregon, where she attended special classes and lived in a group home. At age 18 she had to leave there and then came to La Grande. The family knew little of the home Brandi was going to in La Grande. It didn’t take long to find out that there were angels in human form who worked there. Those that cared for her there were greatly appreciated and the family wishes the richest of blessings for them. Brandi’s last few years did slow her down. She first used a wheelchair occasionally, then had to use it all of the time. Because of the effects of her disease, she lost much of the ability to commu- nicate with speech, but nothing was going to stop her giggles. She always had a sense of humor and the memory of an elephant of things that had at some time made her laugh. Her physical condition contin- ued to deteriorate but her spirit stayed strong as well as her “girlie girl” attitude, pretty hair and pretty nails. Brandi is survived by her mother and stepfather, Stephanie and Brian Hens- ley of Haines, her father and stepmother, Rick and Vicki Jones of Oro- fino, Idaho, brother David Chesterman of La Grande, sisters Rebecca Payton (Shawn), and Jessica Kohler, both of Lewiston, Idaho, grandparents Linda and Dennis Miller of Baker City, Frank and Roseanne Riggs of Richland, and great-grandfather Fred Riggs of Richland, several nieces and nephews and aunts and uncles. She was preceded in death by her grandparents James and Delores (Dodie) Jones. Brandi had an especially great love for her family and her Heavenly Father. Her sweet spirit will be missed. For those who would like to make a memorial donation in memory of Brandi, may do so to help defray funeral expenses through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home PO Box 543 Halfway, Oregon 97834. On line condolences may be shared at www.tamispi- nevalleyfuneralhome.com. — Letters to the Editor — Guns are not the issue To the Editor: Last year, over 52,000 people died from drug overdose. 3,000 babies were mur- dered yesterday, that’s well over a million a year! None of those deaths involved the use of a firearm. After the great massacre in Las Vegas, which no motive has yet to be established, we mourn the tragic loss of 57 lives (ex- cluding the gunman) as well we should. We should also accept the fact that evil needs no motive. But we somehow blur our focus on the elephant in the room because it feels be- yond our control and too large a problem, it overwhelms us. There are over 300 million guns in this country. Most are owned by law-abiding, taxpaying citizens who lawfully possess a firearm. So why are we focusing in on them? I believe it’s due to fear. Democrats fear gun owners because of the power they possess of retaliation and overthrow of a tyrannical government. Our forefathers saw this reality and possessing great wisdom and having experienced a tyran- nical government, they included our 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. Probably to protect our 1st Amendment right as well. So all that being said, there is always a looming fear of a militia’s shadow hover- ing in the background of anyone or any party becoming to powerful and dictating our freedoms, or rather limiting them. I think we need to become more God- controlled verses gun-controlled. If we feared, respected and obeyed God’s laws and learned to truly love one another, the need for 3,000 innocent lives being taken daily would end. The need for mind-alter- ing drugs would decline and gun control wouldn’t even be a topic for conversation. Think of the lives that could be saved. In my humble opinion. Tom Wilcoxson Baker City — Contact Us — YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS The Baker County Press President Donald Trump 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 Wendee Morrissey, Advertising and Sales Wendee@TheBakerCountyPress.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 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 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. David Conn, Advertising and Sales David@TheBakerCountyPress.com 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 US Rep. Greg Walden 541.624.2400 541.624.2402 fax Walden.House.gov Oregon Gov. Kate Brown 503.378.3111 Governor.Oregon.gov State Rep. Cliff Bentz 503.986.1460 State Sen. Ted Ferrioli 541.490.6528 Baker County Commissioners Bill Harvey; Mark Bennett; Bruce Nichols 541.523.8200 Copyright © 2014 -2017 541.523.8201
