VIEWPOINTS
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Quick takes
Republicans divvy up states
I just think it’s a snub to Oregon voters.
— Linda Cole
I’m a Democrat, but watching this with
utter amazement, as this is akin to, upon
seeing a giant snowball gaining speed
and size downhill, two guys wake up and
rushing to the front of it saying “We need
to stop that snowball before it wipes out our
house!”
—Rod Wayne Nixon
No I already know who I’m voting
for. Neither one of the Democrats and not
Trump.
— Kristina Ream
Corps determines Kennewick
Man is American Indian
Bring him home.
— Matthew Otten
Lots on fast track to auction
Remember...when you think no one
cares at all about you...just don’t pay your
taxes...
Last thing I recall is that we left England
because taxation is theft....
— Nick Ritzer
One of the great lessons of the Twitter age is
that much can be summed up in just a few words.
Here are some of this week’s takes. Tweet yours
@Tim_Trainor or email editor@eastoregonian.
com, and keep them to 140 characters.
East Oregonian
Page 5A
Not the end to the PGG legacy
path of greater stability. We
made the necessary changes
to have our grain license
he Pendleton Grain
reinstated, we eliminated
Growers board of
operations that were no longer
directors has proposed
proitable, and we restructured
the sale of the co-op and
the entire company.
is taking the inal
The board built a new
decision to members
management team,
for a vote on May 2.
implemented accurate
Our recommendation
accounting systems
to sell the assets of
and reinanced the
PGG was not made
company through a
lightly or in haste, nor
new lender.
has it come without
The board’s efforts
many sleepless nights.
and
transparency have
For the past 85 years,
Tim
whenever you thought
Hawkins earned the conidence
of PGG’s membership.
of the Northeast
Comment
Last December,
Oregon agricultural
the membership
community, you
overwhelmingly voted to
thought of PGG. The
extend the terms of board
suggestion of bringing PGG’s
members, and that decision
time — in its current state —
was made with full knowledge
to an end has been dificult for
of a potential sale of the
the membership, employees
grain assets. Last spring, we
and our entire community.
communicated details about
PGG lost its grain license
our inancial situation and
in 2012, and in that same year
the dire need for members to
we discovered that the yearly
support the co-op by bringing
earnings from 2008 to 2012
were reported incorrectly. This their grain to PGG. Despite
the board’s plea, not enough
board, which had just come
grain was received to ensure a
together, made the decision to
sustainable business.
ight for this co-op and try to
Despite efforts to revitalize
preserve it for the members.
the company, too many factors
Our determined stance
have combined to create an
was accompanied by the
insurmountable challenge. In
responsibility to make some
recent years, the loss in market
tough calls to set PGG on a
By TIM HAWKINS
T
strong buyers. Such buyers
share as members took their
would have the necessary
grain elsewhere, the impact of
resources to reinvest in the
the drought and the discovery
businesses, keeping them on
of the underreported earnings
track and operating to serve
have combined to take a huge
the community’s needs. These
toll on the inancials. Today,
operations
postponing
need continued
or avoiding a
The sale of PGG support to ensure
sale altogether
puts all of our
remain
offers the best they
operations at
attractive to
risk, even those
potential buyers
outcome for
that are proitable
maximize
our members, and
or show
their value. In
potential.
a sale
employees and addition,
The board
at this time
community.
weighs every
would offer
decision based
greater potential
on the impact to
to distribute
our members and employees.
some equity to our committed
We are continuing in our work
members.
to communicate with members
If the members agree with
and employees and present
the board’s recommendation
the best possible outcomes
to sell the remaining assets,
as the next step for PGG. We
which include energy, seed,
are seeking companies that
grain and Precision Rain
have capacity to provide the
divisions of PGG, it will not
services and marketing tools
be an end to the PGG legacy.
our members need, have the
The sale will be a way to
resources to invest in assets,
preserve PGG’s heritage by
and can be community partners providing these operations with
in continuing the traditions
an opportunity to continue to
established by PGG.
thrive and serve the agriculture
The sale of PGG offers the
community in Northeast
best outcome for our members, Oregon.
employees and community.
■
The grain, energy, seed and
Tim Hawkins is the
Precision Rain divisions of
Chairman of the Board of
PGG are positioned to attract
Pendleton Grain Growers.
YOUR VIEWS
Dale Primmer for
Pendleton council
My name is John Trumbo and
I am the retired sheriff of Umatilla
County. In the spring of 1997 I
received a call from a young man
named Dale Primmer. Dale said he
was about to graduate college from
Western Oregon University, as
such had needed to do a practicum
and would like to do it in Umatilla
County. I eventually hired Dale
later that year in what was then
a division of the sheriffs ofice,
Umatilla County Community
Corrections.
Over the years I watched
as Dale committed to his
career and promoted through
the ranks. He now sits at the
helm of that department as the
director of Umatilla County
Community Justice. I know Dale
to be hardworking, honest and
committed to his community.
The city of Pendleton is
currently presented with a unique
opportunity. The city is going to
elect several new council members
as well a new mayor. These
individuals will have a fresh set of
eyes on the problems, the resources
available to the city, as well as
opportunities before it. I support
Dale in his efforts to become
elected to Pendleton City Council
Ward 3, and hope the citizens of
the Pendleton will take advantage
of a well-qualiied individual and
candidate.
John Trumbo
Pendleton
As a Pendleton business owner
and volunteer, I have worked with
Dale Primmer in both professional
and personal situations over a
number of years. I have watched
Dale grow in his profession and his
public service. He always works
respectfully with others, including
those whose ideas oppose his own.
Dale’s enthusiasm and
innovation are inspirational. He
takes the time and interest to look
at all perspectives, and makes a
concerted effort to ind solutions
which meet everyone’s needs.
Dale’s integrity is beyond
reproach, and his character
unimpeachable. He will be
an invaluable addition to our
Pendleton City Council.
Vote for Dale Primmer,
Pendleton City Council, Ward 3.
Susan McHenry
Pendleton
Scott Fairley for
Pendleton council
Please join me in supporting
Scott Fairley for Pendleton City
Council Ward 2. I have known
Scott most of my life and have
found him to be honest and
hard-working. He is a great
communicator and a very
approachable person. Scott has
experience in both the public and
private sectors and will be an
excellent addition to the Pendleton
City Council.
Darcey Ridgway
Pendleton
Cimmiyotti for
Pendleton council
Young Cimmiyotti came to call
at the Sunridge dining hall, he is
only twenty-four but I think he
really knows the score.
He is running for city ofice
and I hope he is elected, because I
wouldn’t want to see a smart young
man like him rejected.
When on the council I have no
fear he will get his rear in gear.
Being young and energetic, too,
elect him to the council and I am
sure he will work for you.
Both of the gentlemen are OK,
but it is time our youth have a say.
Jim Hendricks
Pendleton
Rick Rohde for
Pendleton council
retain Leann’s experience and
institutional memory as the
county moves from the county
court system to three part-time
commissioners and a full-time
administrator.
Please join us in voting
for Leann Rea for county
commissioner
Larry and Betty Mills
Heppner
Milton-Freewater
schools bond
We are writing this letter in
support of Melissa Lindsay for
Morrow County Judge.
Melissa is the right choice
for this position; she has a lot of
passion and energy for making
good things happen in Morrow
County and will do a great
job in working with the other
commissioners to represent the
county well.
We have known Melissa
personally for years; she comes
from a family of long-time Morrow
County residents and wants to
do her part in helping Morrow
County continue to grow. Melissa
is someone that you can count on
to help get things done. We have
worked with her on a professional
capacity as well, whether it was
when she helped us to get a loan
for our home or working on
committees, clubs or coordinating
events.
Please join us in voting for
Melissa Lindsay for Morrow
County Judge.
Have you seen all the vote yes
for Milton-Freewater School signs?
The upcoming bond issue that
is being presented to the Milton-
Freewater community is not only
a generous gift on the part of the
Valley family, but more importantly
an investment in the future of our
town.
Pay it forward is a statement that
we’ve all heard. Someone paid for
our education and our children’s
opportunities, now it is up to us to
pay back and/or pay forward. If we
don’t approve this school bond, we
will become a dying community.
Without the pay-it-forward
approach our future leaders (our
young people) will not have the
abilities to keep this community
alive and healthy.
Sure, none of us want higher
taxes, but I bet you don’t want
someone unskilled to ix your car,
an uneducated dentist to work on
your teeth or an untrained person
to dispense your much-needed
medications. The basis for these
skills start at the beginning of a
student’s school years. Without
up-to-date, safe facilities and
equipment this will not happen. We
can’t attract favorable businesses
or educators themselves without
providing an alluring environment.
Those who currently are working
with our youth are doing the
very best they can with what this
community is providing, but is it
enough? If we don’t approve this
bond now in a few years we will
be asked to pay double or triple of
what it will cost when the buildings
actually come tumbling down.
We both worked out of this
community for a number of years,
but we chose to live and educate
our children here. When our kids
moved away from here, their choice
was a city that is known for its
progressive education systems and
facilities. Please vote to support
that same environment in Milton-
Freewater.
Jim and Becky Kindle
Heppner
Tom and Kathy Strickler
Milton-Freewater
Vote for Rick Rohde. Rick
is an important person to this
community. He cares about
Pendleton so much, he has walked
it streets making sure the beauty
of Pendleton shows and he keeps
us of informed of what the city
council is doing. Not everyone can
go to those meetings, and Rick has
taken the time to keep us informed.
Rick is also a very kind person
and someone that we can always
trust to tell us the truth and
encourages every one to read the
newspaper to keep up with what is
going on. It has never been about
money to Rick; it is about the town
and the spirit our town should
have.
Candy Cook
Pendleton
Lindsay for Morrow
County Judge
Rea for Morrow
County Commissioner
We are writing in support of
Leann Rea’s candidacy for Morrow
County Commissioner.
Leann has served as county
commissioner for the past two
terms and she has proven to be
highly effective in her leadership
role with county government.
Leann is highly visible in all of the
county and devotes many hours of
time and energy to attend meetings
throughout the county and state.
We have found Leann to be
very transparent in her role as
commissioner and she always
takes the time to answer the
public’s questions and share any
information requested about county
government.
We feel it is important to
We feel the excitement
and optimism growing in our
community. If Make A Difference
Day and the creation of the
Gathering Place wasn’t enough
to renew our faith in the future
of Milton-Freewater, the news
of a $15 million private gift to
our school district was surely a
groundshaking vote of conidence.
Of course, that $15 million
private gift comes with a
requirement that our community
must step up to the plate and
commit $12.5 million for schools,
which makes perfect sense. The
Valley Foundation believes in our
future, but they want “proof” that
we believe in ourselves. The school
bond we will be voting on very
soon is our opportunity to say yes
to the future of our community.
Oh, and let us not forget that
a positive vote also unlocks an
additional $4 million state grant.
The math is pretty clear: $19
million in grants plus a $12.5
million community commitment
equals $31.5 million available
to address much-needed school
construction and building
improvements. We have never
before heard of a small public
school district being presented with
such a grand opportunity.
The strong attendance at
informational meetings, the
number of yard signs throughout
the area and support signs in local
businesses are prime indicators that
the local population gets it.
Judy and Ed Chesnut
Milton-Freewater
Lieuallen for circuit
court judge
I think the public needs to know
who the real John Ballard is and
not get confused with what he
wrote in the voter’s pamphlet in
his bid for the position of circuit
court judge. I have irsthand
experience with his dishonesty and
manipulation.
Mr. Ballard represented my
ex-husband in a divorce. One
night while I lay asleep, Mr.
Ballard directed his secretary to
take my truck and hide it at her
home. When I awoke, my only
transportation was gone. Despite
requests, Mr. Ballard refused to
return the truck or disclose where it
was hidden.
Without transportation between
Stanield, where I lived, and
Hermiston for a large part of the
summer, it made my family’s life
very stressful. It was especially
dificult on my daughter who
couldn’t enjoy all that summer
offers a child in a small remote
town. I truly believe that it was
up to the courts to decide how our
material property would be divided.
This was not a decision that should
have been made by Mr. Ballard.
The court did eventually order Mr.
Ballard to return the truck.
After the divorce I iled a
complaint with the Oregon State
Bar. Mr. Ballard was prosecuted
and acquitted. The trial panel
however said this of Mr. Ballard’s
conduct:
“it should be made clear
the trial panel unanimously
disapproves of Ballard’s conduct ...
An attorney snatching and holding
the opposing party’s sole means of
transportation relects poorly on all
lawyers.
The claim by Ballard of “I owed
no duty to the wife” rang hollow
with the trial panel. Ballard’s
actions caused actual harm to the
wife, to the couple’s daughter, and
to the perception of lawyers held
by the community at large.
The trial panel found it offensive
for Ballard, as an attorney and
oficer of the court, to be directly
involved in surreptitiously taking
and holding the vehicle used
by wife, no matter the rationale
offered
No matter how much the trial
panel disapproves of Ballard’s
actions as rude, sharp, and in bad
form, the Bar has not proved that
Ballard violated ORS 107.093.”
Going through a divorce is
dificult enough, Mr. Ballard’s
conduct made it the hardest thing
I’ve had to deal with in my life.
Marylu Lopez
Hermiston
Ballard for circuit
court judge
I have been a law enforcement
oficer in this area for over 40 years.
In 1999 I met John Ballard as he
started his practice in Hermiston
and over the years have seen him
grow into one of the foremost
attorneys in Eastern Oregon.
John’s integrity, honest and
knowledge are the reasons we
chose him when a member of my
family needed legal help. And he
prevailed as expected.
I believe John Ballard will be an
excellent circuit court judge and he
has the vote of the Drago family in
the coming election.
Roy Drago
Retired Morrow County Sheriff
Hermiston ire district
redraw
I have been a volunteer ireighter
for 43 years and on the board of
directors tor 36 years in Stanield.
I can tell you that the forming of
the Umatilla County Fire District
#1 is not a takeover of the Stanield
Fire District by Hermiston Fire and
Emergency Services. The idea to
join both departments together was
started in conversation by the chiefs
of both departments. HFES will not
be able to continue to provide the
area with the level of service that has
come to be expected and Stanield’s
number of volunteers is slowly
dwindling to all-time lows.
With the reformation the new
district would have a new tax base
that would allow tor the growth of
the department to keep up with the
growth of the area. This would be
done by hiring new personnel that
would start Station 2 (Diagonal
Road) with a 24/7 response crew.
This would make quicker response
time on the east, north, and southeast
parts (Stanield area) and relieve the
in-town responses to manageable
numbers. Without it HFES continues
to see record number of calls and
in some instances sees a delay in
response because of multiple calls at
one time.
With a yes vote on the
reformation, supplementing the low
number of volunteers in Stanield
would be huge for ire response
in our areas. The same time we
get dispatched for a ire, so would
on-duty crews from the Hermiston
area. Most of the time when we
get a call there might only be one
or two of us in district to respond
and having all these resources tied
together as one would enhance that
greatly. The only other option if
you don’t agree with this is come
on down and become a volunteer
on your local ire departments —
even Hermiston could use more
volunteers.
As far as people thinking we are
losing “our” ire department, that is
simply not true. We will still have
a 4th of July celebration and all the
other things the ire department
does in the public and will have
more help doing it. The Stanield
equipment is going to remain in the
Stanield station with a different
name (Umatilla County Fire District
#1), serving the Stanield area, or
something to that effect.
Please vote yes on all ballot
measures associated with this
reformation and increase the value of
our local emergency services.
Eldon Marcum, assistant chief and
board vice chairman
Stanield Fire District Board