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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (May 28, 2016)
VIEWPOINTS Saturday, May 28, 2016 Quick takes Pendleton hunter attacked by wounded bear Bears can live a long time on adrenalin as we witnessed in Fort Yukon Alaska when a friend shot a 3 year old bear for food for village elders. The young bear ran 300 yards and only when he was being gutted later did everyone notice that there was no heart left only exploded bits. Soo take care. Margot Gilmore The animals have no defense when being hunted. It’s not a fair ight. Rose Warriner Great advice.... NEVER hunt alone! Hmmmm, I think I have mentioned that a time or two. Kathi LoPiparo Segrin Everybody makes it sound like this was the bear’s fault. It was wounded irst, that would make me mad too! Leslee Meador Switching genders I can think of at least 50 things that will harm children and their futures. And not one of them is a transgender person using the restroom of their preferred gender. Kellye Connell Finch Veteran returns to Vietnam Thank you Skip Nichols, now and your 18 year old self. EO Reader 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 Grasty epitomizes rural leadership M experienced by the Grasty family, y friend, Steve Grasty, a nor can I fully appreciate what it was veteran Harney County like to be surrounded by visitors who judge who is retiring Dec. intimidated residents and openly 31, is now facing a recall vote. provided a threatening presence. It The recall vote has little, if would appear the anything, to do with his record of armed presence exemplary service advocating for experienced and helping guide one of Oregon’s smallest counties — at least in George by Burns was terms of population if not in terms Murdock not unlike representations of size. Comment from international Harney County is one of the hot spots. largest in America — bigger than It will be years before some states — and Grasty has been an Burns and the small outspoken and successful advocate bringing communities surrounding attention and resources to Harney County it will ever hope to well beyond what would have come their return to normal. The way with a less ardent advocate at the helm. recall effort focused on a Judge Grasty is respected in Salem for his dedicated public servant straightforward approach, his integrity and is evidence of the residue his willingness to ight for Harney County. that remains. Now, on the eve of his departure from Like Judge Grasty a distinguished career in public service, and many other elected Grasty is instead going to spend the twilight oficials, I have deep months of his public life experiencing a concerns about federal prolonged reenactment of the bizarre events ownership of too much of that propelled Harney County from relative Oregon as well as federal overreach, rules obscurity onto the national stage. and regulation. It is also annoying that those What are the basic charges? Grasty representing states where federal ownership failed to support the armed takeover of the is as low as two percent fail to understand Malheur Wildife Refuge by out-of-state the impact of having so much land removed insurgents who, according to some reports, from the tax rolls. caused an estimated $6 million in damage Conversely, while the concept of taking to a treasured resource and blatantly plowed back the federal lands sounds exciting, it up artifacts important to the Paiute Tribes would bankrupt states and counties very while at the same time transforming the quickly. Take, for example, the immense cost community of Burns from a place where of ighting forest ires. Ownership would residents felt safe and uniied into a not necessarily be accompanied by a lack of nightmare of discontent and fear. federal regulations. While I have had opportunities to Judge Grasty knows the residents of his discuss the events surrounding the takeover county depend upon access to federal land to with Judge Grasty, I cannot grasp the full survive. Harney County is the third largest dimension of the threats and harassment cattle producing county in Oregon and many of those cattle feed on federal land. But Judge Grasty also has an obligation to uphold the law and conduct business in a civil manner. The path to resolution of federal grievances isn’t paved with armed visitors who turn communities upside down and create divisions that will fester for generations. While I am concerned about a federal bureaucracy that continues to impose its will upon western America, I cannot condone civil disobedience. And, on a side note, I also believe in honoring a contract with any agency — public or private. As cattle ranchers, our family appreciates the value of pasture and it has never occurred to us that it would be appropriate to withhold our grazing fees. Simply put, Judge Grasty is being maligned for doing his job. Those who are not bound by an oath of ofice have considerably more freedom in doing what they choose. Fortunately, in the primary election, a majority of Harney County voters seemed to support those who were rational in their response to the occupation. I hope that sentiment will prevail in a vote of conidence for Judge Grasty, who deserves to serve with dignity during his remaining six months in ofice. ■ George Murdock is a Umatilla County Commissioner. While I am concerned about federal bureaucracy that continues to impose its will upon western American, I cannot condone civil disobedience. Oregon lawmakers should take cue from Florida’s sunshine laws By JOHN SEPULVADO Oregon Public Broadcasting I n elementary school, Franklin Weekley was diagnosed as “mentally retarded.” He was slow to learn, but quick to act out on impulse. Teachers at his rural school were unequipped to get a handle on him. Weekley ended up spending much of his time at home. Unsupervised, he would often get in trouble. Weekley fought with his siblings and raged at his neighbors. He was fascinated with ire and explosives, and was quick to run away in frustration. His parents — who were also developmentally disabled — hoped Weekley would grow out of it. In 2001, that hope went up in smoke — literally — after Weekley set his family home on ire. The family lost everything, including their son, who was committed to a state-run mental facility as a result. While in state care, Weekley vanished one day. The state agency in charge of his care would claim the developmentally disabled teenager — who had problems dressing himself — ran to Canada. But around 2004, an attorney heard about the disappearance. That attorney told a reporter, and soon after, the reporter iled public records request with the state agency in charge. Those records showed that state contractors had found a body in an abandoned building on the property shortly after Weekley’s disappearance. The records showed the body was badly decomposed, but around the skeleton’s hips was an elastic underwear band with “F.Weekley” written on the tag. A reporter’s investigation found Weekley had run away into an abandoned building and fell down an elevator shaft, where he died. Shortly after that story was published, the state agreed to pay Franklin Weekley’s parents $1.3 million. Strong public records laws have the ability to right wrongs, hold state workers — including politicians — accountable, and shine a light into the darkest recesses of government — like the bottom of a derelict elevator shaft on state-owned property. Public records laws help keep things honest. That was the case in Florida, where Franklin Weekley died. Yet if that were to happen in Oregon, it’s a good bet that Weekley’s whereabouts would still be unknown. That’s because a public records request for a case like Weekley’s would almost certainly be obstructed by delays, exemption claims, and high costs. “The current state of public records is poor to pathetic,” said Willamette Week reporter Nigel Jaquiss. “The public agencies have no deadlines to respond to public records request, so they often do so slowly and incompletely. Some public agencies use their ability to charge whatever they want in a punitive fashion.” Jaquiss, a Pulitzer Prize winner for Investigative Reporting, routinely iles public records requests — and he said state agencies often ind reasons to block requests because they “fear publication of a story that would be embarrassing.” As Jaquiss noted, there are no deadlines for Oregon agencies to respond to requests, nor are there limits to costs. Even if the agencies do respond, there are more than 500 exemptions to the state’s public records laws. And while some of the exemptions serve the public good by protecting the victims of domestic abuse, or shielding state employee medical information, other exemptions include dog licenses, information about boat accidents, and complaints iled by consumers about insurance companies, manufactured homes, and even the state’s judges. In comparison, Florida has four exemptions of public records, there are deadlines for when responses must be iled, and costs must correlate with work performed and be clearly outlined. Legal challenges to this obstruction are often long and costly, and it creates an Oregon where only those with resources have access to transparency. While the state’s reporters have long complained about the state’s open records laws, national research shows Oregon has some of the weakest open records rules in the country. According to the Center for Public Integrity, Oregon earns an “F” grade in the State Integrity Investigation, which measures “transparency and accountability grades for all 50 states.” The state also earns an “F” grade measuring the public’s access to information, ranking 34th in the country. For context, Florida is ranked 17th (and neighboring California and Washington ranked 28th and 32nd, respectively). The Oregon Territory Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is calling on policymakers to reform Oregon’s open record laws. Our membership believes that if it’s good enough for Florida, it should be good enough for Oregon. We urge the public to support that reform. And we encourage all journalists and voters to hold policymakers accountable until that reform is achieved. ■ John Sepulvado is OPB’s Weekend Edition host and a member of the Oregon SPJ Sunshine Committee. A cheer for the bison, our new ‘national mammal’ participated in whole- sale slaughter of the buffalo. Author Larry Barsness, in Heads, he bald eagle has Hides & Horns, chron- been the national icles the relationship symbol since 1782, of the buffalo to North but the Western artist American Indians, Charlie Russell was right: and why the Army The buffalo was far more worked to wipe them important to the story of the out: “Either the buffalo American West. or the Indian must go. Congress agrees on Only when the Indian very little these days, but becomes absolutely this May, it successfully dependent on us for his passed a bill that was Rodger Mallison/Star-Telegram via AP every need will we be quickly signed by A herd of American bison is one of the most able to handle him. If President Obama. The popular features of the Fort Worth Nature Center we kill the buffalo, we National Bison Legacy Act and Refuge in Fort Worth, Texas. conquer the Indian.” designates the American herds from Alaska to Mexico. By Yet, the buffalo bison, most often called 1890, only about 500 animals were survives, and Native Americans the buffalo, as our irst national left. By the early 1900s, there were have a big role in the animal’s mammal. What’s more, the bill restoration. The InterTribal enjoyed the support of a wide array only about 30 genetically pure animals surviving in isolated areas, Buffalo Council represents 63 of ranchers, environmentalists, such as private ranches and the tribes engaging in, or planning, zoos, outdoorsmen and Native Yellowstone caldera. management to restore buffalo Americans. As the Wildlife In his book “Last Stand,” culture, and in some cases to Conservation Society put it, the Montana author Michael Punke manage herds for commercial animal “is an icon that represents depicted the collapse of the buffalo ventures, which in turn will aid the highest ideals of America.” in a sad telling of historical events. Indian communities. Executive The story of the buffalo, once This included the scourge of the Director Jim Stone says the new roaming in immense herds, also hide hunters, who sent 1.5 million national animal designation is a touches on some of the lowest hides back East in the winter of vehicle that will allow tribes to be points in American history. As 1872-1873, leaving the carcasses “buffalo-centric” again. settlers and gold-seekers pushed to rot on the plains. In 1874, the People talk about oil and gas toward California throughout the Sharps Company issued the Sharps as the new buffalo, gaming as course of the 19th century, tragedy Old Reliable, “the rile to end all the new buffalo. “There’s still the often followed in their wake, riles.” Hunter Frank Mayer used old buffalo,” Stone says. Stone, including the brutal repression and one to kill 269 buffalo in a single a Yankton Sioux, says his South massacre of the American Indian, hunt, shooting from 300 yards Dakota tribe harvested its last the wide-scale exploitation of away. buffalo in 1886. It wasn’t until 1993 wildlife resources, and the near-ex- Railroads sponsored buffa- — 107 years later — that the tribe tinction of North America’s largest lo-killing expeditions, during which could conduct another ceremonial land animal, the buffalo. one Kansas man is said to have slaughter of a buffalo. Stone With notable candor, the shot 120 animals in 40 minutes. believes a national buffalo desig- National Bison Association’s Passenger trains on the newly nation resembles the effort to put Dave Carter says “the fact that we minted transcontinental railroads the image of Harriet Tubman, the almost screwed it up” then did not would stop for hours while a single Underground Railroad “conductor,” prevent the diverse and sometimes herd passed, and sportsmen took on the $20 bill. conlicting groups from agreeing Buffalo, you’re the national on a united effort to help restore the aim. And the rail workers had to be fed. A young man who came to mammal. You deserve no less. buffalo. The end goal: Everything be known as “Buffalo Bill” Cody ■ from sustainable commercial meat wrote in his diary that he killed Gaynell Terrell is a contributing production to Indian spiritual 4,280 buffalo in 18 months to writer to Writers on the Range, an revitalization. feed construction workers for the opinion service of High Country In the early 1800s, there were Kansas Paciic Railroad. News (hcn.org). She lives in south- more than 30 million buffalo in Mercilessly, the U.S. Army west Montana. North America, ranging in massive By GAYNELL TERRELL Writers on the Range T