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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 25, 2016)
Page 4A OPINION East Oregonian Tuesday, October 25, 2016 Founded October 16, 1875 KATHRYN B. BROWN Publisher DANIEL WATTENBURGER Managing Editor TIM TRAINOR Opinion Page Editor MARISSA WILLIAMS Regional Advertising Director MARCY ROSENBERG Circulation Manager JANNA HEIMGARTNER Business Ofice Manager MIKE JENSEN Production Manager OUR VIEW Oregon must comply with ID act The Oregon legislature is in a stare-down with the federal government, one it is likely to lose. At issue is the adoption of federal standards for driver’s licenses and state-issued identiication cards in Oregon that can be used at secured areas, including airports. The law requiring it, the Real ID Act of 2005, was enacted as a result of the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent war on terrorism. It requires higher standards of proof of U.S. citizenship or proof of lawful status in the U.S. in order for state-issued IDs to be valid for federal purposes, such as at airport security points or when entering federal courthouses or other secure federal facilities. The Transportation Security Administration, which oversees airport security, has said it intends to stop accepting noncompliant IDs on Jan. 22, 2018. States that are still noncompliant — but have been granted deadline extensions — will face a hard deadline of October 2020, when Homeland Security has said it will require all air travelers to carry a Real ID-compliant license. At that point, residents from noncompliant states will be required to present other identiication which does meet Real ID requirements, like a passport, to ly domestically or to enter federal courthouses or other secure federal facility. Passports are already required for international air travel. Across the country, 21 states currently comply, but others including Oregon have fought the law, saying it is an overreaching, unfunded federal mandate. In 2009, Oregon lawmakers prohibited the Department of Motor Vehicles from spending state funds to comply with the act. They have argued that many of the requirements were too expensive to undertake, and they have asked for extensions each year, which have been routinely granted. Just this month, the state was granted another extension, but this time only until June 2017, essentially just enough time for the Legislature to reconsider its position. Oregon lawmakers have said they will continue to seek extensions, which if granted, would make its deadline for full compliance in 2020. While we understand Oregon’s initial reluctance to comply, it’s time to start implementing the changes. Congress enacted the law more than a decade ago and aviation safety remains a deep concern. The Real IDs will help ease some of the worries. The security measures also make the licenses and ID cards harder to replicate and they have the potential to reduce fraud and identity theft. Additionally, technology and expense issues that existed in 2005 along with security concerns about the cards’ data shouldn’t be a factor today. Experts say better technology and security now exists at far less cost than it did then. And on some of the concerns, like data security, the states should already be addressing those issues regardless of the Real ID requirements. Failure to take the needed implementation steps will eventually force all residents who want to board a plane or enter a federal courthouse to spend the time and money themselves to obtain a compliant ID when one could easily exist otherwise through state-issued driver’s licenses. Legislators shouldn’t allow that to happen and should address it in their next session. Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East Oregonian editorial board of Publisher Kathryn Brown, Managing Editor Daniel Wattenburger, and Opinion Page Editor Tim Trainor. Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily that of the East Oregonian. Culture Corner I f you’re one of the 1,200 or so people who ran through the Boardman poplar tree farm this weekend, you know races on dirt and rock trails through nature are rewarding in their own special way, even if running on a wide, lat street or sidewalk might be easier on the feet. But there are limits. And the Barkley Mara- thons in rural Tennessee push those limits to the extreme. The 2014 documentary “The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young” is a study in the limits of the human body and will. It’s a top secret race, with only 40 slots and no publicized method for entering, that consists of ive backwoods marathons that must be completed in 60 hours. Must is a strong word. In its 31 years, only 14 people have inished the ive circuits, and for the irst decade of its existence, completing two loops was considered the extent of human ability. The course traverses the steep forests of eastern Tennessee, and to complete the entire race a competitor must climb and descend an accumulated 54,200 feet, equal to summiting Mt. Everest twice. The documentary explains the eccentricities of the race itself, its founders and those who dare take the challenge. And the challengers are the most fascinating part. As each completes a loop and takes a moment to rest, eat and receive medical help, the question of whether they will muster the courage to head out again becomes a study in self-discipline. There is no prize except the satisfaction of completing what few people ever have or could. Through the course of the ilm the viewer becomes invested in each competitor — so much so that it’s hard to know whether you want them to inish the race or simply stop at camp after completing a third or fourth loop to end their misery. — Daniel Wattenburger OTHER VIEWS Addressing mental health in rural Oregon A • Investment in “wraparound” recent study of mental health care that seeks to expand services and resources in Umatilla County, support to the families of children commissioned by the Pendleton facing mental health challenges; Academies board of directors, revealed • Development of in-school among its indings challenges that programs to address issues like suicide, include a shortage of mental health professionals such as child psychiatrists. bullying, and trauma-informed care and The Pendleton Academies board practice; actively promotes improved and • An emphasis at the state and Bill responsive mental health care services regional levels to use the Governor’s Grigsby for children in Umatilla County. Early Learning Initiative to integrate Comment In 2015, the board approached mental health concerns and care; Eastern Oregon University about • Greater coordination among mental collaborating on a research project to better health and allied providers through the county’s understand the issues facing Umatilla County’s C.A.R.E. Coordination initiative. mental health care system. Professor and In short, while Umatilla County suffers colleague Rosemary Powers and I worked from the same issues that many areas of rural with three students on a study examining America face with respect to children’s mental issues related to accessibility, availability and health, the system in place has recognized the acceptability of mental health services for importance of addressing them, improving children. The study was carried out over the coordination, especially with schools to make course of a year, and involved interviews with sure mental health care gives every child the mental health professionals in different settings, chance for a quality education, and investing at surveys of teachers in the K-12 school systems, the system level where it will do the most good. and a survey of available research on current For its part, Pendleton Academies’ board trends and promising practices. has committed itself to improving access to Study results suggested resources are child psychiatric care, and more generally scarce, but they also painted a picture of a to professional development for individuals system performing admirably well considering committed to working as child psychologists in the shortage of mental health professionals. Umatilla County. Speciic issues identiied include: Lifeways is working with schools to 1) a need for more psychiatric care for increase access to counseling, and the county’s those children in greatest need, provided by C.A.R.E. Coordination team is setting the professionals residing in the county; example for working with all partners and 2) a perception on the part of teachers that providing the “glue”’ that holds the system they are often on the front lines of helping to together by making it more “user friendly,” distinguish between behavioral and mental especially to those children whose families health issues in the classroom; may lack the inancial means. In addition, 3) a recognition that barriers of language, “telepsychology” (using computer technologies culture and distance must be addressed to to provide patient care at a distance) may be an ensure all children who need services can effective means to address some of the barriers access them easily; and posed by distance in rural areas. 4) an understanding that children will fare The collaboration between Pendleton better when their families’ situations, economic Academies and Eastern Oregon University and otherwise, are stable and secure. proved fruitful. The board has a better sense of The county’s mental health care system where to invest its resources, EOU was able to is developing in ways that help address these provide unique research-based opportunities to issues. Key players, including Intermountain students seeking careers in the social welfare ESD, Greater Oregon Behavior Health, arena, and the process provides a model for Inc. (GOBHI), Lifeways, Umatilla County future collaboration with EOU that should Mental Health and C.A.R.E. Coordination, the serve the region well. Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center, local schools Pendleton Academies Executive Director and Head Start, and private mental health Terry Edvalson has been working with EOU professionals such as Psychological Services and regional partners for decades, and this of Pendleton and child psychiatrist Dr. David recently completed study is just one of several Conant-Norville — who is based in Hillsboro he has spearheaded in recent years that should and travels to Pendleton one day a week to bear fruit in the future. see patients — are all working toward similar ■ goals: Bill Grigsby, Ph.D., is an Associate • Student-based health centers in schools Professor of Sociology at Eastern Oregon that include mental health counselors; University. YOUR VIEWS Ryan Lehnert for sheriff When I was sheriff of Umatilla County, Terry Rowan worked for me as a correction oficer and I was pleased with his work. I’m sure there is good work in his department but the only contact I have had or heard about the department has been negative. Below are some such incidents. The only interaction I have had with his department has left a very bad taste in my mouth. I had a loved one spending 30 days in his jail. I found it almost impossible to get in to see her. Most of the time I could not get them to answer the phone so I could make an appointment. My wife tried all day for several days, but no answer. When she tried other numbers at the sheriff’s ofice they would not help her but would refer her to the number set up to make appointments. I have been made aware of several inci- dents where there has been a lack of response by the sheriff’s department. One such incident was where the kids and teachers at Pilot Rock Grade School heard what they identiied as gunshots. They crawled under their desks, crying and waiting for the sheriff’s department to respond. When the sheriff didn’t respond they called Ryan Lehnert, who had the day off. He arrives in a few minutes from his home in Pendleton. Sheriff Rowan responded ive days later. Another one was where a relative of mine watched thieves steal their jet ski and they called the sheriff’s department during the theft. They knew who the thieves were but still could not get a response from the sheriff. She got the license number at the request of the sheriff’s department but the department never did respond, even after more calls were made. They are still waiting. Ryan has spent 20 years in the National Guard. He has been a irst sergeant in both Pendleton and Hermiston National Guard. He spent a year in combat in Iraq as a sergeant in a recon scout unit. His experience in the military is vital to policing in today’s world. I have known Ryan since he was a boy, and even as a boy he had utmost character. He is a Christian with Christian values. He treats people with respect and has a sincere interest in their problems. Jim Carey Pilot Rock LETTERS POLICY The East Oregonian welcomes original letters of 400 words or less on public issues and public policies for publication in the newspaper and on our website. The newspaper reserves the right to withhold letters that address concerns about individual services and products or letters that infringe on the rights of private citizens. Submitted letters must be signed by the author and include the city of residence and a daytime phone number. The phone number will not be published. Unsigned letters will not be published. Send letters to Managing Editor Daniel Wattenburger, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com.
