East Oregonian : E.O., November 15, 2016, Page Page 4A, Image 4

Page 4A
OPINION
East Oregonian
Tuesday, November 15, 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 Office Manager
MIKE JENSEN
Production Manager
OUR VIEW
How to reduce cost
of killing wolves
The Washington Department of
Fish and Wildlife spent $119,577.92
to kill seven wolves from the
Profanity Peak pack.
It seems like a lot of money,
considering the job was left undone.
But we have no expertise in such
things.
Wolves in the eastern third of
Washington aren’t protected by
the federal Endangered Species
Act. The state’s policy calls for
shooting wolves when measures
such as putting more people on
horseback around herds fail to stop
depredations.
Though the entire Profanity Peak
pack was slated for elimination, the
operation has been suspended with
four wolves surviving. Wildlife
officials say they didn’t quit
because of the mounting cost.
WDFW spent the money during
an operation in northeastern
Washington that began Aug. 4 and
ended Oct. 19. Expenses included
renting a helicopter, hiring a
trapper, and paying the salaries and
benefits of WDFW employees.
Tracking and killing wolves is an
expensive proposition that seems
to carry no real discount even when
done in volume.
Dispatching 64 percent of
the Profanity Peak pack cost
$17,082.56 per wolf killed. That’s
less than the $26,000 it spent to
kill just one wolf in 2014, but more
than the $10,857.15 per wolf it
spent in 2012 to kill seven.
Wildlife wolf policy coordinator
Donny Martorello said the agency
will look at culling wolfpacks in the
future in “the most frugal way we
can.”
Cattle Producers of Washington
President Scott Nielsen has an idea.
He says Washington wildlife
officials could authorize ranchers
to kill wolves that are attacking
livestock.
“We would work collectively,”
Nielsen said. “It would cost the
state nothing.”
It’s probably too simplistic to
assume it would cost nothing,
because government would still be
involved, or that ranchers would
necessarily have better luck. Still
it’s an idea worth studying.
Environmentalists would rather
pay ranchers to move off allotments
than to kill even one wolf. That’s
not going to work for cattlemen.
Allowing a cattleman to kill
a wolf attacking his herd makes
sense. Killing a problem wolf early
enough may prevent the need to
kill a whole pack later. That would
be cheaper for the state, better for
the cattlemen, and better for the
wolves.
It’s not often cattlemen catch
wolves in the act, but they
nonetheless should have the tool at
their disposal.
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.
Fiona Staples/Image Comics
Culture Corner
O
nce the domain of a small set of
hardcore fans, fantasy and science
fiction are now in the mainstream.
Whether it’s “Game of Thrones,”
“Star Wars” or Marvel’s ever-expanding
web of movies and TV shows, America’s
most popular and profitable pop culture
tends to contain magic, robots or some
combination of both.
These franchises find staying power
when they use their fantastic settings to
tell human stories, and with due respect
to everything that is finding success on
film and television, the best series to
inhabit that quality is found in the pages
of a comic book.
“Saga” has all the sci-fi plot elements
that make it difficult for fans to soberly
argue its appeal — a group of android
royalty with computer monitors for
heads, a tree that can fly into outer space
and a bounty hunter with a truth-
detecting cat all figure prominently.
But the actual meat of the story hews
much closer to plots as old as literature
itself.
Marko and Alana are starcrossed
lovers from warring planets who get
married in secret and have a child. As
soon as they’re discovered, the family
tries to keep itself intact as the a cadre of
soldiers, guns-for-hire and opportunists
try to catch them.
Along the way, the story has time to
reflect on the nature of marriage, family,
war and identity.
If it sounds melodramatic or
overstuffed, “Saga” writer Brian K.
Vaughan infuses each page with enough
wisecracking dialogue, explosions and
action set-pieces to prevent the story
from getting too heavy-handed and
keeps the plot hurdling forward.
“Saga” succeeds with the talents of
artist Fiona Staples, who is as equally
skilled at rendering the dozens of aliens
that populate the story’s universe as
she is at conveying the subtle facial
expressions of each character as they
wrestle with complicated emotions.
Although Image, the independent
company that prints “Saga,” gives its
creators ample leeway to frankly depict
violence and sex, Vaughan and Staples
always use them in the service in the
story rather than exploitation.
Unlike other comic series, or the
movie franchises that are inspired by
them, there is no complicated mythology
to learn before reading the first issue.
At a time when comics are mostly
used as springboards for film or TV, both
Vaughan and Staples have been adamant
that “Saga” won’t be adapted for the
big or small screen, a fitting move for a
series this expansive and unadulterated.
Putting aside “Saga’s” superbly
bizarre peripherals, the comic series’
commitment to indelible characterization
and universal plotlines will have readers
identifying with a pacifist goat-man who
can summon lightning without thinking
twice.
— Antonio Sierra
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.
OTHER VIEWS
Region depends on Columbia-
Snake River System
O
nce again, the value of the
suspended for a period of time, the
Snake River system is going to
impact of the increased trucking raised
be reviewed, but this time with
emissions by a whopping 323.2 percent.
a twist.
Clean power
In May, Judge Simon, in his ruling
The eight dams on the river system
related to the Snake River Biological
are also counted on by every person in
Opinion, has now brought the entire
the Pacific Northwest when they reach
river system, including the dams on the
for a light switch. Close to 60 percent
Columbia, into the discussion.
Tom
This is new territory. The public is
Kammerzell of the power used in the Northwest
is generated by the clean, renewable,
being given the opportunity by Jan. 17
Comment
carbon-free hydropower generated by
to weigh in on the diverse value of the
the dams on the river system.
entire river system. Contact informa-
Furthermore, the dams help to regulate the
tion can be found at the end of this column.
flow of energy to the grid from wind and solar,
As the dialogue continues with regard to the
and provide a firm backup for when those other
damage done to salmon numbers, it should be
renewables are not generating. This is evident
noted that the true devastation was done in the
in the winter when cold weather requires more
late 1800s and early 1900s by fish wheels and
electricity and the dams are called upon to meet
canneries, which no longer exist. In fact, the
that demand.
numbers of fish are continuing to increase and
in some cases are higher than in 1938 when
Salmon gains
Bonneville Dam was built.
The modern benefits of the river system
Economic asset
have allowed commerce and energy to flow
The Columbia Snake River System is a vital while also dramatically improving salmon runs
on the river. The eight dams on the Columbia/
economic asset for the entire Northwest. The
Snake mainstem have always had fish passage
eight dams and locks on the Columbia Snake
facilities. Over the past 20 years, we have seen
River System provide transportation, energy
tremendous investments made at the dams to
and economic benefits to the region. They also
make them world class facilities, plus important
provide flood safety, lest we forget the Vanport
flood of 1948 which removed an entire city and habitat work in our tributaries and the estuary.
The collaborative efforts of our federal
killed over 50 people.
agencies, tribes, states and nonprofits have
Thanks to the eight dams and locks on
led to record-breaking returns for some of our
the Columbia and Snake rivers, farmers and
salmon populations and dramatic improvements
businesses have access to the safest, most
in others.
environmentally friendly way to move their
Like every other river in the world, we’ll
product downriver to export. Farmers as far
always have challenges, such as the unusually
inland as the Midwest can take advantage of
high temperatures we saw last year. But as
barges to move their crops down to the export
improvements continue and partnerships
terminals on the lower Columbia River.
strengthen, we look forward to continued
Wheat gateway
increases in our fish runs.
The Columbia Snake River System is the
The year is 2016, not 1816. We require
nation’s No. 1 wheat export gateway with 49
electricity all of the time, not just when the wind
percent of U.S. wheat moving through the
blows and the sun shines. With the ever-in-
system, and our inland lock and dam system
creasing world population more mouths need to
plays a big role in getting that wheat to market.
be fed affordably. I encourage advocates of the
Just rail or barging can’t do it alone — we
current river system to weigh in to help protect
need both cargo modes to move all the product
these vital economic assets for our region.
coming out of our area.
Visit http://www.crso.info/ for the list
Keeping the river system open for business
of meetings, submit your comment letter at
helps to protect lives, jobs, farmers, our regional comment@crso.info or mail a letter to CRSO
and national economy and helps feed people
EIS, P.O. Box 2870, Portland, OR 97208-2870
around the world.
by Jan. 17.
From an environmental perspective, the
■
dams should be celebrated for providing the
Tom Kammerzell is a Port of Whitman
cleanest, greenest way of moving millions of
County, Wash., commissioner and wheat
tons of commodities. The last time barging was
producer.
YOUR VIEWS
Let the protesters march
A kick in the pants to the editorial writer in
Friday’s paper who railed against Americans
“in Portland and elsewhere who were
protesting the election of Donald Trump.”
Don’t make me come down to the East
Oregonian office to teach you journalists
the First Amendment. Right near freedom
of the press is the right of the people to
peaceably assemble.
What better way for disappointed voters
to express their grief and frustration than to
gather in protest? What better way to assure
our friends of every color and creed that we
are all Americans and we resent a president
who would deny liberty to these people or
incite others to do so?
Do I condone riot? Of course not. Do I
condone disobedience? Probably not. Am I
sorry commuters might have had a longer
drive home? Well, democracy is not always
easy or even convenient for all.
Let demonstrators have their say. Let
them mourn collectively this dangerous path
presented by our president-elect. Then, turn
them to group action that will stop every
attempt to take health care away from those
who need it ... that will stop every word of
hatred uttered by one school aged child to
another of a different color ... that will refuse
to undo the progress toward inclusion for all
no matter whom they love.
The framers of our Constitution knew that
it does no good to stifle the emotions of hurt
and anger amongst the populace.
Peace marches in my day. Marches
against hate in this day. We will all survive
and the discussion will not be stifled.
Janet Groat
Pendleton
Media, protesters should
accept election results
The negativity by the East Oregonian
about President-elect Trump almost
measures up to the stupidity of destructive
hoodlums destroying property along
Portland streets in the aftermath of the
presidential election. That shameful display
of law-breaking makes one wonder if the
parenting of these young people lacked the
basic principals such as “do unto others.”
One of the fundamentals safeguarding
our democracy is that we have open
elections where all citizens choose their
candidates and cast their votes. As patriots,
following Election Day, we need to accept
the results and move on regardless of
whether the outcome reflects one’s personal
choice. The present loss of enthusiasm
for elected officials stems from the past
eight years of the current administration’s
inefficiency and the liberal movement that
have influenced our culture.
My hope is that the pundits and
newspapers that were so wrong about the
presidential election outcome will in time
again have to eat their words. On a positive
note, those folks who stated they would
move to Canada or elsewhere if Hillary
Clinton was not elected could perhaps
relieve the housing shortage in Portland and
other cities. We are so blessed to be living
in this great country and it’s inconceivable
that some people do not appreciate nor
strive to protect all that this nation offers.
Merlyn Robinson
Heppner