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OPINION
East Oregonian
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
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
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OUR VIEW
OTHER VIEWS
Grandfather and the bounty hunters
O
Aliya Hall/Capital Press
Signs like this one help bridge the urban-rural divide by letting drivers know
which crops are grown on farms.
Crop signs help bridge
urban-rural divide
The farm community talks a lot
It’s a great tool to quickly educate
about the urban-rural divide, that
the public about the diversity of
sense that people in the cities don’t
Oregon agriculture.
understand, and perhaps don’t care,
“We’re about education, and
about what’s happening in small
people didn’t really understand
towns and farm country.
what they were driving past, and
It’s particularly
it’s important to us
true about most
for them to know
issues concerning
it was,” said
Americans are what
agriculture. Part of
Dona Coon, former
generations
the problem is that
OWA president and
of
most Americans, even
removed from daughter-in-law
Pat Roberts, who
those living outside
the farm.
initially created the
of big cities, are three
or more generations
concept of the signs.
It has been a
removed from the
great statewide effort. There have
farm.
So, as people drive down the
been similar efforts in Washington
highway past the region’s most
and Idaho. The Nampa-Caldwell
productive farmland — as close as
Agribusiness Committee of the
many get to a farm — they are often chamber of commerce, for example,
unsure that they’re looking at.
places about 150 signs identifying
For 30 years there has been a
30 different crops around Canyon
program in Oregon to put up crop
County, Idaho.
and breed identification signs along
We encourage farmers to
the highway to help educate passing participate in the program where
motorists about what’s growing in
available, and agribusinesses to
the fields. The Oregon Women for
support them financially.
Agriculture and Oregon Aglink have
The signs are a great way to
partnered to raise more than 200
create a connection between
crop identification signs across the
consumers and the food grown in the
state.
Pacific Northwest.
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.
OTHER VIEWS
Know the rules before flying a drone
Petoskey (Mich.) News-Review
T
hey are becoming a common sight,
much like seagulls and other birds
in the air.
However, instead of the pleasant
sounds of chirping, whistles and caws,
this small flying object makes a buzzing
sound as it watches and records every-
thing around it.
This sight is not a feather friend. THE
skies are starting to see more drones or
unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
We anticipate seeing more of these
machines in the skies well into the future
too, as prices for them come down to
sometimes under $100. These machines
are fun and do allow users to capture
some stunning aerial images, either
photographs or video. But, far too often
we notice that those flying the drones
don’t seem to understand there are rules
that must be followed.
First of all, the operator of the drone
must understand they could be required
to have a license to fly it in some cases.
A person using a drone for recreational or
other amateur purposes is not required to
have any sort of licensing to fly it. But, a
person who is using the drone for any sort
of commercial purpose — real estate,
journalism or professional imaging
services, for example — is required to
obtain a license from the agency.
To obtain a license through the FAA,
person must be at least 16 years old, “be
in physical and mental condition to safely
operate a small UAS” and pass a written
knowledge test.
The process also include a security
background check by the Transportation
Security Administration.
Secondly, there are flight rules that
pilots must follow:
— Drones must give way (stay out of
the way) of manned aircraft.
— Operators must keep the aircraft in
sight (visual line-of-sight)
— Drones must be under 55 pounds
— Operators must follow communi-
ty-based safety guidelines
— Operators need to notify airport
and air traffic control tower before flying
within five miles of an airport
On its website, the FAA offers these
“safety guidelines” for hobby or recre-
ational (non-licensed) drone operators:
— Fly at or below 400 feet and stay
away from surrounding obstacles
— Keep your UAS within sight
— Never fly near other aircraft, espe-
cially near airports
— Never fly over groups of people
(we’ve noticed pilots violating this one at
almost every festival this summer)
— Never fly over stadiums or sports
eventS
— Never fly near emergency response
efforts such as fires
— Never fly under the influence of
drugs or alcohol
— Understand airspace restrictions
and requirements
The FAA lists the following as “must”
rules for licensed drone operation:
— Must keep the aircraft in sight
— Must fly at altitudes under 400 feet
— Must fly during the day
— Must fly at or below 100 mph
— Must yield right of way to manned
aircraft
— Must NOT fly over people
— Must NOT fly from a moving
vehicle
Following these rules is not only a
safety issue for the public, but helps
spread good attitudes about drones and
drone pilots. We encourage all drone
pilots to follow these rules and help grow
this activity in a positive way.
ne of my fond childhood
holding prisoners awaiting trial for
memories is going to the
a misdemeanor. That was based in
amusement park in Cincinnati
part on the famous case of a woman
on Republican Day. My grandfather,
who was kept behind bars for driving
who was a bail bondsman, organized
without a license after she was unable
the outings so I could ride on the
to post $2,500 bail.
rides and he could play cards in a tent
The bill is in the Judiciary
with the judges. To whom he would
Committee, so feel free to let the
systematically lose.
members know your opinion. The
Gail
It was cleaner than outright bribery.
current
attorney general, Jeff Sessions,
Collins
Plus, you know, the Ferris wheel.
doesn’t seem to have taken a public
Comment
All that was a long time ago. I’m
position on it. But given his overall
sure the current Cincinnati bondsmen,
attitude toward criminal justice, I think
now known as bail agents, are lovely people.
we can work under the assumption Sessions
I’m just telling you this story as a colorful
is not in love with any plan that would reduce
entry into the discussion of bail system
the number of people in jails, whether they’ve
reform.
been tried or not.
The current model varies
It is also facing fierce,
from state to state, but here’s
fierce opposition from the
how it basically works: If
Professional Bail Agents
you get arrested for, say,
of the United States. Their
shoplifting an expensive
president is Beth Chapman,
piece of jewelry, the judge
who happens to be the wife
will probably allow you
of the world’s most famous
to go free if you put up a
bail agent, Dog the Bounty
certain amount of money as
Hunter.
a guarantee that you’ll show
“I like Rand Paul, but I’m
up for trial. Maybe the judge
shocked at the people he’s
will say $5,000. If you have
working with,” Chapman
$5,000, you are back home
said in a phone interview.
for dinner.
“They’re sort of anti-American.”
If you don’t have $5,000, you can
The bail agents argue that people who have
dispatch a relative across the street from the
been freed under New Jersey’s reform system
courthouse, where there are undoubtedly
have been arrested for other crimes while
bail agents who will charge around $500 to
awaiting trial, in one case murder. This is
guarantee the money on your behalf. If you
true, just as it’s true that some people commit
don’t have $500, you may be sitting in jail
crimes while they’re out on bail.
until your trial. You won’t show up for work,
It’s also possible that all bail agents are
and your boss will probably fire you.
not always as energetic as members of the
“It’s simply not fair,” said Sen. Kamala
Chapman family when it comes to keeping
Harris, D-Calif. She’s co-sponsoring a bail
track of their charges.
reform bill with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.
My grandfather’s system of dealing with
“This is something people could feel good
a “skip” was to write largely fictional letters
about getting done,” she added.
to the judge explaining that he went to great
That’s pretty hard to resist — when was
efforts to retrieve the still-missing bailee
the last feel-good moment to come out of
and therefore did not deserve to be held
Washington? I’m thinking maybe the turkey
accountable. Actually, he sometimes dictated
pardoning last Thanksgiving.
them to me. This was back when I was in
The Harris-Paul bill is a pretty modest
grade school, so clearly the judges did not
proposal — the idea is just to make $10
have high spelling standards.
million available to encourage states to work
But again, that was a long time ago. Harris
on reform. But at least it would put things on
warned that it was important not to be cynical
the right track.
about modern-day bail agents. “A lot of them
The current system is generally terrible.
are running family businesses. They’re decent
It’s unfair, and it doesn’t even do a good job
people trying to earn a living,” she said when
of separating harmless arrestees from the
I tried to entertain her with the sagas of my
ones you definitely want to keep behind bars.
grandfather.
(“Are the right people in and the right people
This is almost exactly what Beth Chapman
out? Most prosecutors would say no,” said
said, right after she told me the senator was
Dave LaBahn, president of the Association of
sort of anti-American and one of the “people
Prosecuting Attorneys.)
whose agenda is to abolish prisons.” Maybe
Also, it costs a fortune — “$38 million a
we need to get the two of them together for a
day to hold people in jail awaiting trial — $14 friendly drink.
billion a year,” Harris said.
■
A few states have passed major reforms
Gail Collins joined The New York Times
that take ability to pay a bail agent out of
in 1995 as a member of the editorial board
the equation as much as possible. Courts
and later as an Op-Ed columnist. In 2001 she
are also beginning to act — a federal judge
became the first woman ever appointed editor
in Houston ordered the county jails to stop
of the Times’s editorial page.
The current
bail system
is generally
terrible. It’s
unfair, and it
costs a fortune.
YOUR VIEWS
All Oregonians should have
access to fully-trained dentist
When legislators wrapped up their
2017 session in July, they touted big
wins for Oregonians, including passing a
balanced budget of $21 billion, addressing
transportation and housing issues and
ensuring access to critical services for many
communities across the state.
The Legislature accomplished a lot in
2017, but one job that never ends is ensuring
all Oregonians have equitable access to oral
health care.
One significant health care win for rural
communities here in Eastern Oregon was
the renewal of the Medicaid primary care
loan repayment program and of the state’s
rural medical practitioners tax credits. These
programs are vital to ensuring health care
providers can locate their practices in the rural
areas that need them most while providing
affordable care to all Oregonians.
The Legislature also took on tobacco
during the 2017 session and passed the
Tobacco 21 Bill, raising the legal age to
purchase tobacco products and e-cigarettes
from 18 to 21. Given the well-documented
oral health concerns associated with tobacco
use, including periodontal disease and oral
cancer, this was a significant step toward
improving the oral health of younger, more
vulnerable Oregonians.
Unfortunately, an oral health school
screenings law, which would have ensured the
reporting of certain oral health data to the state
and more importantly to parents, stalled in the
Legislature. As a longtime dentist myself, I
have seen firsthand the need for this type of
early reporting, leading to earlier intervention,
in making future program and funding
decisions for the health of Oregon’s children.
Ensuring all Oregonians have access
to a fully-trained dentist does not stop
with these legislative solutions. I look
forward to a potential partnership between
OHSU’s School of Dentistry and our tribal
communities through a new Native American
health scholarship program. This program
would provide free tuition and fees to
eligible members of tribes who committed
to working at a tribal service site for a period
of time, providing more equitable dental care
throughout Oregon’s Indian Country.
This year’s Legislative successes proved
that dental health is nonpartisan. Progress was
made toward ensuring that every Oregonian
has access to high-quality, professional
dental care, but there is still more that needs
to be done. Our work does not end with the
2017 Legislative session. It is only just now
beginning.
James McMahan, DMD
La Grande
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.