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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 4, 2020)
A4 East Oregonian Saturday, January 4, 2020 CHRISTOPHER RUSH Publisher KATHRYN B. BROWN Owner ANDREW CUTLER Editor WYATT HAUPT JR. News Editor JADE McDOWELL Hermiston Editor Founded October 16, 1875 OUR VIEW Tip of the hat, kick in the pants A tip of the hat to Pendleton High School graduate Julie Rowell and a big shout-out to the teachers at PHS and all around Umatilla County. Sometimes good news can seem hard to come by, but a story this week about Rowell is exhibit No. 1 in a showcase of good people doing good things and securing recognition. Rowell was recently honored with the Milken Educator Award — per- haps one of the most prestigious hon- ors for a teacher in the United States — and she credited instructors at PHS for her success. Rowell, who teaches migrant stu- dents at Gresham High School, said she was surprised with by the honor. She named two PHS teachers, Kath- ryn Yougman and Shelle Bixler, as her inspiration to become a teacher. Rowell’s dedication and excellence is not just a reflection on her great tal- ents, but is also indicative of the great teachers at PHS. Teachers play a crit- ical — but often overlooked — role in shaping our youths and inspiring students to reach high to attain their goals. A tip of the hat to the Hermiston Assembly of God Church with its effort as part of the “I love My City” campaign to collect donations for the TruCare Pregnancy Resource Center. TruCare provides support and edu- cation for men and women who must make decisions regarding pregnancy. The effort by the church is another good example of a local organization reaching out to help make a difference in the lives of area residents. A kick in the pants to lawmakers who are already gearing up to turn the 2020 Oregon legislative session into another political battleground over such issues as the cap-and-trade bill. Often dubbed the “short session,” the monthlong period is not the right time to tackle flashpoint issues with poten- tial long-lasting implications. A tip of the hat to SAIF, which will host free agriculture safety sem- inars Jan. 14-15 in Hermiston. The sessions are important because they are crucial to ensuring that those of us who toil in the agriculture indus- try remain safe. It may seem like an inconsequential effort, but it isn’t. That’s because as a county that depends on agriculture as it primary economic engine, safety of our work- ers should be a priority. If you get a Staff photo by Kathy Aney Julie Rowell, a 1997 graduate of Pendleton High School, is one of only 40 teachers in the country honored with Milken Family Foundation Educator Awards. Rowell teaches English to migrant students at Gresham High School and also runs the school’s Newcomer Center. chance, don’t forget to attend these important safety sessions. A tip of the hat to people who sac- rificed time with friends and fam- ily to keep things running over the holidays. Some people are fortunate enough to work for schools, government offices or businesses that can shut down during the final days of Decem- ber. But there are many others who must forgo holiday travel plans or Christmas dinner in order to care for sick hospital patients, fight fires, OTHER VIEWS Idaho Power won’t go up against the Tribes Has anyone ever noticed that government transparency is not the norm in Oregon? The Oregon PUC is currently writing “new rules,” with the input of Idaho Power, to allow Idaho Power to condemn, and seize, land from private landowners. What kind of government does Oregon have that would work with the company wanting to seize pri- vate land in making the “new rules” allow- ing it to be easier? Interesting that none of the private landowners have any input in regards to the “new rules.” There are federal and state laws that requires all utilities of this nature be within a utility corridor. The corridor is there but the state, feds and counties chose not to address it. There is a large transmission line that exists already, running to the same place through Umatilla, Union and Baker counties. The footprint of the existing line could be expanded to incorporate the B2H line. Access roads are already in place, which would greatly reduce the effects of the proposed line. Why is this route being used? The biggest reason is the CTUIR, as Idaho Power cannot condemn and steal their lands. One member of the B2H group stated: “We do not want to deal with Tribes, as they can make our lives miserable.” The state of Oregon, the feds and the enviro community claim to be concerned about our forest lands for sequestering of carbon, however, no one has analyzed the negative effects of a 500-foot-wide clearcut easement through the timber lands. Not only will the loss of timber affect the landowners, it will affect the wildlife, water resources and plant life near the line. If not so serious, it would be funny that the same entities will do all they could to stop a private landowner from doing exactly what they propose to do. Idaho Power cares less about the private landowners of Eastern Oregon, only prof- its for its investors. There are no valid rea- sons for Idaho Power to zigzag across pri- vate land other than to avoid public and Tribal lands. One large landowner, east of La Grande, threatened to sue to stop the line and the route was changed. Small landown- ers don’t have the resources to do the same, making them easier to run over. “Our interest all along has been to sup- port what the community wants,” said Mitch Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East Oregonian editorial board. Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily that of the East Oregonian. Colburn, director of resource planning and operations for Idaho Power. Now that is funny. Idaho Power cares less about communities, or private landowners, effected by this unneeded line. John Harvey Stanfield Closed roads aren’t a bar to forest usage Recently, the East Oregonian published an editorial about the long-overdue plan revisions for the national forests of the Blue Mountains. This editorial included a state- ment that challenged the need to close any roads on the national forests, suggesting that closing a road meant “closing the for- ests to logging, firefighting, hikers, hunters, and other users.” I speak on behalf of closed roads. Clos- ing a road to motorized vehicle traffic does not close the forest. Hikers, hunters, anglers, mushroom and huckleberry pickers, Christ- mas tree cutters — we all use closed roads. As good local research shows, and hunters know, closed roads provide good habitat for elk. Elk avoid roads that are open to motor vehicles. Closing a road does not mean the road cannot be used for logging or firefighting. During my Forest Service career, it was not at all unusual to open a closed road to help fight a fire. Sometimes it means simply unlock- ing a gate, and sometimes it takes a dozer to remove earthen barriers, but closed roads are usually still available for fire fighting. Just like any asset, a road system must be maintained. The money appropriated to national forests to maintain roads is inade- quate for maintaining the road system that was developed when the forests sold more (and more valuable) timber. Closing a road to motor vehicles holds the road in better condi- tion until the day that it is needed again, and this seems to me to be a prudent approach. We can, and should, have an open and honest public dialogue about what we want from our national forests, including the road system. Provocative misstatements, like suggesting that closing roads means “lock- ing up” or closing the forests to all sorts of uses, does not help this dialogue. William C. (Bill) Aney Pendleton keep grocery stores open and perform other tasks. News doesn’t stop break- ing over winter break, so we feel your pain. To those who kept our power on or our roads safe or even just gave peo- ple the option of going out to a movie with the family on Christmas or New Year’s, thank you. To those who have been enjoying a nice break from work, we look forward to you answering the voicemails our reporters left you over the break. FROM SUNUP TO SUNDOWN Looking ahead to a new year, new decade M ason, my oldest son, recently He looked at me for a few seconds agreed to help me move some with a peaceful look on his face, said pictures and sort through a pile “Goodnight, Mom,” and then turned of framed images I had taken off the wall around and headed to his new room in upstairs this past week. I had the basement. It’s been a really good decade spent the day sorting, cleaning here on Yoakum Road, with lots and purging, and when it came of growing up for all of us. And to the boxes of photos that tell I think it’s safe to say the four the story of our life, I was strug- gling with the decision of what of us are really looking forward to keep and what to let go. to the goodness that lies ahead We laughed out loud about and the growing up that’s still a few of the photos, and as we left to do. L indsay sorted through the stack, we Choosing words for the M urdock talked about how much has COMMENT new year changed over the past decade. For the past several years, We bought our home that sits I’ve had family and friends join me in on one of the most beautiful pieces of choosing words for the year ahead. Words Umatilla County 10 years ago. The boys were 5 and 2, and little did we know how to focus on, words that we want to reflect our actions, words that will define us, much the wide-open spaces and rolling and words that challenge us from deep hillsides would change all of us from the within. inside out. It’s been an incredibly beau- tiful journey, filled with adventure and The word I’ve chosen for 2020 is growth — years that I wouldn’t trade for solace. It’s defined: to cheer, comfort, anything — even during the hardest of console, alleviate, soften, relieve, upraise. seasons. It’s been a gift to have the time My hope for the upcoming year is and space to grow up alongside my hand- to take full advantage of opportunities some boys in the fields, sorting pens, hay to give and receive solace in the busy shed and calving barn. They’ve pushed life we live. Yes, in the life that is filled me to be a mom I never thought I could with incredible beauty, even on the most be, and have given me opportunities to demanding and hardest of days, may shine in ways that I’m certain wouldn’t I offer solace to the world around me have happened without them as my through my actions and my words, but children. also find, accept, and embrace the solace The photos sparked so many mem- that comes my way as well. ories for both of us, and as we finished Navigating through another moving the frames, Mason stood looking decade at the photos on the wall. I don’t know the best way to navigate “Mom, I don’t want to keep growing the season of parenting I’ve found myself up. I have loved being a kid,” he said. in, but I do know that solace will see all I smiled and whispered to him, of us through another decade of moments “You’re always going be my kid, Mason. Always. And I believe with everything in and memories, and stacks of images that me that you’re going to keep loving every keep us young at heart, but also eager to keep growing up. season you’re in because you were born ——— for this. You were born to love your life Lindsay Murdock lives and teaches in and it’s very clear that growing up is what Echo. you’re doing best,” I replied. 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. 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 the editor to editor@eastoregonian.com, or via mail to Andrew Cutler, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801
