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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 13, 2020)
CHRISTOPHER RUSH Publisher KATHRYN B. BROWN Owner ANDREW CUTLER Editor WYATT HAUPT JR. News Editor JADE McDOWELL Hermiston Editor ThURSday, FebRUaRy 13, 2020 A4 Founded October 16, 1875 OUR VIEW Flooding brings out best, worst in people T ough times bring out the best and worst in people. Both have been on display this past week during the floods that have rocked much of Umatilla County. A heavy snowstorm in the Blue Moun- tains last week, followed by two days of rain and warming temperatures, created the worst flooding in at least 30 years in the city of Pendleton and other smaller communities in the area. The Umatilla River crested at more than 19 feet on the night of Feb. 6 — nearly four times the average height for that date — during the worst of the flooding, and multiple riv- ers in the area set records for their water level. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency on Feb. 7 for Uma- tilla, Union, and Wallowa counties, which meant the Oregon National Guard could respond. So, when trouble hit the county, when floodwater tore out roads and crept into houses, it is heartening to hear of the community swinging into action to help people through times of need. More than 100 volunteers descended on the Riverside neighborhood on Sun- day and Monday to assist residents in the cleanup of debris left behind by last week’s flood, according to a tally kept by the city of Pendleton. The Salvation Army Pendleton assembled lunches to distribute to people working in the flood zone. Other businesses have rallied to the cause, providing money, food and resources to victims and first responders. Staff photo by Ben Lonergan City of Pendleton employee Darren Craven, center, assists volunteers David Welch, left, and Sam Jennings in emptying a trailer at a temporary dump site in the Riverside neighborhood on Sunday evening. A hat tip, too, to United Way of the Blue Mountains. The organization has allocated $20,000 to Walla Walla and Columbia counties and $10,000 to Uma- tilla County to support recovery efforts. All additional donations earmarked for flood relief will be allocated to recov- ery efforts through a Disaster Fund, as will all proceeds from this year’s Tastiest Taco contest. Pacific Power donated $5,000 to the Community Action Program of East Central Oregon to help the community recover and stay safe. There are just a small sampling of the outpouring of organizations and busi- nesses that have chipped in to help during the flooding. Our hope is that the story of the Umatilla River flood will be remem- bered as one of camaraderie and commu- nity spirit, of the willingness of people to go the extra mile and to watch out for each other. It was a disappointment, then, to hear some looters had chosen to use this hor- rific event as an opportunity to kick a family while they’re down. The Fuller family was forced from their Thorn Hollow home when waters surrounded their home last week. Nate Fuller returned home Monday afternoon to assess and record the damage done to the foundation of their home when he noticed a door was ajar. Things on the inside of the house seemed fine and nothing was obviously missing, when out of habit he looked out to where his goats and chickens were kept in his yard before the floods washed them away. “That’s when I saw tire marks in the mud where I knew I hadn’t driven,” he said. Fuller could see where the vehicle had tried to drive off the property, but got stuck momentarily in the mud. He then found that his shed had been broken into and various tools, chain saws, paints and other items had been taken from it. In another shed, he found camping equip- ment and fishing rods had been stolen. Pendleton Police Chief Stuart Roberts said so far there has been one report of a theft at Riverview Mobile Home Estates that is under investigation. Talk about a low blow. These are the only incidents that have been reported to this point, but, in our opinion, even one is too many. Our hope is that stepped-up patrols in the most impacted areas will provide the nec- essary deterrent. People shouldn’t come home to find their property looted on top of flood damage. Despite the bad apples in the bunch, there is some comfort in the fact the vast majority of Umatilla County is on the right side of the flood cleanup. We salute you. OTHER VIEWS History will remember Romney, not Collins W YOUR VIEWS What should be done about climate change? What actions do Sen. Bill Hansell and Rep. Greg Barreto think should be taken, either in the state Legislature or by vote of Oregon electors, to slow the human con- tribution to rapid climate change? I believe they both acknowledge that climate change is real and that human activity is making significant contributions to it. They must recognize that the effects of climate change are all around us: increased flooding; larger and more fre- quent wildfires; hotter summers and shift- ing rain/snow patterns. They see the neg- ative impacts those changes are having on agriculture and on Eastern Oregon communities. Surely they recognize that something must be done, now. They have told us in considerable detail why they think the cur- rent draft legislation is not effective, will damage or eliminate the livelihoods of many of us, shouldn’t be offered now. But what do they think should be done? We need our state legislators to lead! We need them to help us be part of the solution! Lindsay Winsor Milton-Freewater Looking for leadership Only one question: Where is the governor? Rodney Thompson Pendleton CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES GOVERNOR Kate Brown 160 State Capitol 900 Court Street Salem, OR 97301-4047 503-378-4582 REPRESENTATIVES Greg Barreto, District 58 900 Court St. NE, H-38 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1458 Rep.GregBarreto@state.or.us 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. Greg Smith, District 57 900 Court St. NE, H-482 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1457 Rep.GregSmith@state.or.us SENATOR Bill Hansell, District 29 900 Court St. NE, S-423 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1729 Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us hen future historians look for Texas, who were both viciously lashed by Trump in 2016, but who nonetheless fell into the last, documented instance of line and voted to acquit. Republican political courage in Maine Sen. Susan Collins, who plays a the Trump imperium, they’ll look to one maverick on television and who voted in man: Sen. Mitt Romney. favor of calling witnesses, sided with her In one extraordinary speech on the floor Republican colleagues on acquittal, even as of the United States Senate last Wednesday, she called Trump’s behavior wrong. the Utah senator made remarks that were It was the same kind of transactional and both utterly moving in their absolute human- ity and totally damning in their fleeting courage pioneered by for- mer Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, who vivid rebuttal of GOP capitulation made late-career fame out of pub- to a bankrupt White House. licly holding up the nomination “I swore an oath before God to of now-Justice Brett M. Kavana- exercise impartial justice,” Rom- ugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, but ney told a nearly empty chamber who ultimately voted to confirm a around 2 p.m. on Feb. 5, two hours flawed candidate. before the Senate voted to acquit Not Romney. President Donald Trump. J ohn “I am aware that there are peo- As The Washington Post‘s Dana L. M icek ple in my party and in my state Milbank wrote, Romney, fight- COMMENT ing back tears, paused for some 12 who will strenuously disapprove seconds to collect himself before of my decision, and in some quar- ters, I will be vehemently denounced,” he continuing. said. “I am sure to hear abuse from the “The grave question the Constitution tasks senators to answer is whether the pres- President and his supporters. Does anyone ident committed an act so extreme and egre- seriously believe I would consent to these gious that it rises to the level of a high crime consequences other than from an inescap- able conviction that my oath before God and misdemeanor. Yes, he did,” Romney demanded it of me?” said, as the Senate gallery filled with jour- nalists recording his remarks for the ages. I recently compared the current U.S. For me, the most profound part of Rom- Senate to the weak-willed Roman Senate ney’s speech was his reminder to his GOP of antiquity that caved to the excesses of colleagues of the responsibilities invested in the most tyrannical emperors out of sheer them by the Constitution, the very responsi- self-interest. History also remembers that the Emperor bilities they so thoroughly abdicated during the Trump’s fixed trial. Nero ordered Seneca, his onetime counselor, to commit suicide when he fell out of favor. Dressed in a dark blue suit, white dress Romney might well have committed political shirt, and blue tie, Romney, a devout Mor- mon and the GOP’s 2012 presidential stan- suicide. And it was equally clear that, like dard-bearer, looked like a throwback to a Seneca, there were principles more import- ant to Romney than mere self-preservation. less complicated time — when there were “With my vote, I will tell my children politicians that most Americans would rec- ognize as textbook Republican. and their children that I did my duty to the best of my ability, believing that my country That matters because the Republican expected it of me,” he said adding, “… we’re Party that Romney represented just eight years ago is dead and buried, never to return. all footnotes at best in the annals of history. But in the most powerful nation on earth, the If impeachment proved anything, it proved that the GOP is now a wholly owned subsidi- nation conceived in liberty and justice, that ary of the Trump Organization. is distinction enough for any citizen.” Romney’s remarks were all the more In this diminished time, it’s more than striking when they’re placed along the spine- enough. less surrender of fellow Republican Sens. ——— Marco Rubio of Florida and Ted Cruz of John L. Micek is a syndicated columnist. 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
