ANDREW CUTLER
Publisher/Editor
KATHRYN B. BROWN
Owner
WYATT HAUPT JR.
News Editor
JADE McDOWELL
Hermiston Editor
TUESDAY, MAY 4, 2021
A4
Founded October 16, 1875
OUR VIEW
It’s your
patriotic
duty
I
t’s time for us all to rally together as
Americans. It’s tragic that the COVID-
19 vaccine is seen as a partisan weapon,
rather than as the life-saving and econo-
my-restoring tool that it actually is.
If you have not received the COVID-19
vaccine, please reevaluate your decision.
The COVID-19 pandemic is not a parti-
san issue. It is an infectious disease that has
killed at least 574,000 Americans as of May
2. It causes disabling symptoms in some
people, yet most have no or minimal effects.
Short of daily testing, it is impossible to
know if you are infected and a carrier of
the virus, capable of infecting others more
vulnerable than you.
Umatilla County Commissioner John
Shafer deserves kudos for standing tall to
deliver a message that should not be neces-
sary but, because of the era we live in, is
needed now more than ever.
Last week, Shafer sent a message, loud
and clear: Get the COVID-19 vaccine.
“I want people to know — don’t be afraid
of the vaccine,” he said.
Shafer and fellow commissioner George
Murdock spoke last week regarding the
mystery swirling around how a vaccine
designed to help people could become a
flashpoint politicized issue. It’s much like
abortion, climate change, federal spending,
or any other subject a corps of misinformed
political theorists and television pundits can
stir up to get ratings.
On April 21, President Biden described
getting vaccinated as a “patriotic duty” for
Americans. We agree.
There is historical precedent for this
view. During the 1918-19 influenza
epidemic, the American Red Cross stated,
“The man or woman or child who will not
wear a mask now is a dangerous slacker.”
Americans were urged to think of following
health precautions as their patriotic duty.
Back then, vaccination was not an option.
A certain amount of caution is normal
and expected when a new vaccine becomes
available. That is why vaccines go through
intensive clinical trials as required by the
agencies whose role it is to safeguard the
public, such as the Food and Drug Adminis-
tration and the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. Vaccines that are available
in the U.S. have been tested and deemed
safe. When there was even a question of
safety — such as the case with the Johnson
& Johnson vaccine causing blood clots in a
small number of people — officials pulled
the vaccine to do further analysis.
In the words of Joe Fiumara, county
public health director: “I think people are
recognizing that this is our path out of
here,” he said. “People who were more on
the fence aren’t so on the fence now that
millions and millions across the country
are receiving it with very low side effects or
down side.”
Turn off the TV. Listen to the public
health experts. Be a patriot. Get vaccinated.
EDITORIALS
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.
LETTERS
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:
editor@eastoregonian.com,
or via mail to Andrew Cutler,
211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801
YOUR VIEWS
Commitment and
leadership are important
Our community is truly experiencing
a rare occurrence. We have an abundance
of interested candidates seeking a seat
on Pendleton School Board District 16 R.
What an exciting problem and/or gift to
experience.
When I first joined our community, it
was 1995 and I worked at the East Orego-
nian under the wise leadership of Amy
Bedford. One early task was to visit the
tribal school, Nixyaawii, to establish a
relationship with classroom teachers and
students to use the East Oregonian in
classrooms as a teaching tool and source
of news.
With strong leadership and commit-
ment, Nixyaawii has continued to grow
and develop into a very successful school.
The decisions and guidance of tribal lead-
ers and school board members were used
to encourage trust from the community
and commitment from the leaders. What
a wise way to lead by example.
We educate our students in many
ways. Personal responsibility, exam-
ple and completion of commitments is
a strong message and influence to our
children, our neighbors and commu-
nity members. Ms. Spencer is serving on
Nixyaawii School Board. It is an honor
to serve once and to be voted to serve
a second term is reflective of the trust,
confidence and leadership skills she
has developed while serving and should
honor her commitment by completing
this term of office at Nixyaawii.
Mr. Gregg has shown interest in serv-
ing his community. He too values educa-
tion and knows it is the pathway forward
for our next generation. He has earned
our trust in our community, his commit-
ment to his family displays his values and
his willingness to work hard reveals his
commitment in all that he does.
How blessed our community is to have
caring, committed candidates to serve on
our school boards. Let’s be grateful and
have both of these strong leaders serve
and share their leadership skills and sense
of responsibility.
Sylvia Clawson
Pendleton
Keep equipment, facilities
up to date with 30-148
Take a look around and you’ll notice
western Umatilla County is growing
fast. It’s important that our emergency
response capability is able to keep up.
You can also track the growth in our
area through the number of calls for
fires and emergency response. At more
than 5,000 calls for service in the past
12 months, the current vehicle fleet is
running nearly nonstop. We need a plan
to make sure we’re able to replace these
vehicles as they reach the end of their
expected lifespans.
Measure 30-148 invests in facilities,
vehicles, and equipment for Umatilla
County Fire District No. 1. It will provide
our first responders with modern tools
while saving expensive maintenance
costs to keep outdated vehicles on the
road. It also makes sure they have the
most up-to-date safety equipment.
In the end, making this wise invest-
ment today will lead to cost savings down
the line while giving our local fire district
the tools it needs to continue providing
Letters deadline for May 18 elections
The East Oregonian does not run endorsements of more than 400 words.
The East Oregonian will institute a deadline for letters to the editor, so we can be fair with
all the letters we receive and allow for responses before Election Day, if necessary.
We run local letters of endorsement on a first-come, first-served basis. Please submit
your endorsement letters to the editor by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 7. You can email them to
editor@eastoregonian.com, or mail them to East Oregonian, c/o Andrew Cutler, 211 S.E.
Byers Ave., Pendleton, OR 97801.
We will publish our last letters on Saturday, May 15. Any letters received after the dead-
line will not run. Election Day is May 18.
a high level of service. I’ll be voting in
support of Measure 30-148.
Bruce Jones
Hermiston
Spencer’s approach
sets her apart
organized, articulate and energetic.
I believe these talents and experiences
will be valuable to the Pendleton School
Board, and she has my endorsement for
Position 7.
John Turner
Pendleton
I have known Briana her whole life
and enjoyed watching her grow into a
compassionate adult. I had served on the
CTUIR Education and Training Commit-
tee with Briana, where I witnessed her
professionalism and passion for educa-
tion. She sees through a lens of cultural
awareness, which brings a well-rounded
perspective to the table.
The public and I have had ample
opportunities in the past few weeks to
analyze the aims and objectives of the
various competitors in the upcoming
elections. Briana Spencer’s honest and
practical approach sets her apart from the
other candidates. She has shown great
concern for the community residents and
is willing to listen to people’s problems.
I am writing today to show my support
for her Pendleton School District Board
Position 7 campaign. She has my vote.
Eugena Burnside-Stacona
Pendleton
Spencer an
exceptional candidate
Spencer is a
voice of reason
Upon crossing into Idaho on Interstate
84 there used to be a sign reading “Idaho
is too great to litter.” I used to joke the
sign should read “Idaho is too illiterate to
be great.”
The joke hit home, however, when a
Greater Idaho leaflet landed in my mail,
claiming that I’d be better off if I was an
Idahoan. It would be effortless, I wouldn’t
have to move, they would simply elas-
ticize Idaho’s boundary and stretch it
around Oregon’s more desirable acreage.
That done, I’d supposedly be happy with
lacking infrastructure; for example, why
waste good tax money filling in those
unattended pot holes.
No, I live in Eastern Oregon and hope-
fully will continue to do so. Besides, I
wouldn’t be caught dead driving around
with license plates that champion Famous
Potatoes. It’s true Eastern Oregon is often
overlooked by Salem or that we have to
apologize for Portland’s behavior — but
that’s no reason to surround us by Idaho.
There are alternatives. If I want the
Idaho experience I can always move to
Douglas or Josephine counties and watch
old episodes of “Duck Dynasty.” Or, why
not physically move Idaho. Ship it to the
Middle East; plunk it down right between
the two other “I” countries, Iran and Iraq.
it would at least give mask-less Ammon
Bundy something to whine about.
Meanwhile, I’m happy living here with
Eastern Oregon’s present borders, values
and laws. Or maybe I’ll create a new
movement. I’ll call it Greater Hawaii.
Whit Deschner
Baker City
I am a traditional health worker-family
support specialist in the state of Oregon. I
write this letter to kindly and enthusiasti-
cally endorse Briana Spencer for Pendle-
ton School District, Position 7.
I am an enrolled member of the
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla
Indian Reservation and have had the plea-
sure of knowing Briana since we were
children. Since youth, Briana has been a
voice of reason and a person that never
hesitated to stand up for those afraid to
use their voice. She is articulate, intelli-
gent and has an infectious smile.
The Pendleton School District has
the opportunity to benefit from a person
willing to serve and willing to stand
up for all the students in the Pendleton
School District. Please consider voting
for Briana. She is the right person to serve
your district.
Sierra Quaempts
Pendleton
Spencer a
demonstrated leader
During the past year I have been
impressed by Briana Spencer’s involve-
ment with community activities.
She has consistently demonstrated her
ability to organize and lead large events,
and has worked constructively with the
city of Pendleton to ensure these events
were safe and complied with city ordi-
nances. She is solutions-oriented, well
I support Briana Spencer for the Pend-
leton School Board, Position 7.
I am honored and proud to stand by
Briana. She has a voice that is spirited, a
courageous attitude, and is highly knowl-
edgeable. Throughout the years, she
has shown dedication and compassion
for her community by sharing tools and
resources, volunteering for different func-
tions, and advocating for various causes.
Those skills and accomplishments
make Ms. Spencer an exceptional candi-
date for the position. She is an avid
supporter of education and I know she
will do great things.
Fabian Spencer
Mission
Let’s stop this
border disorder