ANDREW CUTLER
Publisher/Editor
KATHRYN B. BROWN
Owner
ERICK PETERSON
Hermiston Editor/Senior Reporter
SATURDAy, APRIL 16, 2022
A4
Founded October 16, 1875
OUR VIEW
Campaign
helps the
overall
health of
our region
A
new campaign to raise aware-
ness about HIV testing in East-
ern Oregon recently kicked off
and the effort is a good, long overdue step
toward region-wide healthy outcomes.
The effort, spearheaded by the Eastern
Oregon Center for Independent Living
and the state END HIV campaign, will
utilize advertising across the region from
April through July with a specific focus
on Pendleton, Hermiston, La Grande and
Ontario.
The campaign arrives at a time when
officials recorded an uptick in HIV-posi-
tive cases in rural Oregon.
There is no widespread epidemic of
the disease but raising awareness about
a malady that was once seen as a death
sentence is a good move.
Advances in science and medical
procedures make HIV — the virus that
triggers AIDS — a manageable illness
over the long-term. However, early detec-
tion is a key for people who are infected.
The broader aspects of the campaign
are clear. Rural, secluded regions often do
not receive the kind of medical attention
— in terms of dollars and focus — they
deserve. A campaign to not only raise
awareness but to also help those who
may have been exposed to the disease is a
sound idea and, frankly, long overdue.
Medical authorities recommend every-
one be tested for HIV at least once in
their lives. Area health departments offer
confidential testing and screening for the
infection.
Because HIV often does not manifest
itself for years — in some cases decades
— the focus on testing is the right one.
Testing can give everyone a sense of
relief and, in a real way, goes a long way
toward ensuring the community as a
whole remains safe and aware.
When HIV first appeared on the
national scene more than three decades
ago it was a scary, deadly illness. Its
lethality is still obvious but through
programs such as this one, early detec-
tion can lead to a longer-term healthier
outcome for many. Our rural region faces
any number of challenges but programs
such as this one help enhance the overall
health of our towns and region.
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
Remembering the
Doolittle Raid on its
80th Anniversary
After Pearl Harbor, President
Franklin D. Roosevelt insisted the
Japanese home inlands be attacked.
This audacious venture occurred
because a submariner proposed the
idea of flying Army bombers from an
aircraft carrier.
As one of the first Massachusetts
Institute of Technology aeronautical
engineering graduates, Doolittle was
just the man to turn possibility into
reality. He selected the 17th Bombard-
ment Group flying anti-submarine
patrols from Pendleton because their
flying required open ocean naviga-
tion.
On April 18, 1942, Jimmy Doolittle
lead 16 B-25 bombers from the U.S.S.
Hornet to attack Japan. The Navy
risked two of four Pacific fleet aircraft
carriers and 10,000 sailors. The Japa-
nese six-carrier task force knew the
Americans had sortied to the Western
Pacific and planned to attack them.
The aircraft launched 170 miles
further away than planned, because
extending the home islands patrol
line was one of Japan’s intelligence
strategies. A Navy officer twirled a
flag, listened for the right tone from
the revving engines and felt for the
precise moment to release them on
the pitching deck. The pilots, who had
never flown from a carrier, saw the
ship’s bow reaching into a grey sky,
and then plunging into a dark angry
ocean sending salt spray across the
deck. Every plane lifted off safely
from a rising deck into the stormy sky.
Doolittle considered the raid a fail-
ure. Every plane was lost and 11 of
80 crewmen were killed or captured.
However, the Imperial Navy suffered
a devastating loss of face, and Amer-
icans received a critical boost in
morale.
Nolan Nelson
Redmond
I’m voting for
Melissa Lindsay
When I cast my vote in May, I will
be voting Melissa Lindsay for Morrow
County commissioner.
Melissa’s grandfather, Gar Swan-
son, was one of the founding members
and a visionary for the Port of Morrow
and the Bank of Eastern Oregon. He
was committed to Morrow County
agriculture and economic devel-
opment. Her father, Ken Turner,
a descendant of Irish immigrants,
expanded the farm that she and her
husband have been on for 28 years.
Her son will be the fifth generation to
run the business. The Turner family
has been farming as well as promoting
growth in Morrow County for more
than 135 years.
Melissa is a graduate of Mt. Hood
Community College and San Diego
State University with degrees in social
science and business administration.
Melissa was instrumental in initiat-
ing the formation phase of the Bank
of Eastern Oregon’s mortgage lending
department and headed up the profit-
able mortgage division as a vice presi-
dent for 15 years.
Her roots run deep and have
instilled the desire to serve Morrow
County and its residents. Over the
past six years, while serving as county
judge and commissioner, she has
learned about government business
and serves on boards and committees
to the great benefit of the residents of
Morrow County.
The example her forefathers set,
generations before her, have instilled a
desire to work diligently representing
all of Morrow County, and with our
support, Melissa will continue doing
so.
Please join me in support of
Melissa Lindsay as Morrow County
commissioner.
Donna Rietmann
Ione
CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
U.S. PRESIDENT
Joe Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
GOVERNOR
Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, OR 97301-4047
503-378-4582
U.S. SENATORS
Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
La Grande office: 541-962-7691
Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753
Pendleton office: 541-278-1129
REPRESENTATIVES
Bobby Levy, District 58
900 Court St. NE, H-376
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1458
Rep.BobbyLevy@state.or.us
Greg Smith, District 57
900 Court St. NE, H-482
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1457
Rep.GregSmith@state.or.us
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Cliff Bentz
2185 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6730
Medford office: 541-776-4646
SENATOR
Bill Hansell, District 29
900 Court St. NE, S-415
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1729
Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us