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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (April 29, 2015)
A4 Opinion wallowa.com April 29, 2015 Wallowa County Chieftain Addiction a base for plenty of tragedy A ccording to Dwight Holton, many modern tragedies begin with an addiction. Crime, mental health breakdowns, even suicide and homicide can often be traced back to a pill or a poison — some brains are just wired to be susceptible to outside LQÀXHQFH$QGPDQ\RI the systems of care and EDITORIAL punishment our society The voice of the Chieftain has in place don’t do much to get to the root of the problem, or save people who are in danger of hurting themselves or others. Holton is a former federal prosecutor and Oregon’s U.S. attorney. In that line of work, by the time he got involved it was too late. Someone had already been hurt, bad decisions had been made, lives had been impacted for the worse. In 2014 he took over as director of Lines for Life, a 3RUWODQGEDVHGQRQSUR¿WWKDWKDVWZLQJRDOVRISUHYHQWLQJ substance abuse and suicide. He wanted to get involved HDUO\WRSUHYHQWWKHEDGGHFLVLRQVLQWKH¿UVWSODFH$QG ZKLOHLWPLJKWVHHPDW¿UVWJODQFHWKDWVXEVWDQFHDEXVHDQG suicide are different threats, Holton said they are nearly always intertwined. In the course of his new work, he quickly realized that the major source of substance abuse problems in Oregon come from prescription pills. They kill more Oregonians — hundreds a year — than all illegal drugs. Holton said a major factor may be that Oregonians think prescription pills are safer than they actually are. We think heck: these things are legal, they are given to me by my doctor and they make me feel better. What’s the downside? Addiction can cause people to do terrible things outside their own nature. They lie and cheat and embezzle and burgle and assault and kill. They get stuck in a cycle of depression and broken relationships. There is literally nothing good that comes from it. So how can the state reduce the number of people laid low by prescription pills? Holton’s plan is to reduce the number of prescribed but unnecessary opioids. Currently, 100 million such pills are prescribed in Oregon each year. He also wants more places where patients can dispose of unused medicines. In addition, Holton sees the EHQH¿WRIEHWWHUWUHDWPHQWDQGOHVVDGGLFWLYHYHUVLRQVRI the medication. There is lots to talk through and plenty to think about, which is why Holton is taking his crew on the road. They PHW)ULGD\LQ/D*UDQGHWKH¿UVWGLVFXVVLRQWRNLFNRII WKH¿UVWSKDVHRILGHQWLI\LQJEHVWSUDFWLFHVDFURVVWKH state. We realize it is a root issue that leads to all kinds of rotten social ills, and agree with Holton that time and money spent up front will save us even more down the road — including a society with fewer broken lives and families. There is no easy answer to the problem of prescriptions drugs. Science continues to learn more DERXWDGGLFWLRQDQGFRQWLQXHVWR¿QHWXQHPHGLFLQHV that reduce the likelihood they will be misused. One simple way to start is to realize how dangerous prescription opioids can be. Use them only when necessary, discard them when you’re through, and if you think you have a problem get help immediately. Lines for Life (call the helpline at 1-800-923-4357) is a great place to start. USPS No. 665-100 P.O. Box 338 • Enterprise, OR 97828 2I¿FH1:)LUVW6W(QWHUSULVH2UH 3KRQH)D[ :DOORZD&RXQW\¶V1HZVSDSHU6LQFH Enterprise, Oregon M EMBER O REGON N EWSPAPER P UBLISHERS A SSOCIATION P UBLISHER E DITOR R EPORTER R EPORTER N EWSROOM ASSISTANT A D S ALES CONSULTANT G RAPHIC D ESIGNER O FFICE MANAGER Marissa Williams, marissa@bmeagle.com Rob Ruth, editor@wallowa.com Stephen Tool, stool@wallowa.com Kathleen Ellyn, kellyn@wallowa.com Rich Rautenstrauch, rrautenstrauch@wallowa.com Brooke Pace, bpace@wallowa.com Robby Day, rday@wallowa.com Cheryl Jenkins, cjenkins@wallowa.com P UBLISHED EVERY W EDNESDAY BY : EO Media Group 3HULRGLFDO3RVWDJH3DLGDW(QWHUSULVHDQGDGGLWLRQDOPDLOLQJRI¿FHV Subscription rates (includes online access) Wallowa County Out-of-County 1 Year $40.00 $57.00 Subscriptions must be paid prior to delivery See the Wallowa County Chieftain on the Internet www.wallowa.com facebook.com/Wallowa | twitter.com/wcchieftain POSTMASTER — Send address changes to Wallowa County Chieftain P.O. Box 338 Enterprise, OR 97828 Contents copyright © 2015. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Fix streets now for savings Joseph deserves to have usable streets that meet the basic needs of its residents, businesses and visitors. Our streets do not FXUUHQWO\IXO¿OOWKDWSURPLVH:HKDYHWKH ability and responsibility, as citizens, to change that. This is why I am asking you to approve the two street-related ballot mea- sures on May 19th. These ballot measures are a result of D ORQJ SURFHVV WKDW ZDV GHVLJQHG WR ¿QG the most economical and effective way to solve our street problem. This process made it clear that the problem is one that can no longer be ignored. Twenty percent (20%) of the City’s streets are gravel. A majority of our streets, 59%, are classi- ¿HG DV HLWKHU SRRU RU IDLU -XVW DUH FODVVL¿HGDVJRRGRUYHU\JRRG:HFDQ and must do better. 6RPH KDYH VDLG ³/HW¶V MXVW ¿OO WKH potholes and save some money.” While WKDWLVD¿QHWHPSRUDU\VROXWLRQWKHUHDO- ity is that most of our streets are about 50 years old and subject to extreme weather. Filling potholes only delays the inevita- ble and increases the long-term cost of repair. If approved, the ballot measures would allow us to create an economical ORQJWHUP VROXWLRQ WKDW EHQH¿WV HYHU\- one. All poor and fair streets would be upgraded to either good or very good FODVVL¿FDWLRQ OHYHOV DQG IXQGLQJ ZRXOG be put in place to maintain that quality into the future. The City realizes this project is not cheap and that we cannot ask our fellow citizens to absorb this expense without be- ing completely transparent about the cost. The total cost of the project is $1.3 million. If approved, the ballot measures would au- thorize the City to issue a general obliga- tion bond to pay that cost with a targeted plain why this step is required. The City is responsible for maintaining about 22 miles of streets. Funding for that maintenance Dennis Sands comes primarily from the City’s share of the state highway fund, about $60,000 per completion date of 2016. The bond would year based on our population of 1,090. But then be paid for with a Transportation Util- that funding is designed only to allow the ity Fee of $11 per month, per tax lot. That City to maintain its streets in their current FRVWZRXOGEHUHÀHFWHGLQ\RXUZDWHUDQG condition. It does not cover the cost of im- sewer bill and any fees collected through proving existing substandard streets up to it would be dedicated solely to bond pay- acceptable levels. Because the City has waited so long to ments. As with any project of this size, there make those upgrades, the existing budget is some risk. Because this is a new fee and simply falls short. This is because the cost the City has no payment history with the of repair increases as the quality of streets is bond company, we are required to provide allowed to decline. Based on our research, some additional collateral. This means that the cost to bring a fair street up to stan- if the fee were for some reason to fall short dard with a 2 inch asphalt overlay is about of our required bond payments, we would $15,000 per block. The cost to bring a poor have to pay the difference from the general street up to standard is about $45,000 per fund and make up the difference through a block. Even a single layer chip seal costs one year property tax levy. As your elected about $1,600 per block. To minimize costs representative, I can assure you that we be- while still achieving our goal, streets clas- lieve this is a remote risk. But it is one that VL¿HGDVIDLUZLOOUHFHLYHDVLQJOHOD\HUFKLS the City is required to take on to receive a VHDO7KRVHFODVVL¿HGDVSRRUZLOOEHUHFRQ- structed and have a triple layer chip seal ap- general obligation bond. That said, we are also optimistic that plied. All streets will then receive a single the timing of the project could allow us to layer chip seal every 5-7 years. I realize these are substantial costs and take advantage of lower gasoline prices. If that turns out to be true, we hope to also costs that add to already tight budgets for seal some of the City’s gravel streets. Not many of my fellow citizens, but I also know for appearance reasons, but to save money. that further delay will only move more of The City currently spends about $11,000 a our streets from fair to poor, ultimately year on dust abatement — sealing addition- raising the cost of inevitable repair substan- al gravel streets would reduce that cost and tially for our future generations. We have the enormous privilege of living in a really save the City money over time. Some of you may still ask, “Why can’t great town. With that comes the obligation we just make due with our existing tax rev- to do our part to help keep it great. And it enue — shouldn’t this already be part of the is for that reason that I urge the voters to budget?” That is a fair question and one we approve both ballot measures on May 19th. Guest columnist Dennis Sands is mayor should always ask before asking citizens to increase government funding, so let me ex- of Joseph. GUEST COLUMN Willis, Davis, good for cemetery To the Editor: We must keep moving forward toward the goal of restoring the Enterprise Cem- etery grounds to the beautiful place it has been in the past. Although my wife and I no longer own property in the cemetery district, the Enterprise Cemetery is the ¿QDO UHVWLQJ SODFH RI IRXU JHQHUDWLRQV RI family members. Much has changed since the land for the Enterprise Cemetery was donated by Alonzo Wagner over 100 years ago, but it remains that burial grounds are DUHÀHFWLRQRIWKHFRPPXQLW\ The current condition of a cemetery full of squirrel holes and lack of green grass is unacceptable. While steps have been recently made to restore irrigation and manage squirrels, much more over- sight is needed to implement a credible ongoing and responsible maintenance plan which addresses current funding, an- nual expenses, and future improvements. Voters in the Enterprise Cemetery Dis- trict must assume individual responsibili- ty for the task of maintaining the integrity of this piece of history for both past and future generations by voting on the ceme- tery board positions on the May 19 ballot. Votes for both Pat Willis and Perry Davis in the May 19 election will ensure that solutions to current conditions will be ex- plored and acted upon. I support Pat Willis and Perry Davis for these important cem- etery board positions. Both Pat and Perry have the time, dedication, and experience to guide positive changes for the cemetery district. It is time to move forward! Ron Wagner Talent but for being current in knowledge of the issues, voting wisely and communicating with our representatives. It is timely to call attention to Hamilton and Madison’s warning regarding factions other events. There is also a rich honesty in our country. Perhaps had we heeded about Enterprise. It is seen in Liza Jane’s their warning we might not even have “on your honor” roadside farm stand and Democratic and Republican parties in in the downtown benches that are always 2015. At least, if political parties paid at- available for everyone’s use but have no tention to the founding fathers, they might be more interested in what is best for the need to be locked and chained. The town echoes of the good things country as a whole. The present Tea Party that we cherish from the past and hope for and the Birch Society of the 50s – 70s are WKH IXWXUH WKH PDJQL¿FHQWO\ FUDIWHG DQG other factions with dangerous agendas. To stately courthouse and its honor of the vet- PHWKHVHHQWLWLHVWUXO\¿W0DGLVRQ¶VGH¿- erans who have given much for our free- nition of a faction: “(citizens) who are dom, the pleasant songs of the community united and actuated by some common im- FKXUFKEHOOVÀRDWLQJIDLWKIXOO\WKURXJKWKH pulse of passion, or of interest, adversed town at their prescribed hours, the senior to the rights of other citizens, or to the center meals served by various volunteer permanent and aggregate interests of the groups and provided for by home town community.” The founding fathers took their time businesses and individuals, the rural com- mentaries, local artists, and old-time radio discussing various forms of government, shows of KWVR, the phenomenally cour- stating their points of view and compro- teous attitude of Enterprise drivers toward mising as they drafted our constitution to pedestrians, the amazing little Soroptimist EHQH¿W WKH HQWLUH FRPPXQLW\ QRW MXVW D thrift store that, through the team effort of faction of it. Up until this point in time, I donors and volunteers, clothes the people believe our citizen patriots basically used of the community and supports worthy lo- their brains to keep the country on the con- stitutional path set forth by the founding cal endeavors. Enterprise and the surrounding area as fathers. We should continue to hold our a community is full of productive and car- constitution as a plumb line to keep order ing citizens with a zest for life. May you and serve everyone in our country. In 2015 our country is much larger and collectively continue down the path you have taken, looking after each other in more populated. We have far more access friendship and refreshing those who hap- to a variety of viewpoints through the In- pen to be passing through. You have truly ternet, television, and other electronic and printed forms. Leaders of factions have a been a blessing! Janet Haddock multitude of opportunities to get their mes- Pilot Rock sages out to millions of people. As a result, SRZHUIXO¿QDQFLDOLQWHUHVWVKDYHWKHDELO- Visitor praises ity to buy media to disperse a multitude Factions spreading of diverse information or misinformation Enterprise without concern for honesty or fairness. misinformation To the Editor: With the ability of powerful factions to My husband’s work project planted To the Editor: contact so many people so rapidly and “Where in the world have we in 2015 frequently, so much of the news dissemi- us in your community for several weeks. +RZUHIUHVKLQJLWKDVEHHQWROLYHEULHÀ\ misplaced our brains?” The last sentence nated has no integrity. Thus, too many cit- in your opinion article in the April 22 izens fail to discern truth from falsehood, in your midst! It is not just the lovely mountain back- Chieftain vividly illustrates what is going choosing to believe misinformation. Our founding fathers were right to drop where all day long I can “lift up on now in our country. We apparently do mine eyes unto the hills,” nor is it just not understand that we are all involved in warn of the dangers of factions. Indeed, the friendly and industrious people all what goes on in our government whether where in the world have we misplaced over town that give a full days work and we vote or do not vote. We are all respon- our brains? Evelyn Swart then some and still gladly pitch in with sible, not just those who meet in Wash- Joseph evening community sports, music, and ington, DC to pass laws or not pass laws, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
