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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 6, 2016)
A4 Opinion wallowa.com January 6, 2016 Wallowa County Chieftain 63-mile trail in need of one bold step F or several years now the people of Wallowa and Union counties have been hearing of a plan to build a pedestrian/bike trail along 63 miles of railroad from Joseph to Elgin. We’ve reached the point where that talk must either make room for action or slowly GLPLQLVKDVDQRWKHU¿QH idea that just couldn’t take Voice of the Chieftain shape. The concept is called Rail with Trail. It calls for keeping the railroad active for use by excursion and other trains and accentuating the corridor with a trail at a safe distance on adjacent land. Both the rail and the land is owned by the Wallowa Union Rail Authority (WURA) and the fate of the project now rests with the eight-member WURA board, which is considering allowing the use of its land but has been FOHDUDERXWLWVUHOXFWDQFHWRDVVXPHDQ\¿QDQFLDOEXUGHQ associated with the project. During its most recent meeting Dec. 15 in Wallowa, the WURA board, a public governing body, heard presentations from trail advocates as well as the two key people behind the Concept Plan — Eastern Oregon University MBA candidate Dana Kurtz and Oregon Parks and Recreation State Trails Coordinator Rocky Houston. Those presentations were followed by a public discussion, during which emerged the evening’s lone voices of dissent — from a few residents who own land adjacent to the rail corridor in the Lostine/Wallowa area. It’s doubtful that those who oppose the project were adequately represented at that meeting. However, surveys conducted by Kurtz and Houston do suggest that a VLJQL¿FDQWPDMRULW\RIWKHJHQHUDOSXEOLFVXSSRUWVWKH Rail with Trail proposal in its entirety. Kurtz and Houston also claim that at least a slim majority of adjacent landowners supports the completion of at least some of the six-segment plan. Kurtz and Houston also stressed that the Concept Plan is not a blueprint. It’s merely intended to show what is possible, to identify critical obstacles while leaving a bevy of design questions to those who would help fund and create the individual trail segments. You can view the plan online at http://tinyurl.com/ KWÀXDE 7KHSULFHWDJLVIDUIURPLQVLJQL¿FDQW%RWKWKH Concept Plan and the primary group taking up the task of securing funding — the Joseph Branch Trail Consortium — estimate a grand total of $20 million to complete the entire 63-mile trail. And those initial cost estimates have a way of climbing with projects of this magnitude. However, this proposal is uniquely suited to draw funding from a variety of federal, state and foundation sources as it simultaneously supports tourism, transportation, historic preservation and healthy living. While the cost is high, this project would take years, if not decades, to complete. It wouldn’t be necessary to secure all money up front. Funding sources would be secured incrementally over time as the project progressed. And this isn’t just a shiny, new toy. The Concept Plan cites a range of $85,000 to $425,000 going back into the economy annually upon completion of the trail. The trail’s construction also will require contracts with local companies and the use of local labor — a short-term boost to the job market, to be sure, but nothing to scoff DW(FRQRPLFEHQH¿WVDVLGHWKHUHDUHSRWHQWLDOTXDOLW\ of-life improvements for our communities to consider as well — healthy transportation alternatives and a safer route for local pedestrians and cyclists that helps keep them off of the highways. And for those who tend to focus on the big picture, there’s another important term — legacy. Several of those who spoke in support of the project on Dec. 15 mentioned how important it would be for them to give this gift to their children and grandchildren, all the future JHQHUDWLRQVWKDWZRXOGPRVWEHQH¿WIURPRXUSUHVHQW endeavors. The WARU board next convenes at 5 p.m. Jan. 12 at Elgin City Hall, at which point the members may or may not issue their decision on allowing the Rail with Trail project to proceed. We understand and take quite seriously the concerns of the adjacent landowners. Critical issues of privacy and liability must be addressed. And we urge the project’s supporters to pay close attention to those concerns and seek out creative ways to alleviate them. ,IWKH:$58ERDUGVLJQVRIIRQWKHSURMHFWWKH¿UVW segments likely to be developed would be those on either end — from Joseph to Enterprise and from Elgin to Lookingglass. Those segments have garnered the most public support and represent the most immediate economic impact. If all that comes of the years of conceptual planning to date, and subsequent years of securing funding, design and construction, is a trail connecting Joseph and Enterprise, we’ll gladly declare the project a success. How great would it be to jump on a bike on a beautiful day and make that trek with the Wallowa Mountains as a backdrop and no motorized vehicles competing for space? However, this project holds much more potential and it would be irresponsible to turn our backs on that potential without at least giving it the chance to grow. We urge the WARU board members to give their EOHVVLQJWRWKLVEROGLGHDZLWKFRQ¿GHQFHWKDWIXWXUH generations will thank you for doing so. ² 6Fot +eiseO EDITORIAL From stars to slopes for 2016 Happy 2016, all you good people. My holiday spirit was kicked into high gear this season when I learned from a friend over in Portland about a covert operation to bring some high-velocity Christmas cheer. A single mom had recently moved into a new apartment with her two young- sters and, circumstances being on the tight side, Christmas morning this year was looking to be fairly low-key. Some friends of theirs deputized themselves as elves to ¿OOLQDURXQGWKH&KULVWPDVWUHHWKHQRWK- er folks heard about it and pretty soon the posse of elves grew to 26 strong. This San- WD&ODXVQHWZRUNJRWWRJHWKHUDERQD¿GH heap of toys, warm clothes, winter boots, food for the pantry and other gifts. I saw the video — taken by the lead elf — of these kids laying eyes on the eye-widen- ing pile of thoughtfulness and exclaiming, “Santa came!” The thermostat on my heart valves jumped right up. I almost pulled the plug on going to see my family on the west side because of grim forecasts warning of terrible road conditions. The thought of hanging my stocking from my rear-view mirror while AND FURTHERMORE Jon Rombach spending Christmas in a ditch beside I-84 didn’t sound great. Thankfully, my amigo Todd Kruger has no interest at all in com- puters — doesn’t even have an email ad- dress — so he wasn’t bothered at all by online fretting over winter travel. Todd was headed to see his family, just 10 miles from mine, so I hitched a ride. For some reason it seemed like if Todd wasn’t wor- ULHGULGLQJVKRWJXQVKRXOGEH¿QH Glad I did. My nephew Jack just turned 3 and seems to approve of this Christmas WKLQJ , KDYH QRW VHHQ VXFK HI¿FLHQW XQ- wrapping of gifts since the last time I saw a 3-year-old tear wrapping paper from their collection of presents. I think he might have peeled the Sheetrock off the walls to see if Santa brought any 2-by-4s if we hadn’t distracted him. I don’t want to ruin “Star Wars” for you, but I went to a late-night 3D showing with my other nephews, Jacob and Joe, and can’t keep this story twist to myself, so skip ahead if you don’t want to hear that Princess Leia has a new hairdo in this one. Why would she ever get away from the two buns over her ears? Classic look. Todd and I stopped over to see our river guide pal Brian Murphy on the way home. Murphy is a ski patroller at Mount +RRG0HDGRZVDQG¿[HGXVXSZLWKVNL passes, which cost one zillion dollars a day. And I can see why. It’s a high-tech operation. Lift tickets are now little pro- grammed cards you put in your pocket. Some robot scans your coat and a green light comes on and lets you through the JDWH7RGGDQG,FRXOGQ¶W¿JXUHRXWZKDW WRGRZLWKWKHVHVFLHQFH¿FWLRQOLIWWLFNHWV and had to ask a stranger in a strange land for guidance. We skied miles of trails. Caught chair lifts to other chair lifts to ski more miles of trails. 6ee RO0B$&+, PDge $ Let’s play ‘Name that medication’ What would you call an “ideal” med- ication that is as effective in reducing the risk of a heart attack as it is for stopping smoking or reducing cholesterol and high blood pressure? In addition, this “medication” can sig- QL¿FDQWO\ UHGXFH WKH LQFLGHQFH RI PDQ\ diseases such as kidney stones, gallblad- der disease, constipation, urinary track infections and venous blood clots. Would you be tempted to call it a “Miracle Drug?” How about just plain water? A study from the American Journal of Epidemiology (Vol. 176, No. 4, Aug. 15, 2012) showed that those who drink more WKDQ¿YHJODVVHVRIZDWHUDGD\KDGDPXFK lower risk of dying from a heart attack than those drinking less then 2 cups a day. We’re talking about water — not other liquids such as coffee, juices or carbonated drinks. Jac- queline Chan, DrPH, author of the study goes on to say, “Basically, not drinking enough water can be as harmful to your GUEST COLUMN Dr. Kenneth D. Rose heart as smoking.” Drinking more than 5 cups of water per day can cut the risk of coronary artery dis- ease by 50 percent. The question is often asked, “How much water should I be drinking?” While some simply rely on their “thirst buds” to determine their body’s need for water, in actuality by the time they are thirsty, their bodies are well behind in their water needs. Others rely on the standard answer of eight 8 oz. glasses a day. But in reality, the amount of water our bodies’ need can vary tremendously depending upon our age, gender, level of activity, medications and environmental conditions. A good starting point to determine our bodies’ need for wa- ter each day is to take our weight and divide it by two. That number will give you the number of ounces we should be drinking each day. However, an even more accurate way to determine our bodies’ need for water is by looking at the color of our urine. For people not taking a water pill, the color of their urine should be a light straw-colored yellow. If it’s too dark, then they are not getting enough water. If it’s clear, then they are adequately hydrated. As with our cars, which like water in the radiator to cool the engine, our bodies love to be well hydrated to function properly. Af- ter all, our bodies are nearly 75 percent wa- ter. So, keep well hydrated in order to keep all our body’s functions running smoothly. .ennetK '. Rose, 0', is D generDO sXrgeon Dt 0oXntDin 9ieZ 0eGiFDO *roXp in Enterprise. LETTERS to the EDITOR USPS No. 665-100 P.O. Box 338 • Enterprise, OR 97828 OI¿Fe 29 1: )irst 6t., Enterprise, Ore. PKone 27 • )Dx 2392 :DOOoZD &oXnt\¶s 1eZspDper 6inFe 88 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 Scot Heisel, editor@wallowa.com Stephen Tool, stool@wallowa.com Kathleen Ellyn, kellyn@wallowa.com editor@wallowa.com Jennifer Powell, jpowell@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 6XEsFriptions PXst Ee pDiG prior to GeOiYer\ 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. Volume 134 Water decisions require balance Concerning your (Dec. 30) editorial about the water is- sue going to the U.S. Supreme Court, I would like to add some thoughts. Water is likely to con- tinue to be the subject of con- ÀLFW IRU VRPH WLPH XQOHVV WKH Supreme Court is able to come up with the magic solution. You are right to say, “For farmers, ranchers and other landowners, the stakes are high.” The regu- lations are sure to limit property owners’ rights to the water they want to use. However, to be fair, you should also recognize that for populations in cities and towns downstream from the “proper- ty owners” there are millions of people who also need water, clean water, to physically sur- vive. I do not believe it is too ex- WUHPHWRSRLQWRXWWKLVFRQÀLFWRI interest. Before we become an- gry with our fellow citizens for wanting to drink clean water, or for wanting to use the water that passes near their own ranches, we should recognize the dichot- omy between individual rights and needs of our fellow country- men downstream. Understandably, the threat to one’s right to use whatever wa- ter one wants is seen as a threat to one’s economic existence. At the same time, the threat of not having clean water for the population downstream (or in the aquifers) is a threat to the survival of many more. I hope the Supreme Court will have the wisdom to consider our inter- dependence and come up with solutions. Evelyn Swart Joseph Support Sockeye salmon runs I was really surprised when I read the (Dec. 16) article about the demise of the dam owned by the Associated Ditch Company on the Wallowa River. This dam has blocked Sockeye salmon runs for al- most 100 years, and not one word was mentioned about the 6ee /E77ER6, PDge $
