Wednesday, May 4, 2022
A4
OPINION
FROM THE
EDITOR’S
DESK
Ronald Bond
One
chapter
comes to
an end
I
’ve thought for a month now — since I
submitted the paperwork on March 28
— about what to say in this space.
The words still elude me.
I guess I should begin with the fact that May
3 was my final day — and this edition my final
one — as the editor of the Wallowa County
Chieftain, though my byline may still appear
from time to time as a freelance contributor.
How to recount this time is something I will
ponder for a while. Though I had editorial expe-
rience on an interim basis and experience as a
sports editor, this was my first time as an editor.
As I look back, there are articles and edi-
tions we put out that I will be proud of for
quite some time. There are stretches of good
work we did that made it in the pages of
the Chieftain, and made it to our website.
There are moments, too, that I would
absolutely do over again given an oppor-
tunity. Moments of frustration (mostly at
myself). Moments of disappointment. Of
anger. Of confusion. Even of sadness.
In all of it, my hope is that we put out a
product each week that reflected the com-
munity well and something that the com-
munity — meaning each one of you
— could be proud of. There are times
we did, but also times we didn’t.
It was definitely a time that taught me
a lot, that grew me, that challenged me,
that has helped further shape who I am.
In fact, the last year of my life has been
seen through that sphere of growth, lessons
and challenges — getting married, gaining
two daughters in the process, trying to learn
how to be a dad and how to balance work
life and home life (which we all have to do)
were just a few for me. Both — being an edi-
tor and a father — require full-time atten-
tion, and I certainly have had moments where
I felt I could have done better in both arenas.
If I have learned anything in the last year,
it is that I want to be a good representative
of Jesus, a good husband, a good father and
a good worker. Specifically to my role here,
was I a good representative of my Lord? That
is a question I have pondered often in recent
weeks. Even as I write this, the question that
comes to mind is “What does that look like
as an editor?” I think, in part, it means work-
ing hard, telling the truth, standing on one’s
convictions, showing kindness and gentle-
ness to those I work with. As I reflect on hun-
dreds of conversations, emails, phone calls,
etc. over the last 18 months, I am certain there
are some who I did not show this to. To them,
I apologize and hope to gain your forgiveness.
To the readers, you have been gracious
to take in this paper each week, to allow
us into your home. You didn’t have to. For
that, I am grateful. Thank you for work-
ing with me on stories, for patience as I tried
to find my way in this role (often stumbling)
and, as painful as it was at times, for hold-
ing my feet to the fire to cause me to reflect.
I also want to extend my gratitude to the
staff, in office and across the company, that
I have worked with. Specifically, thanks to
Andrew Cutler, Karrine Brogoitti and Jenni-
fer Cooney for considering me for this role
and giving me an opportunity. I know there
were many ups and downs in the 18 months,
but I hope we can all reflect on it well.
There are still details for myself to work
out in the weeks ahead, and I don’t know
exactly how things may fall, but I know who
does, and I am trusting him as I take this next
step. I’m excited to see where it leads me.
God bless you all.
LETTERS to the EDITOR
East Moraine comments
clarified
In the story published on April 26 about
the East Moraine community forest, you
quoted Commissioner Nash as saying that
there was discussion of not allowing people
to walk on the East Moraine. To be clear,
none of the members of the moraine part-
nership have proposed that people should
not be allowed to walk on the moraine.
Also, when you report on the negotia-
tions involving the East Moraine, remem-
ber there are eight partners involved in the
negotiations. Good journalism requires that
you spend time talking to more than one of
them.
Benjamin Curry
chairman, Wallowa Land Trust Board
Joseph
overall tax burden in Oregon is 8.650,
25th highest in the country. This includes
sales/excise, property tax and income
tax. Washington is 8.370, 30th highest in
the country. Idaho is 7.590 making it the
40th highest in the country. Oregon does
not have a sales tax, Washington does
not have an income tax. Idaho has both
yet they are still lower in tax burden than
both of their neighbors. Nevada is also
higher than Idaho, but Montana is a tiny
bit lower. That would just make our com-
mute too far. So no matter how you slice
it, taxes are less in Idaho.
I want to stay Oregon, but the west
side of these beautiful mountains makes
me worry about the future of Eastern
Oregon.
Lawrence McBurney
Joseph
Response to ‘How to change ‘Let us be free to think and
do as we choose’
from Oregon to Idaho’
The reason there are people that
want to change from Oregon to Idaho
is not really about taxes. It’s about
representation.
Idaho does not have the same vot-
ing conundrum that Oregon does. Mean-
ing the east side of Oregon could vote
en masse one way to support our rural
lifestyle and needs of our employment
goals and lifestyle. Those votes often
don’t matter. The Portland, Multnomah
area cancels our votes/needs. We can all
see what a good job the Portland area is
doing. #tongueincheek. Much like San
Francisco, the rest of the state will follow
before too long.
There are no “Portland-like areas” in
the state of Idaho. That is why some think
it would be good to make the change.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy Portland
on many levels. I see its efforts politi-
cally making things worse, in concept and
result. Much of what goes on there is the
result of that voting base. I don’t want
that for them, but I really don’t want that
for us. I don’t think that they care about
our existence when they vote.
Plus, the numbers in the letter to the
editor on taxes are a bit misleading. The
I just love it when some political writer
insinuates that they can read my mind and
tell us how to think. The people that want
to share our politics with Idaho are a dis-
gruntled few, so that leaves nearly half the
county voters as...?
Why must we be put in a labeled bucket
just because we do not support your par-
ticular values or party? At least some of
us are not so interested in having the Ore-
gon leadership telling us to spend our taxes
on illegal immigrants and people who sim-
ply will not take a job even when many are
available.
We want justice that is fair to all and
equally enforced. Many of us would be
willing to pay more in taxes to have more
rights and freedom than we presently have.
We do not believe in government that
extends a declared emergency to indefi-
nitely extend their control over our lives.
Many of their rules are proving they did not
follow the science and were of question-
able value. I do not believe that the mass
of people living and polluting the westside
should tell me how to live and think.
Guess I am too independent for others to
tell me how to live in my locale. Let us be
free to think and do as we choose instead
Wallowa County’s Newspaper Since 1884
Member Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
VOLUME 134
USPS No. 665-100
P.O. Box 338 • Enterprise, OR 97828
Office: 209 NW First St., Enterprise, Ore.
Phone: 541-426-4567 • Fax: 541-426-3921
Contents copyright © 2022. All rights reserved.
Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
General Manager, Karrine Brogoitti, kbrogoitti@eomediagroup.com
Editor, Ronald Bond, rbond@wallowa.com
Reporter, Bill Bradshaw, bbradshaw@wallowa.com
News Assistant, Cheryl Jenkins, cjenkins@wallowa.com
Classifieds/Inside Sales, Julie Ferdig, jferdig@bakercityherald.com
Advertising Assistant, Devi Mathson, dmathson@lagrandeobserver.com
• • •
To submit news tips and press releases, call 541-426-4567
or email editor@wallowa.com
of telling us we are not intelligent enough
to take care of ourselves. Let us be free
Western Americans wanting to chose our
own way instead of being the sheep that
just follows. If you don’t like the way we
think, then give us native Oregonians your
approval to join a different government
without leaving our homes. Let us decide if
we will be the loser.
Evidently, our freedoms are worth more
to us than you. Are you willing to sell
your freedom for a little less taxes and be
chained to the Oregon political machine?
John Isley
Enterprise
Kerry McQuisten
for governor
Are you awake yet? Our freedoms are
extremely fragile. Oregon is in a state of
disaster! Are you fed up with your gun
rights being threatened? Are you tired of
living in fear? Do you worry that your
timber will needlessly burn? Does it con-
cern you that our kids are being indoctri-
nated with evil in public schools? Are you
disturbed by the possibility of more lock-
downs and mandates? Do you believe in
medical freedom? Are you irritated by the
rise in crime in our state? Do you go to
bed anxious that your property will be the
next one burglarized? Are you outraged
that you live in a state that does not “back
the blue,” but instead enables lawless-
ness? Are you as disgusted as I am, that
we live in a state that promotes the death
of unborn children? Are you happy with
the state’s gross mismanagement and the
effects on your business? Did you ever
believe that you would live in a state that
would shut down places of worship, but
would still allow for liquor stores and big
box stores to remain open?
If you answered YES to any of these
questions, then a vote for Kerry McQuis-
ten is the only solution and the only hope.
I undoubtedly believe that she has what it
takes to save Oregon! As for me and my
family, locally and across the state, it is a
big YES for Kerry McQuisten!!!
Thomas Hughes
Baker City
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