A4 Opinion Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, January 7, 2015 Five big issues to watch in ’15 I t’s a new year, and here are ¿YHWKLQJVZHH[SHFWWREH big stories in 2015 in Grant &RXQW\DQGEH\RQG • The Blue Mountain )RUHVWV3ODQ5HYLVLRQ$IWHU PRUHWKDQDGHFDGHRI¿WVDQG starts, the multi-forest proposal was released last year to little DFFODLPDQGPXFKFRQFHUQ The Eastern Oregon Counties Association rejected all the alternatives, fueled by concerns about the sustainability of local FRPPXQLWLHVDQGLQGXVWULHV Other groups focused on concerns about road closures DQGDFFHVVWRWKHIRUHVWV$ELJ concern is the possibility that a regionwide approach may undercut forest health advances already in process on the 0DOKHXU1DWLRQDO)RUHVW )RUHVW6HUYLFHRI¿FLDOV are meeting with an array of community partners this month to hash out how the work will SURFHHG)RUWKLVSODQ remains a work in progress, and WKHVKRXWLQ¶VIDUIURPGRQH • The new John Day Fire 6WDWLRQ7KHYRWHUVVDLG\HVWRD bond measure last year, clearing the way for construction of a QHZ¿UHKDOOWRUHSODFHWKHDJLQJ JDUDJHRQ'D\WRQ6WUHHW City and John Day Rural )LUH'LVWULFWRI¿FLDOVKDYHKLUHG .LUE\1DJHOKRXWDVFRQVWUXFWLRQ manager and general contractor for the project, and work has begun with Pinnacle Architect RQWKHGHVLJQ The agencies are hoping to begin construction in the late VSULQJRUHDUO\VXPPHUDQG¿QLVK WKHMREEHIRUHZLQWHUVHWVLQ$ celebratory open house would be DJUHDWFDSSHUIRUWKH\HDU • The progress of the Malheur National Forest’s 10-year stewardship contract, a sweeping effort to restore this region’s ecosystems, PDNHWKHIRUHVWVPRUH¿UH and bug-resilient, and bring economic stability to the local FRPPXQLWLHV The latter appears to be on target, despite some discouraging news this past week as Malheur /XPEHU&RFRQ¿UPHGWKHOD\RII of its recently hired second VKLIW<HWWKHFXWEDFNVZKLOH painful for those involved and the community, appear to be a business decision based on supplies and capacity, and not a signal that something’s awry ZLWKWKHVWHZDUGVKLSSURJUDP In 2015, we’ll be watching to see how this new and evolving strategy for forest restoration SOD\VRXW:HZRQ¶WEHDORQH as the 10-year contract has drawn regional and national DWWHQWLRQ:RUNLQJLQHYHU\RQH¶V favor: The diverse partners that crafted this plan continue to be committed to bettering the forest, as well as the community and LQGXVWU\LQIUDVWUXFWXUH • The outcome of two lawsuits IDFLQJ*UDQW&RXQW\RI¿FLDOV over sexual orientation slurs in a hiring meeting more than a year DJR:LOOWKHVHFDVHVJRWRFRXUW or be settled? Either way, we can expect the proceedings to have a SULFHWDJIRUWKHFRXQW\ At least part of the blame for this situation rests on the County Court, which in recent years has treated human resources management as a passive and RFFDVLRQDOGXW\7KHH[SHUWV say municipalities that neglect personnel and management training do so at their own peril – and at considerable cost to the WD[SD\HUVZKHQODZVXLWVUHVXOW The Court was on course to create a dedicated human resources position late last year, but got derailed as commissioners pondered whether the duties could be handled instead by County Clerk Brenda 3HUF\DQG-XGJH6FRWW0\HUV It’s not clear how a tag-team approach would be effective or proactive, nor is it clear how this DGGHGUHVSRQVLELOLW\ZRXOG¿WLQ with – or interrupt – the duties IRUZKLFKERWKZHUHHOHFWHG Those questions have yet to be answered, so the process is stalled, leaving the county in MHRSDUG\:HKRSHWKDWVLWXDWLRQ will change soon, regardless of KRZWKHFXUUHQWODZVXLWVSDQRXW • On a statewide level, we’ll EHZDWFKLQJWRVHHZKHWKHU*RY -RKQ.LW]KDEHU¶V7HÀRQFRDW ZHDUVWKLQ7KHJRYHUQRUEHJLQV his fourth term this week amid continuing controversy over KLV¿DQFHH¶VDSSDUHQWEOHQGLQJ of her own business interests DQGWKHVWDI¿QJUHVRXUFHV and privileges she enjoys as WKHVWDWH¶V¿UVWODG\:LWKWKH JRYHUQRU¶VRI¿FHIDFLQJD continuing barrage of public records requests, and with an ethics review in the wind, this is one story that won’t end quietly RUVRRQIRU'U. Stay tuned, and thanks for UHDGLQJ±6& Blue Mountain EAGLE 195 N. Canyon Blvd. • John Day, OR 97845 541-575-0710 • Fax 541-575-1244 Grant County’s Weekly Newspaper USPS 226-340 John Day, Oregon MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION P UBLISHER E DITOR A DMINISTRATIVE A SSISTANT E DITORIAL A SSISTANT C OMMUNITY N EWS S PORTS M ARKETING R EP C USTOMER S ERVICE R EP Marissa Williams, marissa@bmeagle.com Scotta Callister, editor@bmeagle.com Alyssa Cone, alyssa@bmeagle.com Cheryl Hoefler, cheryl@bmeagle.com Angel Carpenter, angel@bmeagle.com Angel Carpenter, angel@bmeagle.com Kim Kell, ads@bmeagle.com Lindsay Bullock office@bmeagle.com PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY BY: EO Media Group 3HULRGLFDOV3RVWDJH3DLGDW-RKQ'D\DQGDGGLWLRQDOPDLOLQJRI¿FHV SUBSCRIPTION RATES (including online access) Grant County Elsewhere in Oregon Continental U.S., Outside Oregon Outside Continental U.S. 1 year $40.00 $48.00 $55.00 $60.00 Subscriptions must be paid prior to delivery See the Blue Mountain Eagle on the Internet www.MyEagleNews.com POSTMASTER — send address changes to Blue Mountain Eagle 195 N. Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845-1187 Copyright © 2015 Blue Mountain Eagle All rights reserved. No part of this publication covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means — graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, taping or information storage and retrieval systems — without written permission of the publisher. L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR State needs ID law Ernie’s contribution is par- WLFXODUO\ DSSUHFLDWHG 5HVSRQVL- To the Editor: ble, congenial, ready to work, he The Oregon Legislature should made freight hauling a seamless grant the authority and appropri- HQGHDYRU 7KLV \HDU D EUHDN LQ ate the necessary funding to meet plans resulted in the forklift not WKH5($/,'$FWVWDQGDUGV7KHVH being available to load the pallets standards increase privacy protec- of heavy containers packed with tions for Oregon driver’s license VKRHER[HV (UQLH FRXOG KDYH MXV- card holders and mitigate the risk tified a furrowed brow, but rather, RIOLFHQVHIUDXG he stepped right up and, with ex- 2Q 'HF WKH 2UHJRQ '09 ertion and muscle power, loaded provided the Oregon Transpor- WKHPDOOE\KDQG tation Commission with a report Some good things are subject detailing progress in meeting the WR HQGLQJ DQG (UQLH LV UHWLULQJ REAL ID standards, noting a $4 We wish him active and gratify- million price tag to achieve full ing years to come, and he will be FRPSOLDQFH $GGLWLRQDOO\ WKH UH- PLVVHG port stated that the DMV did not Three cheers for Ernie Hopper have the legislative authority to and Oak Harbor Freight Lines! LPSOHPHQWRIWKHVWDQGDUGV Zola Pike Specifically, Oregon does not Operation Christmas Child conduct background checks on employees who have access to ODFW and wildlife VHQVLWLYH SHUVRQDO GDWD ,QVLGHU management IUDXGLVDUHDOLVVXHLQ'09V2I- ten, motor vehicle employees are paid from $1,000 to $5,000 to pro- To the Editor: Here we go again! The ODFW vide licenses to individuals under D IUDXGXOHQW LGHQWLW\ %DFNJURXQG always blames bad habitat for a checks mitigate that risk, ensur- GHFOLQHRIDVSHFLHV1RZLWLVWKH ing that employees who have been JUHDWHUVDJHJURXVH7KH\VD\WRR convicted of certain crimes do not many juniper, magpies, ravens, have access to sensitive personal skunks, coyotes, and badgers just WRQDPHDIHZ7KH\DOOORYHHJJV GDWD Moreover, when renewals are When these predators eat all of issued, Oregon does not reverify the eggs, you get no reproduc- that a Social Security Number is WLRQV:KHQ\RXJHWQRUHSURGXF- YDOLG:KHQ D GULYHU¶V OLFHQVHV LV tion, the old ones eventually die issued, nearly all the states require RII The magpies and the raven that an applicant provide a Social 6HFXULW\FDUGDVSURRIRILGHQWLW\ can’t even be controlled because The information on the card, the WKH\ DUH SURWHFWHG ,¶P VXUH WKH name and number, is then verified ODFW could get authority to with the Social Security Admin- FRQWURO WKHP , FDQ WHOO \RX ZKDW istration to ensure that the card is they have proposed – getting rid of the junipers and cutting back on QRWDFRXQWHUIHLW Many states reverify with the WKHJUD]LQJ±LVQ¶WJRLQJWRZRUN Social Security Administration Maybe that is what they want? that a SSN is still valid and issued They can take the grazing from to the right person at the time of the ranchers and run the public off UHQHZDO ,Q FDVHV RI VWROHQ LGHQ- PRUHSXEOLFODQG Before I worked for them and tity, Social Security Numbers have to be changed and cards re- after I worked them, the Game LVVXHG7KLVKDVEHFRPHFRPPRQ Commission said the three main as black markets are dealing in things in wildlife management whole identities that are sold and DUH KDELWDW KDELWDW KDELWDW 1RZ the three main things in wildlife UHVROG The catalog of crimes associ- management should be predators, ated with driver’s license fraud predators, predators! Kenneth R. Moore aside (and it is far reaching), for Mt. Vernon victims recovering from identi- ty theft and fraud usually takes \HDUV QRW PRQWKV RU GD\V 7KH Oregon gets D+ Legislature should move quickly and grant the Oregon DMV the To the Editor: ,QWKHUHFHQWDUWLFOH³.HHS\RXU necessary authority to move for- ward, not only because it’s a fed- dog safe during trapping season” eral law, but because it’s good for 'HF%OXH0RXQWDLQ(D- gle), even the Oregon Department 2UHJRQ Andrew Meehan, of Fish and Wildlife warns of the policy director danger and indiscriminate nature Coalition for a Secure of wildlife traps, and the dead- Driver’s License ly toll they can have on family Washington, D.C. SHWV Every year, innocent dogs and More kudos for driver FDWV³QRQWDUJHW´ZLOGDQLPDOVRU threatened species are caught in To the Editor: traps intended for wild furbearers, This is reinforcement to Bob ORVLQJWKHLUOLPEVDQGOLYHV7UDSV Watt’s applause last week for Oak will catch any animal unfortunate Harbor Freight driver Ernie Hop- enough to cross its path – whether SHU)RU\HDUV2DN+DUERUDQG it’s a beloved dog, cat, or even a Ernie have transported, free of FKLOG charge, the hundreds of shoeboxes Research has shown that for ev- assembled by Grant County citi- ery target animal captured, at least zens each year and shipped under WZRQRQWDUJHWDQLPDOVDUHFDXJKW the organization of Samaritan’s The only way to protect pets and 3XUVH &DOOHG ³2SHUDWLRQ &KULVW- wildlife from these inhumane mas Child,” these boxes are filled traps is to ban the use of these ar- with gifts that bring excitement chaic devices on public, state and and joy to children in impover- IHGHUDO ODQGV %RUQ )UHH 86$ UH- LVKHGFRXQWULHV FHQWO\ODXQFKHG6DIH7UDLOVZZZ L ERUQIUHHXVDRUJVDIHWUDLOV ZKLFK educates the public on the dangers of wildlife traps and how to keep VDIHIURPWKHP7KLVVLWHFRQWDLQV information about the dangers of traps to companion animals and what people can do in emergen- cies, including how to release GRJVIURPDOOW\SHVRIWUDSV 6WDWH UHJXODWLRQV YDU\ ZLGHO\ Born Free USA’s State Trapping 5HSRUW &DUG ZZZERUQIUHHXVD RUJDBWUDSSLQJBUHSRUWFDUGSKS assigned Oregon a D+, in part be- cause the state allows for most all kinds of traps including leghold, &RQLEHDU DQG VQDUHV 3HWV KDYH been maimed terribly and even NLOOHGGXHWRWKHVHWUDSV No animal, wild or domesticat- ed, deserves to suffer such a hor- ULI\LQJIDWH Kate Deylewsky, Born Free USA staff Washington, D.C. Equal opportunity for all? To the Editor: I can think of very few things more healthy and wholesome than ELF\FOLQJ (VSHFLDOO\ ELF\FOLQJ that takes the bikers off crowded, VKRXOGHUOHVVKLJKZD\V I was, therefore, disappoint- ed to read that our County Court abruptly shot down a proposed ELF\FOH URXWH LQ /RJDQ 9DOOH\ What really got my goat were statements made by local rancher 6KDQQRQ9RLJW+HUHLVDPDQZKR raises cattle for a living and who is outraged about a little addition- DOSRRSDQGSHHRQWKHODQGVFDSH Good grief! Can’t he see the ex- treme double standard of his state- ments? I know of no other activity in Grant County that pollutes our land and water more than mass- es of cattle doing their business ZKHUH HYHU WKH\ SOHDVH (DFK summer Grant County rivers are discolored from cattle excrement, a result of flood irrigation of hay ILHOGV ZKHUH FRZV RYHUZLQWHUHG This activity overheats the water DVZHOODVSROOXWHVLW We recently saw local ranchers band together to shoot down a pro- posed land deal that would have created another state park in our FRXQW\:K\LVLWWKDWWKHVHSHRSOH have such self-inflated views of their importance? Is it that nothing belongs here that is not in keeping with their traditions, or doesn’t benefit ranching? I am reminded of an incident in )R[9DOOH\D\HDUDJR,KDGEHHQ photographing birds from a coun- ty road, an activity as innocent as bicycling, when a rancher flagged me down and demanded to know MXVW ZKDW , ZDV GRLQJ RXW WKHUH While he wasn’t aggressive, it aggravated me that he assumed a ULJKWWRVWRSPHRQDSXEOLFURDG Our conversation and disagree- ments ended as he drove off de- claring he didn’t know if I had a right to photograph birds perched RQKLVSURSHUW\ I personally hope that the County Court will take another look at the proposed Logan Val- OH\ ELNH SDWK ,W¶V D ZRUWK\ SURM- ect that deserves to be considered IURPDOOSRLQWVRIYLHZ Terry Steele Ritter etters policy: Letters to the Editor is a forum for Blue Mountain Eagle readers to express themselves on local, state, national or world issues. Brevity is good, but longer letters will be asked to be contained to 350 words. No personal attacks; challenge the opinion, not the person. No thank-you letters. Submissions to this page become property of the Eagle. The Eagle reserves the right to edit letters for length and for content. Letters must be original and signed by the writer. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Writers should include a telephone number so they can be reached for questions. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday. Send letters to editor@bmeagle.com, or Blue Mountain Eagle, 195 N. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845; or fax to 541-575-1244.