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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (April 8, 2015)
A4 Opinion Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, April 8, 2015 Brown sounds the alarm over water supplies T iming is everything in SROLWLFV7KHVDPHLV true for moving public DWWLWXGHV0DQ\KDYHZRQGHUHG when California would get serious about the severe GURXJKW7KDWPRPHQWDUULYHG ODVWZHHNZKHQ*RY-HUU\ Brown announced an executive order aimed at reducing the state’s water usage by 25 SHUFHQW 7RHPSKDVL]HWKHGLUH FLUFXPVWDQFHV*RY%URZQ made his announcement in a location in the Sierra Nevada DERYHIHHW,QVWHDGRI being covered by snowpack, the JURXQGZDVEDUH,WZDVDYLYLG GHSLFWLRQRIGURXJKW As our sister publication, the Daily Astorian, noted in a recent editorial about antiquated water laws, the West suffers from a systemic impediment to smarter DOORFDWLRQRIZDWHUUHVRXUFHV Even so, there is a lot that a JRYHUQRUFDQDFFRPSOLVK Brown announced a rebate program to push replacement of older generation washing PDFKLQHVDQGRWKHUDSSOLDQFHV The state Water Resources Control Board has issued orders to curtail lawn watering, and the Los Angeles Times said that 50 percent of Los Angeles water JRHVRQWRODZQV&OHDUO\WKHUH¶V room for improvement in the ¶EXUEV In addition to use restrictions, there are new planning guidelines in place that aim to feed the aquifer underneath /$ California was a desert ZKHQLWZDVVHWWOHG0DVVLYH ZDWHUSURMHFWVIXHOHG/RV $QJHOHV¶JURZWK7KDWNLQGRI aqueduct building is of another era, and was followed by an HUDZKHQ3DFL¿F1RUWKZHVW senators pressed defensive legislation to prohibit the study of transferring water out of the &ROXPELD5LYHU Today the idea of more populous states tapping Northwest supplies seems even PRUHRXWRIV\QF,Q2UHJRQ and Washington, the watersheds that feed the Columbia River also have record low snowpacks, and much of this region is grappling with its own GURXJKWFRQFHUQV All of the Western states should be looking at the broad array of conservation techniques known to hydrologists to conserve water use in urban settings and streamline delivery to agriculture for critical food SURGXFWLRQ:DWHUFRQVHUYDWLRQ SURMHFWVXQGHUZD\QRZLQUXUDO VHWWLQJVOLNH*UDQW&RXQW\DUH a step in the right direction, but as the new California restrictions make clear, this is a responsibility that all of us – urban and rural – must VKDUH F ARMER ’ S F ATE A friendship composed of drops of kindness By Brianna Walker To the Blue Mountain Eagle We cannot tell the precise mo- PHQW D IULHQGVKLS ZDV IRUPHG ,W¶V OLNH¿OOLQJDYDVHGURSE\GURSXQWLO at last one drop makes the vase over- ÀRZ A series of kindnesses will also at last make the heart run over and you suddenly are aware of your friend- VKLS Such is the case with a neighbor- LQJFDWWOHPDQ,¶PQRWVXUHZKHQZH ¿UVW PHW QRU GR , UHPHPEHU ZKHQ KH VWRSSHG EHLQJ MXVW ³RQH RI P\ husband’s” friends, but somehow he made his way into my life, my cellphone and quite often into my kitchen – the effects of several of his YLVLWVVWLOO¿OOP\SDQWU\ “Hey kid,” he asked one day, “Ya OLNHRQLRQV"´+DUGO\GLG,NQRZWKDW my yes was going to result in a half a bin of onions on my porch the next GD\,GULHGIUR]HDQGDWHRQLRQVRQ HYHU\WKLQJIRUZHHNV Being that my husband hates onions, I think he was less than appreciative that Jim’s generosity JDYHPHRQLRQEUHDWK7RZKLFK-LP laughed “He’s the only vegetarian , NQRZ WKDW ZRQ¶W HDW YHJHWDEOHV´ Jim often brought us homemade pickles, tomatoes, cucumbers and squash, but his gen- erosity extended far past garden produce – he was generous ZLWK KLV WLPH 7KDW doesn’t happen of- ten in this day and Brianna age; maybe it never Walker GLG7KHUH DUH QHYHU enough hours in the GD\ HVSHFLDOO\ LQ DJULFXOWXUH:RUN is forever calling – but Jim always took the time to answer a call from IULHQGVDQGQHLJKERUV $QGFDOOWKH\GLG6LFNGHDGRU G\LQJ DQLPDOV KH ZRXOG EH WKHUH Often he’d bring his wife and what- ever supplies he thought you might QHHG 0RUQLQJ DIWHUQRRQ QLJKW even on holidays – it didn’t matter, IULHQGV NQHZ WKDW -LP ZDV MXVW D SKRQHFDOODZD\ Thanksgiving Day we found our- selves with new baby lambs and no WUDLOHUWREULQJWKHVKHHSKRPH1RWD SUREOHP-LPDQGKLVZLIHOHIWWKHLUWXU- key to help us herd sheep in the dark, DOOWKHZKLOHVPLOLQJDQGWHDVLQJ He’d never begrudge you his help, or make you feel obligated to KLP+HPD\FXVVDW\RXEXWQHYHU ZLWKRXWDVPLUNDQGPD\EHDZLQN The minutes passed quickly when -LP ZDV DURXQG +H¶G EHHQ DURXQG the world and it was always fun to compare places we’d been and the GLIIHUHQWH[SHULHQFHVZH¶GKDG We always had a good time BSing ZLWKHDFKRWKHU:H¶GWHOOMRNHVWDON religion, politics, guns, agriculture, wolves; he had an opinion or sto- ry about them all, and before we’d know it, minutes would often turn to KRXUV%XWDWOHDVWZHKDGVROYHGWKH ZRUOG¶V SUREOHPV LQ WKH PHDQWLPH He had the vocabulary of a sailor, the wardrobe of a redneck, and a heart to ULYDODQ\VDLQW$V,VWRRGZDWFKLQJ the pallbearers lay down their bou- tonnières on his casket, I felt a deep DFKLQJLQP\KHDUW 7KH\MXVWGRQ¶WPDNHSHRSOHOLNH KLPYHU\RIWHQ/RRNLQJDURXQGWKH tissue-clad attendees, I think the FRPPXQLW\PXVWKDYHDJUHHG The tears continued to fall, and probably will at unexpected mo- ments, but missing someone gets HDVLHU HYHU\ GD\ %HFDXVH HYHQ though it’s one day further from the last time you saw each other, it’s one GD\FORVHUWRWKHQH[WWLPH\RXZLOO And until that day, may we take a lesson from Jim: take time for the people that matter, and in so doing, we’ll spread our own drops of kind- QHVV Brianna Walker contributes col- umns on the Farmer’s Fate occasion- DOO\LQWKH%OXH0RXQWDLQ(DJOH S TEP BACK IN TIME Note: This column of items from the Blue Mountain Eagle archives is compiled by Eagle staff writer Cheryl +RHÀHU 100 years ago – April 1, 1915, Grant County Journal ORRECTION &KDUOHV)0HLHUIRUPHUO\RIWKLV • A photo caption in the April 1 issue of the Eagle gave an incorrect name place (Prairie City) but now residing IRUWKHZLQQHURID-HHSRQWKH79JDPHVKRZ³7KH3ULFHLV5LJKW´ in Portland has held options on a large 7KHZLQQHU¶VQDPHLV4XLQQ/XQGERP7KHSKRWRLVUHSULQWHGRQ3DJH$ amount of the land on lower Dixie WKLVZHHN Creek and along the John Day River Readers can report errors to the Blue Mountain Eagle at editor@myea- below the mouth of the creek for some JOHQHZVFRPRUE\FDOOLQJ time, and has been making efforts to interest capital and get a gold dredge LQVWDOOHG0U0HLHUVDLG3UDLULHSHRSOH have shown a disposition to help him Blue Mountain in every possible way, and it is well that this is the case, for the installation of a dredge on these properties means PXFKWRWKHWRZQ 78 years ago 195 N. Canyon Blvd. • John Day, OR 97845 – April 9, 1937, John Day Valley 541-575-0710 • Fax 541-575-1244 Ranger • The Monument High School se- USPS 226-340 nior class has announced their annual Grant County’s Weekly Newspaper play, a three-act comedy, “The Ready John Day, Oregon Made Family,” will be Saturday night, $SULO7KHFDVWLV*HUWUXGH+DO- MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION ODP 'HOEHUW DQG 5HWD 6WXEEOH¿HOG P UBLISHER Marissa Williams, marissa@bmeagle.com 1RUPD *DEOHU (ODLQH 'DKO +R- E DITOR Scotta Callister, editor@bmeagle.com PHU :LOOLDPV )HUQ *LOPDQ *LOEHUW A DMINISTRATIVE A SSISTANT Kristina Kreger, kristina@bmeagle.com Burke, Helen Round and Merle Leg- E DITORIAL A SSISTANT Cheryl Hoefler, cheryl@bmeagle.com OHU$GDQFHZLOOIROORZZLWK)OHWFK- C OMMUNITY N EWS Angel Carpenter, angel@bmeagle.com S PORTS Angel Carpenter, angel@bmeagle.com HU¶V5RXQG8SEDQGDVWKHPXVLFLDQV M ARKETING R EP Kim Kell, ads@bmeagle.com Long Creek High School students are C USTOMER S ERVICE R EP Lindsay Bullock office@bmeagle.com having a contest to select a queen for WKHLU0D\'D\FDUQLYDO%DOORWER[HV PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY BY: C EAGLE 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. have been placed in various stores in WRZQ9RWHVDUHVROGIRURQHFHQW The standing of the candidates, Ka- WULQH 3RUWHU VHQLRU %LOO\ *LEEV MX- nior; Oral Crowley, sophomore; and Chloris Crowley, freshman, will be SRVWHGGDLO\ 70 years ago – March 23, 1945, Blue Moun- tain Eagle • Wise use of leftover kitchen fats LVWKH¿UVWVWHSLQKHOSLQJWRLQFUHDVH collections of used household fats FULWLFDOO\QHHGHGWRPDNHXSDGH¿FLW in 1945 fats-oils supplies, according WR*UDQW&RXQW\$JHQW:P.)DU- UHOO )DUP ZRPHQ DQG KRPHPDNHUV in small towns have been called on to contribute a large share of the 250 million pounds of used fats set as this \HDU¶VJRDO)DUUHOOVD\V 50 years ago – April 1, 1965, Blue Mountain Eagle • Modern dial telephone service for the customers of the Juniper Tele- phone Company in Baker, Malheur DQG *UDQW FRXQWLHV ZLOO EH D UHDOLW\ when Public Utility Commissioner -RQHO & +LOO DXWKRUL]HG WKH VDOH RI the company to the Oregon Telephone &RUS DW 0W 9HUQRQ 2UHJRQ 7HOH- phone serves about 850 telephones in WKH %DWHV 'D\YLOOH 0W 9HUQRQ DQG 3UDLULH&LW\DUHDV 30 years ago – March 28, 1985, Blue Mountain Eagle *UDQW&RXQW\¶VUHFHQWO\UHQRYDW- HGMDLOLVDOUHDG\¿OOHGWRQHDUFDSDF- LW\7KHMDLOKROGVVL[PDOHSULVRQHUV 7KHUHDUHQRZ¿YHLQPDWHV7KH*UDQW County Sheriff’s Department is study- ing the possibility of solving over- crowding by shortening sentences of model prisoners and increasing credit GD\VIRUSULVRQHUVGRLQJWUXVWHHZRUN 20 years ago – March 30, 1995, Blue Moun- tain Eagle 7KHPHVVDJHIURP*UDQW&RXQ- ty voters was clear Tuesday evening, almost three to one, in support of a EDOORWLQLWLDWLYHUHIXVLQJWRUHFRJQL]H federal authority over public lands ZLWKLQWKHFRXQW\7KHLQLWLDWLYHKDGD commanding margin with 1,375 votes LQVXSSRUWDQGMXVWYRWLQJDJDLQVW LW7KH PHDVXUH HQDFWV QR QHZ RUGL- QDQFHDQGUHÀHFWVRQO\WKHIHHOLQJRI YRWHUV 10 years ago – March 23, 2005, Blue Mountain Eagle *UDQW8QLRQ¶VEDWVZHUHERRP- ing, and a total of 28 runs crossed the plate as the Prospectors opened the 2005 baseball season with a pair of ZLQV DW WKH *UDQW 8QLRQ ,FHEUHDNHU 7RXUQDPHQW2Q)ULGD\7RE\7KRP- as tossed a two-hitter and struck out nine, and his teammates banged out 12 hits, including six for extra bases, as the Prospectors rolled to a 20-1 ZLQ RYHU 2DNODQG ,Q 6DWXUGD\¶V game, starting pitcher Kerry Ash- mead was equally tough as the Pros- SHFWRUVWRSSHG6HDVLGH L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR Skeptical about roads To the Editor: &RQFHUQHGFLWL]HQVQHHGWRTXHVWLRQ the reasons the Forest Service gives for road closures when they deny they are closing roads to meet a road density quo- WDWKDWVRPHRQHVLWWLQJLQDQRI¿FHVRPH- ZKHUH SXOOHG RXW RI WKHLU PDJLFDO KDW Though it’s doubtful that the closures met all the required government guide- lines, including public involvement, skepticism should exist for the generic overused and abused reasons given for such closures: water quality and wildlife LVVXHV7KHUHLVDVWURQJSRVVLELOLW\WKDW IRONV¿QGWKHUHGXQGDQWUHDVRQVJLYHQWR EHDELWÀDN\DQGXQVXEVWDQWLDWHG I recreate in the Silvies area and spent two years surveying and inventorying URDGV VR IHHO TXDOL¿HG WR DGGUHVV KHUH RQH VSHFL¿F URDG V\VWHP WKDW WUDYHUVHV KLJK GHVHUW VFDE ÀDWV WKDW JURZ URFNV sandy soil, some sage brush, and an oc- FDVLRQDOMXQLSHU2QHVKRUWVSXUWKDWFRQ- nects two main roads across these open ÀDWVLVEHLQJFORVHGWRSUHYHQWZLOGOLIH KDUDVVPHQW5HDOO\",WDNHH[FHSWLRQWR a rock and sand road designated for clo- VXUHWRSURWHFWZDWHUTXDOLW\$OVRPDQ\ roads have already been closed prior to any required environmental or road closure documents at the direction of an RYHU]HDORXVJRYHUQPHQWHPSOR\HHZKR headed up the planning interdisciplinary WHDP A question is raised when six roads embedded in this area of the Silvies wa- tershed are listed for closure under the Marshall Devine Environmental Assess- PHQW($ Another question waiting to be an- swered is how many citations were issued by law enforcement agencies representing the Forest Service for folks “violating” forest road closures when WKRVH URDGV ZHUH QRW OHJDOO\ FORVHG Questions, questions, questions, and not DVXEVWDQWLDWHGDQVZHULQVLJKW Judy Kerr Canyon City