A4
Opinion
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
A tale of two
wolf shootings
An Eastern Oregon man who
accidentally shot a protected
wolf near Prairie City may
be able to take solace in the
outcome of a nearly identical
case last year in Washington
state.
On Oct. 12, 2014, 38-year-
old Jonathan Rasmussen
noti¿ed state authorities that he
had accidentally shot a wolf in a
farm ¿eld southwest of Pullman,
Wash. Wolves in Washington
state are protected under the
state Endangered Species Act.
Rasmussen was initially
charged with taking a state
endangered species, a gross
misdemeanor punishable by up
to a year in jail and a $5,000
¿ne.
Whitman County, Wash.,
district attorney Denis Tracy had
a tough choice to make, whether
to prosecute Rasmussen to the
maximum extent of the law —
which would be legally correct
but patently unfair — or seek a
more even-handed outcome.
He chose the latter, and in
September of this year reached
an agreement with Rasmussen’s
lawyer in which the hunter
would forfeit his riÀe and pay
$100 in court costs and vow
to commit no further game
violations for six months.
Short of dropping the case
altogether, this was about the
best conclusion that could have
been reached.
Fast forward to last week in
Oregon.
Brennon D. Witty, 25,
was charged with killing an
endangered species after he
accidentally shot a wolf on
private property south of Prairie
City. He was also charged with
hunting with a center¿re riÀe
without a big game tag, Harney
County District Attorney Tim
Colahan said. He is handling
the case because the district
attorney in Grant County,
where the accident happened,
knew the defendant’s family.
Each charge is a Class A
misdemeanor punishable by up
to a year in jail and a $6,250
¿ne.
Witty noti¿ed authorities
immediately and told them he
had been hunting coyotes and
accidentally shot the wolf.
The similarities between
the facts of these two cases
are striking, and the outcomes
should be, too.
The federal Endangered
Species Act and its state
counterparts were written in
an effort to bring species back
from the brink of extinction.
Wolves are not teetering near
extinction, or anywhere close to
it. Tens of thousands of wolves
live in Canada and Alaska
and hundreds live in Idaho,
Montana and Wyoming after
they were transplanted there
and multiplied in number.
Now wolves are spilling
into Washington state, Oregon
and Northern California. Any
wildlife biologist would agree
that wolves are thriving in the
Northwest. Their numbers
are increasing, as are the
number of breeding pairs. The
loss of one or two wolves to
accidents in no way endangers
them. The idea that someone
who accidentally shoots a
wolf and then noti¿es the
authorities of his mistake
should be criminally prosecuted
completely misses the purpose
of the state and federal laws,
which are targeted at those
who kill endangered species on
purpose.
It is common for those
who commit a crime and then
cooperate with authorities to get
lighter sentences.
In light of the realities
of the wolf populations in
the Northwest and the fact
that sometimes people make
mistakes, prosecutors would
best serve the public by making
sure the punishment matches the
crime.
In these cases, the lighter the
sentence, the better.
Thankful for farmers and
ranchers at Thanksgiving
By Cyndie Shearing
For the Blue Mountain Eagle
The American Farm Bureau’s
30th annual informal price sur-
vey of classic items found on the
Thanksgiving dinner table revealed
this year’s cost is $50.11, a 70-cent
increase from last year’s average of
$49.41.
The big ticket item — a 16-pound
turkey — came in at $23.04 this
year. That’s about $1.44 per pound,
an increase of less than 9 cents per
pound or a total of $1.39 more per
whole turkey, compared to 2014.
Concerns about the supply of two
favorite holiday foods — turkeys
and pumpkins — turned out to be
just a blip on the radar screen. Plen-
tiful supplies of both are available at
reasonable prices to grace our holi-
day tables.
As we turn to cooking and eating
special meals at this time of year,
exploring what farmers and ranchers
have to say about how they produce
food for our tables adds a little spice
to our food-related conversations.
Don Steen, a turkey farmer in
Missouri, has been working on his
farm since 1973.
Syrian immigrants
worry legislator
Dear Editor:
I write to express my profound
concern regarding the fate of those
refugees expected to arrive in the
United States from war-torn Syria.
While I have the deepest empa-
thy for these families’ desperate sit-
uation, I am concerned by reports of
a disproportionate number of single,
combat-aged men among the pro-
spective immigrants. It seems no
proper means of vetting these indi-
viduals have been employed and, as
we have seen, persons with ill-will
or bad intent have secreted them-
selves among the refugees — to dev-
astating effect.
I recognize that immigration is
the province of the federal govern-
ment, and, by and large, the states
are not directly involved with re-
settlement of refugees. However, I
hope Gov. Kate Brown will refuse to
cooperate in the resettlement of un-
screened refugees, or, at minimum,
delay resettlement until such time as
we know whom, precisely, we are
welcoming to Oregon.
I hardly need remind you that our
¿rst and foremost responsibility is to
the people of Oregon. Their safety
is paramount. Should the actions of
the federal government threaten the
safety and security of our citizens,
we must muster the courage to say,
“No.” Know that Gov. Brown would
have my unyielding support should
she elect to take such a stand.
Blue Mountain
EAGLE
P UBLISHED EVERY
W EDNESDAY BY
While compassion would have us
act quickly, common sense tells us
we must not act in haste or without
regard for our safety. The governor
must ensure that all necessary pre-
cautions are taken to protect our cit-
izenry from terror attacks as we re-
cently have seen in Beirut and Paris.
Carl Wilson
Deputy Leader
House Republicans
Grants Pass
Governor has ability
to reject refugees
Dear Editor:
In reference to the Nov. 18 Blue
Mountain Eagle, a small article
penned by Portland Democrat Paris
Achen stated her LEGAL opinion
that “Governors have no authority
to reject Syrian refugees....” Our
supposedly unbiased Blue Moun-
tain Eagle needs to apologize for
this extremely misleading com-
ment that has no basis in law.
Each state has the sovereign
authority to defend citizens against
a federal government that fails to
protect them. Writers for this paper
can make up law if they wish to hon-
or the Oregon government of¿cials
who support Obama’s WAR by Is-
lamist Terrorists BUT should ¿rst
change the name of the paper to the
“Weekly Communist Journal.”
Tom McHatton
Long Creek
Blue Mountain Eagle
One of my favorite spots in
Grant County is atop the ridge near
the airport overlooking John Day.
From there, I can see much of the
community nestled in the valley.
Off to the east, cattle are lowing
in a green pasture. Baseball dia-
monds lie ready for the ¿rst hits of
spring. The rodeo and fair grounds
are buttoned up for the winter.
White church steeples reach sky-
ward.
This is a community at ease with
itself.
By any measure, it’s been a
dif¿cult year. The wild¿res that
marched up the canyon, destroying
all in their path, threatened the com-
munity but not its resolve. Those
whose homes and property fell vic-
tim to the Àames found help and
comfort in the generosity of their
neighbors and friends.
I like mathematics. It helps tell
a story that cannot easily be told
any other way. Consider these num-
bers: 7,180, 9.1, 35,051, 43 and
244,615.31.
In Grant County, 7,180 people
live. It is a shrinking number. Since
1950, when the population peaked
at 8,239, the number of county resi-
dents has decreased as the economy
has faced challenge after challenge.
The mills have struggled and oth-
er businesses have not been able
to replace those economic drivers.
The 9.1 percent seasonally adjusted
local unemployment rate as of Sep-
tember was the highest in the state
and more than 50 percent higher
than the unemployment rate in Port-
land and the Willamette Valley.
The average per-household in-
come of $35,051 signi¿es how
much each household brings in an-
nually. That’s $17,000 less than the
median household income in Mult-
nomah County.
The number 43 is the saddest
number. It’s the number of homes
lost to wild¿res this year in Grant
County.
If 43 is the saddest number,
244,615.31 is the most miraculous.
That’s the number of dollars donat-
ed to victims of the wild¿res.
That means, in the county with
the highest unemployment rate in
the state, $34 was contributed by
every man, woman and child. If
you consider the 3,319 households
in the county, $74 was contributed
by each.
Every so often, life knocks you
to your knees. No matter how tough
you are or how prepared you are,
something comes along that leaves
you at loose ends. That’s when
your neighbors, friends — and total
strangers — pitch in to help you get
back on your feet.
That’s when miracles happen.
People such as Jason and Aman-
da Wright and their daughter Carle
know about that. They lost ev-
erything to the ¿res. Their home,
clothes, furniture — everything. Yet
through the generosity of the com-
munity and other guardian angels
— including Kathy Stewart, who
offered them the use of a furnished
house — they are getting back on
their feet.
The people of Grant County are
known for their resilience, for how
they bounce back from misfor-
tunes, large and small. Now they
are also known for their generosity.
When I stand atop that ridge
overlooking the valley, I see more
than the natural beauty. I see the
beauty of the people who live
here.
Carl Sampson is managing ed-
itor of the Capital Press, an agri-
cultural newspaper and website. He
was in John Day helping out at the
Blue Mountain Eagle.
W HERE TO WRITE
GRANT COUNTY
Grant County Courthouse — 201 S. Humbolt St., Suite 280,
Canyon City 97820. Phone: 541-575-0059. Fax: 541-575-2248.
Canyon City — P.O. Box 276, Canyon City 97820. Phone:
541-575-0509. Fax: 541-575-0515. Email: tocc1862@centurylink.
net.
Dayville — P.O. Box 321, Dayville 97825. Phone: 541-987-
2188. Fax: 541-987-2187. Email:dville@ortelco.net
John Day — 450 E. Main St, John Day, 97845. Phone: 541-
Grant County’s Weekly Newspaper
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E DITOR .................................... EDITOR @ BMEAGLE . COM
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E DITORIAL A SSISTANT ................ C HERYL H OEFLER , CHERYL @ BMEAGLE . COM
C OMMUNITY N EWS .................... A NGEL C ARPENTER , ANGEL @ BMEAGLE . COM
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are very heavy,” Wegmeyer says.
Being a farmer is a year-round job
but one that she ¿nds exciting.
“Each season there is something
new going on at the farm,” according
to Jeff LeFleur, a cranberry farmer in
Massachusetts. “Our goal is to take
good care of the farm for future gen-
erations,” he says.
Many people believe that cran-
berries grow under water, but they
do not. The bogs where cranberries
grow are actually dry during most of
the season. Water is used to help with
the harvest and to protect the berries
from the cold. Water also helps the
cranberries grow.
If you’ve ever wondered why
cranberries Àoat, LeFleur has the
answer.
“The cranberries Àoat to the top
because there are air pockets inside
them,” he explains.
Order a copy of “Farm a Month:
Where Does Our Food Come
From?” from the American Farm
Bureau Foundation for Agriculture
to learn more about Steen, Wegmey-
er, LeFleur and other food producers.
Cyndie Shearing is director of in-
ternal communications at the Ameri-
can Farm Bureau Federation.
Grant County’s people show generosity
By Carl Sampson
L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR
“There are both
hen and tom tur-
keys. A hen is a fe-
male and a tom is
a male,” explains
Steen.
Water is very im-
portant to a turkey’s
Cyndie
Shearing survival. Poultry —
turkeys, chickens,
ducks and other fowl — need to be
able to drink water at all times. The
Steens’ turkeys eat a corn, soybean and
mineral mix made at a local feed mill.
The Steens have a high level of
biosecurity on the farm to protect the
turkeys. Cars and trucks are washed
when entering and exiting the farm.
Don and his wife even wear special
clothing in the barns to protect the
turkeys.
Pumpkin farmer Harriet Weg-
meyer of Virginia was a guest on
Emeril Lagasse’s cooking show. She
and her husband plant pumpkins in
early summer and harvest through
mid-October. In winter they care for
the land by planting cover crops to
add nitrogen to the soil.
“Harvesting pumpkins is a hard
job, because all of the picking must
be done by hand and some of them
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575-0028. Fax: 541-575-1721. Email: cityjd@centurytel.net.
/RQJ&UHHN — P.O. Box 489, Long Creek 97856. Phone: 541-
421-3601. Fax: 541-421-3075. Email: info@cityoÀongcreek.com.
Monument — P.O. Box 426, Monument 97864. Phone and
fax: 541-934-2025. Email: monument@oregontrail.net.
0W9HUQRQ — P.O. Box 647, Mt. Vernon 97865. Phone: 541-
932-4688. Fax: 541-932-4222. Email: cmtv@ortelco.net.
Prairie City — P.O. Box 370, Prairie City 97869. Phone: 541-
820-3605. Fax: 820-3566. Email: pchall@ortelco.net.
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