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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 9, 2015)
A4 Opinion Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, December 9, 2015 Governors need help in building water storage A s many member states wrestle with the impacts of multi-year droughts, the Western Governors’ Association has written a letter to the Senate Energy and 1DWXUDO5HVRXUFHV&RPPLWWHH recommending policies that could help remedy the situation. 7KHQDWXUHRIWKH:HVWHUQ water woes is a bit of mystery to much of the country. (DVWRIWKH5RFNLHVZDWHULV no less important but is far more abundant. It reliably falls as rain in the spring and summer to ZDWHUFURSVLQWKH¿HOGDQGDV snow in the winter to recharge VRLOPRLVWXUH7KHELJJHVWZDWHU problem most farmers there face is how to move water off their land, not pump it onto their land. Not so in the West. Without adequate water storage and the infrastructure to move it, many of the crops American consumers have grown to depend on could be in short VXSSO\7KHVWDNHVDUHKXJH6RPH $51 billion in crops are grown DFURVVWKH:HVW7KDWSURYLGHV milk, vegetables, grains, berries, fruits — more than 300 different crops in all — to Americans and much of the world. What’s needed is a comprehensive plan to increase water storage with dams, reservoirs and aquifer recharge. Only a few storage projects are in the works around the West. And the governors know why. Storage and infrastructure costs money — a lot of money. 7KHJRYHUQRUVKDYHDVNHGIRU access to money available in already established programs, and have suggested some private- public partnership initiatives. While money is a formidable hurdle, a greater obstacle in getting projects built is often regulatory paralysis and legal challenges from the environmental lobby. 7KHJRYHUQRUVVD\IHGHUDO water policy needs to coordinate, VWUHDPOLQHDQGSURYLGHÀH[LELOLW\ to infrastructure planning and permitting guidelines, rules and regulations. And something needs to be done to stop environmentalists from running to the courts to resist any and all efforts to build PRUHVWRUDJHFDSDFLW\7KHVH challenges all but block any effort and drive up the costs. With more winter precipitation coming in the form of rain instead of mountain snows, common sense dictates that it should be stored. Western JRYHUQRUVQHHGDOOWKH¿QDQFLDO and regulatory tools to get that done. Rik Dalvit/For the Blue Mountain Eagle F ARMER ’ S F ATE Tupperware and socks By Brianna Walker For the Blue Mountain Eagle Getting ready for the upcoming holidays and friends and festivities has prompted our annual fall closet cleaning. And with each cupboard and shelf that is cleaned out, I am both pleased and puzzled. Pleased because it always feels good to min- imize, puzzled because I never am quite sure how all the junk got there LQWKH¿UVWSODFH7KRVHWZRIHHOLQJV followed me throughout the house. In the living room, there were books I’ve never seen, written by authors I don’t read; magazines I don’t subscribe to, nor have ever bought; and a few ugly knick- knacks I don’t remember collecting. In the bedroom, I found a box in the EDFNRIWKHFORVHW¿OOHGZLWKXQPDW- ed socks. Why did I keep them? I have no idea. Why they ended up in a box in my closet? Just as good a question, with just as bad an an- swer. I have no idea. 7KHFORVHWZDV¿OOHGZLWKFORWKHV WKDWQRORQJHU¿WDQ\RQHVKRHVQR one wore even when they were new DQGVKHHWVWKDW¿WDEHGZHKDYHQ¶W had in three years. ,WZDVHDV\WR¿OODJDUEDJHFDQ in the bathroom. Half empty (or often completely empty) bottles of hair and skin care products lined the shelves in the cupboard. Why do we keep these things? Or put them back 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@centu- rylink.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: 541-575-0028. Fax: 541- 575-1721. Email: cityjd@centurytel.net. /RQJ&UHHN — P.O. Box 489, Long Creek 97856. Phone: 541-421-3601. Fax: (PDLOLQIR#FLW\RÀRQJ- creek.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. Seneca — P.O. Box 208, Seneca 97873. Phone and fax: 541-542-2161. Email: cityseneca@centurytel.net. SALEM *RY.DWH%URZQ' — 254 State Capitol, Salem 97310. Phone: 503-378- 3111. Fax: 503-378-6827. Website: www. governor.state.or.us/governor.html. Oregon Legislature — State Capitol, Salem, 97310. Phone: (503) 986-1180. Website: www. leg.state.or.us (includes Oregon Constitution and Oregon Revised Statutes). 6WDWH5HS&OLII%HQW]5-Ontario (Dis- trict: 60), Room H-475, State Capitol, 900 Court St. N.E., Salem OR 97301. Phone: Blue Mountain EAGLE P UBLISHED EVERY W EDNESDAY BY 503-986-1460. Email: rep.cliffbentz@state. or.us. Website: www.leg.state.or.us/bentz/ home.htm. 6WDWH6HQ7HG)HUULROL5 — (District 30) Room S-223, State Capitol, Salem 97310. Phone: 503-986-1950. Email: sen. tedferrioli@state.or.us. Email: TFER2@aol. com. Phone: 541-490-6528. Website: www. leg.state.or.us/ferrioli. Oregon Legislative Information — (For updates on bills, services, capitol or messages for legislators) — 800-332-2313. WASHINGTON, D.C. 7KH:KLWH+RXVH 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20500; Phone-comments: 202-456-1111; Switch- board: 202-456-1414. 866HQ5RQ:\GHQ D — 516 Hart 6HQDWH2I¿FH%XLOGLQJ:DVKLQJWRQ'& 20510. Phone: 202-224-5244. Email: wayne_kinney@wyden.senate.gov Website: http://wyden.senate.gov Fax: 202-228-2717. 866HQ-HII0HUNOH\'— 313 Hart 6HQDWH2I¿FH%XLOGLQJ:DVKLQJWRQ'& 20510?. Phone: 202-224-3753. Email: senator@merkley.senate.gov. Fax: 202- 2UHJRQRI¿FHVLQFOXGH2QH World Trade Center, 121 S.W. Salmon St., Suite 1250, Portland, OR 97204; and 310 S.E. Second St., Suite 105, Pendleton, OR 97801. Phone: 503-326-3386; 541-278- 1129. Fax: 503-326-2990. 865HS*UHJ:DOGHQ5 — (Second District) 1404 Longworth Building, Wash- ington D.C. 20515. Phone: 202-225-6730. No direct email because of spam. Website: www.walden.house.gov Fax: 202-225- 0HGIRUGRI¿FH1RUWK&HQWUDO Suite 112, Medford, OR 97501. Phone: 541-776-4646. Fax: 541-779-0204. Pending Bills: For information on bills in Congress, Phone: 202-225-1772. kitchen I went through was home to DOOP\=LSORF7XSSHUZDUHDQG5XE- bermaid containers. By the time I was done, I had found a couple of dishes without lids, but I had a whole stack of lids without dishes. How does one end up with so many extra lids — espe- cially since I seem to clean them out every few years? 0\ ¿UVW UHDFWLRQ ZDV WR PDNH D neat stack and put them back in (on the off chance I found them later), but then I remember my husband’s advice about putting things in the IULGJHMXVWWROHWWKHP³¿QLVKG\LQJ´ Still not quite able to just toss them in the trash, I put them in a box and hauled them out to the Junk pile in the living room. I’d let my husband haul them out, so I wouldn’t feel quite so bad about tossing perfectly good lids. I set it right next to the box of single socks. Chatting with my mom later about these oddities, she laughed. ³, DP SUHWW\ VXUH WKDW XQPDWHG socks die and come back as mis- PDWFKHG7XSSHUZDUHOLGV´VKHVDLG From now on, I will have a less GLI¿FXOW WLPH WKURZLQJ DZD\ XQ- matched socks and lids. As long as I toss them out together I can think of LW OHVV DV ³MXQNLQJ´ WKHP DQG PRUH like reuniting lost loves. Brianna Walker writes about the Farmer’s Fate occasionally for the Blue Mountain Eagle. L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR County Court should have attended Nov. 28 meeting more than enough to bear. Now the threat of flooding to Canyon City and John Day should have prompted the court in learning anything that will be beneficial in To the Editor: protecting the county now and in 7KH *UDQW &RXQW\ &RXUW the future. Wednesday, Nov. 25, sent a let- 7KHFUHGLWDELOLW\RIWKH&RXQW\ ter to the Forest Service invoking Court was further tarnished by their coordination. In August, when absence at an important meeting citizens informed the court about that over 75 citizens from around coordination after attending a WKHFRXQW\VDZ¿WWRDWWHQG three-day workshop in Baker City, Frances Preston the court showed no interest. Only Prairie City after the sheriff introduced a natu- ral resource plan and invoked co- ordination did the court respond. Volunteers make On Nov. 28, Fred Kelly Grant, a preeminent attorney on coordi- Thanksgiving dinner nation, was in John Day to speak successful on the issue. Although the Coun- ty Court members were invited to To the Editor: attend, not one of the men repre- I am expressing my gratitude senting Grant County were pres- and appreciation for all the volun- ent at the informative meeting. teer help during the Elks Communi- Is it arrogance from the court W\7KDQNVJLYLQJGLQQHU7KLVGLQQHU that they know more than anyone was provided at no charge by the else or simply disdain for the cit- John Day Elks Lodge, thanks to a izens they are supposed to repre- grant from the Elks National Foun- VHQW" 7KH WUDJHG\ RI WKH &DQ\RQ GDWLRQ 7KLV LV RQH RI WKUHH JUDQWV Creek Complex fire destroying we receive to share our benevo- homes and shattering lives is lent work with the community, the others helping with the Halloween children and teen parties and the high school proms. Prep work started at the begin- ning of the week, including setting up the dining room with assistance IURP%RE9DQ9RRUKLV7KDQNVJLY- ing Day started at 5 a.m. with Char- OLH&DXJKOLQDQG&DOYLQ&ODUN¿ULQJ XS WKH 7UDHJHU WR VPRNH DQG WKHQ cook the 16 turkeys. Other helpers during the day included Chris Bare, Lance Barker, the Comer family ² 5XVV 6KHLOD$QGUHD DQG /HDK ² 'DOH )LQOH\9HUQ )ODQDU\ 5RQ +DQVRQ$ODQDQG5RQL+LFNHUVRQ Greg Irwin, Garrett Jennings, Steve Summers and Mark and Aileen Womer. Over 80 meals were deliv- ered to homes from Mt. Vernon to Prairie City by Chris Bare, Charlie Caughlin, Garrett Jennings, Sharon Kimberling and Steve Summers. Only 100 meals were served at the Lodge; the low number was proba- bly due to bad road conditions. 7KLVWHDPHIIRUWPDGHWKHGD\D great success. Tom Winters Exalted ruler, John Day Elks Lodge L 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. We must limit all contributors to one letter per person per month. 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. Grant County’s Weekly Newspaper P UBLISHER ............................... M ARISSA W ILLIAMS , MARISSA @ BMEAGLE . COM E DITOR .................................... S EAN H ART , EDITOR @ BMEAGLE . COM A DMINISTRATIVE A SSISTANT ........ K RISTINA K REGER , KRISTINA @ BMEAGLE . COM E DITORIAL A SSISTANT ................ C HERYL H OEFLER , CHERYL @ BMEAGLE . COM C OMMUNITY N EWS .................... A NGEL C ARPENTER , ANGEL @ BMEAGLE . COM S PORTS ................................... A NGEL C ARPENTER , ANGEL @ BMEAGLE . COM M ARKETING R EP ....................... K IM K ELL , ADS @ BMEAGLE . COM O FFICE M ANAGER ..................... L INDSAY B ULLOCK , OFFICE @ BMEAGLE . COM MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION in the cupboard? I asked myself this over and over as I tied my second bag of trash. 7KH NLWFKHQ was no less full Brianna of random things Walker we didn’t need. I found spices I don’t know how to use, boxes of crackers no one has ever liked and home- FDQQHG MDUV ¿OOHG ZLWK ³JRRGLHV´ I can’t identify — in jars that are not mine. Under the sink, I found more almost empty bottles of dish soap and cleanser and other clean- ing supplies. Is there some kind of subconscious thing that prevents us from using something all up before opening a new bottle? I kept going through the cup- boards, dishes I didn’t know where came from, spoons that didn’t match any utensils I own, even a tablecloth I’ve never seen before was tucked away in the back of a drawer. I must say, though, that even though each cupboard brought its own puzzlement over the contents, I was still feeling mighty pleased with myself for all I’d accomplished. 7KH OLYLQJ URRP ZDV IXOO RI ER[HV PDUNHG ³*RRGZLOO´ ³%DVHPHQW´ ³-XQN´ DQG RQH PDUNHG ³+XVEDQG´ ² MXVW EHFDXVH , ¿JXUHG KH VKRXOG at least double check his junk before ,WRVVHGLW7KHODVWFXSERDUGLQWKH 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION RATES (including online access) Grant County .....................................$40 Everywhere else in U.S. .....................$51 Outside Continental U.S. ....................$60 Subscriptions must be paid prior to delivery Periodicals Postage Paid at John 'D\DQGDGGLWLRQDOPDLOLQJRIÀFHV POSTMASTER send address changes to: Blue Mountain Eagle 195 N. Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845-1187 USPS 226-340 ZZZ0\(DJOH1HZVFRP 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. ZZZIDFHERRNFRP0\(DJOH1HZV @MyEagleNews