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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 2016)
A4 Blue Mountain Eagle 0RYLQJ EH\RQG SURWHVW K enny Delano, Mt. Vernon, offered constructive advice when he spoke at the vigil for /D9R\)LQLFXP6DWXUGD\LQ John Day. He urged attendees to contact their elected government representatives to voice their concerns. Even amid the anti- government sentiment in the crowd gathered to mourn the loss of the Arizona rancher, Delano remembered an important point that seems to be lost in most of the rhetoric: Our government is of the people, by the people and for the people. Those supportive of the occupation of the Malheur 1DWLRQDO:LOGOLIH5HIXJH remember the last part well. They scream at the top of their lungs that the government is not working for them. Yet, they often seem to forget that those other things ZLWKHDUVWKH\¶UH\HOOLQJDWDUH people too. They forget that, in our representative democracy, the government is not a static entity that has no concern for these things called “people.” Our government is comprised of people. We are our government. We make choices. We vote on issues. We elect leaders to represent us. Our system of government is not something that needs WREHRYHUWKURZQ:H¶YH already done that, and we created a system that gave everyone a voice. We created a system in which we can all work to change the status quo. But it takes work. Protest is easy. Effecting change is much more difficult. Screaming at the top of our lungs may make us feel better, but at the end of the day, it accomplishes little. Whipping like-minded people into a frenzy with popular platitudes may make us feel like we are accomplishing something, but it changes little. 5HDOFKDQJHLQRXUV\VWHP of government requires winning the hearts and minds of those who disagree with you. Our system favors WKHPDMRULW\²QRWWKH PLQRULW\MXVWEHFDXVHWKH\¶UH screaming louder. 5HDOFKDQJHUHTXLUHV listening to those who disagree. It requires talking with them, not at them. It requires addressing their FRQFHUQV²QRWUHSHDWLQJWKH VDPHWKLQJXQWLO\RX¶YHZRQ them over. If people truly hope to effect change in our system, they cannot treat those who disagree with them as an enemy. They must remember those opposed are people too. And we are all in this WRJHWKHU²ZKHWKHUZHOLNH it or not. United we stand. Divided we fall. And that means everyone, not just those with whom we agree. Wild ideas like taking back the country one wildlife UHIXJHDWDWLPHZRQ¶W accomplish anything. If people truly want FKDQJHLW¶VJRLQJWRWDNHD lot more than that. $QGLW¶VJRLQJWRUHTXLUH UHVSHFW²HYHQIRUWKRVHZKR disagree with you. 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. /ong CreeN — P.O. Box 489, Long Creek 97856. Phone: 541-421-3601. Fax: (PDLOLQIR#FLW\RÀRQJ- creek.com. Monument — P.O. Box 426, Monu- ment 97864. Phone and fax: 541-934- 2025. Email: monument@oregontrail.net. Mt 9ernon — 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 Gov .ate Brown D — 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). Blue Mountain EAGLE P UBLISHED EVERY W EDNESDAY BY State Rep CliII Bent] R-Ontario (Dis- trict: 60), Room H-475, State Capitol, 900 Court St. N.E., Salem OR 97301. Phone: 503-986-1460. Email: rep.cliffbentz@state. or.us. Website: www.leg.state.or.us/bentz/ home.htm. State Sen Ted )errioli R — (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. The :hite +ouse 1600 Pennsylva- nia Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20500; Phone-comments: 202-456-1111; Switch- board: 202-456-1414. US Sen Ron :yden 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. US Sen Jeff MerNley D — 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. US Rep Greg :alden R — (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: 202-225-5774. 0HGIRUGRI¿FH1RUWK&HQWUDO6XLWH Medford, OR 97501. Phone: 541-776-4646. Fax: 541-779-0204. Opinion L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR $UHFRQÀLFWVRILQWHUHVW SUHYHQWLQJDFWLRQ" 7RWKH(GLWRU What does it take to get off “top dead center”? I still do not see any action being taken that would indicate an investi- gation is underway with regards to WKH&DQ\RQ&UHHN¿UH There seems to be an appearance RIDFRQÀLFWRILQWHUHVWWKDWNHHSVWKH powers that be from getting an in- vestigation going. Is there a problem with some of the county commis- sioners and the Grant County public forest commissioners and the U.S. Forest Service and the Fish and Wild- life Commission along with the Blue Mountains Forest Partners? Is there a FRQÀLFW RI LQWHUHVW" :KHQ \RX WRRN \RXURDWKRIRI¿FHWKHUHLVDFODXVH there that says, I “will faithfully and honorably demean myself in the of- ¿FHRI´7KLVVWDWHPHQWLVWKHUHWROHW you know that you are not to allowed DFRQÀLFWRILQWHUHVWWRHYHUWDLQWDQ\ action that you take or do not take in \RXUHOHFWHGRI¿FH The investigation should have been called for by the county com- missioners and the Grant County public forest commissioners long ago. The longer this goes without the public seeing action taken is telling WKHSXEOLFWKDWWKHUHPXVWEHDFRQÀLFW of interest. Is what is happening in Harney County with the wildlife refuge hap- pening here in Grant County, just in a different way? We are losing our lands and our access to the public ODQGVDQGRXUHOHFWHGRI¿FLDOVDUHQRW getting involved as they should. It is pretty hard to see this happening and not come to the conclusion that some people have a vested interest in this matter that is not in the best interest of the Grant County residents, therefore, it must be lining some pockets. In my last letter, I listed four things WKDWQHHGWREHGRQHQRZ/RRNDWWKH OLVW I am repeating my statement: Hold \RXUHOHFWHGRI¿FLDOV¶IHHWWRWKH¿UH You cannot expect a different result if you keep putting the same people in RI¿FH 1LFN\$6SUDXYH *UDQW&RXQW\3XEOLF)RUHVW &RPPLVVLRQHU3RVLWLRQ1R Canyon City 2YHUEHDULQJ JRYHUQPHQWUXOHV DIIHFWPRUHWKDQ SXEOLFODQGV 7RWKH(GLWRU I must comment on something ,¶YH QRWLFHG D JRRG SHUFHQWDJH RI the folks against this occupation and awakening seem to receive either a government paycheck or a govern- ment retirement of some sort. They surely will not bite the hand that feeds them, even if that hand is cur- rently attempting to smother us and our rights. 0DNH QR PLVWDNH ,W¶V QRW MXVW public lands that are being affected by overbearing rules and regula- tions, but also private property, wa- ter and irrigation issues, many other rights including gun rights, free- dom of speech (for some) and now forced mandatory health insurance. Wake up, folks, because sooner or later these issues will affect all of us one way or another. You may 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 Wednesday, February 10, 2016 want to consider protecting your rights while you still have them and are able to enjoy them. &DO&KULVWHQVHQ John Day 1DWLRQFRQVLVWV RIVWDWHVXQLWHG 7RWKH(GLWRU After reading the many letters to the editor in the Feb. 3 edition of the Blue Mountain Eagle, I am astounded and embarrassed by the some of the language used to de- scribe the peaceful protesters. I am not embarrassed for myself, but for the people who chose to use such language. The words that are probably the most embarrassing to hear from fel- low citizens are the terms “armed militants” and “domestic terrorists” used to describe men and women whose sole intent is to see that the Constitution of these United States of America is protected from those who wish to pervert it. The Constitution is not a “living document.” The Constitution is a compact between the independent, sovereign states, forged and signed by those states to form a central government to oversee matters of war and foreign policy for the good of all states. It is, in simple terms, a contract between the states, that ZKHQ UDWL¿HG EDVLFDOO\ FUHDWHG WKH federal government. The federal government is not all powerful, all knowing and certain- ly is not entitled to give or take any powers or rights from the people. The federal government was cre- DWHGZLWKOLPLWHGSRZHUVVSHFL¿FDOO\ set forth in the aforementioned com- pact. This was done to protect the rights of freemen and to ensure that those protections would continue as long as the compact is adhered to. A man lost his life in the moun- tains south of here while performing his duty as a citizen of these United States of America. How many of you, who called this man a militant, a criminal, a domestic terrorist, are willing to do the same for your fel- low citizens to protect their rights? I pray that those who have put their lives second to their duty have enough knowledge to mourn the loss of a citizen at the hand of government, and to stand united. 6KRXOGQ¶WZHDOOEH³FRQVWLWXWLRQDO- LVWV´" 7KHUH LV QR XV YHUVXV WKHP there is only us. The federal govern- ment is a product of us, so stand up and put it back in its place. .HQQ\'HODQR-U Mt. Vernon *UDQW&RXQW\PXVW VWDQGXQLWHGDJDLQVW RXWVLGHDEXVH 7RWKH(GLWRU It is our belief that everyone in Grant County wants the same thing: That is to be able to enjoy our lives without interference from overzealous bureaucrats and others outside of Grant County. These people may try to con- trol our lives, by force of law, con- trary to the U.S. Constitution. We need to stand united against this abuse. One of the duties of county government is to help us do this. A county sheriff is the only 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 &RXQW\PXVW LQYHVWLJDWH&DQ\RQ &UHHN&RPSOH[¿UH 7RWKH(GLWRU Having been elected by the citi- zens of Grant County, the members of the Grant County Public Forest Commission cannot ignore the se- vere and often absolute devastation ¿UHLVFDXVLQJWKH0DOKHXU1DWLRQ- DO)RUHVW&LWL]HQV¶OLYHVKDYHEHHQ endangered, homes and private property destroyed, communities at risk, while our forests are ravaged E\ ¿UH7KH GDQJHU DQG GDPDJH LV not temporary and will be with us for generations to come. 7KHSDWWHUQRI¿UHVEHLQJXQFRQ- trolled in their early stages show evidence of questionable judgment. The responsible authority must KDYH DQ DWWLWXGH RI ¿JKWLQJ LQLWLDO ¿UH LPPHGLDWHO\ DJJUHVVLYHO\ DQG UHOHQWOHVVO\XQWLOWKH¿UHVDUHRXW² not controlled, but out. $Q LQYHVWLJDWLRQ LQWR WKH ¿UHV at Berry Creek and Mason Springs Aug. 12-14 that became the Canyon &UHHN &RPSOH[ ¿UH RI FDQ provide answers necessary to effect the changes that must be made in ¿UH¿JKWLQJ The Grant County Court must authorize and fund an immediate investigation by a licensed investi- gative agency. The Grant County Public Forest Commission shall be responsible for the investigation and provide to FLWL]HQVWKH¿QGLQJVRIWKHLQYHVWL- gative agency. With the information derived from the investigation, co- ordination with the Forest Service can be achieved to more effective- ly prevent catastrophic wildfire in Grant County. 7DG+RXSW'DYH7UD\ORU 5RJHU0F.LQOH\'DQ%LVKRS 0LNH6PLWK1LFN\6SUDXYHDQG /DUU\%ODVLQJ Grant County Public Forest Commission members 7ZRVLGHVWR WKHUHIXJHGHEDFOH 7RWKH(GLWRU Boy, this Bundy thing sure has split the people in Grant and Har- ney County. I just want to say, the way I see it, if you are one of those that can only see one side of this debacle, I might suggest you go get checked out for tunnel vision. 3HWH:DONHU Seneca Periodicals Postage Paid at John 'a\ and additional Pailing oIÀces POSTMASTER send address changes to: Blue Mountain Eagle 195 N. Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845-1187 USPS 226-340 wwwMyEagleNewscoP elected law enforcement officer in the state of Oregon. Accord- ing to Oregon state law, our sher- iff is the chief executive officer and conservator of the peace in this county. We believe that he and his of- fice deserve our respect and sup- port. :H GRQ¶W WKLQN LW LV WKH ULJKW thing to do to condemn Glenn Palmer for something that hap- pened in Harney County. That FRXQW\ LVQ¶W HYHQ LQ KLV MXULVGLF- tion. 6DOO\DQG*HQH'XQQ John Day See LETTERS, Page A5 Copyright © 2016 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. wwwIaceEooNcoPMyEagleNews @MyEagleNews
