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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 16, 2016)
A4 Opinion Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, March 16, 2016 The science of good science W olves have recovered dramatically in Oregon, their numbers growing into the triple digits and their populations expanding west and south across a large swath of the state. The Oregon Wolf Plan shepherded the success of that re-introduction. And because the next step in the plan called for taking gray wolves off the state’s endangered species list, that’s exactly what happened. In a staff report released in October 2015, scientists from ODFW recommended the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission delist gray wolves. In November, OFWC agreed with that assessment. And just last month both houses of the VWDWHOHJLVODWXUHYRWHGWRDI¿UP the OFWC’s decision. Despite pressure from environmentalists to veto the bill, Gov. Kate Brown signed the bill into law Tuesday. She made the right decision. It’s disappointing that environmental groups have indicated they do not plan to drop a lawsuit challenging the delisting. Out here in wolf country, we’ve lived by the rules of the Oregon Wolf Plan since the wily animals swam across the Snake River and made this country their home. And many of us are happy about that. Wolves belong in Oregon, and their existence must be protected. But with existence now reasonably secured, species management is needed. And we should make those management decisions using unbiased science, not science paid for by special interests. And we should GH¿QLWHO\QRWPDNHWKRVH decisions by discarding science altogether and substituting emotion, or the highest paid lawyer. But that’s what environmental groups such as Oregon Wild, Cascadia Wildlands and the Center for Biological Diversity are trying to do. These litigants are undercutting the work that ODFW has done to revive wolf numbers and the science that has fueled it. “The place where (the delisting decision) needs to be determined is in a court of law,” Amaroq Weiss, Center for Biological Diversity, told Oregon Public Broadcasting. But a courtroom is not where science happens, and it is the wrong place for management decisions to be made. The place where wolf management decisions should EHPDGHLVLQWKH¿HOG,W¶VLQ the laboratory. It’s in the reams of data in the hands of a wolf biologist. It’s by the decisions of an apolitical, informed commission who studies the science. That work has been done, yet it has been disregarded by environmental groups who don’t agree with the conclusion. That’s not the way science works. It’s a shame that some of the state’s most well-funded and powerful environmental groups don’t believe in science that is not their own. Those groups tried to put pressure on the governor to veto a bill that passed, somewhat miraculously, through a Democratically controlled Legislature to land on her desk. It’s not a one-sided trick, either. There are many who point to the scientist they paid for who has found the climate isn’t changing, smoking doesn’t cause cancer, that coal is clean and Arctic drilling is good for the polar bear. It’s a disreputable group to be part of, and one that hurts your credibility in the eyes of people who just want what is best for our state and its wildlife. You cry wolf too many times, and there might not be any wolves left to hear you. W HERE TO W RITE 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: cityofmonument@centurytel.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: senecaoregon@gmail.com. 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). Blue Mountain EAGLE P UBLISHED EVERY W EDNESDAY BY 6WDWH5HS&OLII%HQW]5-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. 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 Pennsylva- nia 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: 202-225-5774. 0HGIRUGRI¿FH1RUWK&HQWUDO6XLWH Medford, OR 97501. Phone: 541-776-4646. Fax: 541-779-0204. L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR So much for what people want cal response failure situation here? I understand that the situation is YHU\ ÀXLG DQG VXEMHFW WR 0XUSK\¶V To the Editor: Law, but they did pre-analysis and Well, the hope that we would game-planned this. The tactical fail- have some answers forthcoming, or ures are at the basic level of decision at least a satisfactory effort to un- making and skills taught (or supposed GHUVWDQGZK\WKH&DQ\RQ&UHHN¿UH to be taught and administered). was allowed to grow to the monster Again, the shooting was legally that it did, was short lived at best. It MXVWL¿HG0U)LQLFXP¶VDFWLRQVDOPRVW appears that from the city councils guaranteed that. But the shooting does or county commissioners to Wash- not pass the test of public expectation ington, D.C., there is no guarantee and acceptance, and law enforcement that those we elect to represent us personnel across the board suffer from will, in fact, do that. I am sure that the result. the many people who attended the Maybe Gov. Brown and the Legis- meeting to voice their opinion about lature can continue to defund OSP to the investigation were only a few the level where they can’t possibly re- who could attend, but perhaps many VSRQGDQGSODFHFLWL]HQVDQGRI¿FHUVLQ others simply could not attend. Mr. jeopardy. Just a thought. Christensen made a good point about Doug Hoffman how simple it would be to at least Retired OSP tactics instructor start asking the relevant questions, Roseburg but for some reason, even simple didn’t impress the commissioners. They just didn’t seem to want to Diversify or die have an investigation. Why? We may never really know, but we all have a To the Editor: vote, and I, for one, will make certain It looks like Grant County is the that I make an effort to help replace ¿UVW (DVWHUQ 2UHJRQ FRXQW\ WR SXVK this majority voting board of county the issue of marijuana production and commissioners with someone else, sales to a vote on the May 17, 2016, anyone else, until they show the same ballot. In just a few short weeks 346 disregard for the will of the people. signatures were gathered, 198 of When we had to decide about the which were validated by the coun- pot issue here in Prairie City, I don’t ty clerk. This was enough to put the know if anyone really knew how the measure on the May ballot. It seems mayor stood, personally, but we all with the early enthusiasm the measure knew that he represented the major- has a very good chance of passing and ity of voters. Isn’t that how those we maybe opening doors for some eco- elect to represent us are supposed to nomic relief in Grant County. look at things? I guess from the city Voters will decide whether to bring councils to Washington, D.C., we are in revenue from the state and provide all tired of the cover-ups, the insults jobs to the people of grant county. to our intelligence, the garbage! Approval would open doors for more Mary Brown than just marijuana production, pro- Prairie City cessing and sales. Land could also be used for hemp production, which is a billion dollar industry in Canada. SWAT actions failed Hemp grown outdoors matures in as short as four months and is used in a to meet public variety of products including, but not limited to, clothing, rope, biomass, expectations paper pulp and more. To the Editor: So as you can see this is not a one I would agree with the stated issue subject — there could be more opinion that law enforcement did not opportunity here than we think. It is not want the situation to end in a death, just marijuana dispensaries that could and that Mr. Finicum’s desire to be a EHEDQQHGZHFRXOGORVHWKHFKDQFH martyr for the cause was the primary for agricultural production facilities, reason it did. possibly a processing facility and, yes, That said, police SWAT (Special I’m sure somewhere in Grant County Weapons And Tactics) is a unit meant a dispensary will open. A place where to bring extreme situations to a reason- adults over 21 with ID would purchase able conclusion. Based on (my per- marijuana that has been lab tested for sonal opinion here, folks) video and mold and is pesticide free, making it investigative review of this situation, safe for human consumption. After Oregon State Police SWAT actions buying it, people would go home and failed to meet the public and law en- smoke it — it is illegal to smoke or forcement professionals expectations. consume marijuana in or around a dis- The secondary stop attempt is rid- pensary so they wouldn’t be driving off dled with tactical error. Spike strips XQGHUWKHLQÀXHQFH 20 yards before the vehicle road- People who work here know you block? Shooting at a human con- diversify or die in Grant County. We trolled speeding missile results in an EXLOG KRXVHV ZH ¿[ IHQFH FXW ¿UH- uncontrolled speeding missile with wood — anything it takes to make poor tactical results, leaving positions ends meet. If Grant County doesn’t RI FRYHU WR HQJDJH LV D EDVLF RI¿FHU ¿QGDZD\WRGLYHUVLI\EH\RQGWLPEHU safety and tactics no-no, failure to and ranching, two essential parts of position nonlethal response weapons our economy, I don’t know what the (gas), poor tactical position to box in future is for our community. and respond to a barrier breach — are Cindy Kidd you beginning to understand the tacti- Mt. Vernon To the Editor: If some of those who revere the Constitution do not think that the Constitution’s Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18 and the Constitution’s Article 4, Section 3, Clause 2 do not give the federal government the right [1] to own land, [2] to enact laws to regulate land it owns and [3] to arrest people who violate those laws, then they certainly should exercise their constitutional ULJKWWR¿OHDFODVVDFWLRQFRPSODLQW in the United States District Court in Pendleton against the United States for its alleged unconstitu- tional actions. It is that simple. Since such people revere the Constitution, they also must re- vere its requirement that all legally binding interpretation of the Con- stitution can only be performed by the Court of the United States. Therefore, they would also have to [1] revere the United States District Court’s ruling on such a complaint by them, [2] revere the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling on an appeal, should they file one after having lost in Dis- trict Court and [3] revere the Unit- ed States Supreme Court’s ruling on their Writ of Certiorari, should they file one after having lost their appeal. They shall never do this, be- cause they know that they shall lose on their Article 10, Section 8, Clause 17 argument and their oth- er arguments, which is why none RI WKHP HYHU KDV ¿OHG DQG QRQH RIWKHPHYHUZLOO¿OHVXFKDFRP- plaint. Their utter absence of integrity, honesty and even patriotism, by not submitting their constitutional arguments to that entity, which the Constitution requires to be the only arbiter of constitutional questions, is constitutional cowardice. Brian McDonough Bennington, New Hampshire Previous writer wrong about special deputies To the Editor: Last week’s letter to the editor from Sam Walker of John Day be- littled the “special deputies” ap- pointed by the sheriff as unelected and untrained with the power to arrest and detain him. Members of the Grant County Search and Rescue are special deputies. Many special deputies are yearly under- JRLQJ WUDLQLQJ LQ ¿UVW DLG HPHU- JHQF\ PDQDJHPHQW IRU ¿UH ÀRRG etc. These special deputies often have military or law enforcement experience. To use the term “se- cret police” in conjunction with the reasoning for special deputies only reveals one’s ignorance. Mark Pengelly Canyon City See LETTERS, Page A5 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 Constitutional cowardice 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 © 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. ZZZIDFHERRNFRP0\(DJOH1HZV @MyEagleNews
