A4
Opinion
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Standing up
to public
records bullies
T
his was supposed to be
an age of transparency.
The nexus of education,
democracy and technology
should be creating an
environment in which public
information is widely available
to everyone.
But the world seems to
be getting more opaque. As
conspiracy theory websites
grow in popularity and are
given increasing credence
despite an absence of fact,
traditional media is increasingly
denied access to the hard data
that reliable reports are based
on. And sensing the upper
hand, government has become
more aggressive about shutting
down public record releases
and whistle blowers.
A perfect example of this
obstructionist behavior by a
government agency came up in
Eastern Oregon last week.
The Malheur Enterprise,
a weekly newspaper in
Vale, published a detailed
report about a con man
who avoided prison time by
feigning insanity. The Oregon
Psychiatric Security Review
Board discharged Anthony
Montwheeler last year, and
less than a month later he was
accused of kidnapping and
killing his ex-wife, fl eeing
police and crashing into a
married couple on their way to
work, killing the husband.
It’s the kind of reporting that
brings real insight to the way the
criminal justice system operates.
It’s an incredible tale, but one
supported by facts and evidence,
research and the reputation of
those sourced by journalists.
What would have made the
report even more complete
is documentation detailing
Montwheeler’s mental
evaluations — documents
that were used as evidence at
hearings of the Security Review
Board. When the board refused
to release the records to the
Enterprise, the paper appealed
the decision to the Attorney
General Ellen Rosenblum, who
ruled the documents should be
turned over.
Instead of complying, the
Security Review Board sued
the small paper to keep the
records secret. Not until Gov.
Kate Brown pressured the board
to drop the lawsuit and release
the information Tuesday did the
board fi nally agree to do so.
These records are critical,
and they needed to be made
public. They will show what
state offi cials knew — and
didn’t know — as they ruled
Montwheeler should be
released. They will put hard
facts in the hands of citizens
and hold those in power
accountable.
But this is about more
than Anthony Montwheeler,
the Malheur Enterprise and
the Security Review Board.
This is about beating back the
brazen attempts of government
agencies to obscure the truth.
The balance is tipping in their
favor already, and if those
offi cials are allowed to shut out
and intimidate by reaching into
the deep pockets of taxpayers,
we can all expect less access and
truth in the future.
G UEST C OMMENT
‘Believe survivors; change the culture’
By Mara Houck
To the Blue Mountain Eagle
Once again, April is Sexual As-
sault Awareness Month. This year,
the national campaign is focused
on changing the culture to believe
and support survivors of sexual
assault.
Sexual violence happens to
people of all ages, races, genders,
sexual orientations, religions, pro-
fessions, income brackets and eth-
nicities. Sexual violence does not
need to be forcible rape. Any time
someone is manipulated into par-
ticipating in sexual activity by the
use of guilt, fear, financial sup-
port, threats or drugs or alcohol,
that is sexual violence. Someone
in this country is sexually assault-
ed every 98 seconds.
Sexual assault is never the vic-
tim’s fault; it does not matter how
the victim was dressed, who the
victim was with or what the vic-
tim was doing. All people should
have the freedom to live life as
they choose without being assault-
ed. Victim-blaming undermines the
strength of a community, helping
to create a climate in which sexual
violence is tolerated and not taken
seriously. Together, we can make
sure our community is one where
survivors of sexual assault feel be-
lieved and respected when they tell
their stories, and where the account-
ability is focused on attackers, not
victims.
Sexual violence is a widespread
public health, human rights and
social justice issue that affects ev-
eryone, whether they have been a
victim of sexual violence or not.
All members of a community live
healthier, safer, more prosperous
lives when sexual assault is re-
duced. Normalizing sexual assault
and blaming victims creates a dis-
trustful environment of fear and
anger in our workplaces, schools,
families and social circles. Almost
two-thirds of sexual assaults in this
country are never reported. When
sexual assault survivors feel re-
spected, believed and supported,
they are more likely to report the
crime and to participate in prose-
cution.
All members of a communi-
ty can help prevent sexual vio-
lence and support survivors. To
do your part, speak up when you
hear harmful, victim-blaming com-
ments. Speak up when you hear
jokes or insults that minimize the
seriousness of sexual assault. If
you hear a sexual violence survi-
vor share their story, let them know
you believe and support them, and
thank them for sharing their expe-
rience with you.
Employers, maintain a respect-
ful workplace where inappropriate
humor and harassment are not toler-
ated and all employees feel safe and
valued. Coaches, teach your athletes
to show respect for everyone, even
when they aren’t present, and that
rape jokes are never funny. Parents
of young ones, teach your children
about consent, and to respect their
bodies and the bodies of others.
Parents of tweens and teens, teach
your sons and daughters healthy
attitudes about sexuality and devel-
opment and maintain an open line
of communication, even when it’s
hard. Community and church lead-
ers, teach and model healthy rela-
tionships with children and adults,
educate about supportive relation-
ships and healthy masculinity and
support survivors if they come to
you for help or guidance.
Together, we can change the pre-
vailing culture in this country that
normalizes and minimizes serious
crimes, and makes it far too diffi cult
for survivors to speak out against
their attackers. As this year’s slogan
says, “Believe survivors; change
the culture.” Together, we can build
a culture where everyone feels safe,
respected and believed.
Learn more about what you can
do to prevent sexual assault at ns-
vrc.org/saam.
Mara Houck is the deputy dis-
trict attorney for Grant County.
L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR
As transparent
as possible
W HERE TO W RITE
GRANT COUNTY
SALEM
• 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.
• Long Creek — P.O. Box 489, Long
Creek 97856. Phone: 541-421-3601. Fax:
541-421-3075. Email: info@cityofl ongcreek.
com.
• Monument — P.O. Box 426, Monument
97864. Phone and fax: 541-934-2025. Email:
cityofmonument@centurytel.net.
• Mt. Vernon — 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.
• Gov. Kate Brown, D — 254 State Capi-
tol, 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. Web-
site: www. leg.state.or.us (includes Oregon
Constitution and Oregon Revised Statutes).
• State Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario
(District: 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 Ferrioli, 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 messag-
es for legislators) — 800-332-2313.
Blue Mountain
EAGLE
P UBLISHED EVERY
W EDNESDAY BY
To the Editor:
As transparent as possible — a
phrase that makes me scratch my
head, especially coming from a
lawyer.
I recently requested all the fi -
nancial documents from the Blue
Mountains Forest Partners, in hopes
of garnering a greater understand-
ing of the organization and how
they work. The fi rst response was
from the executive director, former
Grant County judge Mark Webb,
stating, “our fi nancial statements
are not public documents,” which
seemed odd to me, being as the
group is organized as a 501(c)(3)
organization under a public foun-
dation fi ling. His lawyer is stating
differently now.
This is not to mention they are
“supported” by the Grant County
Court, take funds from the Oregon
Department of Forestry ($123,000)
and have their books organized by a
public body.
The other item that makes me
scratch my head is the articles of
incorporation clearly state no mem-
ber of the organization may profi t
from the organization, directly or
indirectly. They fail that standard
as two members sit on the “board,”
and both directly benefi t fi nancially
from the recommendations given to
the Malheur National Forest.
The organization is also very
clearly barred from lobbying gov-
ernmental business, but Mr. Webb
works during normal business
hours to disallow public process in
elections, namely the Grant County
Public Forest Commission, and to
undo the Grant County roads ordi-
nance. Now Mr. Webb will stand
and tell you eye to eye, “I’m on my
own time.” It’s hard to believe a
man that makes well over $20,000
more than the gross per capita in-
come of the average Grant County
resident can just come and go from
their job as they please, and still
make that kind of money.
Transparency is a funny thing.
If you give it, it generally opens the
doors to answers and resolution.
However, when you claim a desire
for transparency, but hide behind
your lawyer when asked for infor-
mation, it generally breeds mistrust
and more questions.
Closing roads must be important
business to run everyone through
this shell game that’s called col-
laboration. My new question is: Is
this really what “collaboration” was
meant to be?
John D. George
Bates
‘Monumental’
library repairs
look great
To the Editor:
The Grant County Library is
just fi nishing a huge project. After
a leaking roof damaged parts of the
building this winter, most of the
fl ooring needed to be replaced. That
meant every item in the collection
needed to be moved at least twice.
To make this undertaking happen,
the staff had to calculate which ar-
eas to empty out, where to tempo-
rarily place the items moved, when
and how volunteers could be used
to help and how to keep serving pa-
trons during the construction. It was
a monumental task, but they did it.
The staff and all the volunteers did
an excellent job. The new fl ooring
looks great. And, the library is back
to full function again.
Tracie Unterwegner
John Day
WASHINGTON, D.C.
• The White House, 1600 Pennsylva-
nia Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20500;
Phone-comments: 202-456-1111; Switch-
board: 202-456-1414.
L
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