A4
Opinion
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Now’s the time
to limit the
Antiquities Act
I
t’s probably not high on
the list of priorities, but
we’d like to see Congress
revise the Antiquities Act
to give legislative oversight
to the creation of national
monuments.
The Antiquities Act of 1906
has been used by presidents
starting with Teddy Roosevelt
to create national monuments.
The authority comes
with few restrictions. The
president, “in his discretion,”
can designate almost any
piece of federally owned
land a national monument
for “the protection of objects
of historic and scientific
interest.”
Although the act makes
mention of protecting historic
and prehistoric structures,
there is no statutory definition
or limit on what may be found
to be of historic or scientific
interest. Presidents have used
the act to preserve wild areas.
It’s easier than establishing
a wilderness area, or a
national park — both of
which require congressional
approval — but can impose
similar restrictions on how the
land can be used.
Local residents and their
elected representatives have
no say in the process. At least,
they don’t in 48 states.
The creation of the Jackson
Hole National Monument by
FDR in the 1940s so rankled
Wyoming pols that when
legislation was proposed
to merge most of it with
Grand Teton National Park
the Congress amended the
Antiquities Act to prohibit the
president from establishing
monuments in that state
without its approval.
After President Jimmy
Carter created 56 million
acres of monuments in
Alaska, Congress amended
the act to require it also
approve Alaskan monuments
of 5,000 acres or more.
We would not argue that
the Antiquities Act has not
preserved legitimate cultural
treasures. We might not
have the Grand Canyon in
its current state had TR not
protected it by making it first
a national monument.
But that was a different
time. The restrictions that can
be placed on ranchers and
timbermen throughout the
West by these declarations
require oversight.
They should have at least
the same consideration
afforded the people of
Wyoming and Alaska.
T HE B ACKROADS
Easter brings out the best
By Sean Hart
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Grant County communi-
ty imbued the most meaningful
Christian holiday with even more
meaning this year.
While Easter always inspires
reflection on the Resurrection,
events open to the public provid-
ed greater insight and brought the
stories from the Bible to life.
The door was open for any-
one who was interested in learn-
ing more about or being a part of
these special events in history.
Volunteers from local church-
es and religious groups donned
costumes and delved into roles
to portray the last week of Jesus’
earthly life for the Road to Res-
urrection at the Spring Roundup
April 8.
Young and old walked in Je-
sus’ footsteps and were able to
ask questions and interact with
the volunteers.
Participants waved palm
leaves at Jesus’ triumphal entry
and heard from Barabbas in pris-
on. They sampled the Passover
meal and made their own cross
necklaces.
Whether working the event or
attending as a guest, the feedback
was overwhelmingly positive.
The Spring Roundup brought
together not only churches but
the community as a whole.
The
unify-
ing spirit carried
throughout Holy
Week, as local
congregations
hosted special ser-
vices.
Sean
Redeemer Lu-
Hart
theran
Church
hosted its annual
traditional Jewish Seder, or Pass-
over meal, bringing in several
people from outside the church.
The educational gathering of-
fered insight into the Last Sup-
per, as well as Judaism. The
traditions and rituals of the rite
provided depth and texture to
stories Christians have heard
many times.
From bitter roots representing
the bitterness of slavery to the
unleavened bread the Jews took
with them when they were freed
from Egypt — because they had
no time for their bread to rise
— the symbolism was power-
ful. The meaning was difficult to
miss.
Yet, perhaps more powerful
was the willingness to open the
door to anyone who wished to
attend. Until that night, I did not
know the Seder calls for people
to do just that in a literal sense,
but I still think the little church
deserves thanks and praise for
its welcoming attitude and atmo-
sphere. And for trying to bring
the community together.
One can almost always find
animosity, anger, resentment and
hatred in just about any direction
these days.
But during Holy Week, nega-
tivity seemed harder to find.
Maybe people were too busy
or too tired from everything go-
ing on, or maybe I was too busy
to notice.
Or maybe the sense of unity
brought out by these communi-
ty events truly inspired people
to love their neighbors. Maybe
even their enemies.
Either way, as I sat in the pews
on Easter Sunday, I felt a stron-
ger connection to the community
that came together to host such
enlightening, welcoming events
to herald in the all-important
Christian holiday.
As I listened to the readings, I
felt a deeper understanding of the
events that shaped Jesus’ life.
As I reflected on the Resurrec-
tion, I felt a sense of hope.
Hope that Jesus’ message had
not been lost somewhere along the
way, as it so often seems.
And hope that we — from
Grant County to the global com-
munity — may one day live up to
Jesus’ ideals.
Sean Hart is the editor of the
Blue Mountain Eagle. He can be
contacted at editor@bmeagle.
com.
L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR
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.
• Long Creek — P.O. Box 489, Long
Creek 97856. Phone: 541-421-3601. Fax:
541-421-3075. Email: info@cityofl ong-
creek.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.
SALEM
• Gov. Kate 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. Cliff Bentz, 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 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
messages for legislators) — 800-332-2313.
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.
• U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D — 516 Hart
Senate Offi ce Building, Washington D.C.
20510. Phone: 202-224-5244. Email:
wayne_kinney@wyden.senate.gov Website:
http://wyden.senate.gov Fax: 202-228-2717.
• U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D — 313 Hart
Senate Offi ce Building, Washington D.C.
20510?. Phone: 202-224-3753. Email:
senator@merkley.senate.gov. Fax: 202-
228-3997. Oregon offi ces include One
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.
• U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, 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.
Medford offi ce: 14 North Central, Suite 112,
Medford, OR 97501. Phone: 541-776-4646.
Fax: 541-779-0204.
Blue Mountains
Forest Partners a
private nonprofi t
To the Editor:
John George’s recent criticism
(April 5) of the Blue Mountains
Forest Partners refl ects a deep mis-
understanding of 501(c)(3) organi-
zations and BMFP.
BMFP is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3)
organization – a private nonprofi t.
As such, according to the IRS, the
only information BMFP is required
to disclose publicly is its applica-
tion for tax-exempt status (with
associated correspondence), and its
completed tax returns for the three
most recent years. Nothing more.
A private nonprofi t is also legal-
ly required to address confl icts of
interest for board members and pro-
tect against the inappropriate use
of its fi nances and assets by mem-
bers. Article VII of BMFP’s bylaws
addresses confl icts of interest for
board members. Article IX of our
Articles of Incorporation addresses
the inappropriate use of BMFP fi -
nances and assets.
Legally speaking, these articles
allow members to receive reason-
able compensation for services
they provide the organization and
to benefi t from contract work with
(say) the Forest Service, provided
confl icts of interest are handled in
an appropriate manner.
Private nonprofi ts are legally
permitted to lobby to a limited de-
gree, where this is understood as
the attempt to infl uence legislation
or lawmaking.
Per the IRS, then, the fi nancial
information Mr. George wanted
BMFP to give him is not subject to
public disclosure; BMFP members
have acted consistently with the
organization’s Articles of Incorpo-
ration and bylaws, correctly under-
stood; and BMFP can lobby (even
though it hasn’t done so locally).
Finally, BMFP’s mission is to
increase the resilience and well-be-
ing of forests and communities in
the Blue Mountains. This requires a
road system that facilitates respon-
sible, active management of mul-
tiple-use public lands. Our work,
then, requires us to support a road
system that enables the Malheur to
implement projects that increase
forest health, support ongoing tim-
ber harvest and provide other so-
cioeconomic benefi ts for area com-
munities such as public access to
public lands.
Mark Webb
Executive Director
Blue Mountains Forest Partners
Time to answer
questions
To the Editor:
Blue Mountains Forest Partners,
the local collaborative, has been
receiving attention lately due to its
executive director, former county
judge Mark Webb. Questions arise,
such as why does the volunteer
group have a paid director with an
annual salary in the $50,000 range?
With a well paid and supposedly
full-time job, how does Mark Webb
on “his own time” promote the nul-
lifi cation of the Grant County Pub-
lic Forest Commission, petition the
county court to repeal a road ordi-
nance and be involved in whether
or not someone is a resident of the
county?
Citizens of the county are taking
note of the “irregularities” of BMFP
and its actions. As a 501(c)(3) or-
ganization, as required by law, why
won’t they reveal their fi nancial
records? Should those sitting on an
“ops board” be in a voting position
to benefi t personally? BMFP should
be open and transparent if they are
to have any creditability. Perhaps
Mr. Webb can fi nd time in his busy
schedule to answer these questions.
Patti Yellow Hand Bull
Monument
L
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