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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (June 7, 2017)
A4 Opinion Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, June 7, 2017 What do you want to see? t may be diffi cult to say recreational opportunities? what the future will bring Improved access to high-speed to Grant County, but internet? A new educational campus? Increased business community members have variety? Access to higher an easy opportunity to let education? Destination local leaders know what their tourism? Or something else? priorities are through a new If more people respond, the survey. results will better Grant County, reflect the will of the city of John Online the community. And Day, Blue Mountain The survey is that’s the point. A Hospital District and available online community project Grant School District at https://consul- needs buy-in from are working with tations.oregon- the community. Oregon Solutions to skitchentable.org. The survey is develop consensus available online around a project to at https://consultations. benefi t the community. The agencies have commissioned a oregonskitchentable. org. Paper copies are also survey from Oregon’s Kitchen available at the John Day City Table, seeking input from Hall during business hours. as many county residents as possible to determine priorities Surveys will be accepted until June 23. for the future. This consensus-building The survey is simple and process is a great step toward quick. It allows community the future the community can members the chance to get create, and this survey is a involved and offer ideas. great chance for the entire People can rank a variety of community to get involved. possible projects that could We hope everyone will get transform the community. on board and take the survey. What do you think is most So what is it you want to important for Grant County? New and renovated homes? An see? Now is the time to voice your opinions. innovation center? Additional I 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. Web- site: www. leg.state.or.us (includes Oregon Constitution and Oregon Revised Statutes). • 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. O THER V IEWS Bill may build bridges across partisan divide There’s no reason a large-scale transportation plan cannot be bi- partisan. We can all benefi t from an improved transportation system — if it’s equitable to all who pay for it. For years, agreement on trans- portation and infrastructure has lacked at the state level, and for much longer at the federal level. It’s an example of partisan bick- ering that’s come to dominate our political atmosphere. But state legislators are trying to change that with an expansive 10-year transportation plan that has previously eluded them. A similar but far less expensive bill was rounding third and headed for home in 2015 when the road was pulled out from under it. The now much-derided Columbia River Crossing had plenty to do with that collapse. This time it may be different. Lawmakers last week rolled out a 298-page draft of an $8.2 billion plan, and many of its proposed projects and funding mechanisms have already passed through a more stringent and public process than its predecessors — which is the way it should be — especial- ly given its price tag compared to the $343 million proposed in 2015. Those on both sides of the aisle, and nonpartisans who have been involved, say lessons were learned in the last go-round and those hur- dles have been hopped. They say it would be paid for with a combi- nation of hikes in the gas tax and registration and license fees, tolls, new taxes on payroll, vehicle deal- ers and adult bicycle purchases. Obviously, deeper vetting of the bill is needed and is now under- way. It’s critical because an unusu- al caveat of the plan is that it could be repealed in its entirety if voters successfully challenge even one of its provisions. “The logic is that this is a pack- age,” said state Sen. Lee Beyer, D-Springfi eld, the co-chairman of the Joint Committee on Transpor- tation Preservation and Mainte- nance. “If you pull one string, the whole thing comes apart.” The plan’s key cogs are up- grades in Portland. But to convince a majority of legislators — who don’t represent Portland — sup- porters of transportation improve- ments are touting the city’s huge impact on the statewide economy. Bob Russell, vice president of the Oregon Trucking Association, told T he Daily Astorian transit time through Portland isn’t reliable and negatively impacts every busi- ness in the state — including our region — that needs to move goods through Oregon’s largest city. It also impacts visitors who try to get here using the choke points along U.S. Highway 101 and the two highways connecting to Portland. The initial bill lists a number of earmarked projects outside of Port- land, although it’s troubling that none are on the North Coast. But state Sen. Betsy Johnson, co-chairwoman of the Joint Com- mittee on Ways and Means Sub- committee on Transportation and Economic Development, said the package, although concerning in its lack of coastal projects, shouldn’t be taken as a done deal. “Don’t let yourself get trapped into thinking this is ‘x,’” she said. “There are going to be tons of amendments.” Johnson said she has subscribed to the idea that helping ease con- gestion in the Portland metro area will help businesses from the Ore- gon Coast to Eastern Oregon move products easier. And under the state’s method of dividing revenue, portions of some of the tax money generated will go to the state’s counties and cities. That could translate into increased dollars for our cities’ and county’s road budgets, the airport and the P ort. The bill tasks the Oregon Transportation Commission with prioritizing proposed projects not already earmarked. Public hearings began Monday, and a vote on the House fl oor could come by mid-month. If the bill is properly vetted — and it must be — it is one is- sue that does not just benefi t one political party, or one demograph- ic, nor pushes one group forward while another falls behind. A solid transportation plan can move us all forward, and this could be the one if it proves equitable to all. — The Daily Astorian F ARMER ’ S F ATE Weed it and reap! By Brianna Walker To the Blue Mountain Eagle USPS 226-340 Blue Mountain EAGLE Grant County’s Weekly Newspaper Email: www.MyEagleNews.com Phone: 541-575-0710 John Day, Oregon MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION P UBLISHER E DITOR A DMINISTRATIVE A SSISTANT R EPORTER C OMMUNITY N EWS S PORTS M ARKETING R EP O FFICE M ANAGER Marissa Williams, marissa@bmeagle.com Sean Hart, editor@bmeagle.com Caitlin Brooks, caitlin@bmeagle.com Rylan Boggs, rylan@bmeagle.com Angel Carpenter, angel@bmeagle.com Angel Carpenter, angel@bmeagle.com Kim Kell, ads@bmeagle.com Lindsay Bullock, office@bmeagle.com PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY BY EO Media Group Periodicals Postage Paid at John Day and additional mailing offi ces. 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 POSTMASTER — send address changes to Blue Mountain Eagle 195 N. Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845-1187 Copyright © 2017 Blue Mountain Eagle All rights reserved. No part of this publication cov- ered 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. www.facebook.com/MyEagleNews @MyEagleNews There are two seasonal diversions that ease the bite of winter: spring thaw and seed catalogs. It’s always exciting to fl ip through the pages and pick out your old standbys: tomatoes and cucumbers, as well as a few unusual and bizarre varieties like romenesco or samphire. Everywhere you look you can see people getting ready for garden sea- son: raised beds, fresh mulch, new tomato cages. Even the newspapers get into the season with garden tips: how often to water and how to dis- tinguish between weeds and plants. Personally, I fi nd the best way to dif- ferentiate is to give the plant a tug. If it came out easily, it must have been a good plant. If the roots have grown to China, and pulling on it only results in breaking the top off before toppling onto your backside, it’s a weed. “Grow Great Potatoes Easily” read the headline of a magazine ar- ticle promoting old, wet straw bales for home vegetable gardens. After loading several decomposing bales one evening, I started thinking about trying it myself. After asking my husband his thoughts, he reached over and took my hand. “You have always been able to grow potatoes so well. I don’t think you need straw bales to make them any better.” I gave him a proud smile. He took my hand. “Let’s take a little walk,” he said. Hand in hand we walked toward the garage. I was still smiling proudly when he reached for a box under a bench. It was full of last year’s for- gotten potatoes with 10-inch sprouts on them. “If you can grow potatoes without dirt, why would you need straw?” Brianna The Bible was Walker right. My pride went before destruction. I don’t necessarily love garden- ing, but I enjoy having the ability to run out and grab a fresh tomato or cucumber for supper. Having fresh produce and herbs on hand is great, but garden maintenance is always a struggle. Mother Nature and I seem to have a bit of a misunderstanding in regards to my garden patch. I think of it as a place to raise food for my family to eat. She thinks of it as a CRP ground that is lacking in lambs quarter and kochia weed — and she tries hard to correct the error. You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt. Perhaps that’s why so many people fi nding garden- ing so relaxing. I’ve even seen cute signs that say “gardening is cheaper than therapy—and you get toma- toes!” But to me, gardening requires a lot of weeding and water — both that seem to come in the form of per- spiration. Anyone who wants to rule the world should try ruling a garden fi rst. Once you can conquer squash bugs and slugs; successfully create coun- try lines that are strict on the entry of terrorists like gophers, deer and rab- bits; combat seasonal distresses such as fl ooding and drought; and still fi nd yourself with enough, energy, man- power and money to successfully harvest enough of your crop to gener- ate an income — whether in the form of home canning or a lower grocery bill — then I think you can turn your attention to world power. Some people really love their gar- den plants, even to the point of speak- ing to them — pointing to para-sci- ence studies that show that plants thrive when spoken to. But either my plants never read those journals or my tone of voice is too harsh. When I’m in the garden, breaking the tops off weeds, I’m rarely in my “hap- py vocabulary.” I think it really is because my plants are shy, and too much attention would inhibit their growth and cause them embarrass- ment. At least that’s the theory I’m going with. Some people get even more per- sonal than just talk. I recently read that the month of May hosted a world naked gardening day. It claims it was an opportunity to pull weeds, plant fl owers and harvest vegetables while getting some sun (where it doesn’t usually shine). If you want to join them, feel free (literally), but my plants are wall-fl owers. I am certain that kind of display would cause them to tuck in their blossoms and die of embarrassment. Regardless of your gardening style, the season is upon us. My gar- dening motto has been: “Early to bed and early to rise. Work like a horse and fertilize!” Unfortunately, the only things that I can count on growing to maturity are puncture weeds and zuc- chini. Although I guess now I can add forgotten potatoes to that list. Brianna Walker occasionally writes about the Farmer’s Fate for the Blue Mountain Eagle.
