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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (June 28, 2017)
A4 Opinion Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, June 28, 2017 Rainbow Gathering response highlights double standard W ith as much environmental scrutiny as ranchers and loggers face, the response by environmentalists and the Forest Service to the unauthorized Rainbow Gathering on the Malheur National Forest is perplexing. While the Rainbow group claims to care about the environment and vows to leave the forest better than they found it, Forest Service offi cials say tens of thousands of people gathered in such a small place causes numerous problems for the ecosystem. Yet the event continues every year. Where is the outcry from environmentalists over this unauthorized gathering? The attendees won’t sign a special use permit. The short notice provides no time for environmental assessments. And there are many concerns about water and wildlife. Where are the protests? Where are the lawsuits? It seems the environmental community has far less concern over problems caused by people with dreadlocks and sandals than hats and boots — despite the fact loggers and ranchers maintain the local economy and the infrastructure needed to maintain forest health. The Rainbow group argues its gatherings are protected by the First Amendment right to peaceably assemble. But most groups are required to follow the permitting process to mitigate possible problems. In response to this group that refuses to follow the process, the Forest Service budgets $500,000 of taxpayer money each year to mitigate problems caused by this event. Rather than punish the unauthorized users, the federal government picks up the tab. Where is the logic and fairness in that? It’s a national decision — and funding comes out of the national pot — so local offi cials should not be blamed. In fact, the resource protection work at the site by local offi cials is likely preventing some environmental damage. But there appears to be a double standard for the Forest Service and environmentalists when it comes to what types of ecosystem damage are acceptable — and by what users. Ranchers and loggers help sustain our community, and do it while navigating the hurdles set up by government regulations. At the very least, the Rainbow Gathering should be held to the same stringent protections. And if the group damages our public lands beyond repair, such gatherings should not be allowed in the future. 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 Blue Mountain EAGLE P UBLISHED EVERY W EDNESDAY BY 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. WASHINGTON, D.C. • 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. • Pending Bills: For information on bills in Congress, Phone: 202-225-1772. F ARMER ’ S F ATE Pete the parrot ‘I was gaining speed at an alarming rate with no apparent way to slow down. I tried putting my feet down to act as brakes, but my flip flops quickly caught fire so I aborted that plan. I had to do something fast because at the bottom of the hill was a stoplight and a T intersection, and I didn’t think I could make the turn at my rate of speed.’ By Brianna Walker To the Blue Mountain Eagle Some people are just born fun- ny. My dad’s caveat to that is “fun- ny looking, funny smelling, funny sounding.” My brother-in-law is funny and often funny in all of these categories. Joe is quite the charac- ter: 6 foot 7, skinny as a rail and always full of borderline ill-advised adven- tures. Such was the case one Saturday afternoon. Joe re- calls it this way... Brianna My buddies Walker John, James and I were bored, so we headed off to the beach to go bik- ing — the scenery there was always good on a sunny day. John and James took their mountain bikes, and I brought an old beach cruiser I had purchased at a yard sale for a few bucks. If I had to describe the bike today, I would say it was quite hideous, but back then I thought it was the coolest thing around. I added to its fl are by installing a parrot, who I named Pete, onto the enormous handlebars. Pete was a squeaky toy I used to warn unsus- pecting pedestrians that I was about to pass them. The bike also sported a seat large enough to be confused with a mattress from a child’s crib. We arrived at Newport Beach in board shorts, Hawaiian shirts, straw hats and fl ip fl ops. We un- loaded the bikes out of the back of my Jeep and started riding down the boardwalk. Pete was having a good time squeaking at pedestrians as I huffed past them on my way to nowhere. We eventually got bored and began looking for something else to do. We decided to ride up to the top of a hill that overlooked the ocean. This turned out to be quite a workout since my bike only had one speed and with the enormous handlebars was nearly impossible to stand up and peddle. I eventually made it to the top and was rewarded with great views and a snow cone — mostly the snow cone. We decided to head back down the hill and get some dinner. John and James took off fi rst. Not want- ing to be last, I decided it was nec- essary to pass them — which in- volved getting on the sidewalk as there wasn’t any room between the traffi c and parked cars. I quickly shot past them and decided to get back on the street again. My brain said it would be cool to jump off the curb instead of waiting for a drive- way entrance to rejoin traffi c. This plan worked well — except for one small problem. When I jumped off the curb the chain fell off my bike. On a beach cruiser with a single speed, the chain is necessary as it also runs the coaster brake — an import function when going down- hill. I was gaining speed at an alarm- ing rate with no apparent way to slow down. I tried putting my feet down to act as brakes, but my fl ip fl ops quickly caught fi re so I aborted that plan. I had to do something fast because at the bottom of the hill was a stoplight and a T intersection, and I didn’t think I could make the turn at my rate of speed. I began look- ing around for something to crash into. I spotted a perfectly manicured hedge up ahead and thought maybe that would be a good place for the paramedics to pick me up. I’m not sure how fast I was going when I hit the hedge, but it was fast enough to completely uproot two bushes and destroy another. Once the dust settled, I started assessing the damage. I immediate- ly checked out my Hawaiian shirt to make sure it wasn’t torn — it wasn’t. I noticed Pete had abandoned me and the hurtling death machine. I found him later in the bushes with no feet. He doesn’t squeak the same now. I think he hates me. I put the uprooted bushes back in place, picked up my chain and the remains of Pete. He’ll eventually learn that pain lasts but a moment, but glory forever. So if you are even feeling a little bored, grab a “funny looking” old beach cruiser, a “funny sounding” squeaky parrot named Pete and a brother-in-law named Joe. Your parrot may unfriend you, but you might make new friends with the paramedics that come to pick you up. And boredom will never be in your vocabulary again — fear, trep- idation and pain, perhaps — but never boredom. Brianna Walker occasionally writes about the Farmer’s Fate for the Blue Mountain Eagle. L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR Eagle’s page priorities questionable Peggy and Marilyn’s exemplary ser- vice is buried on Page A8? Really? Al Olson John Day To the Editor: A thought regarding the Blue Mountain Eagle’s front page prior- ities: Consider the Blue Mountain Eagle’s article on June 21 buried on Page A8 regarding two key School District No. 3 teachers’ retirements. Really?! And the “Rainbow people” get top billing? Together, Peggy Murphy and Marilyn Berry taught our children for 52 years! The Rain- bow people are committed to them- selves and will likely never be back again. Yet, a picture and article of Rainbow Gathering comes with a cost To the Editor: My heart goes out to the res- idents of John Day and your up- coming struggles with the Rainbow Family gathering. Several years ago, this group descended on our area of southwest Montana and caused a giant mess. Forget your opinion of the people in the group or their ability to use public land; just focus on the costs associated with them showing up. After they left us, the state of Montana said the US Forest Service costs were $573,000. Our county reported a cost in excess of $230,000 with $193,000 being imposed on our lo- cal hospital. How can a group like this just pick a location and descend upon that area and expect the local residents to foot the bill and take care of them? Articles are available online about the costs associated with this group. Good luck to you. My personal opinion is that they should be stopped before they even get to your area. Shannon Maness Dillon, Montana 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 . 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