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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 10, 2018)
A4 Opinion Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, October 10, 2018 Early detection saves lives M ore than a quarter of a million women are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and about one in eight women will develop breast cancer during their life. Although the disease is so prevalent that almost everyone knows someone affected by it, there is good news. Death rates from breast cancer have been declining for about three decades, likely the result of increased awareness, earlier detection through screening and better treatments. According to breastcancer. org: • More than 40,000 women are expected to die this year from breast cancer in the United States. • Breast cancer has higher death rates for women in the U.S. than any other cancer except lung cancer. • Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S. except skin cancer. • More than 3 million women have battled or are battling breast cancer in the U.S. • The breast cancer risk doubles for women with a mother, sister or daughter who have had breast cancer, but 85 percent of breast cancer cases occur in women who have no family history of the disease. Symptoms of breast cancer include new lumps in the breast or underarm, thickening or swelling of a part of the breast, irritation or dimpling of breast skin, redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast, pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area, nipple discharge other than breast milk, any change in breast size or shape and pain in any area of the breast, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Finding cancer early, when it is easier to treat, improves outcomes, and the CDC recommends discussing screening with a doctor. Although screening guidelines vary among different organizations, most recommend speaking with a doctor about testing by age 40. Some groups, such as the American College of Radiology and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, suggest annual mammograms for all women ages 40-75. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women make an individual decision whether to start mammography in their 40s but suggests women who have a parent, sibling or child with breast cancer are at higher risk and may benefit more by beginning screening early. At the very least, most organizations recommend screenings every two years by age 50. According to the CDC, though, 11 percent of breast cancer cases in the U.S. affect women younger than 45. We encourage all women to speak with their doctors about screening, and we hope the death rates will continue to decline. 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@cityoflongcreek. 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- Blue Mountain EAGLE P UBLISHED EVERY W EDNESDAY BY 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 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). • Oregon Legislative Information — (For updates on bills, services, capitol or messag- es for legislators) — 800-332-2313. • Sen. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario – 900 Court St. NE, S-301, Salem 97301. Phone: 503-986-1730. Website: www.oregonleg- islature.gov/Bentz. Email: Sen.CliffBentz@ oregonlegislature.gov. • Rep. Lynn Findley, R-Vale – 900 Court St. NE, H-475, Salem 97301. Phone: 503- 986-1460. Website: www.oregonlegislature. gov/findley. Email: Rep.LynnFindley@ oregonlegislature.gov. L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR Larson listens and has experience To the Editor: Gordon Larson hears us. When I attend Grant County Court sessions Gordon is there. Gordon is listening. He is hearing our concerns. Gordon is running for county commissioner. Our county court is the administrative body for Grant County. Gordon has the experience needed to serve our county as com- missioner. He understands the eco- nomic challenges we face in Grant County. Gordon has served on our school board. He understands the challenges our kids face as they look to their future. Gordon has a positive approach to solving problems. We need that. My vote is for the person who listens to us and understands the re- sponsibilities of commissioner. Let’s vote for the person who has the background and experience to be our county commissioner. Gordon Lar- son has that experience. He listens to us, and he will listen to you. Eva Harris Canyon City in this country over the last two years dissolve away. On the local level, we have two paths we can take when it comes to electing a Grant County commis- sioner. We can stick to the same old tired issues that get hashed around over and over with no real bearing on the future of this county, or we can elect Gordon Larson and start getting things done. For those of you who are voting on name recognition alone, take a few minutes to actually check the credentials and the community service records of both contestants. Gordon Larson has far-reaching con- nections and influence, which would translate to a better future for our kids and a more business-friendly climate that would bring much-need- ed investment and job potential to this county. Instead of continuing to dwell on the negative, elect an indi- vidual that is continually optimistic, driven and cares the most about the two most important aspects of Grant County and beyond, our youth and our economy. Elect Gordon Larson Grant County commissioner. Dan Maynard John Day Voting is serious business Showing up for our communities To the Editor: In November, we will be voting for a new county commissioner. This is a serious decision you will be mak- ing. We are not in high school any more so this is not a popularity con- test. Nor are we selecting someone that will look handsome behind the desk. And it is a nonpartisan position. We need to be selecting the man that can best fill the position. The county is very much like a business. The county judge and com- missioners are the business heads of our county. Which one of these men has the background, experience and wisdom to best fill the position? Which one has the best temperament and experience to be able to work with the various government agen- cies that he will be dealing with? This is a serious decision. Think hard be- fore you vote. Another thing: I hear lots of noise about the Forest Service. As much as some people would like, the Forest Service is not going to go away. About 70 percent of our county is federally owned. Even if the county could take the land over, it takes lots of money to operate a forest the size of our forest. The county does not have that kind of money, and last I checked, volunteers are in short supply. So get real. Which one of these men can best work with the Forest Service? Again, voting for the best man to fill the commissioner’s position is serious business. Select the man that can best do the job. Sandra Sutton John Day To the Editor: What we know about Gordon Larson is that he shows up for small communities. In the small communi- ty of Seneca, we saw Gordon Larson consistently represent Seneca School while he was on the Grant School District 3 board. He understood that the school is the heart of a commu- nity. Now, we see Gordon Larson visiting communities all around the county to explain his own ideas and qualifications and, more importantly, to hear about their concerns about education, economic development, technology and rural health care. That is what we call communication and commitment to serving all of Grant County. We are joining others across the county in voting for our county’s future by supporting Gordon Larson for county commissioner. Mark and Adele Cerny Bear Valley ‘Elect Gordon Larson and start getting things done’ To the Editor: A very important election cycle is upon us with huge ramifications at the national, state and local levels. In my opinion, the majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate on the national level need to remain un- der Republican majorities, or we may well see all of the amazing progress Grant County’s Weekly Newspaper P UBLISHER ............ ..................... C HRIS R USH , CRUSH @ EOMEDIAGROUP . COM E DITOR & G ENERAL M ANAGER ... S EAN H ART , EDITOR @ BMEAGLE . COM R EPORTER ............................... R ICHARD H ANNERS , RICK @ 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 A DMINISTRATIVE A SSISTANT ........ M AKENNA A DAIR , OFFICE @ BMEAGLE . COM O FFICE A SSISTANT .................... A LIXANDRA H AND , OFFICE @ BMEAGLE . COM ‘We need a builder not a breaker’ To the Editor: I have worked and lived in Grant county for over 15 years. I’ve seen firsthand our county’s continued decline. I see the empty storefronts, the houses for sale as friends and families reluctantly move away. I see businesses struggling or failing and have watched as far too many of our children (our most precious re- source) leave Grant County because of lack of meaningful opportunities. I’ve also seen the rise of the politics of anger and divisiveness: a them-versus-us mentality where catchphrases are substituted for sub- stance, and noise for content. Thankfully we have the oppor- tunity to elect Gordon Larson. For over 20 years, Gordon and his fam- ily have lived and worked in Grant County. He made a career of public service to its citizens and volun- teered his own time in further ser- vice to Grant County. A strong conservative, Gordon is a working rancher and timber owner who fully understands on a personal and practical basis the critical rela- 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 MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION Email: www.MyEagleNews.com Phone: 541-575-0710 tionship between the public lands and the future of Grant County. However, Gordon’s greatest strength is his willingness to hear other opinions. I know from expe- rience he will engage with people of differing viewpoints respectfully and constructively with the goal of solving problems, not winning argu- ments. We need a commissioner who will strive for a better tomorrow for all the citizens of Grant County. I urge one and all to vote for Gordon Larson for county commissioner. We need a builder not a breaker. Dennis Dickenson Canyon City Recognizing Walden’s accomplishments To the Editor: I want to point out the work Rep. Walden has done for the people of Oregon. It seems that much of the good work that he has accomplished has gone unnoticed. I spent a good portion of my For- est Service career working as a wild- land firefighter. I have seen the bene- fits of proper forest management and know from firsthand experience how important it is to have the tools and ability to manage our forests before fires even begin. Additionally, when fires do start, it is so important to have the resources to properly and efficiently suppress them. Greg Walden has been leading the fight when it comes to giving wildfire suppression forces the re- sources they need, as well as work- ing to give communities the tools they need to reduce impacts from and prevent wildfire. A major win from Rep. Walden, over this last Congress, was fixing the way wildfire suppression is paid for — so the money allotted for fire prevention efforts is used for that purpose! Most recently, Rep. Walden se- cured aid funding for farmers and ranchers impacted by the Substation Fire, showing once again that he is aware of the needs of the district, and works hard to represent the peo- ple of Eastern Oregon. Greg Walden’s efforts have also been instrumental in other key piec- es of legislation that will help rural Oregon: “House passes Walden bill to pro- tect Crooked River Ranch- Crooked River Ranch Fire Protection Act aims to reduce risk of wildfire for local community.” “Greg Walden secures key pri- orities for Oregon- Supports House passage of government funding measure,” which includes: forest management reform; Klamath Basin drought relief; combating the opioid crisis; funding critical mental health programs; Ray Baum’s Act (insuring that rural communities get broad- band); Brownfield’s re-authorization (development of old industrial sites). Nancy Rencken Joseph ‘Kavanaugh deserves a medal’ To the Editor: Judge Kavanaugh deserves a med- al, the actress an Academy Award. Richie Colbeth John Day Periodicals Postage Paid at John Day and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER send address changes to: Blue Mountain Eagle 195 N. Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845-1187 USPS 226-340 Copyright © 2018 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. www.facebook.com/MyEagleNews @MyEagleNews
