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
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C OMMUNITY N EWS .................... A NGEL C ARPENTER , ANGEL @ BMEAGLE . COM
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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-
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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
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