A4
Opinion
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Make a
plan to do a
good deed
G
ood deeds don’t happen
by accident.
Some are jump-
started by coincidence — a
need presents itself and a
well-meaning person responds.
But most are the result of
careful thought and planning,
of addressing a need not as
a single incident but as a
confluence of circumstances
that will rear their heads again
and again.
The needs become a calling,
and people rally together to
address them.
We see the work of
nonprofits year round. It takes
on many forms, from feeding
hungry people to sheltering
neglected animals, from
offering grief counseling for
hurting families to fighting
illness and disease, from
helping a local child learn to
read or play a sport to sending
gifts across an ocean for a child
in poverty.
And the work is hard
because the need is great.
This is the giving season,
for both philanthropic and
practical reasons. Because of
the blessings in our own lives,
we’re reminded of misfortune
in the lives of others and often
moved to make a gift. And
many are looking at their year-
end accounting and looking to
do some charitable giving.
Whatever the motivation,
the money enables these
organizations to pay their staffs
and rent and buy the goods and
services to accomplish their
goals.
But the money isn’t enough.
Writing a check helps an
organization balance its own
bottom line, but what most of
these groups will tell you is
they need dedicated volunteers.
There is much more to do.
We thank all of our readers
who use their time to make
their communities better places
to live, and encourage any
who have not found a place to
donate and serve to consider it
this holiday season.
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@cityoflong-
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).
• Oregon Legislative Information —
Blue Mountain
EAGLE
P UBLISHED EVERY
W EDNESDAY BY
(For updates on bills, services, capitol or
messages for legislators) — 800-332-2313.
• Sen. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario – 900
Court St. NE, S-301, Salem 97301. Phone:
503-986-1730. Website: www.oregonlegis-
lature.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.
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 Office 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 Office Building, Washington D.C.
20510. Phone: 202-224-3753. Email:
senator@merkley.senate.gov. Fax: 202-
228-3997. Oregon offices 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 office: 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.
S HOOTING THE B REEZE
Armchair hunting
By Rod Carpenter
For the Blue Mountain Eagle
If you are like me, this is the
time of year that you sink into a
dark funk. Pretty much all the hunt-
ing seasons are over
except for the odd
cow elk and bird
hunting. Weather is
crummy and days
are short. Now is the
perfect time to go on
an African safari or
Rod
head to India for a
tiger hunt, not liter- Carpenter
ally of course. Most
of us will never be able to afford Af-
rica — and I don’t care how much
money you have, you are never go-
ing to get to hunt a tiger — but the
pages of a good book can take you
anywhere. If you haven’t already
discovered the hunting section at
the Grant County Library, you need
to check it out.
They have “how to hunt” books
for deer, elk, Cape buffalo, sheep,
birds and other furry and feathered
game. You literary giants can hunt
the green hills of Africa with old Er-
nie Hemingway. Although, person-
ally, I can’t stand the guy — chronic
case of Little Man’s Syndrome in
my opinion.
Fred Webb was a world-re-
nowned outfitter of the Arctic. Join
him on some really hairy adven-
tures, including having to be chop-
pered off a quickly disappearing
iceberg. The library also has several
of Jim Corbett’s books. He lived
Contributed photo
The hunting section at the Grant County Library features a variety
of topics.
in India and had the job of hunting
down many a man-eating tiger and
leopard. Some of his hunts lasted
for months in order to bring down
the killers.
Dream of Africa? You should re-
ally check out J.A. Hunter and Bun-
ny Allen. Hunter was an ivory hunt-
er early in the 20th century. Bunny
was a professional hunter, guiding
hunters all over the continent. If
you want to be completely stunned,
you need to read “Born to Hunt” by
Gary Ingersoll. That dude has hunt-
ed just about everything this world
has to offer. You should at least flip
to the pictures of his trophy room.
That alone is worth the trip to the
library.
After you have exhausted the
supply, talk to the nice librarians
there, and they can help you get
more from the interlibrary loan. If
paper books are not your entertain-
ment medium, have no fear. Many
of the great outdoor writers now
have books you can download and
listen to. Amazon or Safaripress.
com are good places to start look-
ing. Still not your thing? If you
have Amazon Prime, they have
many great hunting videos, includ-
ing Eastmans, who I think make
the best Western hunting videos out
there. And, last of all, don’t forget
Youtube. Years of hunting, shoot-
ing and archery entertainment are at
your fingertips.
Whichever avenue you choose,
you can still experience the thrill of
the hunt while we all count the days
until we can head back out hunting
ourselves.
We welcome your thoughts and
ideas at shootingthebreezebme@
gmail.com.
Rod Carpenter is a husband, fa-
ther and hunting fool.
L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR
Calf thinks he’s a dog
To the Editor:
A rancher bought a white steer
calf at the Vale auction Nov. 28. I
was told this calf acted differently
in the auction ring, and people were
questioning why. Norman was a
leppy calf — his mother died short-
ly after giving birth as he was too
big for her. None of the other cows
would have anything to do with him
and vice versa, in spite of numerous
attempts and applications of “Or-
phan No More.” Norman was raised
with our dogs and fed by bottle. He
still doesn’t fully realize he is a cow
— he thinks he is a dog. He comes
when his name is called, loves neck
rubs and hugs and likes to wrestle
and play with our dogs. He is curi-
ous and gets into everything. When
it was time to be branded, tagged
and banded, the cowboys did not
want to do him as he was peaceful-
ly hanging with the kids that were
there. He did not bawl or try to run
away during the process, and when
it was all done, he just wanted his
hugs and loves. Ranching is a busi-
ness, and he was taken to auction
— in hindsight, we should have
bought him ourselves. Hope this in-
sight helps you, but if you find you
want to sell him, please contact us.
We will gladly take him back.
Nikki Morgan
Hines
‘Signs are not illegal’
To the Editor:
The “sign” has caused a furor with
a citizen that wrote in, so I will ex-
plain how it came to be.
When the terrible Benghazi de-
bacle occurred, the nation lost some
fine men, with one having ties to
Grant County: Tyrone Woods. Ty
and teammates heroically set out to
rescue Ambassador Chris Stevens but
were killed in the effort. Later, when
questioned about the lack of security
and support, then-Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton responded about their
deaths with the callous statement,
“What difference does it make?”
That prompted the sign and the
heading, “Remember Benghazi.”
That will not bring back those gallant
men, but at least they are not forgot-
ten.
Prison was a take-off from the
president I saw on a bumper sticker.
The sign went up to immediate honks
and waves from those passing by.
Over the past three summers, several
hundred people from all over the U.S.
have stopped by to take pictures of
the sign, stand by it for photos, shake
hands and almost invariably say,
“I love that sign.” Some have even
gone further and said, “I would love
to see her in jail.” No one said they
hated Hillary or wished her harm, just
justice and jail. However, from con-
versations that ensued, it was evident
Hillary was not on anyone’s Christ-
mas list.
So I’m perplexed that someone
would refer to an identified “love”
sign as being hateful. But, of course,
to each their own.
One doesn’t have to look at the
sign as they pass by. I too am con-
cerned that some “crazy” might do
something “stupid.” In spite of the
corrupt and treasonous acts Hillary
has committed, there are some that
still support her and would vote for
Clinton if she were to run for dog-
catcher.
Signs are not illegal. The First
Amendment still “Trumps”!
Dave Traylor
John Day
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
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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.
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