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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2019)
A4 OPINION Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, January 1, 2020 Third time a charm for Blue Mountains plan? M aybe the third try will be success- ful in cobbling together a roadmap for the management of three sprawling national forests in Eastern Oregon. The U.S. Forest Service, which oversees the 5.5 mil- lion acres of forestland in the Malheur, Wallowa-Whit- man and Umatilla national forests, has stumbled terribly in its previous attempts to revise its 29-year-old plan. It’s supposed to be updated every 15 years, so the agency hasn’t even been fol- lowing its own timeline. Updating the Blue Moun- tains plan has turned into an old-fashioned goat rope. In rejecting the latest 5,000- page version, Chris French, the reviewing officer and Forest Service deputy chief, said it was difficult to under- stand and implement. That’s not good, but the biggest problems appeared to be that Forest Service managers had their own pri- orities that didn’t mesh with those of the people who live, work and recreate in the forests. One such issue is trans- portation within the forests. Logging roads and other access are critical to getting around in the forests. Many of the roads, built with pub- lic money, have been tar- geted for closure not only in the Blue Mountains but other national forests. Closing the forests to log- ging, firefighters, hunters, hikers and other users made little sense, the Forest Ser- vice was repeatedly told in forum after forum. Now, the managers have apparently come to under- stand that the people who live and work in the Blue Mountains deserve a place at the table as a third iteration of the forest plan is devel- oped. Representatives of the region’s counties, tribes and others will join the discussion. It is our hope that the words “multiple use” will be top of mind as those discus- sions proceed. The national forests were established under the U.S. Department of Agriculture in part to pro- vide a source of building materials and the jobs asso- ciated with them. In addi- tion, other uses were to be allowed. But most importantly, the forests were to be managed as a resource, not locked up. Locking up the forests, specifically, is what the new round of negotiations needs to avoid. As a public resource, the national forests of the Blue Mountains need to be open for many types of uses, and accessible to all. Otherwise, they will fail to fulfill their purpose and stifle the economy of East- ern Oregon and southeastern Washington state. GUEST COMMENT The year of the community By Quint Studer L et’s make 2020 the year of the community. If you looked only at the big picture, you’d have to say we live in deeply troubled times. It seems we’ve never been more polarized. Political discourse feels more like a war zone than a thoughtful national conversation. But what happens when you zoom in closer? That’s the question I ask myself as I reflect on the past year spent exploring dozens of small and mid- sized communities across America. I’ve talked with hundreds, maybe thousands, of mayors, chamber of commerce members, new entre- preneurs, business owners and cit- izens of all ages. I’ve sat down to great meals in downtown restau- rants, listened to fabulous bands and attended some of the world’s cool- est festivals. And what I’ve found is that the America one sees “up close and personal” bears little resem- blance to the America one sees on the national news. I’m not saying we don’t have real problems. We do. But we have more bright spots than dark — more courtesy than incivility — and often that good news flies under the radar. I’ve always been a believer in shining a light on the positive until it overcomes the negative. Grati- tude is more powerful than grip- ing. And what I’m grateful for today, at the turn of the year, is America’s communities. Real life doesn’t happen nation- ally. It happens locally. And at the community level, I see people part- nering with their neighbors to solve problems, working hard and play- ing hard, listening and compromising and — quite often — making sacri- fices for the good of others. Locally is where we’re at our very best. It’s where we can use our influence and our gifts to make our communi- ties strong and to make life better for everyone. I view communities through a lens of revitalization because that’s the work I do. As things have got- ten more dysfunctional at the national level, the by-product is that people on the local level have kicked in. And what I see is that citizens aren’t count- ing on government to “save” them. They’re doing the hard work of revi- talization themselves. They’re own- ing it. They’re investing in their cit- ies and towns. And they’re starting new conversations: How can we make our community the best it can be? How can we reinvent ourselves, start and grow local businesses and trans- form into a great place to work, live and play? This mindset has kicked in every- where: big cities, small towns, com- munities of every shape and size. And no wonder. The chaos and uncertainty of the past few decades have made us crave personal con- nections with our friends and family. We want our children and grandchil- dren nearby (with good jobs to keep them there). We want lively down- towns with great restaurants, funky stores, cool living spaces and plenty of fun things to do. And we’re mak- ing it happen. In Thomas L. Friedman’s book “Thank You for Being Late: An Opti- mist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations,” he talks about how rapid accelerations in technol- ogy, globalization and Mother Nature are disrupting our lives and leaving people feeling destabilized. He says these forces are like a hurricane, one in which the winds of change are swirling so fast that families can’t find a way to anchor themselves. Friedman makes the case that the only answer is building healthy communities, ones that are flexi- ble enough to navigate this hurricane and provide stability for the citizens within them. He quotes the words from a ballad by Brandi Carlile, “You can dance in a hurricane, but only if you’re standing in the eye.” Our communities are that eye. They provide a firm place to stand and find stability while all this change is swirling around us. My hope is that 2020 will be the year of the community. We can make it so. We can hold our families close. We can reach out to neighbors to connect with them, to help them, to engage them in the work of mak- ing things better. We can shop local. We can partner with government the right way. We can smooth the way for entrepreneurs. We can galvanize our small business communities to drive positive change. And we can act as ambassadors for our communi- ties so that others want to invest, live, work and play here too. Won’t you join me? Celebrat- ing all the good in our communities, and working together to make them stronger, will make for a 2020 that’s even better than all the years that have come before. Quint Studer is author of “Build- ing a Vibrant Community: How Cit- izen-Powered Change Is Reshaping America.” For more information, visit thebusyleadershandbook.com, vibrantcommunityblueprint.com and studeri.org. GUEST COMMENT A decade of perseverance 2 WHERE TO WRITE 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@ centurylink.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: 820-3566. 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: governor.state.or.us/ governor.html. • Oregon Legislature — State Capitol, Salem, 97310. Phone: (503) 986-1180. Website: leg.state.or.us (includes Oregon Constitution and Oregon Revised Statutes). • Oregon Legislative Information — (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: oregonlegislature.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: oregonlegislature. gov/findley. Email: Rep.LynnFindley@ oregonlegislature.gov. WASHINGTON, D.C. • The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20500; Phone-comments: 202-456-1111; Switchboard: 202-456-1414. Blue Mountain EAGLE Published every Wednesday by 019 is an exuberant end to the decade. There has never been a better time to start or grow a small business than the current booming economy. The unemployment rate is at a 50-year low with 110 months of con- secutive positive job growth. Wages have increased 3.1% during the past 12 months. And 30.7 million small businesses are creating two out of every three net new jobs. However, the 2010s had a hum- ble beginning. Still reeling from the Great Recession, many small busi- nesses were still struggling and in survival mode. Job growth was flat, the unemployment rate was a stag- gering 9.6% and there were only 26.8 million small businesses in the U.S. Not only was hiring stagnant, but lending and spending were tight too. Survival was the goal as small busi- ness owners felt the weight of keep- ing their doors open, keeping their staff employed and finding their way in post-recession economy. It was a difficult and stressful time to be a small business owner. However, true to the entrepreneur- ial spirit and American dream, small businesses persevered. During the past couple years in my role as regional administrator for the U.S. Small Business Adminis- tration, I’ve traveled around Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington to meet small businesses and listen to their journeys. I’ve met businesses that reshaped what they do in order to move forward. I’ve met businesses who innovated with new cost-saving Grant County’s Weekly Newspaper Publisher............ ......................................Chris Rush, crush@eomediagroup.com Editor & General Manager ...............Sean Hart, editor@bmeagle.com Reporter ...................................................Rudy Diaz, rudy@bmeagle.com Community News .................................editor@bmeagle.com Sports ........................................................editor@bmeagle.com Marketing Rep .......................................Kim Kell, ads@bmeagle.com Administrative Assistant ..................Christy Smith, office@bmeagle.com Office Assistant .....................................Alixandra Hand, office@bmeagle.com MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION Online: MyEagleNews.com strategies for their customers. I’ve even met entrepre- neurs who started their business during a time most would say they Jeremy Field were crazy. The common thread is they all adapted, they all took risks and they all had a vision they focused on seeing through. One local story that comes to mind when I think of the persever- ance of small businesses during the 2010s is the Astoria Crest Motel in Astoria. The property overlooks the mouth of the Columbia River, where in 1805, Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery took in the very same majestic view as they journeyed to their future winter camp in nearby Fort Clatsop. Originally known as the Crest Motel when it first opened its doors in 1952, the property had grad- ually fallen into a state of disrepair and was at risk of being shuttered in 2014. However, Air Force veteran and entrepreneur Marshall Doyle and his wife, Patricia, along with busi- ness partner Don West and his wife, Wendy, saw this as an opportunity to save a local treasure and strengthen the community. Thanks to SBA financing, the expertise of the four owners and a generous amount of “sweat equity,” the Astoria Crest Motel is enjoying a resurgence as more and more travel- ers are discovering the hidden trea- sures of the Oregon Coast. 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION RATES (including online access) Grant County .........................................$45 Everywhere else in U.S. .......................$57 Outside Continental U.S. ....................$60 Subscriptions must be paid prior to delivery 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 Phone: 541-575-0710 Today, the motel serves as a ded- icated Lewis and Clark interpre- tive viewpoint and regularly enjoys full occupancy in the summer as well as becoming a popular meet- ing space for local clubs and orga- nizations in the community. The business has grown its workforce from two employees to 15 and tri- pled its annual revenues since its rebranding. I’m proud that SBA programs were able to support businesses like the Astoria Crest Motel through tough times. But I’m even more impressed with the grit and innova- tion of entrepreneurs like the Doyles and Wests. When small businesses share their journeys with me, I am inspired and I am grateful. Our economy and our communities wouldn’t be what they are today without the perseverance of entrepreneurs. As we close the decade, let’s take a moment to pause and cele- brate the rise from recession to his- toric economic growth. And let’s take a moment to thank the small business owners who brought our country to this high point through their innovation, determination and perseverance. Jeremy Field is the regional administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration Pacific Northwest Region, which serves Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. The SBA empowers entre- preneurs and small businesses with resources to start, grow, expand or recover. Copyright © 2020 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. facebook.com/MyEagleNews @MyEagleNews
