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OPINION
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Say no to drug
decriminalization
O
regonians may be
asked next year to
approve a ballot
measure that would decrim-
inalize the possession of
illegal drugs. That in itself
is a bad idea. Worse is the
way the measure would
finance improved drug
treatment programs.
Initiative Petition 44 is
the baby of the Drug Policy
Alliance, a national organi-
zation that hopes to change
the way Americans deal with
drugs. It recently turned in
to the Secretary of State’s
Office the 1,000 signatures
needed to begin work on a
ballot title.
While Oregonians love
their legal marijuana, they
may be far less willing to
decriminalize everything
from heroin and other opi-
oids to methamphetamine,
and with good reason. Those
drugs are both addictive and
dangerous, and decriminal-
ization could make it easier
for children to access them.
Perhaps the real point of
IP 44 is the way it expands
treatment for those with drug
problems, and the way it
finances that expansion.
Initial estimates are that
in its first year, the pro-
gram envisioned in the mea-
sure would cost $57 million,
most of which would come
from taxes imposed on rec-
reational marijuana sales
that now go to cities, coun-
ties, state police and var-
ious health improvement
efforts. In succeeding years,
costs are expected to grow,
and again, marijuana taxes
would be used to finance the
program, along with funds
redirected from savings on
prosecution and incarcera-
tion costs.
Only after all of that
would the state police, cities
and counties receive the tax
dollars voters were promised
they would receive when
marijuana was made legal in
Oregon.
While it’s probably not
surprising that some in the
criminal justice system are
opposed to the measure,
some treatment provid-
ers oppose it, as well. They
point out they’re already
working with the state to
improve treatment options
and worry that, among other
things, the ballot measure
includes no way to push
those with addictions toward
treatment programs.
Oregon voters, if they’re
asked to approve IP 44,
should just say no. The cur-
rent system may need fixing,
but wholesale decriminaliza-
tion is not the answer. Nor
is it appropriate to short-cir-
cuit local efforts to improve
drug treatment measures in
Oregon, as this measure no
doubt would.
GUEST COMMENT
Working together helps ensure success
A
ll entrepreneurs and busi-
ness owners need to have
a solid team in place
working toward the same goal.
There are many hands which
can help a business be success-
ful. This may include a spouse
or partner, suppliers, a lender,
accountant, attorney, employ-
ees or even a webmaster. Local
government, economic develop-
ment, business advisers or other
agencies are often behind the
scenes team members and can
play vital roles.
Like any other type of rela-
tionship, there is an inner cir-
cle which has the most direct
influence.
Carefully deciding exactly
who to include in your inner cir-
cle and making sure those clos-
est to you are on the same page
are critical first steps. This may
seem obvious, but there are
many married couples or part-
ners who find out one of them
is not supportive of the decision
to start a business or are hesi-
tant to expand, pursue financ-
ing, resent the unforeseen com-
mitment of time or the fact
regular paychecks can no lon-
ger be counted on. Managers
may not fully understand what
is expected, and
employees are
sent mixed mes-
sages. Not only
does this cause
strife, but cre-
ative energy and
Greg Smith effectiveness are
compromised and
may lead to the
ultimate demise of a business.
An effective team requires
good leadership. The person at
the helm must demonstrate first
and foremost honesty and integ-
rity. Being a clear communica-
tor and excellent listener who
inspires others by demonstrat-
ing commitment and passion
is key. Delegating and empow-
ering others helps ignite pas-
sion in those around them and
encourages creativity and inno-
vation. After receiving informa-
tion and input from others, the
leader should have sound deci-
sion-making abilities, and there
must be accountability when
things do not go as planned.
Identifying strengths and weak-
nesses or even making the tough
decision to replace an ineffective
or uncooperative team member
who causes discord is essential.
Working with a team is some-
times difficult for those with an
entrepreneurial mindset. Entre-
preneurs are often willing to
take risks others do not feel
comfortable with and make deci-
sions quickly. Consulting oth-
ers with different areas of exper-
tise and experience often slows
the process down but allows for
brainstorming and collaboration.
Having more than one person
to solve problems and complete
complex tasks increases produc-
tivity, creativity and chances for
continued success.
In addition to accountabil-
ity, the willingness to “share
the win” is an important part of
being a strong team leader. Peo-
ple who feel appreciated and see
their ideas implemented are apt
to continue making positive and
meaningful contributions.
The common acronym
“T.E.A.M. (together every-
one achieves more)” is very
accurate.
Greg Smith is the direc-
tor of the EOU Small Business
Development Center and can
be reached by calling 541-962-
1532. Email eousbdc@gmail.
com to schedule a one-on-one,
free, confidential business advis-
ing session.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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
Sheriff should just
come to work and
do his job
To the Editor:
I am a frustrated Grant
County taxpayer.
On Sept. 25, Oregon Public
Broadcasting reported that Mor-
row County Sheriff Ken Mat-
lack and our own Sheriff Glenn
Palmer would be off to Wash-
ington, D.C., that week. The
trip was being paid for by The
Federation for American Immi-
gration Reform, an anti-immi-
gration group, so that they can
attend a press conference titled
“Badges and Angels” together
with relatives of people killed
by undocumented immigrants.
However, in an OPB inter-
view, Sheriff Palmer states that
in the two decades he has been
sheriff there has never been
a non-citizen booked into the
just this year. Nor do I appreci-
ate having to pay to defend the
sheriff’s own ethics complaints.
Meanwhile, the Blue Moun-
tain Eagle reports that County
Commissioners Palmer and
Hamsher just went to Wash-
ington, D.C., to lobby for
rural funding vitally important
to Grant County. Actually rep-
resenting our interests! Now
that is what we want. Thank
you!
Glenn Palmer spends too
much of his time grandstand-
ing on issues that are not very
important locally, like this
Washington, D.C., trip, and
doing things like quitting one
day and changing his mind the
next, meanwhile regularly pro-
viding entertainment for the
whole state. Is having a sher-
iff who just comes to work and
does his job too much to ask?
Jim Kelly
Kimberly
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
Publisher............ ......................................Chris Rush, crush@eomediagroup.com
Editor & General Manager ...............Sean Hart, editor@bmeagle.com
Reporter ...................................................Rudy Diaz, rudy@bmeagle.com
Community News .................................Angel Carpenter, angel@bmeagle.com
Sports ........................................................Angel Carpenter, angel@bmeagle.com
Marketing Rep .......................................Kim Kell, ads@bmeagle.com
Administrative Assistant ..................Makenna Adair, office@bmeagle.com
Office Assistant .....................................Alixandra Hand, office@bmeagle.com
MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
Grant County Jail. Obviously,
crimes committed by illegal
immigrants are not a big issue
for us in Grant County.
We can all agree that the
sheriff is entitled to his political
opinions, whether we agree with
him or not. Many in this County
strongly support “Glenn”
because they see him as repre-
senting their values and politics,
which is, of course, the way pol-
itics work. But we should all
keep in mind that the job also
requires a full-time focus on
the real basics of the job: keep-
ing citizens safe and not wasting
taxpayer dollars. I just wish he
would prioritize his job.
Time spent hiring high-
er-quality deputies that can
manage to stay out of jail them-
selves would be a good start.
As a taxpayer I don’t appre-
ciate paying for deputies on
administrative leave, and we
have already had two on leave
Online: MyEagleNews.com
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