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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 4, 2019)
A4 OPINION Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, December 4, 2019 Don’t forget to shop local W ith the holi- day shopping season upon us, we would like to urge res- idents to shop local, and here’s why. When you spend money at a local store, you are doing more than simply purchasing a gift. When you shop at a locally owned small business, those dollars stay in the community. That’s because local merchants often pur- chase items from other locally owned stores. Spending money at a small business helps the over- all business health of the community. Another element that makes shopping local appealing is that small businesses offer unique gifts. But more than that, small business is a distinc- tive piece of our small- town character. Small busi- nesses across Grant County exude a sense of place, of the communities they set up shop in and of Eastern Oregon. Another key to the benefits of shopping locally is that small businesses generally are the biggest employers at home. Small merchants also typically invest in the com- munity. That means your dollars don’t fly out of town and end up at a cor- porate office far away. No, your dollars recirculate in the community and are reinvested in many ways. Think about businesses who donate so the local soccer team can buy new jerseys or the dance team can travel to competition. That reinvestment is often unnoticed, but it is import- ant for a host of reasons, not the least of which is it helps the community in the long run. And shopping at a locally owned business can be an intimate, posi- tive experience. A patron often participates in a one- on-one interaction with the person who owns the busi- ness. The customer ser- vice is specialized and spe- cific, and that counts for something in our fast-paced world. We encourage you to shop local this year. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving. BUILDING BLOCKS Econ 101: The path of the dollar A young student was given a birthday gift of $20. Contemplation time: Do I put the $20 in my saving account or spend it? Do I give it to my neighbor or a stranger? Do I support local small busi- ness, or do I support big busi- ness? Do I keep the $20 in Grant County, or do I give it to another county? It all spends the same, but it doesn’t necessarily remain. The young student ventures out to Monica’s video shop, the only shop in town to buy a com- puter game and rent a movie with the birthday gift of $20. Leaving satisfied with goods in hand to enjoy moments later, rather than waiting for the pack- age to arrive on the doorstep or in the mail with no worries of the game getting damaged in the mail or stolen from “Pack- age Pirates,” the student gets to invite friends over that night to share the $20 of entertainment. Monica deposits the $20 in the local bank, purchases a replacement game and is able to spend her profit from sell- ing the game and renting the movie. She now has $15 remain- ing with which she supports our local electric, water and sewer, garbage, oil heating, local inter- net and phone company, and the local bank to turn on Monica’s video shop’s lights, heat or cool the building for the comfort of her customers, and continue to provide goods and services to Grant County community. After paying for these local goods and services, she still has $10 left. With minimum wage around $10 per hour, she pays her one part- time employee. How does Monica keep her business open when selling a computer game and a movie rental went to Dorothy support other Nestlerode local businesses, and provided entertainment to a community member? She has to sell and rent more computer games and mov- ies — basic economics. For every $15 she receives from local shoppers, once her business utilities, mort- gage, insurance, taxes and part- time employee are paid for the month, she now can pur- chase more games, rental mov- ies or grow her business by serv- ing Grant County residents with electronics such as TVs, stereos, speakers and more. Getting the word out! Spread- ing the news that Monica’s now has more available is an addi- tional expense called marketing. Part of the $15 is now shared with local radio ads, newspa- per ads, Chamber of Commerce dues and the local home décor and marketing store hired to market on social media and cre- ate Monica’s webpage. Mon- ica is working hard to provide goods and services to her Grant County customers. What about Monica’s wages? She has to eat too. With local support of her friends, family and neighbors in Grant County renting movies from her and saying no to big business — Redbox, Netflix or Amazon — she will eventually make a profit. The young student’s friend experience of playing the com- puter game and watching the movie not released on Netflix or Amazon, but available at Moni- ca’s, led to buying the game and renting a movie for their week- end entertainment. With this local support, Monica is able to pay all her expenses and has $20 left at the end of the month. Monica deposits $10 in her local bank savings account for the rainy day of no or fewer sales, leaving her $10 to pay her home mortgage, home util- ities and insurance, and pur- chase food and gasoline. If she has enough sales to meet all of her responsibilities and pro- vide for her basic needs, Mon- ica will be able to support Grant County schools when they walk in the door asking for donations for school programs. (This will be another column for another time.) Without the support of Grant County residents, Monica’s video shop would not be pro- viding goods and services with outstanding customer service to our community and contribut- ing to keeping our local com- munity businesses in operation. The $20 spent locally grows the Grant County economy by pro- viding local jobs and employ- ment, and more business oppor- tunities. The path of the dollar spent out of town or online grows the community out of town. Who do you choose to sup- port? How do you want to help the health of Grant County economy? Dorothy Nestlerode is a Grant County resident, mother and local author. 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 Larson’s folly To the Editor: The Oregon Public Broadcast- ing reporter’s article reprinted in the Nov. 13 Blue Moun- tain Eagle titled “The high cost of dissent in Grant County” is filled with innuendo, allega- tions and gross inaccuracies. Gordon Larson’s problems started long before he ran for commissioner. Regarding the current water rights dispute, I believe he failed to properly complete paperwork, chased the water- master off his property so he can’t do his job, claimed water had been flowing through the waterway on his property when it had been observed not being used for years by multiple peo- ple, demonstrating a clear cut failure to perform (and worse). County residents. It also shows this type of behavior rewards those who are complacent/com- pliant with the Forest Service’s wishes, and punitive to those who challenge it. Larson is his own worst enemy. Unwilling to take responsibility for his actions and blaming others for his mis- fortune only underscores how inappropriate he would’ve been as a Grant County commis- sioner able to rise above poli- tics and represent his constit- uents’ best interests, not his own. Blaming the Palmers for a personal attitude that should’ve been turned in when Larson’s state cop’s hate, gun and badge were upon retirement truly explains it all. 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 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 ..................Christy Smith, office@bmeagle.com Office Assistant .....................................Alixandra Hand, office@bmeagle.com MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION Certainly Larson is entitled to his opinion about the Bun- dys. I personally believe most people in Grant County dis- agree with the Bundys’ tac- tics. I also believe most resi- dents agree with the Bundys’ point that the government was way overreaching its author- ity, especially to the detri- ment of the small ranchers who are Grant County’s economic backbone. Unfortunately for Larson, former U.S. Forest Service Malheur Supervisor Steve Bev- erlin apparently giving Lar- son permission to remove tim- ber underscores the problem of most residents’ view that some current and former county offi- cials’ close association with the Forest Service creates severe conflicts of interest not working in the favor of Grant Online: MyEagleNews.com 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 Copyright © 2019 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
