A4
OPINION
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Public records
proposal fixes
old flaws
T
he Oregon Legis-
lature created the
office of public
records advocate in 2017,
and Ginger McCall was
appointed to the post in
January 2018 by Oregon
Gov. Kate Brown. One
year and nine months later,
McCall was gone, having
resigned in protest over
interference from some on
Brown’s staff.
Now lawmakers, with
the advantage of hindsight,
are doing what they should
have done in the begin-
ning. They’re proposing
changes in the current law
that will give the public
records advocate and Public
Records Advisory Council
the independence they need.
Members of the state
Senate’s Interim Committee
on General Government and
Emergency Preparedness
will get a first formal look
at the draft legislation when
it meets Monday.
All in all, what’s being
proposed fixes most of the
flaws that McCall’s depar-
ture exposed. The public
records advocate will be
independent, appointed by
the Public Records Advi-
sory Council and subject to
hiring and firing only by the
council.
Also, the council itself
will have the right to sup-
port or oppose legislation as
well as to ask lawmakers to
introduce legislation for it.
That’s particularly
important. In her resigna-
tion letter to the governor,
McCall said she had been
pressured by members of
the governor’s staff to rep-
resent the governor’s inter-
ests, even when they con-
flicted with those of the
advocate and the coun-
cil. Worse, she was told
not to tell anyone about the
request.
The proposed changes
would make it clear to all
that the advocate and the
council are, in fact, inde-
pendent, not answerable to
the governor or any other
elected official.
One problem still
remains in the law, how-
ever, and lawmakers should
address it in the proposed
legislation. Of the 14 mem-
bers of the Public Records
Advisory Council, nine rep-
resent government agencies
or public employees’ labor
unions, three are journal-
ists and one is a member of
the public. At the very least,
the council should have as
many members of the press
and public as it does of
government.
FARMER’S FATE
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
By Brianna Walker
To the Blue Mountain Eagle
ecember flashed in like a
lightening bolt, and it seems
before anyone could count
“one-one thousand, two-one thou-
sand,” the thunder is booming with
New Year’s fireworks. I had been
looking forward to that slow time
of year — that time when farm-
ers sit around the fireplace, watch
old movies and eat bon bons. OK,
I know, a pace that slow never hap-
pens — unless you break both legs
and maybe an arm. But I was still
looking forward to sitting around the
twinkling lights of the Christmas tree
in the evening, playing board games
with the kids and making fudge a
daily part of the menu.
Our December didn’t happen
that way, though. Oh sure, our
intake ratio of fudge to salad defi-
nitely increased, but otherwise our
month was every bit as exhaust-
ing as the middle of harvest. Each
weekend found us hosting another
Christmas party. My favorite was
our annual tree decorating con-
test. The shop was cleaned, the
work benches lined with wrapping
paper and a drop-ceiling of lights
hung. Soon, the groups were bid-
ding on random items they were
going to use to create the “essence
of a Christmas tree.” This year our
auction included the Hoop Tree,
the STEM tree, the Beauty Pag-
eant tree, the DIY tree and the
“Oh” Christmas Tree. Our brochure
advertised them as such:
The Hoop Tree: Sir Mix a Lot
may have been rapping about a ’69
Buick, but only because he hadn’t
met this adorable little HoopTree.
The bumper isn’t the only thing
shaking about this rusty, dilapi-
dated little soul. But together with
a little electrical tape and love, he
is sure to be brought back to his
stardom.
D
The winning
group of this tree
found themselves
the proud owners
of three cardboard
tubes from the baler
rolls of plastic wrap,
wire from some old
Brianna
row cover and a roll
Walker
of electrical tape.
The STEM tree:
This tree allows for experimenta-
tion, critical thinking and imagina-
tion while working together to cre-
ate an award-winning solution. But
the most important thing to remem-
ber is that while you may think you
are familiar with STEM — tonight
it’s more about “Stressing Together
Entertains Many.”
The winners of this auction tree
received a box of giant tinker toys.
The Beauty Pagent Tree: A for-
mer Miss Christmas Tree 2015, this
stunning little beauty may be beyond
the first blush of youth, but she is still
spry for her age. She may be past
the swim suit contests, but with a lit-
tle makeup and glitter, she is sure to
come back to some aspect of her for-
mer beauty.
Dead is such a harsh word — so
the winners of this auction received a
“formerly alive” Christmas tree from
four years ago.
The DIY Tree: DIY activities
are all the rage this year, often cost-
ing much more than it would have
taken to have just bought the prod-
uct, but it’s all the about the experi-
ence. Avoid the frustration of finding
the perfect tree — and just build one
that fits.
These auction winners were given
a smooth, 15-foot branch hang-
ing from the ceiling, a box of pine
boughs and a drill.
And last there was the “Oh”
Christmas Tree. A lovely little song
of a fir tree makes you want to hum:
Oh, Christmas tree, oh, Christmas
tree, you scream to cats “Destroy
me!” Your lights are wired improp-
erly. You start on fire randomly. Oh,
Christmas tree, oh, Christmas tree,
next year you’ll be in a compost
heap.
These auction winners received
the only real tree of the evening.
The creativity and ingenuity this
party brings out never ceases to
amaze (and amuse) me. The evening
passed with much laughter— espe-
cially when a life-sized snowman
Olaf passed through during the white
elephant junk exchange.
It was a good December, just
busier than I would have preferred.
My youngest son celebrated a birth-
day, we hosted three Christmas par-
ties, attended a Mannheim Steam-
roller concert, along with Christmas
plays and lights parades. We sold 500
Christmas trees, built wooden tobog-
gans for all our nieces and nephews
and wrote a Christmas letter that still
hasn’t found it’s way to the mailbox.
The letter, which started like this,
pretty much summed up our year —
including December:
Tumble outta bed and I stumble to
the kitchen
Pour myself a cup of ambition
Yawn and stretch, it’s time to hit
the grind.
Jump in the tractor and the oil
starts pumpin’
Out in the field the baler starts
thumpin’
With farmers like us in the field
from 5 to 9.
Workin’ 5 to 9, it’s the way we
make our livin’
Barely gettin’ sleep, between wor-
kin’ and some playin’
Keep that coffee pot full, just
make sure it’s not unleaded
It’s enough to drive you crazy if
you let it.
So as the fireworks thunder in the
New Year, our family wishes every-
one a full coffee pot, lots of laugh-
ter and more sleep than we got in the
previous year!
GUEST COMMENT
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
Why create an employee handbook?
By Greg Smith
To the Blue Mountain Eagle
mployers of any size will
benefit from a straight-
forward, well written
employee handbook. This doc-
ument clearly spells out com-
pany policies and expectations as
well as provides employees with
a tool of reference should ques-
tions arise.
When drafting an employee
handbook, it is essential that all
federal and state employment
laws are adhered to and be writ-
ten in simple language, rather
than legalese. It should always
contain an employee and man-
ager signature line and date doc-
umenting the handbook has
been carefully reviewed by the
employee and any questions
answered by a supervisor.
While it will take time to cre-
ate the handbook (and keep it
updated), there are many benefits
to both employer and employee.
Examples include:
• By creating uniform expec-
tations, it can lessen workplace
E
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
strife and stream-
line the hiring
process.
• The hand-
book documents
company proce-
dures and spe-
cific rules regard-
Greg
Smith
ing dress code,
any permitted use
of personal electronic devices,
non-discrimination, harassment
(and how to file a complaint),
compensation and benefits, com-
pany holidays, sick leave informa-
tion, scheduling, etc.
• Discusses consequences,
including termination, for violat-
ing these expectations.
• It may also offer a level of
employer protection in the event of
an employee lawsuit.
Helpful content to include in an
employee handbook may include:
• Welcome to Our Team
• About Us
• Explanation of “at-will”
employment
• Office conduct
• Probationary period
• Specific cell phone and social
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
media usage rules
• Safety policies
• Payroll schedule/time-card
completion
• Performance reviews
• Company benefits and
enrollment
• Exit interviews in the event of
resignation or termination
Employers should review the
handbook on a regular basis and
make changes as needed. Addi-
tions or revisions may be neces-
sary, and it is also important to
remove any policies that are not
enforced.
While it is tempting not to
have an employee handbook in
place when there is a small team,
it is well worth the time to avoid
aggravation and ensure standards
for the business are being met.
Greg Smith is the director of
the Eastern Oregon University
Small Business Development Cen-
ter located at 1607 Gekeler Lane,
No. 148, in La Grande. You may
schedule a free, confidential busi-
ness advising appointment by call-
ing 541-962-1532 or emailing
eousbdc@gmail.com.
Copyright © 2020
Blue Mountain Eagle
All rights reserved. No part of this
publication covered by the copyright
hereon may be reproduced or copied
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electronic or mechanical, including
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storage and retrieval systems — without
written permission of the publisher.
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