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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (May 13, 2020)
A4 OPINION Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, May 13, 2020 Underlying conditions make COVID-19 worse E veryone who has died in Oregon from COVID-19 has had an underlying medical condition. So, it was vital that the Oregon Health Authority release the data showing what those con- ditions have been. After EO Media Group published an editorial online last week calling on the OHA to do so, the OHA made the data public. Cardiovascular disease was the cause associated the most — in 61% of the deaths. That was followed by neurological conditions with 46%, a cate- gory that includes cancer and other conditions with 41%, and diabetes at 35%. There are other categories, includ- ing being a former smoker at nearly 24%. The numbers add up to more than 100% because some people have more than one underlying condition. The data is based on an analysis of 101 of the more than 109 people who had died from COVID-19 in Oregon last week when the report was issued. It is consistent with the warnings from the Centers for Disease Control and Preven- tion about who is at higher risk of the disease. You can see the full chart on the OHA website. Most people do not experi- ence severe symptoms if they contract COVID-19. It’s not by any means pleasant, but it’s primarily fever and cough. Some people don’t have any symptoms. If an infected per- son is older or has an underly- ing medical condition, though, it can make it harder for their bodies to combat the infection. The disease can trigger the immune system to overreact, leading to devastation to the lungs and other organs. The message to take away is this: The disease does hit people harder who are older. But anyone who has an under- lying medical condition is at more serious risk. So, if you have a family member or a friend in those categories, please do what you can to help them stay healthy. Remember, it has killed children in the United States, too. Keep them safe. Follow the precautions you know by heart by now. Government officials in Oregon are plan- ning cautiously to gradually reopen the state. It’s up to us to work together to ensure that succeeds and people stay healthy. GUEST COMMENT Small businesses need cash I n the weeks since the Small Business Administration rolled out its lending program there have been significant implementa- tion challenges. Big companies like the Los Angeles Lakers, Ruth’s Chris, and Shake Shack are being awarded massive loans, only to return them after public pressure. Banks are putting concierge cli- ents and those with high-powered lobbyists at the front of the line. And, Trump-connected busi- nesses are raking in the dough. At the same time, too many small businesses that are the backbone of our communities are not getting the help they need. Without additional help, I fear that many will not open their doors again. When the Senate returns to Washington next week, help for the truly small businesses needs to be high on the priority list. The good news is there is a sim- ple solution to this crisis. Small businesses need an influx of cash. The latest research from Pew shows that the typical American business employs 11 workers earn- ing an average of about $41,000 per year. These businesses don’t have the cash flow to survive for more than a few months and many may not want to take on more debt through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Giving small businesses cash is a simple proposal that would fill the gaps left by the Paycheck Protection Program and give these small busi- nesses a fighting chance. One significant problem with the PPP program is that, while laud- able, its requirement that 75 percent of loans be spent on payroll is not prac- tical for all small businesses. One Oregon small business — 1188 Brewing U.S. Sen. Company in John Ron Wyden, Day — illustrates D-Oregon this perfectly. Shannon Adair and her family own Grant County’s first modern-day brewery. Shannon closed the brew- ery in March and was forced to lay off her workers. Obtaining a PPP loan requires hiring her workers back — possi- bly before it is safe — but with the brewery closed there are no tips to be made and nothing for them to do. Bars and restaurants are expected to be among the last businesses to reopen and when they do, will oper- ate at a reduced capacity. Maintain- ing a pre-pandemic payroll through- out the crisis is simply not practical. In addition, PPP does not cover the significant start-up costs asso- ciated with re-opening 1188 Brew- ing Company. Shannon will need to restock — she can’t save their craft beers and fresh food for months and months down the road. And this is not a problem limited to businesses like bars and brew- pubs. Retailers will also have sig- nificant start-up costs when they reopen — they can’t sell their winter inventory in the summer. Cash assistance would supple- ment the loans provided by PPP and refundable retention credit to main- tain payroll to help small businesses stay afloat. It could be used for those non-payroll expenses like paying rent and restocking inventory that every small business owner needs to meet. The small business rescue pack- age I introduced with Sen. Ben Car- din in March included direct cash payments, as well as the retention credit to maintain payroll. While the retention credit was included in the CARES Act, the Trump administration did not support direct cash assistance, but a month of economic pain and implementa- tion headaches should force Presi- dent Trump to reconsider a simple, straightforward proposal that won’t get caught up in banks’ red tape. Under our proposal, small busi- nesses with $1 million or less in gross receipts and 50 or fewer employees will receive a check equal to 30 percent of the gross receipts reported in a previous year, up to $75,000. Pew data show that this threshold would cover 74% of Amer- ican companies with paid employ- ees and it could always be adjusted if needed. Small businesses owners like Shannon would also not be caught up in the mad dash to get to the front of the PPP line. The IRS would make these payments automatically based on the previous year’s tax return data. While there have been head- aches, the IRS has done a competent job getting payments out to indi- viduals and with additional support could do the same for businesses. Nearly two months into this cri- sis it is clear that Congress has not done enough to help small busi- nesses weather the storm. We can fix that with cash payments. Ron Wyden is a Democratic U.S. senator from Oregon. 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. • 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. Blue Mountain EAGLE Published every Wednesday by Carpenter didn’t learn from reprimand To the Editor: The Eagle interviewed both candi- dates in the 2014 election. One promi- nent issue was the 2004 “public repri- mand” by the Oregon Supreme Court (SC S50321) stating that Mr. Car- penter “violated DR 1-102(A)(3)” by actions that disregarded a teacher’s civil rights, which raised the question as to (Mr. Carpenter’s) fitness to prac- tice law, and whether he possesses the requisite trustworthiness and integrity to handle important matters involv- ing legal rights of clients. According to Mr. Carpenter, his act of defamation (alleged sexual depravity, imperson- ation) by/of a teacher, and by exten- sion, students, was fabricated as a joke. Official case documentation can be obtained on JUSTIA website, topic: In Re. Jim Carpenter. In 2014, Mr. Carpenter also spoke of the necessity to uphold the Consti- tution and laws, preserve the safety of the public, protect rights of crime vic- tims and pursue justice for all with skill, honor and integrity. In regard to assuring the “safety of the public and pursuing justice for all,” this is my experience: In 2017, I was threatened with impending death by a band of wild- life scouting juveniles on the public road through my property. Verbatim: “You are (expletive deleted) dead!” A 911 call and a sheriff’s report exist for 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 Reporter ...................................................... Steven Mitchell, steven@bmeagle.com Sports ........................................................sports@bmeagle.com verification. Mr. Carpenter chose not to prosecute. He cited the 1971 Ore- gon statute for harassment, which does not include death threats. He ignored the 2016 version which does, and of course, applied in 2017 (ORS 166.065 (4)(D)(i, ii, iii)). Since no action was taken, victim’s rights didn’t rise as issue, also leaving integrity, skill and honor somewhere far behind. Brushing aside a death threat with purposely misconstrued application of the law is as egregious as the 2004 “joke.” The OSC reprimand did not take root; lesson was not learned. Best not to take the risk to test this reality on the bench into the future! Vega Nunez Ritter Carpenter ‘possesses the temperament and the humility needed’ To the Editor: Grant and Harney county resi- dents are capable, hard-working, proud Americans. Our right to participate in our own destiny is something we hold near and dear. With that right comes the duty to elect the candidates that will best serve our communities. Jim Carpenter is one of three candidates now running to be our next Grant/Harney circuit court judge. Each of the candidates is an attorney, is well-educated and 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 Marketing Rep .......................................Kim Kell, ads@bmeagle.com MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION Online: MyEagleNews.com 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 Office Assistant .....................................Alixandra Hand, office@bmeagle.com Phone: 541-575-0710 has legal experience. Jim Car- penter has practiced both civil and criminal law in Grant and Harney counties and is currently working as Grant County district attorney. Having served as both a defense attorney and a prosecutor has allowed Jim to gain the per- spective needed to be an impar- tial judge. Moreover, Jim truly understands our rural ideals and values. My name is Kathy Stinnett, and I have served as Grant Coun- ty’s justice of the peace since 2013. In addition to the work I perform in my court, I have par- ticipated in statewide efforts to keep local court systems, such as justice courts, open. Jim Carpenter recognizes that both state circuit courts and local justice courts have a role to play in providing access to jus- tice for our communities. I know that, as a circuit court judge, Jim Carpenter will maintain the cur- rent positive working relation- ship between the courts in both Grant and Harney counties. Jim possesses the temperament and the humility needed to work effectively with the prosecutors, defense attorneys, court staff and other judges. I invite you to join me in voting to elect Jim Carpenter as our next Grant/Harney circuit court judge. Kathy Stinnett John Day 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