Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 2020)
A4 OPINION Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, September 2, 2020 Oregon must work on child care issues N ow is the time to start thinking of creative ways to solve our child care crisis, as we rebuild our economy that has been so damaged by the COVID-19 pandemic. The lack of child care in rural Oregon has been a problem for decades. We live in a “child care desert.” And COVID-19 is mak- ing the problem worse. Much worse. It’s not just a problem for the parents of young children. It’s a problem for all of us. It’s a problem for child care providers who aren’t able to earn enough to support their own families. It’s a problem for young chil- dren, who don’t have the oppor- tunity to socialize and learn with other children and caregivers in safe, loving and educational environments. It’s a problem for working parents, who increasingly have to juggle work and child care, especially if they have an infant, toddler or preschooler needing constant supervision. It’s a problem for business owners and institutions who employ working parents, espe- cially if a parent’s work hours coincide with online school hours. It’s a problem for K-12 teachers, whose students may not have an adult around to make sure they get online at the appropriate time each day. It’s a problem for colleges and universities. If students with young children don’t have child care options, they are likely to drop out or postpone their higher education. Ultimately, it’s a problem for our economy and society as a whole. Without child care, par- ents who would ordinarily be working will drop out of the workforce. More families dependent on food stamps and public assis- tance. More children living in poverty. More adults unable to get the education, training or work they need to fulfill their dreams. Fewer children getting enriching preschool experiences between birth and age 5. Fewer children ready for kindergarten. It’s well documented that children who aren’t ready for kindergarten are likely to fall behind as the years go by. They are far more likely to drop out of high school and live in pov- erty as adults. In the year ahead, assuming we get COVID-19 under con- trol and our economy starts to reopen, we want to see Ore- gon’s Early Learning Division helping to facilitate quality child care options for working parents at the local level. Rather than just making and enforcing child care regulations, we want to see this state agency actively supporting the creation of new child care options. This could mean helping a group of parents form a coop- erative, taking turns caring for each other’s children. It could mean supporting businesses that want to hire a child care provider to care for employees’ children on-site. It could mean letting a city Parks & Rec program set up child care in an otherwise unused recreation center. It could mean allowing a community college to use unused classroom space for infant and toddler care — with early childhood education stu- dents providing some of the care under the supervision of experienced providers. We can’t revive our economy without the availability of qual- ity, affordable child care. And we have to be willing to pay child care providers more for the crucial job they do — help- ing nurture and teach the chil- dren who are our future. 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. Blue Mountain EAGLE Published every Wednesday by BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Encouraging employees to return to work O ne of the biggest challenges many employers are fac- ing is getting their work- force back on the job during the con- tinuing COVID-19 environment. There are many obstacles including the fact those collecting unemploy- ment benefits received an additional $600 per week, which in many cases amounted to more than their sala- ries. This benefit expired on July 31 and workers are beginning to return to their jobs. There are discussions about a lesser weekly benefit being introduced, but so far that has not been implemented. A major issue is the fact schools in Oregon may not be open for much of the school year and parents have found themselves as teachers. Others are sincerely frightened about the prospect of returning to work, questioning the safety precau- tions employers may or may not have put in place. This is especially true in cases where social distancing may be difficult in such workplaces as manu- facturing or food processing plants. Some people may have children or elderly relatives living with them with severely compromised health due to underlying conditions. All of these are legitimate issues and concerns. So, what can employ- ers do as they endeavor to resume operations? Some parents are finding indi- viduals willing to supervise online learning while par- ents work, help- ing to ensure their children are on task and that a regu- lar school schedule is established and Greg Smith maintained. Employers should provide detailed information about all the precautions being imple- mented, including exactly what the employee’s responsibilities are. The Center for Disease Control’s website, cdc.gov, outlines safety precautions and recommendations. Offering additional training and professional development oppor- tunities is something attractive to employees and some employers are offering monetary incentives. On a recent webinar, an economic development specialist noted many employers are networking and find- ing qualified, enthusiastic employees from those companies which are hav- ing to downsize. Some companies are expand- ing the option for working remotely, which is very appealing to many as they balance family and work. Clear communication and expectations must be given along with deadlines for projects to be completed. Estab- lishing video platforms so employ- ees do not feel isolated is proving to be beneficial for those transitioning to this model. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ‘We stood united as one people’ To the Editor: On this day, Sept. 2, 75 years ago, it was finally over. World War II would be sealed in the pages of history as the Japanese signed the surrender documents on board the battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Weeks earlier, two bombs, code named Little Boy and Fat Man, shocked the world with their devastating atomic blasts. The emperor of Japan, viewed by his people as a deity, was heard for the first time via radio, “We must endure the unendurable,” and unconditionally surrendered. The fighting was over. George Barber of Beech Creek (died in 1999) was a boarding officer on the Missouri and wit- nessed the ceremony. The Japa- nese envoy was met by ranks of the tallest men in the Navy. It was a solemn occasion as one by one the victors and vanquished affixed their signatures to the surren- der document. General Douglas MacArthur, supreme commander, intoned, “These proceedings are over.” America had been blindsided at Pearl Harbor and was at war with not only Japan, but Germany as well. Sixteen million men and women would be in uniform and many millions more serving on the home front, producing the myriad items necessary to wage war. In all, 416,800 would die, and 671,278 would be wounded. It was a terrible toll for this coun- try to bear. The cost to the world was over 70 million dead. But for three years, eight months and six days, we stood united as one people, patriotic Americans with no division as to our allegiance to each other and nation. Perhaps our finest moment. How we yearn for that once again. Dave Traylor John Day Support for Trump because of his policies To the Editor: I made an assumption, based on stated dislike of President Trump’s behavior, that Elberta Miller would vote for his opponent — in this case, Joe Biden. That assumption was unwarranted, and for that I make this public apology. I too find many of the president’s statements and tweets cringeworthy. When people point out to me President Trump’s character flaws, they miss the entire reason I support Trump — I support him because of the policies he has enacted. When I compare how Presi- dent Trump has defended things like religious liberty, the pre-born and Israel, and compare that to the tax-raising, job-killing, freedom-re- ducing, Christianity-criticizing, abortion-at-any-time, student-in- doctrinating, Israel-marginalizing Grant County’s Weekly Newspaper 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION RATES (including online access) Editor & General Manager ...............Sean Hart, editor@bmeagle.com Grant County .........................................$45 Everywhere else in U.S. .......................$57 Outside Continental U.S. ....................$60 Reporter ...................................................Rudy Diaz, rudy@bmeagle.com Reporter ...................................................... Steven Mitchell, steven@bmeagle.com Sports ........................................................sports@bmeagle.com Marketing Rep .......................................Kim Kell, ads@bmeagle.com Subscriptions must be paid prior to delivery Online: MyEagleNews.com Phone: 541-575-0710 agenda of the Democratic Party, it is no contest. The question now facing Amer- ica is not, “Does Donald Trump have flaws?” Or even, “Does Joe Biden have flaws?” The question is “Which of two package deals is bet- ter for the nation?” The Trump/Pence administration and Republican Party policies, or, the Biden/Harris administration and Democratic Party policies? There are no other choices; we will get either “a” or “b”; and we will get the whole package. Reg LeQuieu Mt. Vernon ‘Ask the big questions’ To the Editor: As a former member of the com- munity, I feel it is my right to speak up for things that matter. I believe that more needs to be done about those predators who prey on our youth. It’s become very clear that our public safety is at risk especially for those underage. We should be worried about the fact that some- one in power can prey on some- one in need. Why wasn’t more done to protect our youth. In fact, what was even done? We need to be ask- ing the big questions and making big impacts to protect our commu- nity from predators such as this. If we don’t make these changes, we are allowing this to continue again and again. Ask the big questions! Paige Elaine Hughes San Diego, California 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 MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION Businesses may simply have to find ways to attract new employees. Join other employers in hosting a vir- tual job fair. There are many individ- uals whose former employers have closed their business. They may not have all the skills needed for a partic- ular position but, with the right atti- tude and ample training, may be the perfect fit for the job. Finding enough qualified employ- ees wanting to work is something businesses will have to find cre- ative and unique ways to address. Post your jobs to a variety of plat- forms and utilize the Employment Department’s database of job seek- ers. Employers may post a job them- selves by clicking the employer tab “hiring an employee” at working- inoregon.org and by the old fash- ioned, low-tech way — by word of mouth. In closing, utilize those enti- ties which serve businesses includ- ing your local chamber of commerce, downtown and other business asso- ciations, economic development pro- fessionals and small business devel- opment centers. Greg Smith is the director of the Eastern Oregon University Small Business Development Cen- ter located at 1607 Gekeler Lane, Room 148, in La Grande. For free, confidential business advis- ing, call 541-962-1532 or email 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 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
