A4
OPINION
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Measure 110 not
the way to deal
with drug problems
D
rug abuse and addic-
tion are huge problems
in Oregon. Metham-
phetamine, opiates (heroin,
fentanyl and oxycodone and
others) and cocaine damage
and kill thousands of people
every year. Few of us reach
adulthood without know-
ing someone whose life was
destroyed by drug or alcohol
addiction. Some of us have
been victims of crime in which
the perpetrator was seeking a
way to fund their addiction.
There is considerable ten-
sion between those who believe
that dangerous drugs should
be illegal, with criminal penal-
ties for their possession versus
those who believe use of these
drugs is primarily an addiction
and thus a mental health and
behavioral health issue. Ideally,
we should have a behavioral
health system that can inter-
vene before the criminal justice
system needs to.
Measure 110 on the Novem-
ber ballot would redistribute
marijuana tax revenue above
$11.25 million per quarter —
reducing revenue to schools,
state police, mental health pro-
grams and local governments.
This revenue would be redi-
rected to a new “Drug Treat-
ment and Recovery Services
Fund” that would grant money
to fund “Addiction Recov-
ery Centers” in each exist-
ing coordinated care organiza-
tion (CCO) service area in the
state, as well as “organizations
providing substance use disor-
der treatment, peer support and
recovery services, permanent
supportive housing, and harm
reduction interventions” at no
cost to the recipients.
It also decriminalizes certain
drug offenses for both juve-
niles and adults, such as pos-
session of: heroin (1 gram or
less), cocaine (2 grams or less),
methamphetamine (2 grams
or less), MDMA (less than 1
gram or 5 pills), LSD (less than
40 user units), psilocybin (less
than 12 grams), methadone
(less than 40 user units) and
oxycodone (less than 40 pills,
tablets, or capsules). In doing
so, it removes the judicial sys-
tem’s authority to mandate par-
ticipation in Drug Courts or
other addiction treatment for
those found in possession.
Measure 110 is opposed
by the Oregon Association of
Chiefs of Police and 26 out
of 36 District Attorneys in the
state. They believe that law
enforcement plays an important
role in getting people the help
they need — and we agree.
The Oregon Council for
Behavioral Health is opposed
to Measure 110 because it does
not address fundamental prob-
lems in Oregon’s addiction
treatment and recovery system.
Oregon desperately needs
more detox centers, residen-
tial and outpatient treatment
options, and supports for ongo-
ing recovery. While we appre-
ciate all efforts to provide treat-
ment for those whose lives
are controlled by their addic-
tion and to keep them out of
the criminal justice system, we
don’t think this ballot measure
— which seems to be a test
case for the New York-based
Drug Policy Alliance — is the
way to do it.
We recommend a “No” vote
on Measure 110.
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
‘Praise for a
couple of our
elected officials’
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
‘Write in John
representative for House District 60
should be willing to listen to both
Lamborn for
sides of any issue that affects Grant
and our region. Beth Spell
circuit court judge’ County
knows us and cares about the people
To the Editor:
I would like to take this oppor-
tunity to sing praise for a couple of
our elected officials.
I ran into Grant County Com-
missioner Sam Palmer in the lum-
ber yard a few weeks back. When he
asked me how I was doing, he got
an earful. I told him how my part-
ner and I had bought a local tree ser-
vice/construction company several
months prior and how after pass-
ing the residential general contractor
test we had yet to hear a single word
from this entity. I explained that a
bank loan had been taken out to buy
this equipment, and on the very day
we spoke, the third payment was due
without being able to legally use the
equipment. Apparently one is not
even allowed to advertise or pass out
business cards without the CCB’s
blessing (number).
Sam patiently listened to my
tirade, then reached for his cellphone
to give me a number to call. He said
this was the personal cell number
for state Rep. Mark Owens. (Yeah,
folks, I’m talking about little Sammy
Palmer from up the street!) I thanked
him and headed for the door. Sam
hollered after me, “If Mark can’t
get it done, let me know, and I’ll
call the senator.” Yep, he said that!
Wow! What a huge favor! Nothing
but love and respect, Sam! We need
more like you and your family in
this county!
We called Mark (who answered
on the second ring) and explained
our dilemma. Exactly 24 hours later,
we had our CCB number! God bless
you, Mark and Sam.
In closing, I would urge you all
to vote Mark Owens in the upcom-
ing election. I would also ask you
to give some thought to your pub-
lic comments about your political
views. No matter how passionately
you feel, hatred is ugly, and your
venom usually only reflects poorly
on yourself.
Sam, it is an honor to call you my
friend!
Tony Steele
John Day
‘I’ll be voting
for Rob Raschio’
To the Editor:
I have had the pleasure of know-
ing Rob Raschio for quite a while
now, and he is the kind of man I want
elected to serve as circuit court judge
for my community. I know Rob to be
a pretty great person. Although he is
sensitive, he can also be a bulldog.
Rob isn’t afraid to stand up for what
he believes in, which is something I
admire and appreciate.
Rob cares deeply about his com-
munity and those who live in it. As
a judge, I am confident that Rob
Raschio will work tirelessly to cre-
ate a positive relationship for the
community and the courts. Rob has
common sense, a strong head on his
shoulders and I know when it comes
time to make decisions, he will con-
sider all the relevant information to
make the best decision possible.
I am fortunate to call Rob my
friend, and I hope I get to call him
judge in November. Our community
needs a man like Rob Raschio serv-
ing them. I know I’ll be voting for
Rob Raschio this November for cir-
cuit court judge, and I hope you will
join me.
Lisa Weigum
Canyon City
To the Editor:
Grant and Harney counties have
been well served by both justice
courts and circuit courts for decades.
Judge William D. Cramer Jr. served
honorably as our circuit court judge
for the past 24 years. Judge Cramer
was not only bright and well edu-
cated, but he possessed the disposi-
tion and temperament required to be
a judge. Despite his very busy sched-
ule, Judge Cramer was always very
helpful and supportive to our jus-
tice courts. It is not time for Grant
and Harney county citizens to choose
the candidate who will best serve the
people of the 24th Judicial District.
The decision we make has far-reach-
ing consequences, but is not an easy
task. Most of us will never experi-
ence the inside of a courtroom, and
restrictions placed on judges by the
Oregon Judicial Code of Conduct
limit a judge’s participation in the
public arena. The public often does
not have an opportunity to really get
to know a judge’s personality, moti-
vations and temperament on a day-to-
day basis.
So, how are we to really decide
for whom we should vote? Both of
the current candidates are smart and
well educated. One of the candidates
has been campaigning for well over a
year. The other has just recently been
thrust back into the race. One has
shown support for our justice courts
and has served as a justice of the
peace pro-tem. One, if elected, will
strive to maintain the current positive
working relationships between the
courts in both counties. One has the
temperament to work with prosecu-
tors, defense attorneys, court staff and
other judges. Please join us in vot-
ing for the candidate who best serves
all of the people of Grant and Harney
counties.
Write in John Lamborn for circuit
court judge.
Kathy Stinnett
Grant County justice of the peace
Vicky Clemens
Harney County justice
of the peace
‘A republic, if
you can keep it’
To the Editor:
Just a couple of quotes that still
apply to our time from wise men. The
first is from Abraham Lincoln: “From
whence shall we expect the approach
of danger? Shall some trans-Atlantic
military giant step the earth and crush
us at a blow? Never. All the armies of
Europe and Asia ... could not by force
take a drink from the Ohio River or
make a track on the Blue Ridge in
the trial of a thousand years. No,if
destruction be our lot we must our-
selves be its author and finisher. As a
nation of free men ,we will live for-
ever or die by suicide.” The next
quote is attributed to Ben Franklin
when asked “Well, doctor, what have
we got—a republic or a monarchy?”
to that he replied, “A republic, if you
can keep it.” My question is: Can we
keep it? I believe it is worth keep-
ing, and our voices and votes count
so let’s try.
Cal Christensen
John Day
‘Join us in voting
for Beth Spell’
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To the Editor:
I attended the “work session”
that the city of John Day (CJD)
hosted with our Grant County Court
(GCC) on Oct. 14. The CJD has
chosen to set the barn on fire then
put it out with gasoline. Let us put
this into perspective. The CJD con-
trols 23% of the population. The
total numbers of taxpayers are less
than that. Their boundaries are only
5% of the area in this mass county.
They have chosen to overlook safety
issues (airport road). Offering inter-
net that Ortelco already has across
the street and cheaper as I see it.
The CJD is blaming the people of
this vast county, mostly agriculture,
for their unaccepting of an alter-
native of keeping the current pool
open. This mind-boggling decision
move lies directly on the CJD as
well as the John Day-Canyon City
Parks and Recreation District. I
will also throw the John Day Swim
Team organization into this fray,
who has based their selfish emo-
tional narrative by using children as
props and now lost it for all.
The county court has chosen to
keep this charade up and investigate
these things “again.” I hope that the
court will not put their emotions into
this as they have in the past, and I
heard some yesterday.
They talked about intergovern-
mental cooperation, about spend-
ing without including outlying areas
both north and south. Keep in mind
there are a whole lot of intragovern-
mental issues that they need to fix
as they still have not solved start-
ing with the Canyon Creek fire. The
next election cycle begins March
2021, or before.
Bob Pereira
John Day
Ellison always
‘accurate and
honest’
To the Editor:
It is election season, and Grant
County voters must again decide who
will be the first among them to handle
their tax money. Julie Ellison is run-
ning to retain her position as Grant
County treasurer and well deserves
that position.
I have known and worked with
Julie for many years in her position as
the head accounts manager for Greg
Jackson at Jackson Oil. In perform-
ing my legal duties for Greg, it was
often Julie with whom I dealt when
it came to money or administrative
matters. She was always prompt, effi-
cient, friendly and, most importantly,
accurate and honest. If she told me
something, there was never a ques-
tion about its accuracy. I know from
my many friends in Grant County
that she brought the same skills to
the Treasurer’s Office.
Be sure to fill in the box next
to her name when you vote. In this
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mailing offices.
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send address changes to:
Blue Mountain Eagle
195 N. Canyon Blvd.
John Day, OR 97845-1187
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MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
City ‘set barn on
fire then put it out
with gasoline’
To the Editor:
It’s plain and simple. Our elected
Grant County’s Weekly Newspaper
Reporter ...................................................Rudy Diaz, rudy@bmeagle.com
in HD 60 on both sides of the issues.
Please join us in voting for Beth Spell
for HD 60 representative!
Adele and Mark Cerny
Bear Valley
Phone: 541-575-0710
See Letters, Page A5
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