A4
OPINION
Blue Mountain Eagle
Problems
with state
accounting,
again
T
he Oregon Secretary
of State’s Offi ce audits
tell us what we know
but need to be reminded about:
State government makes mis-
takes with money.
Every year there’s a
roundup of these mistakes.
And it’s clear it’s necessary.
For the fi scal year 2020, state
auditors found $6.4 billion in
accounting errors. That’s right,
$6.4 billion.
Those were unintentional
mistakes. It’s not like some-
body was trying to abscond
with $6.4 billion. They were
mistakes. Basically, numbers
were put in the wrong column
and later caught, thanks to
state audits.
What can be more import-
ant is when the audits uncover
weaknesses in the policies for
handling money.
For instance, the Depart-
ment of Consumer and Busi-
ness Services is a state agency
dedicated to consumer protec-
tion and business regulation.
It failed to properly follow
new accounting rules required
for fi scal year 2020. Other
state agencies got it right. The
department misinterpreted
the new rules and reported
about $400 million incorrectly.
That department also failed to
have required documentation
explaining how it made deci-
sions about handling money in
two areas, such as determining
what is uncollectible money.
And there’s more. When
state auditors tested some
spending to ensure proper pro-
cedures are followed so fed-
eral funds may be used to pay
for them, it found mistakes.
The biggest problem was
in the child care and devel-
opment fund. That is a fed-
eral grant program that helps
provide child care services
for low-income families and
improve child care overall.
Auditors found $4.2 million in
errors. Numbers were miscal-
culated, provider copays were
off , there was a lack of doc-
umentation to back up pay-
ments and more.
New report. Similar con-
clusions. Without state audi-
tors peering over the shoulders
of other state agencies, even
more mistakes would be made.
Fortunately, they caught
these mistakes, all $6.4 bil-
lion of them. It does make you
wonder, though, what wasn’t
caught.
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
FARMER’S FATE
Muscle car marriage
M
y husband and I recently
hiked to some natural hot
springs to celebrate 16
years of wedded bliss. After a plea-
surable 2-mile hike, we were soak-
ing in a beautiful spring in the middle
of a snowy forest. While laying with
our backs against some large rocks,
breathing in the mountain mist and
watching our two boys splashing and
building dams, we reminisced...
“Hard to believe it’s been more
than 20 years since we met,” I said.
“Hopefully you’re not ready to trade
me in for a newer, younger model,”
I teased, splashing water in his
direction.
“Not a chance,” he said, reaching
for my hand. “I have a classic muscle
car — that’s a keeper. You don’t trade
those off for a new Geo Metro.”
We laughed, but as I closed my
eyes and leaned back to soak in the
soothing hot water, his words kept rat-
tling around in my head, “I have a
classic muscle car...”
Relationships are like cars. Are
you getting one that will last the dura-
tion? Or are you planning to upgrade
every few years?
Everyone says, “they don’t make
‘em like they used to,” a phrase I think
can be applied to both women and
cars. In some ways that’s an advan-
tage — I mean, I love my heated seats
in the winter — but vintage cars had
a certain style and class that satellite
radios and heated seats just can’t make
up for. They had distinct body lines,
and the extras were more than just
apps on a digital dashboard.
There was substance to the women
and cars of yesterday. They were
beautiful and functional. They could
churn the butter, wash the laundry,
raise the kids, tend the animals, cook
a lovely dinner for their husband all
while wearing a dress with their hair
in a lovely up-do. From hand cranks
to push button starts, women and cars
have defi nitely changed. Gone are the
white gloves and calling cards, and no
longer do we have a
foot dimmer switch or
dual fuel tanks.
Kids today prob-
ably have no idea
that most cars used to
come equipped with
Brianna
cigarette lighters and
Walker
ashtrays — although
most of the ashtrays
I ever saw, were just a place to store
loose coins and gum wrappers. The
ashtrays have been replaced by USB
ports and 12-volt outlets much like
the gloves and netted derby hats have
been replaced by tattoos and low rise
jeans.
There is just something beauti-
ful when a well-cared for muscle car
drives up. It’s like watching Audrey
Hepburn step onto the stage or Jackie
Kennedy Onassis elegantly poised
next to her husband — Lady Gaga in
a raw meat outfi t just can’t compare,
just as a Ford Pinto holds no glory
next to a Chevy Chevelle SS.
The classics had their hood orna-
ments — rockets, marlins and jag-
uars. Once these multidimensional
hood ornaments and decorative trunk
badges doubled as latches and tag
lights. They were the brooches of
yesteryear. Today, emblems have
become little more than a bunch of
logos trapped inside trapezoids and
circles.
Whitewall tires were like slipping
into a pair of heels, while the tail
fi ns — the most recognizable staple
of American muscles cars — acted
like a set of earrings to complete the
ensemble. Spare tires were full size,
not little doughnuts, and in many old
cars were actually used as part of the
decor — form and function. Let us
not forget those great little wing-win-
dows — when you wanted just a bit
of fresh air blowing through the car —
perfect for car-sick kids.
And the chrome ... on everything.
I admit it, I just can’t get into the
“blacked out” look of today’s gener-
ation of wheels and bumpers. Maybe
I’m part magpie and attracted to spar-
kly things — but there is just some-
thing about chrome wheels and acces-
sories that really make a car pop.
Guess my husband’s beard really isn’t
turning gray — he’s just accessorizing
with a little chrome, all in the name of
timeless classic.
All of these thoughts were going
through my head while I soaked in the
hot springs.
“You’re lips are twitching,” my
husband commented. “What are you
thinking about?”
“Just thinking how lucky you are
to have a classic car instead of a low
mileage, metric-mobile.”
“Yup,” he teased, “they run hot-
ter, louder, have diff erent timing than
everything else and never worry about
emissions.”
I rolled my eyes.
Then with just a hint of a smile he
said, “And then there’s the wood pan-
eling that could be reminiscent of var-
icose veins...”
“Guess it’s a good thing you
bought a Shelby GT and not a wood
paneled station wagon!” I stuck out
my tongue.
Our trip ended, but I still haven’t
been able to shake the thought that
marriage is much like taking care of
a car. It’s so important to pick out the
right one, and then with the right care,
it can last your lifetime. In our mar-
riage we have hit a few unexpected
potholes that have caused minor dents
and dings — but we were quick to
fi x them, and over the last 16 years, I
think the value of our classic car mar-
riage has only increased.
Pulling into a parking lot, there are
times the rumbling engine and white
wall tires draw a few looks of envy
— but it’s no secret. It’s just love and
maintenance and an air freshener that
smells like freshly cut alfalfa!
Brianna Walker occasionally
writes about the Farmer’s Fate for the
Blue Mountain Eagle.
EDUCATION CORNER
Keep them writing
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@cityofl ongcreek.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,
oregonlegislature.gov.
• Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale — 900 Court St.
Blue Mountain
EAGLE
Published every
Wednesday by
NE, S-301, Salem 97301. Phone: 503-986-
1730. Website: oregonlegislature.gov/fi ndley.
Email: sen.lynnfi ndley@oregonlegislature.
gov.
• Rep. Mark Owens, R-Crane — 900 Court St.
NE, H-475, Salem 97301. Phone: 503-986-
1460. District address: 258 S. Oregon St.,
Ontario OR 97914. District phone: 541-889-
8866. Website: oregonlegislature.gov/fi ndley.
Email: rep.markowens@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
Offi ce Building, Washington D.C. 20510.
Phone: 202-224-5244. Email: wayne_kinney@
wyden.senate.gov. Website: http://wyden.
senate.gov Fax: 202-228-2717.
• U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D — 313 Hart
Senate Offi ce Building, Washington D.C.
20510. Phone: 202-224-3753. Email: senator@
merkley.senate.gov. Fax: 202-228-3997.
Oregon offi ces include One World Trade
Center, 121 S.W. Salmon St., Suite 1250,
Portland, OR 97204; and 310 S.E. Second St.,
Suite 105, Pendleton, OR 97801. Phone: 503-
326-3386; 541-278-1129. Fax: 503-326-2990.
• U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, R — (Second District)
1239 Longworth Building, Washington D.C.
20515. Phone: 202-225-6730. No direct email
because of spam. Website: walden.house.
gov Fax: 202-225-5774. Ontario offi ce: 2430
SW Fourth Ave., Suite 2, Ontario, OR 97914.
Phone: 541-709-2040. Medford offi ce: 14 N.
Central Ave., Suite 112, Medford, OR 97501.
Phone: 541-776-4646. Fax: 541-779-0204.
• Pending Bills: For information on bills in
Congress. Phone: 202-225-1772.
I
t’s hard to believe school is out
for the summer or soon will be.
There was no in-person school-
ing all year in some places, and oth-
ers had all diff erent modes of learn-
ing happening. No question, as far
as education goes, this was one atyp-
ical year worldwide, and here we
are back to summer vacation and
that age-old question, “How do I
keep my child/children engaged in
academics?”
Writing is the highest form of lan-
guage processing we have in com-
munication, making it one of the
most challenging skills for some stu-
dents, and also why children often
resist it. Writing is a learned skill,
not a natural skill like eating. There-
fore, it requires more brainpower and
work. The question becomes how
do we keep children writing over the
summer or other times when they are
not in school? One thought might be
through letter or note writing during
the summer. They can write one or
two notes each day. They can write to
family and friends or even members
of your household. The objective is
to have them write.
Having children write cards to oth-
ers, no matter what age, forces them to
use multiple cognitive skills they will
need in their adult life. Because it’s
hard, you can expect some possible
resistance because
they have to recall
information, tran-
scribe that informa-
tion into words and
then write it. Taking
the time to tell you
Dr. Scott
who they are writ-
Smith
ing to and what they
are writing about
fi rst scaff olds the skills to assist them
in writing to the person. Their card or
note should be at least three to fi ve sen-
tences. With young children, you can
have them draw a picture and then tell
you about their image, while you write
it out for them, but older students need
to write their own. Also, having them
tell you and writing it out for them can
be benefi cial for younger children.
They can read it back and, better yet,
copy it to their card or paper.
Over this past year, with the pan-
demic, most everyone has felt dis-
connected at some point or on some
level. It has been an emotional time
for everyone, from kids to the elderly.
Steven Petrow states in his column
that handwritten notes and cards have
a more signifi cant impact not only for
the person receiving but also for the
person writing the message. This cre-
ates a multi-purpose use of this time to
have your children write notes to oth-
ers over the summer.
Grant County’s Weekly Newspaper
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send address changes to:
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Phone: 541-575-0710
Reading is not left out in this pro-
cess either. Once written, have them
read it back and edit as needed or
as you wish. Don’t stress over mis-
takes because as they continue writ-
ing cards, their writing will improve,
and friends and grandparents will love
cards in any condition.
Hand-written notes are the best if
possible. There is research showing
that handwriting is linked to higher
brain function. Younger children’s
manuscript is excellent. Cursive pen-
manship can help struggling students’
brains process to connect the letters
and focus attention.
Hopefully, they will also receive
notes from people they have writ-
ten to, which will engage their read-
ing and comprehension skills when
those notes come. This type of passive
learning will have a more educational
impact on your children than trying
to have them read and write as if they
were in school every day.
Dr. Scott Smith is a Umatilla
County educator with 40-plus years
of experience. He taught at McNary
Heights Elementary School and
then for Eastern Oregon Univer-
sity in their teacher education pro-
gram at Blue Mountain Community
College. He serves on the Decoding
Dyslexia — OR board as their par-
ent-teacher liaison.
Copyright © 2021
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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