A4
OPINION
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Help make a better
and wetter future
To the Editor:
Hello, Grant County, my name
is Quinn Larson and I encourage
you to vote yes on Measure 12-85 to
build a new pool.
For nearly a decade I was an avid
swimmer on our local swim team.
Now, as a Grant Union senior pre-
paring for college, I can say without
hesitation that swimming is a neces-
sary lifesaving skill.
This summer I had an opportu-
nity to use those very skills I learned
to aid an elderly man who fell into
the rapids on the Snake River. I
was in a nearby raft and, thanks to
my proximity and swimming abil-
ity, was able to help and in the end
everyone was fi ne.
In considering the events later, I
was thankful not only for the oppor-
tunity to have learned to swim at
Gleason Pool, but also for all the
dedicated coaches and people who
made it a safe and fun gathering
place for everyone to learn the skill
of swimming.
After all, without people, it is
just a hole with water in it. But with
your vote we can make it a commu-
nity pool, fi lled with happy kids and
grandkids, and knowing we can all
be proud we chipped in to build and
make a better and hopefully wetter
future.
Please vote yes on 12-85.
Quinn Larson
Canyon City
Pool bond: It’s our
turn to step up
To the Editor:
We received our ballots in the
mail this week and are excited for
the chance to vote to support the
pool bond. We believe that the pool
as planned has been well thought
out. As parents, we are hopeful that
our community can come together
to support this vital amenity so that
our children have the opportunity to
learn to swim safely. We are thank-
ful to those in previous generations
who paid for the Gleason Pool, and
we believe that it is our turn to step
up and provide a pool for the next
generation.
We feel that in order to protect
our tax base, we need to ensure that
we are maintaining critical facilities,
such as pools and parks, that will
attract families to our area.
We hope those of you on the
fence will join us in voting yes on
Ballot Measure 12-85.
Thank you, neighbors.
Heather and Zac Bailey
Canyon City
Pool is a want,
not a need
To the Editor:
With infl ation so high and projected
to go higher, how can our city try to
raise taxes on a “want”? A swimming
pool is not a “need.”
I was at the city council meeting
when Heather Rookstool brought up
the possibility of constructing the pool
for the cost of the $2 million grant the
city received. She was verbally abused
by Shannon Adair and Dave Holland,
also a woman from the audience. Nei-
ther the mayor, Ron Lundbom, nor the
new city manager, Corum Ketchum,
intervened to stop the verbal abuse.
Council members Dave Holland and
Elliot Sky then told Heather Rookstool
— in front of everyone at the meeting
— “You don’t give the people a choice,
it only causes problems.”
I have a city issue I want to discuss
with Dave Holland. I have emailed
him several times over, and he will
not respond. It is his responsibility to
listen to the concerns of the citizens
of John Day. I urge everyone to vote
in new council members so the peo-
ple can have a voice. We need council
members to “give the people a choice”
and we need members to listen to and
respond to citizens’ concerns instead of
ignoring them.
Please vote for Heather Rookstool
for mayor and Ronald “Ron” Phillips,
Sherrie Rininger and Richard “Richie”
Colbeth for city council members. Take
back our city from those turning us into
a version of little Portland by defund-
ing and demolishing our police depart-
ment while simultaneously moving a
pot shop into the city limits and now
not putting the psilocybin ban on the
John Day ballot. Prairie City and the
county have both approved this mea-
sure to appear on this year’s ballot.
Why didn’t John Day?
John Meiling
John Day
Blue Mountain
EAGLE
Published every
Wednesday by
Build a pool for next
generation
me in voting yes for the pool.
Sarah Brown
John Day
To the Editor:
My husband and I both had the
privilege of growing up in small rural
towns where the community gath-
ered together and provided safe swim-
ming venues for lessons and recreation.
While growing up in John Day in the
early ‘50s, I had my fi rst swim lessons
at the J-Bar-L pool south of Canyon
City. Neighbors carpooled to get all the
neighborhood kids to lessons. Mothers
and teenagers were the instructors and
helpers. Some kids were transported by
school bus.
When I was 8, Gleason Pool opened
and that brought long summer after-
noons swimming with friends under the
careful supervision of the older kids in
the neighborhood who were now life-
guards. Some of my best memories are
watching my dad do a swan dive off
the diving board and the neighbors’ dad
swimming an amazing number of laps
each evening.
In later years, my children learned
to swim as toddlers and continued
through high school on swim team.
Not too much later, we became swim
team grandparents as fi ve of our grand-
children swam for the John Day Swim
Team. Many of the grandchildren
learned to swim at Gleason Pool. Our
boys were lifeguards, swim instructors
and one a swim team coach.
Four generations of my family ben-
efi ted from the work of those in the
mid-1950s who built a pool for gen-
erations to come. Now it is time for
us to ensure generations to come will
have a safe place to learn, exercise and
swim for pleasure. We are more than
willing to do our part so that families
in the future will have the same bene-
fi ts a pool provided for us. Vote yes on
12-85. For our kids, for the future.
Beth Spell
John Day
Vote ‘yes’ on pool
for a better future
Vote for the pool to
support kids
To the Editor:
I want to say fi rst off that I under-
stand the reasons why some people
don’t want a pool. We are allowed to
have our own opinions based on our
values and vote accordingly. I myself
am in favor of a pool. I would also be
one of the people paying for it.
We all know that pools are fun,
safe, healthy, and socially engaging
for people of all ages, but the biggest
reason I’m pro-pool is because of the
mental health crisis. We have been
isolated for years. Kids more than
ever are hooked on screens and social
media. They sit behind a computer for
school and play video games at home.
Kids need healthy social outlets for
proper development, and they aren’t
getting it. Parents need a break, and
they aren’t getting it. We need joy in
our lives now more than ever, and we
aren’t getting it.
I love this community because of
its rugged individualism and willing-
ness to help people in need. Around
here we take care of each other. We
always have. This is our village. We
go to fundraisers and donate our time
and money to all kinds of causes. The
pool is no diff erent … voting for the
pool even if you won’t be the one to
use it is supporting the community.
If you vote for the pool for any
one reason, let that reason be that the
world needs connection to thrive and
be self-suffi cient. We cannot punish a
struggling generation of children and
expect them to be happy and success-
ful. A pool is one of the few places in
the world where you cannot bring your
phone. It’s a place to forget about our
problems, get a break, smile and con-
nect. Pools are powerful healing. Join
To the Editor:
Crisp fall mornings and falling
leaves make it diffi cult to remember the
long, hot days of summer. Yet elections
in November aff ect our communities
for many future summers, many future
years. As a former physician whose
heart remains fi rmly attached to John
Day, I am writing to urge you to sup-
port Measure 12-85, the pool bond.
Long before arriving in Grant
County I heard from friends about the
importance the pool and swim team
had played in their children’s lives.
Andrea and I saw the same as our three
kids learned to swim at Gleason Pool
and then spent summers training with
the swim team or simply playing with
friends to get out of the heat. Healthy
summer activities for kids are essen-
tial for their development and future as
well as the future of our communities.
A community pool is a very spe-
cial type of pool. It takes citizens who
look beyond our individual needs and
recognize the importance of pitching
together to create a future for our chil-
dren. Together we vote to support each
other. Over 50% of property owners in
the JDCC Parks and Rec District would
pay less than $10/month. In addition to
summer fun, the pool would be a great
resource for people looking to stay fi t,
either through swimming or pool walk-
ing, a great option for those trying to
lose weight, older patients looking for
a safe workout, those with arthritis and
those of us still young at heart.
I see a bright future for John Day
with families committed to each other
and families growing old together. I
believe a pool facility would be a big
part of that. I urge you to vote “yes” for
Measure 12-85.
Andrew Janssen, MD
Hillsboro
Editor’s note: Janssen was a phy-
sician in John Day from 2005 to 2015
and continues to help cover the emer-
gency room on the weekends.
Some questions
about the pool
To the Editor:
Pool questions:
1. What is the proposed length of
pool season? (Old pool was open nine
to 10 weeks out of 52.)
2. Days and hours of expected
operations?
3. Price of daily admission for an
adult? Child?
These questions need answers
before voting on the pool bond. If there
is already an estimate of annual oper-
ation costs, these surely have been
factored.
Ellen Bush
John Day
It’s past time
to drain the swamp
Corruption in our federal govern-
ment is front and center for the whole
world to see. They don’t even try to hide
it anymore. To think that there is no cor-
ruption in local small-town governments
is naive. One only needs to look as far as
the city of John Day. There has been too
many questionable, illegitimate and pos-
sibly illegal actions brought on by JD
city government.
Examples:
The greenhouse failure which
was, like everything else, blamed on
COVID. The very questionable land
sale of the old mill site. The pub-
lic bathrooms. BTW, I built a 3,000
square-foot house (mostly by myself)
in the amount of time that it took the
city to construct two bathrooms. The
original intent of those bathrooms was
to create parking space that the down-
town area desperately needed. Instead,
it is set up for food carts, etc., which
will take business away from local
restaurants.
Had you listened to Nick Green on
“Coff ee Time,” you realized that the
local police department was very low
on the priority list, in fact something he
couldn’t wait to dissolve, just like the
pool. l am not opposed to a pool, just
opposed to the way they are handling
it. With a changing population bringing
increased problems to John Day, resi-
dents need the PD more than ever.
Residents are paying huge money
for a consultant that they don’t need.
How far would those dollars go to fuel
a local police department? I am a Mt.
Vernon resident. These items do aff ect
me. Grant County can do better.
When our new city manager took
the job, he probably didn’t realize what
he was walking into. I’m sure that he is
doing the best that he can.
It is time to drain the swamp in the
federal government and the John Day
city government. Out with the old. In
with the new.
Larry DeCew
Mt. Vernon
Join me in opposing
Ballot Measure 114
To the Editor:
Measure 114 is promoted as
reduction in gun use-related violence.
This is more deceptive marketing by
those who continue to place highly
restrictive and costly limits on our
natural, God-given and constitutional
protected rights to purchase and own
fi rearms. This does nothing to address
the unacceptable human behavior and
violence that continues to occur.
Measure 114, in part, has the fol-
lowing eff ects: 1) Requires a nonex-
isting permit system to purchase a
fi rearm. 2) Places unnecessary burden
on local law enforcement agencies,
which would be under no obligation
to issue permits. 3) Requires enor-
mous fi nancial cost to the taxpayer. 4)
Creates a searchable database of all
permit holders. 5) Outlaws fi rearms
that can hold 10 or more rounds inter-
nally. 6) Infringes on and penalizes
the law-abiding fi rearm owners. 7)
Will have a negative impact on wild-
life conservation funding.
If you want freedom for your-
self, you must extend this to oth-
ers. Unfortunately, the proponents of
this measure are opposing and under-
mining our freedom as law-abiding
citizens.
As a people we must stop overlook-
ing another person’s rights to achieve
our own selfi sh desires and goals.
Please join me in voting “no” on
Measure 114.
Louis E. Provencher
John Day
Lundbom’s
leadership best
for John Day
To the Editor:
Mayor Lundbom has led the city
during a historical period of renewal.
Under his leadership, John Day appears
poised for growth for the fi rst time in
decades. We see new homes under con-
struction, new subdivisions in devel-
opment, and much-needed investment
in our critical infrastructure, including
roads, bridges, and the new wastewater
treatment plant.
Ron is committed to seeing these
projects through. He’s also willing to
address the longstanding need for law
enforcement services by working with
the county to develop a countywide
solution to policing that includes all our
communities — ensuring a fair out-
come for John Day residents.
Ron has the experience and leader-
ship John Day needs. He’s served 18
years on the city council, including two
terms as mayor. He understands what
it takes to work with the city manager
and staff to execute the council’s vision
and direction.
Ron listens to constituents and gen-
uinely desires to help our community
succeed. He takes the time to meet with
residents who have concerns. Ron is
open-minded and willing to consider
alternative viewpoints. As such, he has
earned the respect of the city council.
Recently retired, he is a lifelong
John Day resident. Working since his
teens, he was the owner and operator
of a highly successful business here for
20-plus years. He wants our commu-
nity to thrive.
Mayor Lundbom has the experience
we need at this critical time when so
many projects are coming to fruition.
When I think of the qualities I want
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What would you
want to do without?
To the Editor:
Which of these would you actu-
ally eliminate? Which political party(s)
pushed them through?
The Constitution, i.e. We the
People.
The Bill of Rights.
The Pledge of Allegiance … with
liberty and justice for all.
Separation of church and state.
A free and open press.
Abolition of slavery.
Woman suff rage.
Child labor laws.
The right to unionize with collec-
tive bargaining.
Civil rights legislation.
The Great Society and the War on
Poverty.
The New Deal and Civilian Conser-
vation Corps.
Social Security.
Medicare.
Medicaid.
Aff ordable Care Act.
Emergency medical services.
Food stamps to 44.5 million in
poverty.
The GI Bill.
The EPA.
The U.S. military and all its equal
support services.
The interstate highway system and
infrastructure.
Street lights and road systems.
National parks and U.S. Forest
Service.
Fire and police services.
Public schools.
U.S. Post Offi ce.
Farm subsidies.
Oil subsidies.
Corporate subsidies.
Saving the U.S. auto industry after
the fi nancial collapse.
Jim Bay
John Day
Lundbom is the
leader John Day
needs
To the Editor:
I’m writing in support of Ron Lund-
bom for mayor of John Day. I served
as a council member for 16 years and
worked with Ron Lundbom during that
time. Mayors represent their cities in
many ways, to many other organizations
and areas outside of the community and
state. It is critical that our mayor is a
respected and knowledgeable represen-
tative for our city.
In last week’s Eagle, candidate
for mayor Heather Rookstool stated
she had concerns about a loan she
“recently” discovered. The reality is
that she not only knew about the loans
as far back as February 2022, she voted
in favor of those loans twice.
1. 02/22/2022: Rookstool partici-
pated in a joint meeting with the John
Day/Canyon City Parks and Recre-
ation District board and John Day City
Council. She voted in favor of Resolu-
tion 11:881-02 authorizing the city to
contribute $3 million to the pool proj-
ect, and approving D.A Davidson as
the city’s loan agent for the funds.
2. 05/24/2022: Rookstool voted in
favor of Resolution 22-890-11, which
authorized a $3 million full faith and
credit borrowing for the pool. During
the discussion, a citizen brought up
the loan cost, which staff said would
be about $100,000 per year over the
course of 10 years. Mrs. Rookstool
then voted to approve the resolution.
For Mrs. Rookstool to now claim
that she has “recently discovered”
that there would be a loan is alarming,
given that she voted to authorize that
exact loan two times.
Either Mrs. Rookstool doesn’t have
a solid understanding of basic city
operations and doesn’t understand
what she has voted on, or she is inten-
tionally making false claims to further
her political aspirations. This is not the
fi rst example of her lack of diligence
or understanding. She is not prepared
nor does she seem to have the temper-
ament and experience to lead a city.
Mayor Ron Lundbom has the expe-
rience and knowledge to serve our
community and help several very
important projects continue to a suc-
cessful completion. His leadership is
needed to ensure that happens.
My vote is for Ron Lundbom for
mayor.
Steve Schuette
John Day
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to see in a mayor — openness, hon-
esty, integrity, consistency — I think of
Mayor Lundbom. He’s the clear choice
for our community. Vote to re-elect
Mayor Lundbom, and let’s keep the
great work going.
Dan Cronin
John Day
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