The Columbia Press
August 28, 2020
Mayor’s Message
by Henry Balensifer III
7
Guest column
by Betsy Huber, president, National Grange
We must be the change we seek Don’t allow apathy to be an American value
I’ve said this many times
before, but I think it bears
repeating:
Warrenton’s
strength comes from its peo-
ple.
When storms hit, when
people are in need -- we step
up to help each other.
As we look at the fractured
nature of our national dia-
logue, I encourage people to
read history — this is not a
new situation.
From controversies be-
tween political parties, polar-
izing personalities in elected
offices, and people unfriend-
ing each other over opinions
— this is not new.
The aforementioned is not
said to dismiss concerns
about what is happening, it
is to give hope that we shall
come out of this.
How soon and in what
shape we will come out of it
depends on how each indi-
vidual sees their responsibil-
ity to create a “more perfect
union.”
We must be the change we
seek. That’s why I’m so en-
thused to see Spruce Up War-
renton and its cadre of ded-
icated volunteers continuing
their efforts to improve pri-
vate and public community
spaces.
As we move into election
season, I ask all Warrento-
nians who are eligible to reg-
ister and vote.
I also ask all citizens to
scrutinize who you want to
both execute your values into
policy and represent you.
The city doesn’t manage local
elections — Clatsop County
does.
The city has partnered with
Clatsop County Elections De-
partment to get a ballot drop
box for those who wait till
the last day or do not want
to mail in their ballots. This
will be put near City Hall at a
place to be determined soon.
As a side note, look for an
upcoming drive-in movie
that Spruce Up Warrenton is
putting on in the Hammond
district.
It should be a safe and fun
blast!
Letter to the Editor
Rick Newton cares for community
On Saturday, Aug. 22, while
walking my dog, I noticed an
aluminum garbage can had
been thrown into the shallow
ravine along Second Street
between Gardenia Avenue
and Juniper Avenue.
It was impossible for me
to retrieve or dispose of the
large trash bin, so I called
Rick Newton, Warrenton
City Commissioner.
After explaining my dilem-
ma, he told me that he would
take care of it. Approximate-
ly two hours later, he called
me back to say he’d removed
the garbage can from the
stream.
Thank you so very much to
Rick Newton, who has always
cared for this community on
the highest level.
Do the right thing and
please dispose of your gar-
bage and recycling properly
and don’t trash our neighbor-
hoods.
Lori Beth Kulp
Warrenton
Aug. 18 marked the 100th
anniversary of the 19th
amendment, which gave
women the right to vote across
the country and enfranchised
nearly 50 percent of the U.S.
population.
A century later, voting is as
– if not more – important
than ever.
For the Grange, founded
more than 150 years ago, equal
voice and vote for women was
molded into our structure
from Day One. Our founders
believed women were neces-
sary in the longevity of our or-
ganization and “much like the
farm, both men and women
are needed to succeed.”
With four offices designat-
ed strictly for women and the
ability to run for any office
within the Grange, radical in-
clusivity of women in our or-
ganization has meant more to
American civil society than we
may ever know.
The Grange has purpose-
fully carved out spaces for
women to voice opinions with
credibility, hold positions of
leadership and understand
the importance of their vote –
something cited by members
past and present as providing
women the courage and skills
necessary to take on leader-
ship in their communities and
beyond.
Women in the United States
take seriously their role as
engaged citizens – something
that is evidenced by data. In
the 2016 presidential elec-
tion, 63 percent of women
voted while only 59 percent
of men voted.
Even though women have
outnumbered men at the polls
in every presidential election
since 1980, there is more to be
done to honor the work and
sacrifice of the suffragettes we
must thank for this right.
We can do better for a na-
tion founded on the cry for
representation.
But, while 86.8 percent of
U.S. citizens are registered to
vote, turnout languishes at
55 percent or less. U.S. voter
turnout ranks 26 out of 32 de-
veloped nations.
Apathy is not an American
value.
The battles fought to
bring democracy to white,
land-owning male citizens,
then to male non-white cit-
izens, then to women – and
to those disenfranchised be-
cause of Jim Crow-era laws
and more – must be honored.
I am proud to say I’ve nev-
er missed an opportunity to
cast a ballot in any election
– a right won thanks to those
who spoke, organized, and
marched for it.
This election is like no other
in our history, and there are
clear challenges to seeing ev-
ery eligible elector cast their
ballot. Americans, though,
are battle-tested and up for
the challenge.
I call upon every citizen to
help us honor our ancestors
who fought for and won their
place on the voter rolls by
ensuring you are registered,
you are informed and you are
prepared to let your voice be
heard in November.
Oct. 13 is the last day for
Oregon residents to register
to vote in the November elec-
tion. Please register. And vote.
We cannot allow disenfran-
chisement to occur after such
hard battles were fought to
extend this right to all. And
we must call on those en-
trusted with the responsibili-
ty to maintain our democracy
to do so with every citizen in
mind.
The National Grange is
America’s oldest rural and
agricultural advocacy orga-
nization.
Taking a ‘moment’ to heal
Senior Moments columnist Emma Ed-
wards was injured in a fall earlier this
month. She is recuperating at home.
We send her our very best wishes for a
speedy recovery and, if you’re a praying
person, please remember Emma in your
prayers. She would appreciate that.
Special columns in The Columbia Press
Every week: Senior Moments with Emma Edwards
Week 1: History in the Making
Week 2: Financial Focus with Adam Miller
Week 3: Off the Shelf by Kelly Knudsen
Final week: Mayor’s Message by Henry Balensifer