OPINION
A4 HERMISTONHERALD.COM
SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR • THANK YOU • ENDORSEMENTS
HermistonHerald
VOLUME 109 ɿ NUMBER 23
-(66,&$.(//(5
EDITOR
MNHOOHU#KHUPLVWRQKHUDOGFRP
541-564-4533
MAEGAN MURRAY
6($1+$57
6$0%$5%((
JEANNE JEWETT
REPORTER
mmurray@hermistonherald.com
541-564-4532
SPORTS REPORTER
sbarbee@hermistonherald.com
541-564-4542
REPORTER
smhart@hermistonherald.com
541-564-4534
MULTI-MEDIA CONSULTANT
jjewett@hermistonherald.com
541-564-4531
.,0/$3/$17
OFFICE COORDINATOR
NODSODQW#KHUPLVWRQKHUDOGFRP
541-564-4530
To contact the Hermiston Herald for news, advertising or subscription information:
• call 541-567-6457
• e-mail info@hermistonherald.com
• VWRSE\RXURI¿FHVDW(0DLQ6W
• visit us online at: www.hermistonherald.com
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES
'HOLYHUHGE\FDUULHUDQGPDLO:HGQHVGD\VDQG6DWXUGD\V
Inside Umatilla/Morrow counties ......................................................................................... $42.65
Outside Umatilla/Morrow counties ...................................................................................... $53.90
7KH+HUPLVWRQ+HUDOG8636,661LVSXEOLVKHGWZLFHZHHNO\DW+HUPLVWRQ
+HUDOG(0DLQ6W+HUPLVWRQ25)$;3HULRGLFDO
SRVWDJHSDLGDW+HUPLVWRQ253RVWPDVWHUVHQGDGGUHVVFKDQJHVWR+HUPLVWRQ+HUDOG
3ULQWHGRQ
(0DLQ6W+HUPLVWRQ25
recycled
A member of the EO Media Group Copyright ©2015
newsprint
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Anderson was
wrong in letter
Hermiston community, par-
ent of former Hermiston
School District students
Editor,
and retired naval veteran.
Mr. Anderson’s com-
I would like to bring to
ment on me being Herm- the attention of your read-
iston’s “new expert on ev- ers a deception about state
erything” is humorous at standardized testing that
best. I, in comparison to has been foisted upon the
Mr. Anderson, have gone to school boards, our districts,
elementary school, junior their educators and admin-
high and high school in istrators and the families
Hermiston and, like others that fuel the enterprise.
LQ WKLV ¿QH FLW\ NQRZ IDU
This deception comes
more about this city than in the form of the Oregon
he does or ever will know. Department of Education,
I, by no means, claim to be (OAR)
581-022-1910,
an expert but have a consti- granting the boards and dis-
tutional right of free speech tricts’ administrative staffs
when I see something I feel the ability to grant permis-
is wrong. In the case of ap- sions of already established
pointed positions by City rights of the individual.
Council, I used my right.
This is an overreach of
We have had in the past the department. Individual
police shooting their own rights need no permissive
cars, stealing from nurser- authority. The unrestricted
ies and evidence tampering. rights of the parent have
We have had judges driving been upheld by the U. S.
drunk with impunity and Supreme Court at least four
chastising people when different times since 1940
they showed up in court for to the present.
drunk driving. In addition,
Oregon State Depart-
we have had a past mayor ment of Education has
running illegal gambling in presented guidelines to
our town. All these are great which a district may allow
examples of corruption I or grant permission to the
want to avoid now and in parents of individuals to
the future of this great town refrain from, or opt-out of,
of ours.
state-sponsored standard-
Mr. Anderson made a ized testing if they fall into
false statement about me in only two categories: those
his response letter regard- with disabilities and those
ing Mr. Bill Hansell, now who claim religious ex-
Sen. Hansell. Mr. Anderson emption.
was off base and confused
This is unjust, and I
on when the article was call this paper’s editor
written and its content.
and staff to research and
You see, I did write a let- report on the following:
ter about Bill Hansell when House Bill 2714, which
he was running for Senate seeks to make into law
in 2012. But Mr. Anderson that districts must tell
never read the letter or he parents their rights about
would have known that I testing. Parents already
was writing a letter of sup- have the right to tell a dis-
port and not excoriating trict that their child does
then-County Commission- not have to take a test. It
er Hansell. My comments is the same right parents
were about Mr. Minthorn use when they decide to
running and why I thought go on vacation during the
he was not the right can- school year.
didate for our state sena-
I also ask you and the
tor position. I support Sen. paper you represent to call
Hansell then and I do now, out the overreach that cre-
so Mr. Anderson is most in- ates a deceptive environ-
correct.
ment that school districts
My whole purpose, and have been required to put
I hope Mr. Anderson’s pur- forth. Have we come to
pose, is to make sure these the point where we have to
appointments, and the ap- deceive parents in order to
pointment of judge, does maintain our schools?
not happen. We have the
Parents, you have the
constitutional right to vote ¿QDO VD\ RYHU ZKHWKHU
for our city judge, and that your child is to take this
should not be taken away. standardized test, and
I have nothing personal don’t let the districts bul-
against Mr. Anderson and ly you or use soft-spoken
would never call him a buf- terms to change your mind
foon. It’s beneath me as a about it. If enough of you
businessman and human say no to this, our teach-
being!
ers will begin to focus on
PERRY W. HAWKINS
what they are supposed to
HERMISTON
teach, rather than teaching
how to do well on a cer-
tain type of test.
Parents need to
Please contact your
state representative about
understand rights
HB 2714 and encourage
Editor,
them to add it to the cur-
I offer this opinion as a rent statutes.
ROBERT SMITH
citizen of the United States,
HERMISTON
member of the greater
BLUE MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOND
BMCC bond measure a
good deal
Editor,
This coming May, Blue Mountain
Community College will be present-
ing a bond to their regional service
area for consideration. I strongly
encourage you to read and learn
more about what they are offering.
Given what it will do for students,
for expanding needed educational
opportunities and for our region’s
economic development, I would
strongly support a YES vote.
The bond will do many things.
First, it will provide for much-need-
ed repairs and maintenance for
all of its facilities in the region at
Hermiston, Boardman, Pendleton
and Milton-Freewater campuses.
Much of these renovation updates
and repairs have been deferred for
years. BMCC is over 50 years old.
Think about it. How many of us are
driving a 50-year-old car as our dai-
ly driving and living in a house over
50 years old? And if you are, I guar-
antee you would have been making
repairs on those items to keep them
operating. Much is the case with
BMCC. Consider that they have
over 10,000 enrolled students, staff
and visitors in and out of their facil-
ities throughout the year.
Next, BMCC, in order to keep
pace with technology and new job
skill requirements, must update
programs and provide new pro-
grams that simply did not exist
¿YHWR\HDUVDJR7KLVERQGZLOO
implement a precision irrigated ag-
riculture program, an agriculture
center of excellence and industrial
equipment for diesel, dental and
nursing programs.
Lastly, the bond, with its new
programs will provide workers for
our regional employment needs and
¿OOMREVWKXVSURPRWLQJVRXQGHFR-
nomic development for our whole
region (Heppner, Boardman, Uma-
tilla, Hermiston, Pendleton and
Milton-Freewater) as well as keep-
ing some of our best and brightest
people in our area.
The bond cost is reasonable and
is lower than the previously retired
BMCC bond as well as the last
bond request, with a cost of only
$36.25 for the median home in
Umatilla County. This bond is not
just a good deal, it’s a great deal.
Vote yes.
JER PRATTON
HERMISTON
Hermiston chamber
supports BMCC bond
Editor,
The Greater Hermiston Chamber
of Commerce Board of Directors
is happy to support Blue Mountain
Community College’s bond measure
that is on the May 19 ballot.
I was on the Chamber board of
directors when the previous bond
measure was on the ballot, and while
we (the Chamber) supported it, I had
reservations. I was concerned about
the apparent lack of engagement by
WKHLQGXVWULHVWKDWVWRRGWREHQH¿WWKH
most from the money. I didn’t under-
stand the need for yet another rodeo
arena in the area, and I couldn’t wrap
my mind around the large sums of
money that were in the measure for
repairs, maintenance and upgrades.
As a result of those concerns, I have
spent a great deal of time with BMCC
President Cam Preus discussing the
current bond measure and am very
pleased with the thoughtful approach
WKDW LV UHÀHFWHG LQ KRZ LW LV SXW WR-
gether and what the college wants to
spend money on.
This time around, the college has
partnered with the OSU Experiment
Station to locate the precision irri-
gated agriculture facility on OSU
ODQG7KLVZLOOEULQJJUHDWEHQH¿WWR
the experiment station and reduce
WKH FRVW RI WKH SURMHFW VLJQL¿FDQWO\
Additionally, the students who par-
ticipate in that program will gain the
EHQH¿W RI VWXG\LQJ DQG ZRUNLQJ RQ
one of, if not the premier experiment
station for precision irrigation in the
world. BMCC has done the same
thing in Boardman by partnering
with the Port of Morrow and many of
the companies located there to build
a much needed workforce training
and early learning center there on
land owned by the port. Again, this
partnership engages those who will
EHQH¿WIURPWKHIDFLOLW\DQGUHGXFHV
WKHFRVWRIWKHSURMHFWVLJQL¿FDQWO\
The college has wisely removed
plans for a rodeo arena and instead is
working with existing facility own-
HUVWR¿QGZD\VWRSDUWQHUDQGOHYHU-
age those existing facilities.
Finally, I now understand that the
large numbers associated with re-
pairs, maintenance and upgrades to
existing facilities really is about pro-
tecting our community investment.
Existing facilities have air handlers
and boilers that were installed back
in the 1960s and 1970s. Some of
the electrical systems were installed
prior to 1989. I am convinced that
upgrading and/or replacing many of
these systems is the wisest and best
use of our money. Understanding the
HI¿FLHQFLHV WKDW FDQ EH JDLQHG ZLWK
new systems, I expect we will see
a reduction in operational costs that
will pay for many of these improve-
ments over time.
By the way, did you know that 82
percent of students who go through
vocational or work force training
programs at BMCC stay and work
in the area? That is an astounding
number. If you want our young peo-
ple to stay and raise families here
and contribute to keeping our area’s
economic engine running, the $36.25
per year this bond represents for an
average homeowner in the greater
Hermiston area is a great investment.
So, personally, and on behalf of
the Greater Hermiston Area Cham-
ber of Commerce Board of Direc-
tors, I urge you to vote yes for the
BMCC bond.
JOSEPH FRANELL, CHAIRMAN
CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Letters Policy
The Hermiston Herald welcomes original letters for publication on public
issues and public policies. Submitted letters must be signed by the author and
include the city of residence and a daytime phone number. Phone numbers
will not be published. Letters may be mailed to the Hermiston Herald, 333 E.
Main, Hermiston, OR, 97838; or emailed to editor@hermistonherald.com
THANK YOU
Altrusa club support for literacy appreciated
Editor,
On behalf of the Armand Larive Middle School
Language Arts Department, I would like to thank the
Altrusa Club of Hermiston for supporting literacy in
our school. Literacy Foundation chairs Karen Zach-
arias and Angela Pursel worked with our school to
bring in Maureen McQuerry as a guest author. Mrs.
McQuerry spent the day with our eighth-grade lan-
guage arts students. She gave five presentations and
spent two hours working on writing with a group of
15 sixth- through eighth-grade students. Not only
did Altrusa bring in this fabulous author, they spon-
sored a writing contest in which the winners received
Barnes & Noble gift certificates and a set of Mrs.
McQuerry’s books. Our library also received a set of
her books.
What a way to celebrate Read Across America: an
author, books and a writing workshop, all thanks to
Altrusa of Hermiston. We appreciate you.
CORINNE APPLEGATE
ARMAND LARIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL LANGUAGE ARTS
ELECTED OFFICIALS
STATE
District 29: Sen. Bill Hansell,
R-Umatilla Co., 900 Court St. N.E.,
S-423, Salem, OR 97301, 503-986-
1729. 101 S.W. Third St., Pendleton,
OR 97801 (541) 278-1396. E-mail:
ssen.billhansell@state.or.us.
District 30: Sen. Ted Ferrio-
li, R-John Day; 900 Court St. N.E.,
S-223 Salem, OR 97301, 503-986-
1950. 750 W. Main, John Day, OR
97845, (541) 575-2321. E-mail: ferr-
ioli.sen@state.or.us.
District 58: Rep. Bob Jenson,
R-Pendleton; 900 Court St. N.E.,
H-480, Salem, OR 97301, 503-986-
1458. 2126 N.W. 21st., Pendleton,
OR 97801, (541) 276-2707. E-mail:
rep.bobjenson@state.or.us.
District 57: Rep. Greg Smith,
R-Morrow, 900 Court St. N.E.,
H-280, Salem, OR 97301, 503-986-
1457. P.O. Box 215, Heppner, OR
97836, (541) 676-5154. E-mail:
smith.g.rep@state.or.us.
FEDERAL
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden
Sac Annex Building, 105 Fir St.,
No. 201, La Grande, OR 97850;
(541) 962-7691. E-mail: kath-
leen_cathey@wyden.senate.gov;
(Kathleen Cathey, community repre-
sentative); 717 Hart Building, Wash-
ington, D.C. 20510, (202) 224-5244.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley
One World Trade Center, 121 SW
Salmon Street, Suite 1250, Portland,
OR 97204; (503) 326-3386; Dirksen
6HQDWH 2I¿FH %XLOGLQJ 6'%%
Washington, D.C. 20510. (202) 224-
3753.
U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (2nd
District)
843 E. Main St., Suite 400, Med-
ford, OR 97504, (541) 776-4646,
(800) 533-3303; 2352 Rayburn
+RXVH2I¿FH%XLOGLQJ:DVKLQJWRQ
D.C. 20515, (202) 225-6730