OPINION READER’S FORUM
Founded in 1906
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021
A4
EDITOR’S DESK
Sharing a home with 7.7 billion roommates
W
hen the word “environ-
ment” comes up in mixed
company (and in this
case, I mean Republicans and Dem-
ocrats), it generally doesn’t take long
for the conversation to devolve into
an argument about whether man-
made climate change
exists.
That is unfortunate.
You can completely set
climate change science
aside and still have doz-
Jade
ens of reasons why we
McDowell
all benefi t from being
NEWS EDITOR
better stewards of the
Earth’s resources.
Polluted air, water and food con-
tribute to health problems. Accord-
ing to the Centers for Disease Con-
trol and Prevention, health eff ects
of air pollution costs the United
States roughly $6.5 billion each year
through problems, such as increased
emergency room visits for asthma.
Scientists are also concerned about
how pollutants, such as microplas-
tics, pesticides and pharmaceuticals,
make their way into our food and
water are aff ecting our bodies.
In an in-depth investigation into
radioactive fracking waste of the kind
that companies were recently fi ned
for dumping illegally near Arlington,
Rolling Stone stated, “Expert testi-
mony in lawsuits by dozens of Lou-
isiana oil-and-gas industry work-
ers going back decades and settled in
2016 show that pipe cleaners, weld-
Hermiston Herald, File
A plastic jug and a light bulb, neither of which should be recycled with glass, sit in a pile of
clear glass at Sanitary Disposal Inc. in Hermiston in 2017.
ers, roughnecks, roustabouts, derrick-
men, and truck drivers hauling dirty
pipes and sludge all were exposed to
radioactivity without their knowledge
and suff ered a litany of lethal can-
cers. An analysis program developed
by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention determined with up to
99 percent certainty that the cancers
came from exposure to radioactivity
on the job ... in every case the work-
ers won or the industry settled.”
Scientists say deforestation and
other types of habitat destruction also
fuel disease by creating more contact
between humans and certain types of
animals, creating increased opportu-
nities for new pandemics and foster-
ing ideal conditions for certain dis-
ease-carrying pests.
In a recent episode of “Last Week
Tonight,” John Oliver used the exam-
ple of Lyme disease, fi rst discovered
in Connecticut in the 1980s. Accord-
ing to disease oncologist Richard
Ostfeld, interviewed for the show, the
probability of a tick picking up Lyme
disease when it feeds on a white-
footed mouse is about 90%. As for-
estland was turned to suburbs, most
mammal species began disappear-
ing from those areas, other than the
white-footed mouse — making it the
meal of choice for ticks and boosting
the number of ticks carrying Lyme
disease.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
When the going gets tough,
Wolfe steps up
Serving on the Umatilla Electric
Co-Op Board of Directors is not a
glamorous job. But it’s an import-
ant one.
Bryan Wolfe and the other direc-
tors have helped fi nd the opportuni-
ties hidden within a challenging year.
Our region has felt the eff ects of the
COVID-19 and the UEC board has
responded by making sure members
have utilities and fi nancial assistance,
creating a business-friendly environ-
ment, and keeping electric rates low.
True leadership is tested during an
emergency, and Bryan has shown his
character and ability as he has helped
guide UEC through 2020. As we
recover from this diffi cult year, we
need leaders like Bryan to continue
to put the needs of the community
fi rst and fi nd creative ways to serve
members.
Please join me in voting for Bryan
Wolfe for Umatilla Electric Coopera-
tive District 3 director.
Steve Wallace
Hermiston
Wolfe investing in the future for
Umatilla Electric Co-op
Bryan Wolfe has his priori-
ties straight when it comes to Uma-
tilla Electric’s role in our community.
He also has the long-term vision and
track record of strong leadership to
earn reelection to the UEC Board of
Directors.
In Bryan’s eight terms on the board,
he has championed local development
and local members. He has played an
CONTACT YOUR REPS
ENDORSEMENT LETTER DEADLINE
The Hermiston Herald will accept endorsement letters for the May 18
special election until Monday, May 10 at 5 p.m. Endorsement letters must
be less than 300 words and may be edited for length, spelling, grammar
or clarity. They should include the author’s name and city of residence,
which will be published, along with the author’s phone number, which
will not be published. Letters are run on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis.
You can email letters to editor@hermistonherald.com or drop them off or
mail them to the Hermiston Herald, c/o Jade McDowell, 333 E. Main St. in
Hermiston.
We will publish our last letters on Wednesday, May2. Any letters received
after the deadline will not run. Election Day is May 18.
integral role in maintaining low rates
to create a business-friendly environ-
ment, leading to billions of dollars in
economic development. He has also
ensured members receive the maxi-
mum returns in annual checks through
wise fi nancial investments.
Umatilla Electric is truly a mem-
ber-owned cooperative, and Bryan
puts those members fi rst. As our
region continues to grow, these invest-
ments will ensure we’re all seeing the
benefi ts of new development.
Bryan Wolfe has earned another
term on the UEC Board of Directors.
Please join me in voting for him.
Bill Kik
Hermiston
Wolfe the clear choice for
UEC District 3
Umatilla Electric members have the
opportunity to vote for a true leader
and champion for local development
in Bryan Wolfe.
All members who have received a
ballot have until Friday, April 10, to
return it in order to make their voice
Printed on
recycled
newsprint
VOLUME 114 • NUMBER 13
Andrew Cutler | Publisher • acutler@eomediagroup.com • 541-278-2673
Jade McDowell | News Editor • jmcdowell@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4536
Kelly Schwirse | Multi-Media consultant • kschwirse@hermistonherald.com • 541-564-4531
Audra Workman | Multi-Media consultant • aworkman@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4538
The Hermiston Herald (USPS 242220, ISSN
8750-4782) is published weekly at Hermiston
Herald, 333 E. Main St., Hermiston, OR 97838,
(541) 567-6457.
U.S. PRESIDENT JOSEPH BIDEN
The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111; Switchboard: 202-456-1414
whitehouse.gov/contact/
———
U.S. SENATORS
RON WYDEN
221 Dirksen Senate Offi ce Bldg., Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244; La Grande offi ce: 541-962-7691
•
JEFF MERKLEY
heard in the upcoming election. Bryan
has more than earned my support for
another term on the board.
First, he has helped fulfi ll the mis-
sion of a cooperative — putting mem-
bers fi rst through fi scally responsi-
ble budget decisions that have resulted
in larger annual membership checks.
Bryan and the board have also ensured
members have access to utilities and
fi nancial assistance through the diffi -
cult times of 2020.
Second, he has created a busi-
ness-friendly environment by main-
taining low electric rates, which allows
both large- and small-scale develop-
ments to do business here. This invest-
ment will pay dividends well into the
future.
And third, he has helped create a
strong support system for the employ-
ees and line workers, who serve our
members.
The combination of these three pri-
orities have made Umatilla Electric a
stronger organization, and Wolfe has
my vote to keep up the good work.
Brian Medelez
Hermiston
CORRECTIONS
To contact the Hermiston Herald for news,
advertising or subscription information:
• call 541-567-6457
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“As we reduce diversity, we’re
losing the species that protect us and
favoring the ones that make us sick,”
Ostfeld said.
We must also face the reality
that the Earth has fi nite resources
and limited areas in which to dump
waste. According to the Environmen-
tal Protection Agency, the United
States threw out 35.7 million tons of
plastic alone in 2018, only 3 million
tons of which was recycled.
If none of that is a motivator, on a
personal level, being environmentally
conscious is also a money saver. The
savings from simple conservation
eff orts — such as watering your lawn
for limited periods after dark two to
three times a week instead of running
the sprinklers for hours each day —
can add up, along with replacing all
light bulbs with LED bulbs, buying
energy-effi cient appliances, adding
insulation, sealing up cracks, replac-
ing old windows and repurposing
items instead of throwing them out.
When it comes to the environment,
there are a lot of important discus-
sions to be had about the validity of
certain strategies to protect it. There
are certainly bad ideas out there, and
ideas that need to be heavily refi ned.
But at the end of the day, personal
eff orts at conservation and a societal
goal of a cleaner, healthier Earth for
all should be a bipartisan issue.
We’re all roommates sharing one
big home. We should act like it.
Periodical postage paid at Hermiston, OR.
Postmaster, send address changes to
Hermiston Herald, 333 E. Main St.,
Hermiston, OR 97838.
Member of EO Media Group Copyright ©2021
It is the policy of the Hermiston Herald to correct errors as
soon as they are discovered. Incorrect information will be
corrected on Page 2A. Errors commited on the Opinion page
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the online versions of our stories.
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Letters Policy: Letters to the Editor is a forum for the
Hermiston Herald readers to express themselves on local,
state, national or world issues. Brevity is good, but longer
letters should be kept to 300 words.
No personal attacks; challenge the opinion, not the person.
The Hermiston Herald reserves the right to edit letters for
length and for content.
313 Hart Senate Offi ce Building, Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753; Pendleton offi ce: 541-278-1129
———
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
CLIFF BENTZ
1239 Longworth House Offi ce Building,
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6730; Medford offi ce: (541) 776-4646
Ontario offi ce: (541) 709-2040
———
STATE REP. GREG SMITH, DISTRICT 57
900 Court St. NE, H-482, Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1457
Email: Rep.GregSmith@state.or.us
———
STATE SEN. BILL HANSELL, DISTRICT 29
900 Court St. NE, S-423, Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1729
Email: Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us
———
GOV. KATE BROWN
160 State Capitol, 900 Court Street
Salem, OR 97301-4047
503-378-4582
Email: www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/
share-your-opinion.aspx
Letters must be original and signed by the writer or writers.
Anonymous letters will not be printed. Writers should include
a telephone number so they can be reached for questions.
Only the letter writer’s name and city of residence will be
published.
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The Hermiston Herald publishes paid obituaries. The
obituary can include small photos and, for veterans, a
fl ag symbol at no charge. Expanded death notices will be
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Obituaries and notices may be submitted online at
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