OPINION READER’S FORUM
Founded in 1906
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2021
A4
OUR VIEW
COVID-19 vaccines are just part of the solution to the pandemic
ur story recently on Andrew Mor-
ris, a local man who contracted
COVID-19 even after he was vac-
cinated, showed a man who did every-
thing right to prevent an infection and who
ended up asking, “What did I do wrong?”
Morris, of course, didn’t do anything
wrong. The delta variant of the COVID-
19 virus is everywhere. And, despite the
fact Morris was one of the unlucky few to
catch the virus even after he was inocu-
lated, vaccinations still are the best way to
avoid an infection.
Statistics from the Umatilla County
Public Health Department show roughly
one of out of every 50 people hospitalized
O
with COVID-19 since January were vac-
cinated against COVID-19. Thus, about
49 out of 50 hospitalizations in the county
this year were unvaccinated.
What that says is the protection rate
from COVID-19 vaccinations remains
very, very high. Are there breakthrough
cases? Of course. Morris is a good exam-
ple. But Morris didn’t end up in a hospital.
He is ill, but his life isn’t in danger.
While we still believe the choice to get
vaccinated should be an individual one,
we also recognize that so far, the vaccines
have performed as advertised.
The sad part of the entire vaccination
drama is how a misconception — that
PETERSON’S POINTS
somehow vaccines would totally prevent
infection from COVID-19 — took root.
Nine months or so ago, the vaccines were
touted as a good answer to the COVID-19
pandemic.
Not enough attention, though, was paid
to the fact that while the vaccines were
important and a good tool, they were not
a silver bullet. What the vaccines do for
most people is keep them free from the
virus. For some, who contract the virus,
the vaccine keeps them out of the hospital.
That’s why vaccines are important.
While you still may become a break-
through case, you’re most likely not going
to end up in a hospital in need of in-depth
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Lessons learned from
a 96-year-old man
ow does a
Schoonover went
Shirley Harris, who
person live
to the University of
lives in Hermiston has
Oregon and obtained been a good friend of
a good life?
Everyone has their
a degree in physical
Schoonover’s for 75 years,
take: religious devo-
education and health. said, “Bill has always
tion, thoughtfulness,
He taught at
been a thoughtful and kind
fi nancial success or
schools in towns
friend. When he says he
Erick
luck. Entire librar-
including Hermiston. will be there, he always
Peterson
ies have been writ-
His subjects included shows up. That’s just the
ten on the topic, and
accounting, business type of person he has
it’s likely that no book is
and math. He also coached
always been”
authoritative. And no single sports teams. His teams did
Speaking with this
answer is complete.
not always do well, but he
96-year-old man, a per-
It is easier to recog-
did make eff orts to play
son walks away with a bet-
nize a person who is living
as many athletes as possi-
ter sense of the good life,
well, or who has lived well
ble. He did not like to have because it seems Schoo-
into advanced age. Then,
players riding the bench.
nover is living it. We, too,
perhaps, we can under-
A good teacher, he
can emulate elements of
stand how the person did
said, should have aver-
his behavior to live and
it, and how we may do it
age-to-above-average intel- age well:
ourselves.
Former Hermiston edu-
cator Bill Schoonover
seems to be such a person.
On the occasion of his 96th
birthday, he spoke to me of
his life.
He came to Hermiston
with his family when he
was 14 years old. He lived
here when it was possible
to know everyone in town.
The mayor, shop owners,
Bill Schoonover/Provided Photo
doctors and teachers were
Son Randy Schoonover, Bill (Irwin) Schoonover, son Dick
people he knew well. The
Schoonover and daughter Sue Parham gather for a family
editor of the Hermiston
photo. Wife Cleta Schoonover stands in front holding
Herald was a coach.
her grandchild.
Schoonover made his
name as an athlete. His
sports included football,
ligence. He should also be
1. Humor. Schoonover
basketball and baseball. He
a good listener. Attentive to does not seem to take him-
was the quarterback of his
his students, a good teacher self too seriously, despite
high school team. Look-
should be aware that his
his success.
ing back at his days play-
students are actually learn-
2. Humility. Though he
ing football, he said his high ing the material and not
calls himself “good,” he
school team would not have simply nodding along in
views his own greatest suc-
won two games without
blind agreement.
cess as his ability to help
him. In addition to being
A good coach should
others. When he was able to
quarterback, he believes he
have been a good athlete.
help other people achieve,
was the best punter in the
He married twice, as he
he was the happiest.
nation with the ability to
lost his fi rst wife when she
3. Humanity. Schoonover
kick a ball 60 yards.
was in her 40s. He has chil- loves his family and friends.
“I was that good,” he
dren, grandchildren and
He has actively tried to
said. According to Schoo-
great grandchildren.
remember them. He also
nover, he was not the only
There are many peo-
expresses empathy toward
person who believed this.
ple who think highly of
people less fortunate than
In 1945, he was drafted
Schoonover. Caren Sar-
he is. And when he votes,
into the Army, with the
gent, a devoted employee,
he chooses candidates who
intention of going to Japan.
praised Schoonover as
appear similarly kind.
The war ended with Japan’s being free of “arrogance or
There are other lessons
surrender before he could
judgement.”
that can be learned from
join the eff ort, though. But
“He is a comrade,” she
his life, but this may be
he did stay in the service a
said. (He is an) ‘all- Amer-
enough to meditate on for
couple of years.
ican’ athlete, honest coach, now. And if you remember
He believes the patrio-
hard worker, loyal friend,
Schoonover, seek him out.
tism of his day is being lost. extremely proud father,
He would probably love
In his day, he said, commu-
wears a heart of gold, and
to reminisce.
nity and competence were
is the only man I’ve met,
———
valued. Citizens would fol-
who truly appreciates
Erick Peterson is the
low leaders who proved
everything he has ever had
editor and senior reporter
their worth.
in his life.”
of the Hermiston Herald.
H
Despite downfalls, many
Oregonians are thankful for the
River Democracy Act
Sen. Ron Wyden deserves thanks for
creating the River Democracy Act. As
drought and fi re make so clear, protect-
ing watersheds is fundamental to counter-
ing the eff ects of climate change and pre-
serving and enhancing the capacity of our
landscapes to absorb, hold and release
water and resist fi re.
Several streams I (and others) nomi-
nated are included in the act. I had hoped
even more watersheds would be pro-
tected, but from tiny acorns mighty oaks
grow, hey? As drought and fi re persist, the
indispensability of even small waterways
becomes ever more evident and protec-
tions ever more prevalent, hopefully more
private landowners will see the advantages
to themselves and neighbors.
The act however leaves much scope for
irresponsibility by accommodating com-
mercial sales under the aegis of fi re pre-
vention. Too often the U.S. Forest Service
and Bureau of Land Management reveal
their bias toward commercial harvest over
ecological recovery by cutting large trees
and fi re-resistant stands that have more
environmental than commercial value.
Long-term ecological values are subordi-
nated to short-term local economic gain.
This needs to change.
The same applies to grazing livestock
in riparian zones. Many small and medi-
um-sized streams are severely degraded
by 125 years of cattle grazing. That’s why
more and more streams are enclosed by
barbed wire, to keep cows out. It would
help if the Act recognized this fact and
made some practical gesture to address
the issue.
Despite the criticisms above, I, like so
many Oregonians, are thankful to Wyden
for The River Democracy Act.
Wally Sykes
Joseph
Keep vaccine opinions to yourself
Umatilla County residents should fol-
low the old axiom of keeping our mouths
shut and just letting people think we’re
ignorant and not opening our mouths and
removing all doubt.
It’s embarrassing enough to have a mul-
titude of people living here foolish enough
to support a Trump presidency despite his
reputation for grift, endless lies and scan-
dalous and inappropriate interactions with
women. Now we have the resistance to
vaccinations. People splitting themselves
to prove a point — not recalling that they
themselves have been vaccinated already
just so they could attend public schools.
All of a sudden they want to treat their
bodies like a temple that shouldn’t be
subjected to a vaccine that might con-
tain ingredients they’re unaware of; all
between bites of a gas station corn dog,
an energy drink and a drag on a vaping
device or a cigarette.
I’ve seen the temples in this town. I’m
not impressed.
Also, businesses have to take a neutral
position when it comes to taking a pub-
lic political stand. Cease with the assump-
CORRECTIONS
Printed on
recycled
newsprint
VOLUME 114 • NUMBER 38
Andrew Cutler | Publisher • acutler@eomediagroup.com • 541-278-2673
Erick Peterson | Editor/Senior Reporter • epeterson@hermistonherald.com • 541-564-4536
Audra Workman | Multi-Media consultant • aworkman@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4538
Tammy Malgesini | Community Editor • community@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4532
Andy Nicolais | Page Designer • anicolais@eomediagroup.com
To contact the Hermiston Herald for news,
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The Hermiston Herald (USPS 242220, ISSN
8750-4782) is published weekly at Hermiston
Herald, 333 E. Main St., Hermiston, OR 97838,
(541) 567-6457.
and serious medical care. And break-
through cases remain — at least for now
— rare.
So far, according to the Oregon Health
Authority, more than 80% of the COVID-
19 cases in the state were in people who
were not vaccinated.
The old rules still apply today when it
comes to the COVID-19 virus and its vari-
ants. Avoid large crowds, wear a mask and
if you choose to do so, get vaccinated.
COVID-19 is going to be with us from
now on. We will have to learn to live it
with — much like we endure a fl u season
each year — and continue to use common-
sense measures to avoid infection.
Periodical postage paid at Hermiston, OR.
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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
will be corrected on that page. Corrections also are noted in
the online versions of our stories.
Please contact the editor at editor@hermistonherald.com or
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SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
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 250 words.
No personal attacks; challenge the opinion, not the person.
The Hermiston Herald reserves the right to edit letters for
length and for content.
tion that everyone agrees with your polit-
ical preferences. There are businesses that
I don’t agree with that I will still patron-
ize as long as they keep their opinions
to themselves. Go on Facebook, or other
social media sites, and whine about not
getting your way and you’ve lost my busi-
ness for good.
Dave Gracia
Hermiston
CityFest thankful to be a part of
Eastern Oregon
The Greater Hermiston CityFest was an
amazing event. The event had three objec-
tives: bring regional churches together, 63
churches and organizations participated;
learn how local churches can better serve
their communities; and provide a message
of hope.
Nearly 5,000 people attended the event
at Butte Park in Hermiston to enjoy the
events, which included activities for kids,
a BMX demonstration, amazing motor-
cycle jumping with aerobatics, national
known entertainment and a message of
hope from Andrew Palau.
Events leading up to and including fes-
tival week involved another 1,500 people.
An event of this caliber would not have
happened without the tremendous support
from many. We thank the cities of Hermis-
ton and Umatilla. They were so supportive
of the event, in so many ways. Of course,
without the close and professional collab-
oration of the Luis Palau Association, and
their dedicated and capable staff , the event
just would not have happened. Andrew
and Wendy Palau were amazing.
In addition, we appreciated the support
of Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmis-
ton and his offi cers for helping to keep
the event safe. Umatilla Electric Coopera-
tive and Good Shepherd Health Care Sys-
tem provided needed parking. The Herm-
iston Parks and Recreation staff were very
helpful. Plus, over 300 volunteers served
in many positions to help the events of
the week run smoothly. Actually, there
are so many to thank, for their contribu-
tions of time, their skills, or equipment, we
would fi ll up a page acknowledging them.
Thank you.
Lastly, an event free to the public, with
nationally known artists and entertainers,
and all the technical personnel that goes
along with an event of this magnitude,
requires signifi cant funding. We want to
thank all those who fi nancially contributed
to make the event happen. They apparently
understood the opportunities and benefi ts
that an event like this brought would bring
to region.
We hope that this is just a start of
greater community involvement by our
churches. We already have the “I Love My
City” activity in Hermiston. Hopefully that
movement will expand, not only in Herm-
iston, but into other local cities across the
region. We also know that hundreds heard
and responded to the message of hope that
our world so desperately needs.
We are humbled and grateful to belong
to such a caring and generous region who
values hope for everyone.
Mary Corp and Phil Hamm
CityFest co-chairs
Hermiston
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.
OBITUARY POLICY
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
published at no charge. These include information about
services. Obituaries may be edited for spelling, proper
punctuation and style.
Obituaries and notices may be submitted by email to obits@
hermistonherald.com, by email to obits@ hermistonherald.
com, placed via the funeral home or in person at the
Hermiston Herald or East Oregonian offi ces. For more
information, call 541-966-0818 or 1-800-522-0255, x221.