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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (March 6, 2002)
Page 2 The INDEPENDENT, March 6, 2002 © G O ... Public service is not personal preference Public service is not always easy, but it is a choice — and those who choose it need to remember they are working for the public, not just their own philosophical preferences. Though examples abound of public ser vants who line their pockets, most selfish public ser vants have a different vice: They line their egos. There are two good times to find out what a politician is really like — one is when he is caught in wrongdoing of some sort, the other is when money is tight. Difficult times are when private principles overwhelm public proclamations. With the state budget reeling from a recession, we have found out what the Republican leaders in Salem are like. They won’t increase taxes on cigarettes be cause poor people would buy fewer cigarettes and tax es would decrease. But it’s okay to reduce funds for the Oregon Health Plan, elder assistance and educa tion (These are the same people who publicly pro claimed support for education while seeking election.). They also claim fiscal responsibility while a.) taking principal from an education trust fund; b.) taking princi pal from the tobacco settlement fund for health care; and c.) pushing some payments into the next fiscal year and taking most of the cash reserve that was to provide operating capital at the start of the next fiscal year. Next year’s budget is $500 million in the hole be fore they even look at it. This is the “Buy Now, Pay Lat er” school of fiscal resonsibility!! At the idea of raising taxes, these same leaders say, “We shouldn’t raise taxes when the economy is bad." While the economy was booming, they said, “We shouldn’t raise taxes when the economy is good.” Well, if the state’s credit rating is reduced, we will lose a lot more than we would have with increased taxes. Our county commissioners aren’t playing shell games with our taxes, but they need to require a great deal more accountability from their department heads and themselves. We’re seeing a lot of money spent in the Road Department; lots of equipment, lots of em ployees, even office remodeling — but little pavement on the ground. Some county roads, including Mellinger and Knott St., aren’t even on the maintenance sched ule! Real fiscal responsibility is never easy but it is both satisfying and necessary. 1/36)051 & Q Q ......... Bet Says.. By Dale Webb, member Nehalem Valley Chapter Izaak Walton League & i ___ talking about conducting expensive testing of surrounding wildlife that may have come in con tact with the diseased animal. In fact, it has been Many of you may have been following the tu documented that wild elk came in contact with berculosis (TB) outbreak on the captive elk the infected herd on two occasions in the last ranch near John Day, in Eastern Oregon. While two years. Originally, ODF&W planned to con this outbreak is a long way from Vernonia, the duct an aerial gunning assault on the surround threat to hunting in all of Oregon is real. Elk ing deer and elk herds, and collect the animals ranching is currently in operation in 16 locations for testing. Originally slated for collection were around Oregon, including an operation in the 250 deer and 100 elk, but a review of the state Saddle Mountain Unit. statute prohibiting shooting from an aircraft does The history of the outbreak in the John Day not provide an exception in cases like the ongo herd, so far, is that only one elk has tested posi ing one. (This raises the question of how federal tive with TB and that was after the animal’s animal control has permission to shoot coyotes death. This animal had been tested for the dis from the air on the behalf of the cattle and sheep ease numerous times before and the results had industry?) Now a more laborious ground collec been negative. It is obvious that the TB test is tion method will have to be conducted and a vi deficient in detecting the disease in a timely able sampling of animals will not be collected be manner. Currently, testing is being done to de fore the wild deer and elk return to their summer termine the exact strain of tuberculosis in hopes ranges. If testing is positive for TB among the that the contact location can be determined. The wild deer and elk, a massive depopulation effort elk that tested positive came from an elk ranch in may be in the future to try and remove the in Montana that had been quarantined for a TB out fected animals. Hunters may be included this fall break. during deer and elk seasons by having samples At the time of the discovery of the outbreak taken from their kills at mandatory check stations there was talk of destroying the remaining elk in the surrounding hunt units. The cost for all this and cattle from the herd that the infected elk co extra effort will most likely come from sportsmen, habited with. At press time none of the animals who fund ODF&W. had been killed, but two more elk died of un It is interesting to note that ODF&W is in known causes. If the animals are depopulated charge of regulating elk ranching in Oregon. the ranch owners will be compensated for their Funding for this operation comes from both elk losses at fair market value. A prize bull elk could ranchers and sportsmen. Currently, each elk be worth $10,000 and the total cost for depopu rancher pays $5.00 per year for a license, bring lating both the elk and cattle herd involved could ing in a grand total of $80, while sportsmen pick be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. This up the rest of the tab, estimated at $25,000 per cost will be borne by you, the taxpayer. Please see page 3 Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife is also
