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Opinions
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—LETTERS—
Scales Of Justice Seem Strangley Out Of Balance
To The Record-Courier:
An editorial in last Friday's Baker City Herald paper was excellent. The whole story about Brian Cole and the minor female was simple and straight forward in the beginning. The police work was near perfect. Cole and the girl were found parked in the country after dark with a bottle of booze. She was charged with possession of alcohol by consumption. I believe that means that she was drinking the booze.
Then the legal profession entered the scene. Cole's lawyer began an incredibly long series of stalling tactics but as the trial date finally neared we learn that the case has largely been solved by a legal maneuver the judge is calling "civil compromise" and only the charges of furnishing alcohol to a minor would come to trial later. In many other jurisdictions "civil compromise" would be known by another name. For instance, in Chicago it would be called bribery.
But wait. On page 3A of this same newspaper we learn that the furnishing alcohol to a minor charges have been "settled" and so the trial has been cancelled. It is not postponed. It has been cancelled. Finis!
But wait again. On page 2A of this same paper a 24 year old male has been given a jail sentence and fined $500 for furnishing alcohol to a minor.
The scales of justice seem strangely out of balance locally.
Carl R. Kostol
Baker City
Monetizing Of Debt Actually Creates Debt As Saleable Instrument
To The Record-Courier:
This year of 2010, the voters have approved of “monetizing” debt instruments of Measures 68, 69 and 72. Page 40 of 2010 ballot title 72, paragraph 1, article; to be known as article x1-P to read, “State constitution, as amended; the credit of the State of Oregon may be loaned and indebtedness incurred to finance the cost of.”
This is more infringements on the “enumerated powers” of the 9th amendment of U.S. Constitutional law; Article 1, Section 10 states, “No State shall emit bills of credit; make anything but gold and silver a tender in payment of debts.” (Monetizing debt-bills of credit).
“Monetizing” debt instruments such as “bonds” are the sale on the “credit” of Oregon is a “fraud” perpetrated as a form of “servitude” such as the increase of DMV files to circumvent of the measure #5 (1994) voter’s approved initiative of State Constitutional law conflicts required voter’s approval.
By “Executive fiat” (rubber stamp) the United States Constitutional law is under a “Totalitarian-ization” “attack” as an infringement.
Article 1, Section 10 of United States Constitution expressed the dollar as to “units of measure” (currency) in “gold and silver” coined by the “U.S.” mint backing.
By doing this, objectively, the framers “intent” was to make money the “property” of the people, not a property of the “State” (or Gov).
“Monetizing of debt” does just the opposite, it creates debt as a “saleable instrument” plus interest at a discretionary rate-arbitrarily, i.e. loan sharking, etc. This is what the “Tea Party” is supposed to be about. It violates voter’s approval of Measure 5 by ballot, 72. Pretty sleazy I’d say.
Bruce Parke
Sumpter, Ore.
Save Our Economy
To The Record-Courier:
The election is over and all the politicians seemed to agree that we have to stimulate the economy and create jobs. We heard no good explanations of how this was to be accomplished. Our country is facing economic breakdown unless we do something soon.
Most politicians now realize that we cannot go on spending more than we earn forever so the talk about cutting expenses. Good but where does the money come from to carry on the rest of our needs.
Stimulating Wall Street and printing money won’t get it. That only postpones the inevitable.
To solve the problem we must first understand why we have the troubles. The answer is “Freedom”. Our country was once the best most prosperous place on earth. This was made possible because we had land and the freedom to recover its produce and resources which created new wealth and fueled expanding manufacturing industries that provided necessities and niceties of modern life.
In the guise of protecting the environment our basic industries and the people who recover our produce and resources have lost the freedom to recover these vital necessities of life.
We have regulated ourselves out of business and are living on borrowed money and spending the previously accumulated wealth of our nation to buy the things that we will not let ourselves produce.
If we really want to save our country, it can be done, if our leaders have the guts to do it. The wrong headed policies and regulations that prevent us from going to work must be reversed or put on hold until our economy recovers.
For example! We estimate that in the Baker area there are approximately 148 small mine operations being held up by F. S. and BLM that could be producing. The economic impact of mining is high because it has a multiplier effect of $33 benefit for every dollar worth of minerals recovered. (US Geological Survey, Mineral Information Service).
If each of these mines recovered ½ oz. of gold a day this would mean $650 x 20 productive days per month = $13,000 x 30 = $390,000 benefit per mine 148 mine x $390,000 = $57,720, 000 additional new wealth would be added to the economy per month. Much of this would be spent locally. If regulations were relaxed statewide or over the mineral producing west the economic impact would be a major stimulus to our entire economy. Mining is important! Help save our country.
Kenneth Anderson
Mining Geologist Eng. Ret.
Baker City, Ore.
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—EDITORIAL—
Newspaper Is A Day Late, But It’s Never Too Late
To Honor Our Veterans
You didn't receive this newspaper on Thursday this week because the post office is closed in honor of our Veterans. No complaints here, we agree that Veteran's Day is and should be a Federal holiday, and gladly accept that we are publishing a day late because of it. However, there is one thing that has always bothered us about Veteran's Day...
We have one day of the year set aside where people are reminded to take a moment out of their busy lives to remember our nation's veterans.
We have one day set aside to honor those who have died fighting for our country.
We have one day set aside to offer condolences to their widows and widowers, parents, brothers and sisters.
We have one day set aside to think about those who were seriously injured protecting our freedoms, and the struggles they will continue to face the rest of their lives.
We have one day set aside to show appreciation for those currently in Iraq and Afghanistan serving our country.
We have one day set aside to ponder on how we might help the families of those serving.
We have one day set aside to do all of this, yet we spend many, many days every year complaining, discussing and arguing about the the politics and the politicians responsible, rather than focusing on the people who answered the call when our country needed them.
So, even though you will receive this editorial the day after Veteran's Day, it doesn't matter because you can offer help, gratitude, prayers, good wishes, positive vibes or whatever your beliefs dictate to our Veterans any time, any day, because the men and women who serve our country are Veteran's every day of their lives, not just one day a year. (DS)
—Letters To The Editor—
Appreciate Article And Sponsors
To The Record-Courier:
The Wolf Creek Agility Group would like to thank The Record-Courier for a wonderful article about our first Dog Agility Fun Match and the following sponsors: Bronson Lumber-Baker City, Oregon Trail Livestock Supply, Curves, Pepsi Corp. La Grande and The Equestrian 4-H club who provided food and drink to competitors and spectators at a very reasonable rate. Everyone who volunteered their time and efforts deserve a big pat on the back. We hope to make this an annual event.
Carolyn Flynn
Baker City, Ore.
Iranian Nuclear Weapons Threat
To The Record-Courier:
Although Iran continues to claim its nuclear development program is designed for peaceful purposes, U.S. intelligence services believe Iran is developing nuclear weapons.
A number of countries have nuclear weapons, but these countries are considered stable and they fall within the parameters of mutual deterrence and rational conduct, except for North Korea. We are currently working with Russia, China and other Asian countries to attempt to control North Korea’s nuclear threats.
Iran poses a significant risk to use nuclear weapons because of its unstable leadership. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has proclaimed that Israel, the U.S. and other Western countries are Iran’s enemies, and could come under attack by Iran depending on conditions in the region and the world. The Iranian Defense Ministry recently published information on a nuclear attack strategy to be used against the U.S. and Israel and possibly other countries.
Many Arab countries in the Middle East are wary of Iran’s intentions and are concerned with the regional dominance of a nuclear armed Iran.
Economic sanctions imposed on Iran have not deterred it from developing nuclear weapons. Time is running out and the options to neutralize the Iranian nuclear weapons program are becoming more limited.
Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH
Charter Unplugging KTVB
To The Record-Courier:
Here we go again – Charter is unplugging the connection with KTVB in Boise as of Dec. 1! And they just took out our walk-in-office!
I emailed Doug Armstrong at KTVB to ask why and he replied that the Baker City area is assigned to the Portland market and KTVB has no control over what Charter does. He stated that KTVB provides their signal to Charter at no charge. I contacted Charter by email chat and got no answers, except they are going to disconnect.
They say we get the same programming from KGW out of Portland but that is just not true. No Boise State games, no early news, no early programming, incorrect or inaccurate weather reports, almost no local news…the list goes on.
If you want Charter to continue broadcasting KTVB here, please contact Charger at www.charter.com (go to contact us, then chat now – be patient!) or call 1-888-438-2427 and be prepared to jump through their hoopes. Let them know we want to keep the KTVB signal! We have little time, so do it now if you can.
Cherrie Carlson-Conklin
Baker City
Thank You Volunteers And Biker City Riders
To The Record-Courier:
I would like to say a big thank you to the Biker City Riders (BCR)and all the volunteers who came out to Settler’s Park on the 27th for the Pumpkin Painting Party. Thank you all for coming out and giving your time for our residents. We appreciate each and every one of you.
Thank you to BCR for the photos you handed out to the residents and for the special book as well. The kindness you all show is comforting to know that people out there still do care about the community and who lives in the community.
Nichole Edvalson
Baker City
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—Letters To The Editor—
Thank You To Fire Departments
To The Record-Courier:
A much appreciated THANK YOU to all the fire departments and everyone who responded so quickly to our shed fire last week! Their quick response prevented the spread of a potentially explosive situation.
We know these community volunteers are always ready and willing to immediately drop what they’re doing and come to the rescue of neighbors in need. There are too many of them to name personally and recognize, but they should all be commended and supported for their unselfish acts of action, because you never know when rapid response may be necessary.
Thank you!
The Stevenson Family
P.S. The pigs and chickens are doing fine.
Thanks To Ward Family For Donating Stage Coach
To The Record-Courier:
Thank you Ralph and Alvin Ward and the Ward family for donating the yellow stage coach to the Baker Heritage Museum. It was so much fun to ride in it with Ron Colton’s Percherons pulling it. Even though we were on paved streets it was a very bumpy ride. Imagine what it would have been like on the hills coming into Baker Valley!
The Heritage Museum is closed for the season, but will be open during the Thanksgiving weekend. We are so fortunate that Alice Warnock, Carolyn Sherrieb and others had the foresight to save the Old “Nat” and convert it to this great museum.
Frances Burgess
Baker City, Ore.
Please Help Bail Me Out!
To The Record-Courier:
I'm excited to tell you that I have chosen to serve as an MDA Jailbird and am being Locked-Up...that's right, I'm going behind bars to help Jerry's Kids. In order to be released on good behavior, I need your help to raise my “bail.”
My bail has been set at $1,600.00 and if everyone I know makes a tax-deductible donation, I will reach my goal quickly! This will help MDA send two local kids with muscle-wasting diseases to Summer Camp in McCall, ID for one week.
Visit https://www.joinmda.org/baker city2010/jlong/ to make a secure, online donation before December 9, 2010. This is a fun event benefiting individuals and families served by MDA who are affected by neuromuscular disease. I am honored to partner with MDA, and help this important cause.
Thanks in advance for your help. Together we'll make a difference!
Jenny Long
Baker City Planner
Rancher Comments On Confidential Letter From Horizon
To The Record-Courier:
On April 1, 2009, my husband and I received a letter marked “Confidential” from Valerie Franklin, project manager from Horizon touting the honesty, transparency and quality of their company. They stated they had read our letters of opposition to the Elkhorn Wind Farm but that they would like to offer us “financial gain” if we would basically just shut up and be a good neighbor to the Antelope project.
Considering the letter we received, the corrupt political maneuvers in Union County, the boycotts against local businesses, the timing of the SIP passing, and the appearance of underhanded payoffs, I would hardly call Horizon an honest and transparent company doing quality work. They are not concerned about our planet’s “green” energy, they are concerned about their company’s “green” income. If not for our tax dollars paying 30% subsidies, they wouldn’t exist.
Horizon has raped our beautiful landscape and divided friends, neighbors and businesses with their greed and corruption. They will leave our wonderful valley without a care of what they leave behind except for their financial gain. I am a 6th generation rancher in the Powder Valley that does love our viewscape. That’s why we live and ranch here. We have provided honest jobs (more than the Elkhorn project), and income to businesses in both Union and Baker counties for generations. The real and honest facts have been reported multiple times from sources who have nothing to gain financially. Very few permanent jobs, property values decreased, impacted wildlife, viewshed forever ruined, hydropower process disrupted, dramatic increase in our local power rates, unresolved health concerns, foreign owned companies financially gaining from our tax dollars, and the footprint of roads, erosion, weeds and noise will impact us forever.
Cheryl Martin
North Powder
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—EDITORIAL—
The Leek Is Back!
This issue of The Record-Courier is our treat or our trick, whichever way you want to look at it, to you.
In case you missed it last time, The Leek is The Record-Courier’s version of The Onion. For those of you unfamiliar with The Onion, it is a “fake news” source featuring national, international, local and entertainment articles. Although the articles may deal with current issues and events, they are totally bogus.
We have scattered joke articles throughout the newspaper and are leaving it up to you, the reader, to figure out which ones are the fakes. If you can spot all of the The Leek articles, bring in a list of the headlines to receive a free copy of Helen M. Rand’s “Whiskey Gulch.”
Books will not be mailed and you must come in to The Record-Courier office, 1718 Main Street to submit your entry and pick up your prize. Hurry in with your answers because supplies are limited and it will be first come, first serve for those who have the correct list of headlines.
Any resemblance to people alive, dead or actual events in The Leek articles is purely coincidental because we really did make this stuff up! No animals, people, plants, minerals or police officers were harmed in the writing of these articles, but at times our writers did experience brain wedgies and severe attacks of the sillies. However, we expect to be fully recovered by next week.
We hope you have as much fun reading the articles as we had writing them.
—Letters To The Editor—
Disappointed By Warner-Led Commission Handling Of Travel Management Plan
To The Record-Courier:
We have choices to consider in the upcoming elections. I have been dismally disappointed in the handling of the Travel Management Plan, taken by our county court. 6,000 signatures were gathered in very short time, urging a stand against road closures. Using 6,000 as a comparative figure, the Baker City Herald has a circulation of 3,199; or another figure, in 2002 Mr. Fred Warner, was elected county chair with a margin of less than 200 votes.
Open public domain diminishes daily. Many, in fact thousands, feel that a stand of “no more road closures,” to be quite a realistic stance. Movements such as the Tea Party are born, when 6,000 people are recklessly ignored.
A Warner-led Commission found many forest roads, in their judgment, weren’t being traveled. The commission feels these roads will be valuable as bargaining chips when closures are implemented. The logic here evades me. Who believes the Forest Service has their sights on closing roads not being traveled. During my lifetime they’ve managed to close roads after road, one after another, my family and countless others routinely traveled.
My vote goes to who I feel is representing local interests. I felt the Travel Management Plan was the biggest issue to emerge since the Endangered Species Act sank the timber industry. The mining industry is now facing the same fate as the timber industry.
Coordination, might help, might not. I attended a few meetings. Coordination was introduced to the county early in the travel management issue. Knowledgeable individuals were ignored when they volunteered to bring the county up to speed on the concept. Common sense would tell you to reach for the life vest that possibly offered a chance to preserve this areas culture and natural resource industries.
Thus being said, Mr. Fred Warner does not have my support in the upcoming election.
Wanda Ballard
Baker City, Ore.
Election Time Nears
To The Record-Courier:
The elections are nearing and it seems a good time to review my voting experience and add some insight. My first vote was in 1940 and I only missed a few votes since with excused absences in WW II.
The recent vote on Obama's medical care bill is frightening. To have the congress rush this bill so fast that they were voting on it until 3 a.m. with the president waiting in his office later the same day with his pen poised to sign it adds to the fright. Further fright was added when their radical leader, Nancy Pelosi, urged her colleagues to "Pass the bill so that we will be able to read it". This bill covered thousands of pages and virtually no one had been able to read any of it. This is a terrible way to pass any legislation.
The interest in medical care by the politicians on the radical left is easily explained by their adherence to the Karl Marx Manifesto which explains to disciples how to control a population. The first item in his Manifesto is that if you can control their access to medical care then you control the people. This has led to a lot of political activity. One fairly recent instance was Hillary's attempt to produce a medical care bill. How did she get this much power? No wife in history even came close. She no doubt demanded this of Bill in return for not taking him to divorce court over all of his greatly publicized womanizing escapades. The main thing that I remember about her proposed bill, Hillary-care, was that it contained the word "penalty" over 900 times. Most of the penalties were against doctors but with some for hospitals and insurance companies.
The problem as I see it today is that we have too many people who are really Socialists but present themselves as Democrats because Socialists have never done well in getting elected. Their best example is Norman Thomas who ran as a Socialist repeatedly for many years but never even came close to winning an election. Congressman Ben Davis was the lone exception but his time is long past.
Do I think that all Democrats are Socialists? No. I believe most Democrats are just Democrats. Our problem is the Socialists posing as Democrats and working themselves into important positions of influence. All Democrats are not Socialists but a lot of Socialists pose as Democrats.
Carl Kostol
Baker City, Ore.
Clean Water In Watersheds All About Nationalizing Riparian Areas
Letter to the Editor:
In reading the ballot title 76-funding the environmental “drag on,” by voter’s approval, after the year 2014, any one confronted with the sage hen and wolf habitat by putting nature first and people last and the act of nationalizing (control) the air you breath, water you drink, and the land you walk on, as controlled by the government office should vote against this worst of worst measure. The myth about clean drinking water in all water sheds is really about nationalizing “riparian” areas along perennial streams, as well as dry washes. Even though water could look “clear and clean” most people prefer to drink “bottled water”, just look at most food marts selling bottled water. (Cholera is present in clear water streams.)
This measure is/was a “Trojan Horse” designed by a “Czar” (government office) to take control of federal lands and use there of that violates all kinds of U.S. codes, laws, Supreme court’s rulings, uses of federal lands by congress and various constitutional infringements, most noted being: Article 1, Section 9 states: “No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States; and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall without the consent of congress, accept of any present emolument, office, or title of any kind whatever, from any king, prince or foreign state.”
Also; under Article 1, Section 10: “No state (1st paragraph) grants any title of nobility.” A Czar is“nobility” as a government office and cabinets.
Back in the 1970’s there was a “scheme” by States (Nevada) to take control (covet) of federal lands within State’s borders called “Sage brush rebellion.”
In Nevada 85% of land are federal lands. The agirian (land) owners are mostly big stock ranches and mega mining giants holding patented mines of Nevada’s vast mineral wealth, excluding the casinos. The idea was (rebellion) instigated by a small (then) population to vote by State ballot under the 10th amend, Bill of Rights-US Court law (misconception) that the federal government shouldn’t “own” lands in western states, lands where most minerals are found. This “myth” about States 10th amendment right tends to ignore what the 9th amendment states. It states the “enumeration” set out in the U.S. Constitution law, that is the Art. IV of the “property clause” puts U.S. Congress, not the State’s legislature, to dispose of (and manage via federal agents).
Once Nevada got citizen’s misguided support (mob rule?) (democracy at work?) the Nevada’s big land owners and State’s public officials would set the comprehensive use’s of the people’s “public domain” in violation of the “public trust” of Art. IV, section 3, 2nd paragraph as “enumerated” powers of constitution law. In another word misinformed (liberals?) citizens to shoot themselves in the foot?
Measure 76 does just that by making the governor’s office a “Czar” and it’s cabinets an oligarchy putting the D.E.Q. headquarters at head of the Eco Gestapo’s headquarters and a “Trojan horse” to a comprehensive land use policy. Vote no on measure 76, putting nature first, people last.
Bruce Parke
Sumpter
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—Letters To The Editor—
Clarification
In a letter to the editor by Gary Dielman in last week’s edition of The Record-Courier it was stated that former City Councilor Andrew Bryan had attended a “pizza and beer party” hosted by Councilor Pope. Bryan said he did not attend a “party,” he had stopped by Pope's office after noticing cars in the office parking lot on his way home from a meeting, and had only been there 10-15 minutes prior to when the incident with Bland and Christie took place. Also, Dave Davis was not involved in a “pizza and beer party.” He had stopped by Pope’s office for a short visit, and had left before the incident with Bland and Christie took place.
Oh, Ohs Abound
To The Editor:
You know in looking at all our wonderful world of politics and how different things are run whether it be government officials, city council, elections, etc.,does anyone really know the true meaning of corruption in any of these various levels of our misnomers whatever they maybe?
Then we have our wolves, cougars, etc., in comparison, everyone seems to have a language that they can understand in all these crisises. Seems to me the wolf howls, the cougar roars, or they can be silent predators and sneak up when you are least prepared for defense. Then there is my favorite the groundhog himself, he stays underground until whatever passes, and then predicts the weather at that. You might say he cages himself in from all the chatter, etc. with all the layers of dirt, etc. No wonder he can rest peacefully and let whatever pass by kinda of like roll it off his back, so to speak, and that’s really hard for some to do. I’m sure I would be a disturbance to him if I became a predator and disturbed his domain. I’m no different in that issue.
So rattling one’s cage on whatever seems to be with the above issues, and all, no wonder things are the way they are and in most cases unintended business never really gets accomplished whether it be for the good or likewise because personalities, etc. get in the way of those issues. And not to mention with all the lies, deceptions, promises, and last but not least the games that are placated as such. Then they talk of cyberbullying, one wonders if that is any more so than the word corruption at that or one in the same.
No wonder there are a lot of oh, ohs in these issues as some would put it. Now even the issue with the groundhog, he has it made of course, without all the issues going on in what people are trying to create with taxes and all. He would be beside him self for sure. Why can’t fair be fair and everyone be treated equal even for the quality of life, etc. Making allowances should be for everyone in general not making a division as such to make whatever issues more confusing at that. Even the high price of coffee now, almost $12 a can, doubt we will see the price of $4.99 again for our favorite brands. Coupons are far and in between for coffee as well. That would really take the cake if I had to change my logo to something else and we coffee drinkers would have to change our ways to forever cease in drinking coffee, that’s another oh, oh...bottom’s up.
Coffee Anyone?
Brenda Dickison
Baker City
Kitz Keeps The Money In Oregon
To The Record-Courier:
Chris Dudley is attacking John Kitzhaber for appointing one of Oregon’s best financial minds to the Oregon Investment Council.
Let’s see what actually happened:
Kitzhaber borrowed money to buy a house from the company where he maintained his personal retirement account. The company loaned the money at an interest rate favorable to the company, getting as security not just a mortgage on the house, but a lien on the investment assets it controlled. A great deal for the lender: good rate of return, responsible borrower, plenty of security. (The lender’s judgment proves sound; Kitz pays it off early.)
Two and a half years later (that’s not days, not weeks, not months – years), as governor, Kitz must fill a vacancy. The position is unpaid. It demands immense amount of free time, to benefit not the Governor, but the state. It calls for someone with investment experience and sound financial judgment. He persuades the CEO of the company who made money off him (not the other way around!) to take it on. A Republican-controlled Senate confirms the appointment, and the CEO subsequently serves with distinction.
Contrast that with what we know about Mr. Dudley: While earning more than $1 million a year, and living in Oregon, he bought a house in Washington.
He: 1. Continued to own the Oregon house. 2. Kept his voter's registration at the Oregon house. 3. Kept his driver's license --and the address thereon -- at the Oregon house. 4. Kept his car registration -- and the address thereon – at the Oregon house. 5. Kept his mailing address for paychecks at the Oregon house. He even kept food in the refrigerator in the Oregon kitchen, and clothes in the Oregon closet. However, he claimed, for tax purposes, to live in Washington, thereby dodging paying thousands of dollars of Oregon taxes.
Then, he spent the next 15 years currying relationships with Oregon’s financial upper crust, personally benefiting by making lots of money off them, and is now getting all kinds of campaign money from them. And he wants us to see something improper in what Governor Kitzhaber did?
HELLO?!
R.P. Joe Smith, Lawyer
Portland
Relay For Life A Success
To The Record-Courier:
Now that the 2010 RELAY FOR LIFE season has officially ended, here are some numbers to ponder: 300+ - number of 2010 Relay For Life Participants in Baker City; 75+ - the number of cancer survivors and care givers honored at the Survivor Dinner; 25 - the number of Relay Teams participating in the 2010 Relay For Life in our community; 17 - the number of Relay teams who raised over $1,000.00 each; 7 - the number of Relay teams who raised over $2,500.00 each; 4 the number of Relay teams who raised over $5,000.00 each; 10 - the number of individual Relay participants who alone raised over $1,000.00 each (known as the "Grand Club"); 65+ - the number of local businesses providing cash support through corporate sponsorship and in-kind support through generous donations of goods and services; 10 - the age of our youngest team captains (whose team, by the way, raised over $1,800) - WAY TO GO HAINES KIDS FISHIN' FOR A CURE; 12,164 - dollars raised by YOUTH teams from South Baker School (Captain Hannah Lien), Baker Middle School (Co-Captains Erin Bachman and Gracie Hardy), Haines Elementary School (Co-Captains Kate Jasenko and Josi Ash) and Baker High School Interact Club (Co-Captains Rachel Knadle and Ellen Jampolsky); 71,638.03 - total dollars raised at the 2010 Baker City Relay For Life to fight cancer; and finally, 400,000 - the number of dollars raised in our effort to end cancer through Relay For Life events in Baker County since 2005.
Our Relay For Life Teams and committee worked incredibly hard all Spring and Summer. We sold everything we could think of that wasn't nailed down - or isn't illegal or immoral. We held events in the community including coffee hours, a high tea, the Father Daughter Dance, Ladies' Night Out, Bowl For Life, Dog Days of Summer, car washes, rummage sales, pop can drives, the bike ride, book sales, flower sales, photo-op with Buzz & Woody at the movie opening, etc., etc, etc, ... all to do our part in this quest .... to END CANCER as a major health concern.................... AND WE HAD A HECK OF A GOOD TIME DOING IT!
But more than that, at our Relay For Life Event, we gave our brothers and sisters in this community an opportunity to CELEBRATE our local cancer survivors, we provided an opportunity to REMEMBER and grieve those lost to cancer, and in all of this, we are taking a stand to FIGHT BACK and not be beat. I am incredibly proud to have been a part of this effort and success and I am incredibly proud to live in Baker City because we are a community TAKING UP THE FIGHT! Every day new things are happening to make cancer a less-deadly disease... just look to Carmen Ott for a wonderful example of early detection and rapid treatment.
If you are interested in becoming more involved in the RELAY FOR LIFE MOVEMENT, please call me any time at 541-519-4026. I would be glad to visit with you about how rewarding this experience is.
Kelly Hardy
Relay For Life of Baker City
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—Editorial—
This We Think.......
The Story Lady
We have fond memories of Mary Heriza. Even those who did not know her personally felt a special connection to her while listening to the "Story Lady" on the radio every Saturday morning. And if you did have the pleasure of meeting her in person, the warm, kind, caring, selfless personally she radiated on the radio was not simply a persona, it is truly who she was. We have no doubts that this remarkable woman who touched the lives of so many is in heaven this very moment entertaining the angels with her stories while watching over her listeners still in Baker Valley.
Salt Lick
Kudos to Whit Deschner and his helpers for pulling off another successful Great Salt Lick Contest! We admire this man for not only creating a very successful fund raiser for Parkinson's disease, but a fun event for the community to enjoy. Whit truly is one of the best examples we know of taking life's lemons and making lemonade. You inspire us Whit and we love you for it!
Draft Horses
There are so many dedicated groups in our community that it would be difficult to list them all, but one that stands out from this past weekend is the Eastern Oregon Driving and Draft Horse Association. What a great service they are providing to the community with their draft horse shows and demonstrations. With groups like this, not only will our history live on, but we can see, participate in and expose our children to a part of our heritage that they may have never known other than reading about it in books. And thanks to dedicated individuals like them the larger horses will continue to remain a part of our current culture.
—Letters To The Editor—
Glad To See Huntington News Again
To The Record-Courier:
I read the Courier thoroughly, and I'm glad to see the News articles from Huntington resumed in Courier, after an interim of absence.
I don't know the reporter but appreciate her taking time to report Huntington Happenings.
The article and picture of the steam locomotive she submitted on page 7 of Sept. 16, 2010, issue is excellent.
I could almost hear the hiss of the steam from the train when I viewed the picture. To learn that the special locomotive stopped in Huntington is news worthy. It whisked right on by Baker City.
Thank you Dottie Jensen.
Phyllis Badgley
Baker City, Ore.
Dutch Oven Cookoff Was Tasty
To The Record-Courier:
Yes, decided to write another letter to the editor since something is brewing in the mind of one’s eye so to speak....first off would like to thank Debi Bainter and those heading up the Dutch Oven Cookoff, for asking me to be one of the judges, etc. Everyone had excellent taste in the Dutch Oven Cook off itself. But we were really impressed and it was very hard and close to judge at that. People from Elgin, were the winners. Seems like there were two different overall representations of the real true times, and the more modern in observing the difference in the booths that were participating.
I had never really tasted the true art of Dutch oven cooking and it was an experience. The desserts were awesome, and so was the food and bread that went with the meal planning. Knowing that it was the first time here for the people from Elgin, we can look forward to them returning next with something new and different for whatever they prepare for a meal, and other contestants as well.
Now it seems here lately that I have been noticing a collection of peanuts around the premises....and not to mention seeing the busy body himself making the rounds even on those high wires as such and thru the yard and off to grandma’s house we go. He leaves his remnants scattered here and there and not to mention sharing some with our dog even though it is just the shell itself. For being the kind of critter that he is, he isn’t keeping track of his dominion and storing his food supply for the above normal winter expected this year from what the Almanac is saying. He will be hurting at that for his food consumption. At least he can survive wherever he makes tracks in and around the neighborhood. It seems like there are always people feeding them to make sure they stay around at least they don’t have to worry about a budget crisis, other than the ones providing the food for them.
Now on another note, I would like to thank my wonderful employers that I have had for 20 years of cleaning, in letting me pursue my ironing services etc. I have done my time in cleaning for more than a few thru the years and will just be pursuing my Pressing Services even more so. I started out doing this for them and it seems to be what I do best and with winter coming on and all I can join the groundhog himself and see whether or not he will accept any new residents. Might be something different to take up with coffee at that.
Coffee Anyone?
Brenda Dickison
Baker City
A Report Card For Washington D.C.
To The Record-Courier:
The upcoming congressional election does not appear to be a valid time for simply voting along party lines. There is far too much at stake.
Before votes are cast, voters should examine the records of incumbents and the goals and promises of their challengers in the areas of: Health Care Reform, Deficit Spending, Trillion of Dollars of Debt, Bigger Government vs. Smaller, Immigration and the monitoring of our Borders, use of Earmarks and more. Are their records and promises focused on the best interests of their constituents or merely their agendas?
In each race, grade candidates according to past performance or promised performance in each category, A through F. Then cast your vote for the one with the highest grade average.
Try it. The people can redirect government through the vote!
Robert Heriza
Baker City
Brocato’s Firing ‘All Consuming Event In Pope’s Political Life’
To The Record-Courier:
Ever since the firing of Steve Brocato, Baker City Council meetings have continually devolved into Milo Pope’s public hissy fits about that and associated events.
That single subject has consumed Pope to an extent that seems pathological.
Yet Pope wants us to believe he can effectively conduct the city’s business, even with the burden of that huge chip he carries on his shoulder.
Brocato has been replaced, and the ground didn’t open up and swallow our fair (if haplessly governed) city.
Pope’s (and City Hall’s) attempted recall of two council members failed by a wide margin, proof that Baker residents, if not exactly putting the stamp of approval on Brocato’s dismissal, are at least willing to move on.
But now Pope has decided to hold counsel with his pal Brocato and other of Brocato’s supporters instead of conducting the city’s business in an actual council meeting.
Worse yet, he wants us to believe that Brocato’s firing---this all-consuming event in Pope’s political life---never comes up in conversation when he’s hanging out with his old buddy.
More likely Pope is scheming at every opportunity to help the Brocato team and, at the very least, embarrass his enemies in Brocato’s upcoming lawsuits.
If he ever possessed them, Pope has lost the perspective and temperament to govern.
As a former judge, he should be ashamed. Would half of the nonsense he’s exhibited this past year have been tolerated from someone in his courtroom? Doubtful, given his explosive nature, self-righteous attitude and immense ego.
Frankly, I pray he isn’t typical of the quality of people we have chosen to carry on the legacy of Solomon around these parts. He reportedly can’t be trusted not to urinate in the downtown flowerbeds, let alone engage in rational legal thought and sound decision-making.
Even if Pope is merely thumbing his nose at the council (and the city) by either not showing up or being a disruptive force at meetings, he needs to step down.
He won’t do this, of course. According to his own words, he’s “having too much fun.”
How nice for him. How sad for Baker.
Doug Darlington
Baker City, Ore.
Is Pope Having Fun Yet?
To The Record-Courier:
In a letter to the editor (this issue), Doug Darlington wrote, “Pope needs to step down." But he doubts Baker City Councilor Milo Pope will do so, because, quoting Pope, he's "having too much fun."
Just what does Pope consider fun?
Pope must be having fun complaining about the perfectly legal firing of City Manager Steve Brocato, since he constantly natters on and on about it.
Does he consider it fun campaigning to have two of his colleagues on city council recalled? Was it fun spending $1,604.04 of his funds on behalf of the Recall Dorrah and Calder Committee to publish his wordy defense of Brocato and condemnation of four city councilors for firing Brocato?
Was Pope having fun on the evening of Aug. 24 at a pizza and beer party he hosted for Brocato, former Assistant City Manager Jennifer Watkins, former City Councilor Andrew Bryan, former Mayor Jeff Petry, and Baker City computer consultant Dave Davis, when Pope and buddies knew he should have been at a city council meeting welcoming our new City Manager Mike Kee?
Let’s look at some other fun activities that happened in connection with Pope’s pizza party. Did Pope have fun charging across Washington Street to irately give a citizen a piece of his mind, when he discovered he’d been caught on camera skipping the city council meeting to host a party?
Was it fun for Pope behaving like a schoolyard bully by straddling the front tire of the bicycle of the citizen with the camera, so that the citizen could not avoid listening to Pope’s self-righteous indignation about being “spied on” from across the street?
But it probably wasn’t fun for Pope, when he learned he’d been caught on camera earlier that evening watering a tree beside his law office, when he should have used the toilet inside.
Are constituents having fun observing the antics of this sitting city councilor and former circuit court judge?
Gary Dielman
Baker City
Political Grandstanding?
To The Record-Courier:
In reading the article about Sen. Wyden’s visit to Eastern Oregon, and “demand” that he wants a “sub-category” by his fellow (comrads) democrats in their “arbitrary” reasoning to re-write the 40 CFR 440-EPA’s final (1988) sub-category ruling? Is this just political “grandstanding” by the “liberals” to liberate the Durkee quarry’s lime plant from “Eco” laws that the demos themselves have created in which “Hard Rock”mines that create “toxic wastes” are included in a sub-category Rule? Isn’t this putting Revenue enhancements ahead of the “Eco” systems in which the party bosses are proud of to save the planet from human degradation (anti-mining) as a priority? They want it both ways -- to have the cake and eat it at the same time? Arbitrary? discretionary? enlightenment??
At the same time they want to “exclude” the “sub-category” ratings (exclusionary rule) to small scale “placer” mines that process less than 1500 cubic yards of “pay gravel” per year under sub-category “M” of 440.140 (b) states “provisions of this sub-part “M” are not applicable to any mines (placer) or beneficiation process which process less than 1500 cubic yards of ore per year”!
In other words the “Demos” want to control small scale placers via a permitting and fee” or a (permit) “permission” to work small scale placer claims and the “fees” are the instigators to permission to a “right to work” and “pay taxes” (fees) on the “Right to Work” that the EPA’s rules doesn’t consider (1500 cubic yards per year) as not even a small business entity? (Recreational mining -- small scale placer mines).
The EPA’s rules only include 1500 cubic yards “or more” as to their rulings on federal claims, but not more than 50,000 cubic yards per year, as to the small business entity, that requires a general permit and over 50,000 cubic yards per year would require an individual permit. No permits are required on placer mines less than 1500 cubic yards per year are required on federal placer mines under the subcategory exclusionary rule.
Hard rock claims such as the Lime quarry at Durkee’s plant comes under subpart “L” ratings not related to subcategory “M” placers mines, as hard rock mines are toxic related (mercury is toxic) rated with restrictions placed on hard rock – mines as a deleterious substance, but sediment (wet dirt) to placers, is not a deleterious substance by ERA’s rule.
The Democrats are not champions of the small (“mom & pop) status as some people believe. They exploit them in violation of the regulatory Flexibility Act (PL96) that mandated the Exclusionary 1500 cu yrds subcategory ERA’s (1988 final rule, as mandated by the RFA Act PL96).
I’m not against hard rock mines, as I don’t set the rules. It’s the radical left and their “Eco” gestopos that set the rules arbitrarily.
They avoid “grand fathered” rights via time frames on permits. This violates constitional law, Art. 1, Sec. 10. It’s called no Expost facto laws by State’s Statutes (ORS) or (OAR’s) no prior rights granted.
Bruce Parke
Sumpter, Ore.
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—Letters To The Editor—
Islam, Not Just A Religion, But A Political Social System That Teaches Violence
To The Record-Courier
The media carried the controversy about building a mosque in New York two blocks from Ground Zero. Americans point to the First Amendment that says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; "as proof to permit the building of that mosque.
First, we should recognize that the Quran, taught in mosques as Bibles are in Christian churches, is not only a religious book, but a political one as well. It has implications for public policy that should concern government and law enforcement authorities. They should act to prevent Quran-inspired violence.
It bears a similarity to what our country did in the late 19th century when it prevented the Mormon faith from practicing polygamy. This act did not prevent the freedom of Mormons to practice their religion. Likewise, preventing Quran-inspired violence would not prevent Muslims from practicing theirs.
Second, U.S. officials are obligated, under the political part of the Quran teaching, to monitor mosques and Islamic schools in our country to make sure they do not teach violence, subjugation, and hatred. Islamic schools and mosques should be as open and transparent as Christian, Jewish and other religious places of worship are.
Islam is not just a religion in our sense, it is a political and social system that offers no distinction between the secular and sacred realms. It offers religious (Sharia) law as the legitimate system of law and governance. Sharia law is the strict Islamic system that is the antithesis of American jurisprudence and is in direct conflict with the U.S. Constitution.
Our government should show the difference between the political and the religious aspects of Islam and, therefore, restrict the former as incompatible with the U.S. Constitution, and allow the free exercise of the later as the First Amendment states.
Here is the main teaching in the Quran that is incompatible with our Constitution. It teaches, in verse 4:89, that it is the duty of Muslims to "Seize them and slay them wherever you find them," referring to non-believers in Allah. If any Islamic school or mosque teaches this and other violent verses of the Quran, I believe our government should take necessary action to prevent that violence and its teaching.
According to the Christian Action Network, www.christianaction.org, "in 70 percent of the nearly 6,000 mosques already in the U.S., the violent form of Islam — Wahhabism — is being taught."
Wahhabism is a version of Islam that teaches that the Quran should be taken literally. Since 1973, Saudi Arabia has spent nearly $80 billion promoting Wahhabism throughout the world. Moderate Islamic voices should rise up to counter and silence these radical voices coming out of Islam.
Meanwhile, let’s look at the treatment of women in Muslim families that, under Sharia law, allows Muslims to beat women, force them to wear burqas, allows honor killings, maimings and mutilation for petty crimes, slavery, stonings and more in the name of promoting Islam.
The most radical is the genital mutilation before she becomes a teenager. In some Muslim countries a portion of a woman’s genitalia is ground off between two stones. Even though excision is not mentioned in the Quran, most of the 130 million women alive worldwide who have undergone this brutal ritual are Muslim women.
Then there are honor killings if girls as young as 7 refuse to submit to a man whom her father has selected to be her husband.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali tells of this and other cruelties to women in her book, “Nomad, From Islam to America.” Ayaan, who was born in Somalia, experienced much of the cruelty herself. She migrated to The Netherlands to escape these cruelties where she graduated from college and became a member of the Dutch Parliament.
While there she made a movie with a descendent of Vincent van Gogh to expose Muslim cruelty to women. A Muslim in The Netherlands killed van Gogh and Ayaan escaped to the United States. To this date it’s necessary for her to employ bodyguards as protection against Muslim cruelty.
To combat this in America she formed the AHA Foundation, www.theahafoundation.org, to help protect and defend the rights of women against genital mutilation, denial of education, forced marriage, honor violence and restrictions on girls’ freedom of movement.
As I stated in my second paragraph, I believe Muslim cruelty and the violent teachings of the Quran should be a concern for our government and law enforcement authorities.
Val Don Hickerson
Bandon, Ore.
Eat, Drink And Smoke As We don’t Harm Anyone Else
To The Record-Courier:
The Aug. 18 issue of the Baker City Herald contained a list of 20 nations and the “Incarceration Rate,” the number of citizens imprisoned per 100,000 population in 2009, of each. Of those listed Germany had 87, Canada 117, Cuba 531, and the Russian Federation 598. And the United States, which our politicians and schools tell us is the freest nation in the world, tops the list with 748. This proves that we are being lied to! There is even more to this distortion of the truth than detailed in the excellent letter by Steve Culley in the Sept. 8 Hells Canyon Journal.
Why doesn’t our news media inform us about what OUR government is doing to us? The September issue of Freedom Daily reveals the shocking story. For example about 750,000 of us are arrested each year for possession of just marijuana! The federal government has at least five agencies dedicated to the control of drug traffic. DEA alone has 21 domestic field divisions, 227 field offices, 86 foreign offices in 62 countries with 10,000 employees, 5,500 special agents, 106 aircraft with 124 pilots and an annual budget of $2.5 billion. If we would add the cost of other federal agencies, state agencies with their specialized drug police and equipment and local police and equipment dedicated to the control of drugs the combined annual cost to you would probably exceed $15 billion. Then of course there are the costs of arrests, trials and the many over-crowded prisons.
Let us examine the obvious benefits of this War on Drugs. The largest benefit is employment. This program employs thousands, many thousands of people. But in spite of this vast program we still have drugs in our schools and even in our PRISONS.
Wouldn’t it be wiser, in this free country, to let us eat, drink, and smoke whatever we wish so long as we do not harm someone else? Since it has been proven beyond a doubt that drug use can not be stopped, why not treat it similar to alcohol? Then we would be a much freer, richer country and would end the non-productive, destructive attempt to change human nature. It would also halt the drug war on our southern border and around the world.
Jasper Coombes
Richland, Ore.
Enjoyed Peter Rabbit And Friends
To The Record-Courier:
“The Adventures of Peter Rabbit and His Friends” at the Heritage Museum is a very ambitious production with 18 children and 9 adults in the cast!
We enjoyed it very much. The costumes were darling; the children and adults knew their lines and there were no awkward pauses.
We thank the director Lynne Burroughs, the technical crew, and all those who supported this play. We look forward to further productions from Eastern Oregon Regional Theatre.
Frances Burgess
Baker City, Ore.
American MIlitary Society Supports Right To Repair Act
To The Record-Courier:
The American Military Society is a veterans’ organization whose membership includes active, reserve, National Guard, retired and veterans of the uniformed services, their families and survivors.
We ask that Congress support the passage of HR 2057 and S 3181, The Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act. We believe car owners should have the right to choose where, how and by whom their cars and other motor vehicles are repaired. They should have access to all the repair information from the vehicle manufacturers. However, this is not the case. Local, independent repair facilities are denied full access to computer codes and other service information from the vehicle manufacturers. This doesn’t make any more sense than selling prescription drugs without the doctor’s dosing instructions.
This is especially a hardship for military personnel and their families. They are often stationed in remote locations far from any dealerships. Spouses of deployed service members, holding their families together alone, are particularly disadvantaged when close, convenient repair shops cannot obtain access to the data needed to make car repairs. With record numbers of dealerships now closed, the problem is even more acute. As more and more cars become more and more complicated, the problem becomes even more difficult.
The American Military Society encourages all service members, their families and all Americans to visit www.righttorepair.org to send a letter to each of their Senators and their Representatives, urging them to support this legislation.
Charles C. Partridge
Col, USA (Ret)
American Military Society
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