>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

Leg- and body-hold traps are widely used in Oregon, with more than 20,000 animals trapped yearly. Under current regulations, animals can remain in a trap from two to 30 days. SB 672, which is in the Oregon Senate Environmental and Natural Resource Committee, reduces this time to 24 hours. This is because these traps are so cruel that every measure should be taken to reduce the time any animal spends in one. Furthermore, for every targeted animal caught, two or three non-targeted animals are trapped. If they are released within 24 hours, they may escape death or maiming.

Opponents claim this bill would place too great a burden on wildlife agents, especially by allowing only licensed trappers to check traps. However, ODFW regulations permit free trapping licenses to landowners, so they would be able to set or check traps on their property.

A leg-hold trap can cause serious damage through loss of circulation and tissue damage, not to speak of injuries caused by desperate efforts to escape, which can include dislocated joints, limbs chewed off or mauled and broken teeth and injured jaws resulting from attacking the trap. I won't mention dehydration, physical and emotional anguish, injuries sustained while fighting off other animals or the results of a foot being immobilized in below zero cold for long hours or even days.

Other traps commonly used are snares and Conibear traps. These are designed to kill, the first by strangulation and the second by breaking the neck. Often they do this, but sometimes they don't. If the animal is the wrong size or the trap doesn't strike exactly right, the animal suffers terribly and the injuries are horrific.

And death can be long in coming.

Wally Sykes

Joseph

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What a wonderful Easter dinner I had. I have never attended one of the Neighbor to Neighbor dinners and was in awe the entire time I was at the Presbyterian Friendship Center.

The food was outstanding and the amount was overwhelming. The spirit of Easter was there with the attendance. The volunteers were terrific in their serving the people. Everyone seemed so happy and willing.

I was so lucky when I received a beautiful Easter lily plant and felt so blessed.

My friends, family members and neighbors made this day a perfect one.

Esther Hofmann

La Grande

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My son was recently in a schoolyard fight. I had never known my son to put his hands on anyone (with the exception of his big brother, who for the most part probably had it coming).

I didn't question the presence of the police officer who was in the principal's office with me — until she wrote up citations. I have to ask: When did fighting on school property become a police action? Why were my husband and I, and the parents of the other child, not given a chance to deal with this on our own?

Parents should be aware that it is school practice to call the police regardless of the circumstances; whether the fight was in self-defense or your child was the perpetrator, he or she will now have a record. This practice will bog down the already overloaded juvenile department and law enforcement system.

Have schools become incapable of dealing with situations such as these? Do we have a gang problem in the city of La Grande that I am unaware of? These are the only reasons I can come up with that would warrant not allowing the school and parents to hand down punishment without the assistance of law enforcement. I am speaking on the behalf of first-time offenders.

I absolutely do not condone fighting. I also realize that we are living in a different time, a time of Columbine and kids bringing guns to school. It is my opinion that by saddling our kids with adult problems, and adult punishments, we are not allowing them to be kids.

I'm just requesting that I be allowed to parent my own child, until a time when I am proven to be incapable.

Jennifer Stephens

La Grande

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Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the "silent majority." We are no longer silent and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record-breaking numbers.

We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing. We get no liberal media coverage on TV to reflect our message or our opinions. Many Americans simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops.

Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect started April 13 and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home.

By word of mouth, press, TV — let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like the matching colors visible in the bleachers at a homecoming football game.

If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers, friends and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in red, and it will let our troops know the once silent majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on.

The first thing a soldier says when asked, "What can we do to make things better for you?" is "We need your support and your prayers."

Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example — wear something red every Friday.

We live in the land of the free only because of the brave. Their blood runs red — so wear red. May God bless America to become one nation, under God.

Sandy Mendenhall

Cove

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I understand more than most how much the administration at Eastern Oregon University loathed the baseball program. And I also understand issues concerning the cancellation of the program have been effectively swept under the rug.

That's why I would like to congratulate Rob Cashell, director of athletics, and the rest of the EOU Athletic Department for their recent monetary investment in other Mountaineer athletic programs ("Quinn undergoes change,'' April 5 Observer). It's nice to know the $100,000 you will be using to repair the bleachers at Quinn Coliseum was not wasted on petty things like funding the baseball program.

And kudos for improving the batting cages for the EOU softball team, too. I'm sure many former Mountaineer baseball players will be happy to know that EOU will have nothing but the finest facilities, even if it means canceling a program or two to get them.

Keep up the good work, Rob. Your commitment to the athletes at EOU does not go unnoticed.

Landon Johnston

EOU alum and former baseball player

Cortez, Colo.

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Monday at 7 p.m. in the Daniel Chaplin Building Conference Room an Amendment Application will be submitted to the Union County Planning Commission to rezone 6.7 acres, which is currently in the A-4 Timber-Grazing Zone, to Basalt Aggregate Inventory.

What will be included in the rezoning is a rock quarry and asphalt plant. The location is on the valley side of Fox Hill and will be visible by all valley

residences.

For years we have contended with the environment and aesthetic challenges of the landfill (dump) and now are faced with yet another demon that will be more visible and damaging at one of the most beautiful locations in Union County.

There are already two permanent asphalt plants in Union County and three operational rock quarries within 1⁄4-mile radius of the proposed site. Why do we need another in such a visible location where the roads are not conducive to hauling of rock, the control of the dust, smell and operation of the plant that cannot be controlled?

As we know from the forest fires last summer that lingered in our valley for a month, the west wind down the canyon fills our valley. The asphalt plant will be in this path.

The field burning in our valley is under strict control. They are regulated as to what months they can burn and whether the wind conditions are appropriate and the burning is not a year around event.

Please attend the meeting, put your concerns in writing or contact the Union County Planning Department.

James S. Byars

La Grande

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The recent resignation of the La Grande City Manager has been swept under the rug.

Evidently, the people of La Grande should not be concerned with the amount of money that was spent to fill the position, nor the amount of money that may have been paid in a severance package. The mayor would not return my phone call, therefore I am left with rumors.

My sources tell me that the local government officials did not like the city manager and made his life miserable, to the point of resignation.

One has to ponder the rumors. Did the city manager find something that could discredit our local officials? What was so sensitive that the public was kept in the dark, yet no criminal charges were filed? Did the city manager deserve a second chance?

I want some accountability for this issue.

Jackie Fitzgerald

La Grande

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What happened to our little bit of paradise called Telocaset? I am opposed to the wind generators in our farming community. I was never notified of the meeting for their approval or disapproval by county planners or the commissioners. They knew I was opposed.

I could not stand the constant onslaught of fast moving gravel trucks going down Telocaset Lane for the first five days and not spraying the roads to cut down the dust like they were told to do. I called, they sprayed. It was fraying my nerves, so I visited my daughters out of town for a while.

When I returned home, glad to be in my own bed, there were these blinking red lights pulsating in my eyes where once the wide open sky was gently lit by the Grace of the Lord. Now, the red lights keep me up and strain my back and neck from having to turn away from the window.

My arm was paralyzed from nerve damage and in 1985 Dr. Kerr helped me in my recovery. I cannot afford to go to treatment for this every day. I am not getting enough sleep and am much stressed over this new problem.

I am sad and heartsick over the loss of my community to people who just think of the dollar sign. I am upset that they put these blinking towers on the hillside behind our home. But wait!

The 61 wind generators that are going up all will have red blinking lights. Like I had said before, solar is the way to go and it is less intrusive to all of the people.

Fay Stein-Swanson

Union

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On April 10, during a closed-door executive session, the La Grande City Council debated the fate of City Manager Ron Singel. For 90 minutes Mr. Singel, his family, legal counsel, Father Hank Albrecht and a few friends, including myself, waited for the verdict. Ultimately Mr. Singel was given no other choice for both the security of his family and the future of his career but to resign from the position he accepted in good faith a mere nine months ago.

Mr. Singel had the right to request that the executive sessions be held in a public forum, but he was unwilling to put himself or his family in the situation of having potentially unsubstantiated accusations made in public. The four previous executive sessions held since November were called by Mayor Johnson and everything involved with these issues could have been easily eliminated with open and honest communication between herself and the city manager.

Instead, the taxpayers have footed the bill for this nonsense. Substantial amounts have been paid to Jonel Ricker, the city attorney, for his involvement with each executive session. Additionally, we paid for the extensive search conducted for city manager as well as the relocation allowance to move Mr. Singel's family.

Having worked in the city manager's office between Dec. 18, 2006, and March 22, 2007, I have my own opinion about why all of this has transpired. It has less to do with Mr. Singel's job performance, which many feel was excellent, and more to do with Mayor Johnson and City Recorder Sandy Lund's reluctance to give up the power which they acquired during the absence of the previous city manager.

I personally experienced a stressful and hostile work environment at City Hall, an environment that I and others believe is the direct result of one city employee.

I firmly believe that vindictiveness, retaliation and a need for power all played into the city manager's departure.

Josey Fast

La Grande