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

The Observer's article, "Fossil's Fertile Ground," June 22, by Rachael Scarborough King, was about fossils that have been discovered in John Day.

The article said, "Archeologist Bill Orr shows a tooth of a dinosaur-age crocodile and that of a more modern croc skull," and, "The reptile probably lived in the tropical seas near south China about 150-180 million years ago, Orr said, and was about 6 to 8 feet long. ...When it died it became fossilized in the ocean floor and then drifted to North America through a process known as continental shift."

Sometimes, I think I know a secret because I know what caused the fossils, and I know what caused the extinction of dinosaurs. How do I know? The Bible tells me so. Job, the oldest book, was brought on Noah's ark. Chapters 40 and 41 describe two different types of dinosaurs that existed at the same time as man; the atmosphere was warm and compatible for dinosaurs.

Then, the world-wide flood happened about 4,000 years ago. At the same time, there was a cataclysmic landslide across the tectonic plates. So the reason there are countless fossils of plants, marine life and dinosaurs around the world is because they were all buried suddenly.

A topographical map of the world reveals how suddenly the mountains appear around the shorelines along every continent and island. The organic matter that didn't fossilize was squeezed into oil (petroleum products).

The problem with believing that the world is millions of years old is that The Creator doesn't exist in that scenario. Therefore, frequently, people who believe in evolution, also believe in situational ethics, abortion, pornography, homosexuality and other societal ailments. Our fundamental belief in origins determines how we conduct our lives.

Lucy Gilchrist

La Grande

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We rode our ATVs on trails and roads in the Mount Emily area that are on property owned by Forest Capital Partners LLC, and which are closed to motorized use. We received citations for criminal trespass for those actions. We made a big mistake. We apologize for that mistake.

Rather than pay a $2,000 fine for that offense, we agreed to write to the residents of Union County in hopes of educating ATV users regarding proper ATV riding etiquette. And, we agreed to participate in the maintenance of several trails in the Mount Emily area.

We believe if ATVers stick to the following rules most people would be supportive of ATV use and opportunities for ATV use would be maintained or expanded:

• Stay on "open" trails or roads only — do not ride cross country.

• Do not ride on "open" trails when they are muddy. Trail damage will occur.

• On private and public lands, if the trail or road is not posted as open to motorized use, assume it is closed.

• Be courteous to all trail users.

In summary, be a responsible ATV user. Join a local ATV club, such as Eastern Oregon ATV, P.O. Box 571, La Grande 97850. The annual fee is $10. ATV clubs maintain the ATV trails you ride on, both on public and private lands.

Braden M. Manjarres and Laine T. Smith

La Grande

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In regards to a recent article in The Observer, Union-Baker ESD Board Chairman Dale Basso was quoted as saying that the UBESD now has an entirely new administration — suggesting that they have cleaned up their act. As a local business owner who has lost thousands of dollars to competition from the UBESD, I know this is simply not true.

Over the past two decades, the UBESD as a tax-supported organization has knowingly competed with privately owned businesses, thus causing them to lose millions of dollars in income in both Union and Baker counties. The fact that they do this is clearly stated in their annual service plan. This income has come primarily from (but is not limited to) computer tech and printing-related services.

Recently Mr. Basso took it upon himself to visit me at my place of business over my opposition to UBESD activities. He explained to me that the ESD is within its rights to offer services such as printing to school districts. I interpret that to mean that the UBESD has the right to take as much business from the community as it wants.

I have also spoken with Superintendent Mary Apple, who like Basso supports the ESD's activities even if it is viewed by some in private business as competing with the private sector.

Both Basso and Apple reason that revenue-producing activities are necessary due to a decline in UBESD revenue. I find it hard to understand how an organization that is so hard up for income would be so quick to give out a $5,000 pay raise to Mary Apple, whose annual income already far exceeds the average wage earner.

Roger Beickel,owner

La Grande Quick Print

La Grande

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The article "County Faces Budget Shortfall" contained statements from county budget officer Marlene Perkins that appear to be at odds with county audits.

According to her, funding for the Buffalo Peak Golf Course has not been extracted from the general fund, and thus does not account for the shortfall. The golf course has always lost money. Facts are money has been transferred from other county funds, including the general fund, to cover the losses. The June 30, 2005, county audit documented that $163,247 from the general was used to pay bills at the golf course. This amount has grown since.

Perkins was quoted as saying: "I think we're going to be really close to meeting operating expenses this year (for the golf course) and next year we should be in the black for current operations." But the county budget prepared by Perkins, and approved by the commissioners, estimated next year's losses at the golf course will be at least $100,000 to be covered with a transfer from another fund. Her quote is at odds with the budget she prepared.

Perkins states there is no connection between the budget crisis and the golf course. But the amount the county is short is roughly the same amount of general fund dollars the county has given the golf course.

I like the course but not at the expense of law enforcement coverage or other vital county services. The sheriff's office and other departments need adequate funding not cuts.

Why is it that at the same time the county is reducing services they just voted to increase golf staff and to keep full-time staff at the golf course next winter when it is unplayable? Cutting law enforcement but keeping golf staff employed in December doesn't make sense.

Call the commissioners and let them know your concern.

John Lamoreau

La Grande

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Mr. Kramer, I am extremely appalled at the sloppy journalism as written by Mardi Ford and the fact that you allow this kind of unprofessional reporting to be published in your paper.

The June 28 article "Grassroots group gives input on travel plan'' implies that a small, vocal group is voicing the values of all users of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Nowhere in her article does she even mention that this is a controversial issue and that statistically, according to the WWNF visitor survey, less than 11 percent of visitors to the forest use an ATV and less than 1 percent use an ATV as their main activity.

Catering to this small special interest group is inappropriate for many reasons. Nowhere in this article is there any attempt made at disclosing the opinions of other local grassroots groups such as Hells Canyon Preservation Council, which has been around for more than 40 years and represents more than 250 members in the area who support the travel plan revision.

Indeed, many of us prefer to see ATVs kept to roads and prohibited from riding cross-country through our national forest, a forest which belongs to all Americans and not just folks in Northeast Oregon. Those of us who support this proposal are all too aware of the damage done to our national forests by ATV users: introducing noxious weeds, fragmenting wildlife habitat, destroying watershed, and often ruining what we hope will be a quiet and peaceful experience in the woods.

According to the WWNF plan, there are more than 9,500 miles of roads on this forest, one of the highest totals on any national forest. I don't think it's too much to ask of ATV users to limit them to 4,500 miles of roads.

Please insist that Mardi Ford practice professional journalism standards by representing all sides of issues and all local opinions. This article looked to me as though the Observer was endorsing the protest of this small vocal minority. Shame on you!

Cathy Trochlell

La Grande

Editor's note: The June 28 story was about a specific event held by a local group. It was not intended to be an overview of the travel plan issue. Such a story is in the works.

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The Observer's July 2 article on EOU's enrollment drop highlights two groups commonly overlooked by admissions departments: returning adults and veterans.

EOU, like many colleges, has different admissions requirements for applicants that have been out of high school for while, commonly referred to as "returning adults." For returning adults the college prep requirements from high school are sensibly waived and admission is based on recent placement tests like the SAT or ACT. Some colleges put the age cut off at 22. Washington State's is 25. EOU's is ridiculously high at 40.

Many veterans didn't bother with college prep in high school because they didn't think college was for them. But now that they have completed an enlistment or two, their outlook on education may have changed, plus they have the GI Bill to use. But since they are 22 rather than 40, they are considered untouchable by EOU.

There are transfer options through community colleges, but those credits transfer statewide. A student may figure that if they're transferring anyway, why go to Eastern?

EOU has the problem of geography, so it should try to stand out. Lower the returning adult age to 22, maintain the no out-of-state tuition rate policy and aggressively recruit veterans.

Don't talk to eighth and ninth-graders. Go see adults close to the end of enlistment at Fort Lewis and McChord AFB in Washington, Mountain Home AFB in Idaho, Malmstrom AFB in Montana and the Navy bases in Washington.

If they score well on the SAT, then welcome them into EOU. Eastern could stand out throughout the Northwest and the military as the premiere university for veterans. Eastern might be able to reopen and fill Hunt Hall dorm with the students it recruits from just one aircraft carrier.

Brian Megee

Cove

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Recently Bill Rautenstrauch spent quite a bit of time at the Eastern Oregon Fire Museum & Learning Center. Out of that visit he wrote an engaging story about what the museum has accomplished prior to our anniversary celebration coming up Saturday, complete with pancake breakfast.

However, several of your sharp-eyed readers have gently pointed out to us that in the photo of Bruce Weimer, a number of photos remain lying on the counter. This hardly qualifies as having photographic exhibits "complete and in place,'' which Bill, in his enthusiasm, wrote. In truth, there have been a few glitches such as production delays and emergency building maintenance, so the game plan for this season is still in the bottom of the ninth, so to speak.

But museums most often are "a work in progress" and we believe that our visitors this Saturday — or any time the rest of the year — will be fascinated to learn even more about the 2,000-year-old story of organized firefighting, and honor one of America's most respected professions.

Kathleen Almquist

Eastern Oregon Fire Museum & Learning Center

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Only in the event of glaring fallacy or libel should one feel compelled to respond to another's letter to the editor, the contents of Lucy Gilchrist's letter of July 2 warrant a response in a world all too lacking these days of checks and balance.

Ms. Gilchrist has labeled those of us grounded in the roots of science, analytical inquiry and measurable discovery as morally vacant and devoid of ethics.

The contents of Ms. Gilchrist's letter are indicative of our precarious social condition in which most of the people believe that the Creator of the universe has written a book. We have the misfortune of having many such books with each making an exclusive claim to infallibility, which thereby induce people to organize themselves into factions according to which of the these incompatible claims they choose to accept. All are in perverse agreement on one fundamental issue — that respect for other faiths, certain scientific discovery or the views of unbelievers is not an attitude that their God endorses.

I acknowledge that most faiths have been touched, here and there, by the spirit of ecumenical universalism; however, the central tenant of every religious tradition is that all others are of inferior content and human value. Intolerance is thus intrinsic to every creed as certainty about the next life is incompatible with tolerance within this one. Thus, our human proliferation of the technology and nuclear finality of warfare has created fresh moral imperatives as our religious differences and beliefs run contrary to our survival.

We can no longer ignore the associated risks that billions of our neighbors believe in martyrdom, or in the literal truth of the Book of Revelation, or in any of the other fantastical notions and untestable propositions that have lurked in the human condition throughout the ages.

Chris Perry

La Grande

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I am writing to express my appreciation for such a great community. So many businesses and volunteers stepped up to make Union County Cub Scout Day Camp a success.

Unlike other camps, this camp was entirely run by volunteers. They donated hundreds of hours to make camp a wonderful experience for the boys of our community. It is great to live in a community where citizens are willing to put forth their time to benefit our youth.

The business support is also incredible. We couldn't have had such a good program at camp without the donations we received. Boise Cascade. in particular, made it possible to build huge catapults, tool boxes and bird houses.

The caretakers at the fairgrounds were also very helpful. To see how our community is willing to invest in our future by investing in our children is truly a wonderful thing.

Jenny Thomson

La Grande