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

Gentry, LeGore, Rynearson, O’Connor, Stauffer, Scott, Morgan, Kerns

When people begin down the road to parenting, typically they don’t have a plan on how to parent their children. The baby arrives, and life as they have known it changes dramatically.

Responsibility hits them between the eyes like a 30-pound sledge hammer. Many parents who don’t already have a plan in place find themselves parenting by what kind of mood they are in or how much energy they have to put into parenting. Ultimately the child and the parents struggle to find some middle ground.

A parenting class will help lay out the framework so parents can build their own plan on their terms, with their rules and consistency. This program is a revolution in common sense parenting. As a matter of fact, parents are probably already using some if not all of the principals of “Positive Parenting” in their home already. No more power struggles, no more yelling and tears.

This program is excellent for parents who are at the end of their ropes with unruly teenagers or toddlers who have those famous but embarrassing temper tantrums, single parents, married couples and people planning to have kids. It will help level the playing field and give the parents a stronger backbone to manage their kids. The thing I love about this program is it is so easy to start and so easy to keep going.

The first class will start at the Union County Senior Center, 1504 Albany St., in La Grande April 28. Space is limited and it is filling up so call now to get a spot reserved. The cost covers class materials and is $30 a person or $50 a couple. For more information, call 963-7532 and ask for Carmen Gentry.

Parenting has never been easier.

Carmen Gentry

Community Connection

As of April 2008, Shelter From the Storm will no longer accept clothing donations at our office in La Grande.

In the past, community members have generously contributed clothing items, which were available in our lobby, for client use. Although we have greatly appreciated the community support we have received over the last several years, in the form of both donations and volunteers to sort donated items, at this time we are not equipped to continue providing this service and ask that donations of this sort be contributed elsewhere.

We will continue to accept monetary donations, used cellular phones, paper products (paper plates and towels, toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, facial tissue, etc.), and food donations at our office as well as some household and furniture pieces, which can be donated by calling the office staff to arrange a pick up.

If you have any questions or would like a list of organizations that are currently accepting clothing, please call Shelter From the Storm at 963-7226.

Darilyn LeGore

Executive Director,

Shelter From the Storm

It seems to be a common opinion that the president is to blame for the actions and events that led up to the war in Iraq.

If the U.S.A. chose not to invade Iraq for the acts of Sept. 11, 2001, and for other evidence, the president would be to blame for that as well — for not acting on civilian casualties.

The decision was made to be proactive versus reactive to a possible attack on our country. It has been known for some time that there are a lot of other radical countries trying to knock the big boy off of the top or at least create chaos on our soil.

I am a firm supporter of this land and fully support keeping the bad guys out of it. I am very proud of the men and women of this country who signed up to protect the land and the people.

How dare Mr. Marcum not support the decision of his grandson to defend his country. People who do that love their country and know that they could die for it. They know the difference they make is not for tomorrow but for the next century or maybe forever.

He talks of lives lost and how it affects others. Has he ever thought — what if the war was here? What would the lives lost be then?

We never seem to get a body count of Iraqis through the mainstream media. I don’t even have any idea but I guess it is three to four times that of our military, and frankly I don’t care because I am calmed by the fact that our great military can take care of the threat in the most positive way possible.

Brad Rynearson

La Grande

Imagine yourself walking down the street, minding your own business, enjoying the day. Suddenly, there is a strange person running toward you fast. They are yelling and screaming and they run right up to you, nose to nose.

I think it is accurate to say that no one would be remotely comfortable in this situation. It is no different for my dogs when an unleashed, untrained dog behaves in this way.

It is poor manners in the human world and it is poor manners in the canine world. I have recently adopted a large dog and because I work with her, leash her and teach her to obey me, we manage this situation with these out of control, clueless dogs.

Even with a well-behaved dog, circumstances like this can create an aroused emotional state and then even that trained dog no longer listens.

I don’t care if you train your dog or not. But if your dog lacks social skills and cannot be controlled with voice commands, immediately and without fail, then please leash them when you go for a walk or keep them inside a fenced yard.

Years ago, I received 13 puncture wounds in my hands from breaking up a dog fight and my poor dog had about the same number. The dog was unleashed and uncontrollable by his owner who was present. It was absolutely horrible.

I do everything I can to avoid it ever happening again, and I am asking you to please do the same.

Glenda O’Connor

La Grande

I would like to thank Sharon Schiller for her letter starting a much-needed dialog regarding ORS 244, the new “ethics reform” law. Her key on the word “relevant” is correct.

Relevant information is important and should be provided. However, this law goes far beyond relevant. I ask you, how is it relevant to my performance as a planning commissioner to list my family’s and relatives’ names on the World Wide Web when most live in other states?

What happened to their “right to privacy’’? How is it relevant to my performance to allow a state agency the authority under Section 244.380 to provide for the removal of a candidate for office; the refusal to certify votes of the people for a candidate; and the removal from office a standing duly-elected official that refuses to fill out the SEI form?

To me that is the abrogation of the voter’s rights for self-determination. Isn’t that what our founding fathers railed against when they wrote the Declaration of Independence and then guaranteed us under the Constitution? Is this not our job and right and not a state agency’s?

I also agree with the thought that this type of information gathering tactic is “disagreeable.” As a matter of fact it is ripe for public abuse.

Identity theft and harassment of family members by disgruntled citizens are two that come to mind. I’m sorry, but history does hold that Germany did use this type of tactic on their people. Do we really want it in our society?

Do you want to step up to the plate and volunteer to serve your community through local government and provide all of this information? If so, I’ll look you up on the website when you are elected or become an appointed official.

Marc W. Stauffer

Enterprise

The Legislature has again shot Eastern Oregon residents in the back with an arrow labeled ORS 244. It requires an intimate disclosure of public office seekers’ personal lives including income, taxes, relatives and more. Most inept laws can be described with a cliche to bring a simple illustrative example of a colossal mistake.

I can apply three cliches to 244. First: “They threw the baby out with the bathwater.” The original thrust of 244 was to bring the light of day on possible conflicts of interest of persons holding the higher offices of the state such as state legislators and administrators. Instead, they included elected officials and some voluntary positions clear down to the grassroots level of our smallest municipalities.

At a point when it is very difficult to enlist time and effort of well-qualified persons to serve on less-admirable government positions and boards, 244 is a stab in the back to the smaller county and city governments. We need incentives, not discouraging messages, to attract our best to serve.

Second cliche: “They tend to paint everything with a wide brush.” Perhaps a 300-mile-wide brush could best describe our Legislature in its one-size-fits-all legislation.

Thrusting intrusive legislation tailored for the west side on Eastern Oregonians has been a legislative trademark. ORS 244, land use laws, building codes and a host of other laws are examples.

Although the pendulum cliche is not restricted to our Legislature, it very often overreacts when enacting laws to correct a deficiency. This is the case with 244, a law intended to encourage trust and honesty in our elected officials.

Measure 244 will do more harm than good by discouraging good, qualified persons from seeking office. A middle-of-the-road approach with a less-intrusive invasion of privacy to our state officials and the omission of appliance to most city and county offices would’ve been more palatable to all.

Harlan Scott

Elgin

I find that I have been riveted by American politics lately, as are many others across the country. It is amazing to watch our democracy in action.  

There is, however, a threat to American Democracy lurking on the airwaves — one with potentially serious consequences. Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham and Victoria Taft in Oregon, are urging radio listeners to change party affiliation to draw out the process, create more in-fighting, even put Hillary Clinton in the winner’s circle so they can face a weaker opponent this fall. They risk integrity, honesty and the trust of new, young voters, not to mention the credibility of our electoral process. They are playing divisive, underhanded games with our democracy.

In Texas and Ohio these tactics appear to have worked. In an article by Steven Rosenfeld, “[As] media in both states reported, thousands of Republicans did just what Limbaugh and others had suggested — they changed parties to vote for Clinton.”  Enough Republicans in these states switched their party affiliation — even for just one day — to help tip the scales to Clinton.

In other parts of the world, like Kenya, Zimbabwe and Pakistan, recent elections have been troublesome. While what Limbaugh and others are doing may not seem to parallel what is happening in these countries, there are troubling undercurrents of coercion, voter suppression and illegitimacy that could lead to groups of angry, disenfranchised voters.

I hope that in Oregon we will stand by our principles and allow the democratic process to remain untouched by farce and spin. When you vote in May, remember that our Democracy is the reason America stands as a beacon to the world. Let’s set an example for the world and our new voters at home. Let’s affirm that every vote not only counts, but is sincerely cast. Please vote your conscience.

Amy Morgan

La Grande

I support Chuck Hofmann for the position of director on the OTEC board.

Chuck understands the economy of Eastern Oregon, and knows that all segments of natural resource-based economy are under dire cost-inputs pressure. Continued tight control of electricity costs is essential to the agriculture base of our economies.

Chuck is a proven leader — having served on the Baker City council as well as having been mayor. He has quickly risen to positions of leadership and responsibility on the OTEC board after he was appointed to fill a vacancy a year ago.

I urge you to join me in voting to retain Chuck Hofmann as a director on the OTEC board.

Tim L. Kerns

Haines