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

Jaggers, Erwin, Vermillion, Johns, Fischer, Hopkins, Middleton, Felley, Sanderson

On behalf of the Lions Clubs of Northwest Oregon and the residents of our flooded communities, I want to express my appreciation to the La Grande Lions Club for its support of the Lions flood relief efforts. Because of that support, Lions were able to meet the exact needs of the four communities of Seaside, Sheridan, Tillamook County and Vernonia as those needs arose.

Since the first week of December, Lions have provided over $100,000 worth of much-needed supplies. More than 200 tons have been delivered to the affected communities. These included over 26,000 gallons of bottled water and 8,000 gallons of bleach within two days of the flood. Nearly 90 tons of food have been distributed.

Children in the flooded communities received 15,000 Christmas gifts to replace those lost in the flood. Lions clubs in three of the communities hosted Christmas parties for children in their communities. In addition, nearly four and a half tons of school supplies have been delivered to replace those lost in the floods.

Lions are still at work. Volunteer attorneys have assisted residents with insurance and FEMA paperwork. The work still goes on. Currently, Lions are collecting home furnishings to replace those lost in the floods.

The La Grande Lions Club has helped make a difference and is living up to our Lions motto, “We Serve.”

Jim Jaggers, governor

District 36-0, Lions Clubs International

In a letter dated Feb. 12, Marcia Rynearson questioned the accuracy of $1,900 being lost from the Union County tax base if the Mount Emily area is purchased. She feels it should be $6,637.84.

In November 2007, Forest Capital submitted over $6,600 to Union County, $1,923 of which was for 2007-2008 property taxes. The remainder was an assessment by the Oregon Department of Forestry for fire protection. The ODF has no avenue for fee collection. The counties collect and forward the funds to state coffers. What appears to be tax is not.

Of the 306 questionnaires returned to the coalition, 273 supported and 33 opposed. Of the 273 returned, 225 were signed by the respondent. They are running about 9-to-1 in favor.

The meeting was meant to project information so intelligent comments could be made at later meetings. The purpose was also to express that the potential purchase was to be from grants and not loans. It was not held as a forum for debating the issue. Debates should be based upon facts and they were not completely understood yet. Questions and comments can come at future meetings.

Rynearson mentioned signing a petition requesting a vote on acquiring the property. The secretary of state has already determined that this is not a legal voting issue. No person or county funds are involved. It would be a poll at best.

Since no county money is involved, why would the county want to expend taxpayer dollars for a vote with no positive results? That would amount to a taxpayer expense to accomplish nothing.

Gene Erwin

La Grande

Regarding the plight of residents of Meacham coping with the snow:  I took note of references to readers who basically say that they have no right asking for help when they chose to live in Meacham, nor should they expect help. That really angers me.

Let some well-off people don hiking gear and try to climb Mount Hood, get lost and millions of dollars are spent to save them. By this way of thinking, they should not expect help either — they put themselves in the situation.

Since when does where you live matter when you need help in America?

New Orleans sits below sea level and we are spending billions to bring that city back to life.

Charlene, I know, is a very resourceful lady and as far as I know, this is the first time they have ever asked for public help in dealing with a weather-related situation. I hope those who would deny helping Meacham residents never themselves need help. I am very disappointed in elected officials, both county and state.

Great story. You need to pursue why elected officials could not act and a National Guard sergeant could. Sure shows the difference between a “can’t do” and a “can-do” attitude.

Steve Vermillion

Hermiston

The American people are facing another sick election and do not know it.

Obama is going all over making speeches saying what he has heard Hillary Clinton say in her speeches. So if he makes it to the  White House, he had better hire her as his adviser and his speech writer.

To make it even worse, it even has the tone of deception when the press hails all the glory for McCain when Huckabee is a better choice if you don’t want war and more war. Young people are facing a draft when they vote for Obama or McCain.

Letha Johns

La Grande

Collectively speaking, America is very much concerned right now about many things. The economy, the war on terror, who our next president shall be, education, health care, justice and ideological division to name a few. Generating for many a cloak of darkness concerning the future.

It is true, “It is always darkest before the dawn,” but even in the greatest of darkness, “the light of God” can be seen quite clearly and is always a beacon to life and hope for the future. And above all guides us where we want to go. A beacon that appears when we open our hearts and souls to our Heavenly Father, God Almighty. Come what may, do not despair.

Ron R. Fischer

Elgin

I would like to echo the thoughts recently submitted by Al MacLeod regarding the great service we have received from the Union County road crews. We really appreciate their dedication in keeping Hunter Road plowed during a very difficult year.

Some of the roads had drifted back each night after their work, and we would see them plowing again the following morning with side drifts 8 to 9 feet high. The hours they have given to keep us from being isolated have been a blessing.

But I also want to express appreciation to courier Jayne Browne of The Observer and Larry Dreher with the Imbler Postal Service for maintaining service under very difficult conditions. I must admit I was surprised to see the mail and newspaper delivered during blizzards.

Gerald Hopkins

Summerville (Winterville)

What is the financial status of Union? We hear that Union has no money for services. We hear that the city is cutting back and combining jobs to save money. Library hours have been cut.

We lost our police department for lack of money. But then they contract with the county sheriff for three years. Where is that money coming from?

In 2006, the city council combined the city recorder, administrator and planner into one position. In 2007, the city hired a person to fill that position.

The new administrator, recorder and planner had no experience for the job he was taking on.

In the meantime, there must have been a money windfall. They have now hired a bookkeeper, a planner and assistant administrator to help the administrator.

What is the administrator doing?

The city is paying to farm out work that could be done in-house and save that farmed-out money for services that need it.

At the last council meeting they voted to give the administrator a 5 percent raise.

Is this why they are taking money away from fire and ambulance services? Which is forcing these services to join the rural fire department so they can be better equipped and up to training and standards?

Taking money from fire and ambulance services to pay for extra help and to pay someone who is not doing what he was hired for, is not using city money wisely.

Question: Does the city have money to waste?

Dick Middleton

Union

I have followed with interest the exchanges between Mr. Garlitz and Mr. Cimon regarding carbon dioxide and the great climate change debate, but I’ve got news for both of them.

Quite simply, “Don’t worry, the president knows what he’s doing.” Surely you’ve heard people say, “Everyone complains about the weather, but no one ever does anything about it.” Well, finally something is being done and it makes me proud to be an American knowing that our country is taking the lead in the important and unexplored field of climate control.

How else can you explain the administration’s eight-year program of censoring what amounts to settled science? They need to keep all these naysayers in check so the grand experiment can continue. Of course, in the early stages of any research program, setbacks are to be expected, such as the inundation of the Maldives, but not to worry, we’ll build them a much better island one of these days.

Anyway, you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet, or even just scrambled eggs.

Now I’m really excited to see that President Bush’s other experiment to solve the illegal immigration problem is starting to bear fruit. Once the recession gets in full swing, those Mexicans won’t be bothering us for jobs anymore. Heck, maybe we’ll start giving them a taste of their own medicine.

Dave Felley

La Grande

I would like to congratulate Bob Gregory on his recent induction into La Grande High School’s Wall of Fame — an honor well-deserved by a very humble man.

Though Mr. Gregory taught most of my math and computer science classes, it was only at the end of many years of graduate school did I realize that Mr. Gregory was not just a teacher, but for me a mentor. He taught lessons that went beyond math and computer science. Lessons that one does not always understand and appreciate until later in life.

Thank you and thank you for introducing me to the world of computers.

Allen Sanderson, Ph.D.

Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute

University of Utah

Salt Lake City