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

Hawkins, Snook, Lindley, Gregersen, Babb, Martin, Lemon, Candler

Last winter I read letters criticizing the county road department and county government because they weren’t taking care of the snow.

I’d like to commend the Union County Road Department, J.B. Brock, Union County Emergency Services and Commissioners Steve McClure and Nellie Hibbert for their help.

At 5 a.m. Sunday, May 18, a log jam formed at the Catherine Creek/Wilkinson Road Bridge. We let Commissioner McClure know. Within a couple of hours the road department came with a track hoe and dump trucks.

Monday morning when the Catherine Creek dike broke, we knew it was only a matter of a day or so and the water would be to the house. Having a corral full of cattle we got them out of there. The Kropf families provided trailers and help to get the cattle moved to Intermountain Livestock Sale yard.

J.B. Brock came by and offered his services if the flooding got worse.

We decided to call him and see if we could get some sand and bags to protect the house. Because Mr. Brock, Commissioner McClure and several road department supervisors were in the area checking other potential flooding problems, they showed up at the farm within minutes to put a plan together. The road department would bring equipment and construct a mini-dike around the house for protection.

Everyone thought we had more time. Within an hour, the water came across a wheat field. Time was not on our side. I called Mr. Brock again and he said they would be there in a couple of minutes. Very soon, here came a convoy of three road graders, supervisors and support vehicles. The dirt started moving.

In some cases the equipment was literally pushing dirt and water. Neighbors and farmers showed up with equipment and manpower. With only one backhoe the Hawkins family wouldn’t have accomplished much alone.

On Tuesday the road department showed up again to put a mini-dike against our neighbor’s house.

Give the road department a chance. They’ll work with you and help when it’s reasonable for everyone concerned.

Fred Hawkins

La Grande

The judge presiding at the 2004 Dover trial concerning use of an “Intelligent Design” textbook in a science class declared that ID is simply religious creationism in disguise, the entire agenda was “breathtakingly inane” and that the ID proponents had so consistently presented “flagrant and insulting falsehoods” that he had to conclude that the rest of their testimony was equally insincere.

“Expelled” is simply the movie version, echoing both purpose and tactics.

ID is not science, but I’ll let others explain the misguided purpose of wanting “equal time” in the classroom. More revolting is the tactic of deception in the name of religion. See for yourself reports from the National Center for Science Education (www.natcenscied.or ), www.expelledexposed.com and many movie reviews. Faith-based www.beliefnet.com likened the movie’s propaganda to the tobacco companies.

The producers deceived those interviewed and fabricated several stories of ID martyrs losing their jobs (one person didn’t even have a job to begin with). Classroom scenes were staged and there is a court injunction against further showing of the movie pending a decision on copyright infringement (http://tinyurl.com/6oy9e2 ).

When a scientist is caught — by other scientists — in deception, she/he is ruthlessly denounced, exposed as a fraud by his/her own kind. Google “Hwang Woo Suk” for example. This is one way that science earns well-deserved respect. Now we have clearly intentional deception with religious motivation per the Dover case. How will the religious crowd respond?

Here’s an opportunity to denounce the movie as fraudulent intentional deception — proclaim that such tactics are intolerable and deserve no respect. To either trumpet approval or remain silent is to implicitly condone deliberate deception — as long as it’s in Jesus’ name!

 Mr. Zinzer has made his stand, contributing to the reputation of ID and religion.

Matthew Snook

La Grande

With the warmer weather comes the construction season. This summer La Grande Public Works employees will be busy constructing new roads, replacing old roads and installing or replacing water and sewer lines.

Work of this nature requires city roads to be closed and detours to be in place. It may seem like a huge inconvenience as a driver, but it is important to remember that public works employees’ lives are at risk whenever you decide to bypass a “road closed’’ sign or ignore other warning signs that may be posted.

When driving through a construction zone it is important that you heed work zone safety guidelines. Work zone safety guidelines include no tailgating, paying attention to the posted warning signs, obeying road crew flaggers, minimizing distractions such as cell phones, expecting delays and trying to remain patient and staying calm during the delays or detours.

Most importantly, while driving through a work zone, make sure that you are always aware of what is going on around you. Stay alert and prepare to stop when approaching any kind of work being done on or off the roadway and go through slowly. Going through a construction zone at high speeds not only puts the workers’ lives on the line, but you as the driver as well.

Public works employees have to work in the public’s way and their tasks can be exceptionally dangerous. As a community, let’s do our part by using caution near construction zones, watching for workers and equipment, preparing for the unexpected and obeying road closure signs.

Jessica Lindley

Environmental regulatory superintendent

City of La Grande

As a lifelong baseball fan, I’ve read hundreds of baseball books, viewed dozens of baseball movies and enjoyed baseball reporting from newspapers all over the country.

Each year, I excitingly await spring training knowing that news of what was once deemed our “national pastime” will again be gracing the sports pages of The Observer and The Oregonian.

Bruce Mason’s exciting report of the La Grande Tigers’ 4-3, extra-inning baseball victory May 20 over Scappoose was the finest piece of baseball writing I’ve read in years. It kept me on the edge of my couch just like I was sitting at the grandstand.

A wonderful job of sports reporting, Bruce! And an incredible clutch win by Richie, Zach, Jacob, Josh, Evan and all of Mark Lanman’s terrific squad!

Gordon Gregersen

La Grande

China has taken steps for energy independence by gaining control of our nation’s petroleum resources with the help and blessing of Democratic political groups.

The oil reserves in our territorial waters off the southern tip of Florida will be extracted by the Chinese starting in 2009. Drill rigs are now being situated at the northern edge of Cuban waters where slant-drilling will begin.

A Chinese-controlled Canadian pipeline will begin processing natural gas for overseas shipment as soon as the port facilities are up and running.

China could not accomplish this feat without the aid of Democratic political obstruction, support of our environmental crazies and financial support from the Soros Group.

As this is being reported, the House and Senate leadership is spawning more restrictions that will give away even more of our future energy reserves.

With friends like these?

Frank Babb

La Grande

I had an appointment to pick up furniture to reupholster for a local elderly lady May 20. I rang the doorbell several times and knocked loudly with no response. I knew she had health problems.

I assumed she was home, unable to respond and probably needing immediate medical attention. I know that time is of the essence if a person has suffered a heart attack or stroke.

I drove to the DHS office assuming someone there would know what to do.

I told the receptionist there was a senior citizen whose welfare I was concerned about and I needed to talk to the person in charge. I was informed she was not available.

The receptionist said she would try to find someone else but didn’t ask the name of the person I was concerned about nor the nature of the emergency. I had waited 15 minutes (now more than half an hour had passed since I left) when she came out and asked me to fill out two pages of information.

I asked why this was necessary when someone’s life may be in jeopardy. She replied they could do nothing, but if I filled out the papers they would fax them to La Grande and when the worker arrived she would get right on it.

I refused to fill out the papers and drove quickly to Community Connection where I am known. I asked for assistance and within 90 seconds they made a call and discovered that this lady was actually at home and well and simply had not heard me at her door. I was greatly relieved and grateful for their quick action.

I relate this not to disparage the good people who work at DHS, for I am sure each of them is kind and compassionate but they are limited in their ability by so-called protocols imposed on them by a centralized government that could care less about individuals.

If you live alone, may I suggest you make sure that someone knows where and how you are at all times and perhaps even post an emergency phone number on your door of someone who has a key to let emergency personnel in if necessary. Time is of the essence.

John Martin

Enterprise

May has been National Foster Care Month and the Department of Human Services, Child Welfare in Baker, Union and Wallowa counties would like to thank the families who open their hearts and homes to abused and neglected children.

Throughout the nation and in our communities people are helping children build brighter futures by serving as their foster parents, relative caregivers and adoptive parents. If you know someone who provides foster care, tell them “thank you” for sharing their hearts and homes with the children who need them.

DHS has a continual need for foster families to allow children to remain within their own communities.

For more information on becoming a foster or adoptive parent, please contact your local Child Welfare office. In Baker County call 523-6423; Union County, 963-8571; and Wallowa County, 426-4558.

Susan Lemon

Foster Home Certifier, DHS Child Welfare

Union County

The American public and the press are in need of some instruction regarding the word “chemical.”

According to Webster’s II New Riverside University Dictionary, the word “chemical” is an adjective meaning “of or relating to chemistry” (first definition) and as a noun meaning “a substance produced by or used in a chemical process.”

Water (H2O) may be formed from combustion of hydrogen in the presence of oxygen and is combined in a chemical process. Therefore, strictly speaking, water is a chemical. All living things continually experience chemical processes such

as the formation of protein from amino acids (chemicals).

The word “chemical” has been bandied about, especially since the 1960s, implying substances synthesized by humans. In fact, all elements that combine in a chemical process are chemicals including proteins.

Therefore all living things are merely an aggregate of chemicals.

Rudy Candler

Union