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

As a citizen of Union, I am very disturbed with the law enforcement issues in this city. I think it is ridiculous to believe that the measure of law enforcements effectiveness should be based on the number of tickets given away in a period of time.

I like the hometown feel of our little city, which includes a police force that is part of the community. I know that it may sound a little Mayberry in its description, but I like the things that way.

Our city needs a peace officer not a Union County Sheriff's deputy setting up a speed trap at the end of town.

Dick Middleton's idea of using levy money to develop our own police force is great. Let me also suggest that our city develop a partnership with Eastern Oregon University. Eastern enrolls plenty of students going into law enforcement or corrections. The police chief's responsibility could be to provide training for a small volunteer force. Our city could give many students the education or experience that they need to get that first job.

A grant from the federal government could help subsidize the program, maybe a grant under some branch of the Patriot Act. The windmill farm is not far from our city. It would not be unusual to believe that such a grant could be written with the idea that our police force could be the first response team in the event of an emergency there.

I know I will be voting no on this levy and encourage other citizens to do the same. I don't believe that our city council and mayor have dug down deep enough to solve our problem.

Max Carter

Union

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Having returned to what I consider my hometown after 20 years, I have found it nigh-impossible to find a decent place to live that will accommodate pets.

My rabbit doe is about as low-maintenance a pet as you can find outside of an aquarium/terrarium. I've been trying desperately to move out of my current situation to someplace a bit larger, and have been stymied by the majority of rentals I see advertised: No Pets — No Pets — No Pets.

It gives one pause to think what kind of people you want to have move into the city — does this mean families with their favorite family animal are being turned away?

It's a simple matter — if you own a pet, then you are responsible for any damage it might do to the place you live, and that responsibility can't be passed on. Ironically, cats can't play with matches under a porch, setting the place ablaze, nor can dogs access permanent markers to scribble on walls, yet no one thinks that children could be just as damaging, if not more so, than a responsibly owned pet.

I'd like to see some of these rental owners meet renters halfway — raise your deposit for a pet if you must, but remember it's a deposit — as in, "I get it back when I leave if everything's kosher." I'd like to think that pet owners tend to be nicer people, since they're keeping company with a furry (or feathery, or scaly) companion that brings them happiness.

In the meantime, George and I are still looking for a place that lets us live comfortably and eventually lets me open my art studio in the same place. A little leg room makes all the difference.

Ramsay "RC" Cowlishaw

La Grande

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On Aug. 31, The Observer reported on the Bridge Creek Fire. There were two statements in that report that are common denominators to all reports on forestland wildfires: "The fire was burning in heavy timber and dense sub-alpine fir stands with a lot of dead trees" and "there aren't a lot of roads." What this translates into is no scientifically supported forest management, an increase in road abandonment and roadless areas.

Meanwhile, millions of acres of timber and habitat are destroyed, much of which will take years to recover. Jobs are lost, along with the related taxes for our counties and schools. Tons of carbon dioxide is released into the air instead of being converted into oxygen by a young, healthy, growing forest. All this in the name of what?

Timber management would provide revenues to the federal government for environmental rehabilitation, reforestation, road maintenance and campground and trail maintenance.

Lock it up and burn it up is the mantra of over-zealous environmental groups and their hand-picked and paid-for pseudo science. If the Forest Service, does not make at least some attempt to harvest the 100 million board feet of timber that dies each year on the Wallowa-Whitman, Boise will be the next mill to shutdown.

Jack Boyd

La Grande

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Tsk-tsk, Dr. Hoffnagle. You stated in your response to Mr. Brock (The Observer, Sept. 1) that Mr. Brock was concerned about preserving jobs "(specifically his?)" Was that necessary?

If you want to preserve an area, then deny access to all except those of First Nation heritage. No mountain biking or hiking allowed. No scientists, no park personnel, no river rafting and no government personnel should be allowed access to that area.

You may want my credentials. They include a bachelor of science, a master of science and a Ph.D., all in chemistry. I taught general chemistry and organic chemistry at the university level. Furthermore, I managed an agriculture laboratory, I was a state certified hazardous materials technician and I was the chemical hygiene officer at two satellite campuses for the University of Alaska. Oh, one more thing — I was also involved with carbon sequestration research on the north slope of Alaska.

Rudy Candler

Union

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I have read several letters over the past months attacking Rob Cashell, the director of athletics at Eastern Oregon University. However the one that "took the cake" was the letter written by my fellow alumnus Landon Johnston.

I know that Rob has appeared to be a convenient "whipping boy" ever since EOU had to make major cuts in the budget that resulted in the elimination of the baseball program. The real fact is that there are two layers of administration above Rob and he was carrying out what he had been told to do. Rob is an excellent administrator and does not deserve the bad rap.

Beating up on Rob Cashell is not going to bring back the baseball team. As alumni we need to pull together behind our new president, Dixie Lund, and work to make EOU better for students and the communities it serves. The past is gone and dwelling in it will do no one any good. What we can do is to look forward to a better future and work to make it a reality.

Les Balsiger

Director of Student Relations

Distance Ed, EOU

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When did Narciss Whitman first see the Grande Ronde Valley? When was the great Hot Lake fire? When was the first frame hotel built at Hot Lake? Where was the Mayo Clinic of the West?

What was Ollie F. Osborn famous for? Where can you find a wonderful exhibit of cowboy information and have "Zack" tell you about life on the cattle trail? Who named Mount Emily and Mount Fanny?

Did you know Union had a Chinese Laundry? Want to see a picture of it? How was a typical kitchen, bathroom, parlor or bedroom furnished in the early 1900s? What would you store in a bank vault and when was it in the First National Bank? Where can you see a large collection of musical instruments, courtesy of Otto Weigel?

There is a place where you can find the answers and much, much more information. The Union County Museum can provide answers. You can find it in Union, on Main Street, close to the Little White Church. I believe it is one of the best. Come decide for

yourself!

Neva Smith

Union

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First, a question for the new La Grande School District superintendent: Why do we abandon Willow School then ask for money to build new schools?

Then, David Brock's letter. Right on, Mr. Brock, just one problem: judges. These environmentalists know they can go to court and get what they want. I don't know how we get around that. It seems to me these environmentalists would rather see the forests burn down than cut the trees for lumber, jobs, etc.

I have no answer to the problem. My heart goes out to those families in Wallowa. I went through that many, many times years ago in my working years.

Roy Hills

Island City