Letters to the editor: March 6, 2024 (print version)

Published 4:00 am Wednesday, March 6, 2024

I want to applaud an editorial in the Hermiston Herald’s sister paper, the East Oregonian, published Feb. 20, 2024, titled “Voters must stay involved at the ballot box.” The writer should be applauded for pointing out the key components that all Oregon citizens should stay informed regarding voting at the ballot box.

“The key component to democracy is the involvement of voters,” the column stated. “Simply casting a ballot is not enough. … That means understanding and knowing what the key issues are at the Legislature and interpreting how they impact your hometown and your neighborhood. … Getting involved is not as difficult as it may seem. Every legislator has a website where they can be reached by email or phone.”

I would like to point out that the Oregon Secretary of State’s page has 54 initiatives, referendums and referrals for petitions in 2024.

I do not understand why every election year political groups are begging American citizens to vote, while people in other countries do not have the rights and privileges that we Americans have. What is wrong with our “New Age” society? Do you not understand that freedom to vote equals freedom?

Attention to the citizens who are reading this letter with their coffee, speak to yourself: “I pledge to be self-engaged with laws that affect myself and my family. I will become the most informed person. I will find the time to meet with the new candidates running for state offices. I will become a volunteer supporting a candidate ,and I will volunteer with my favorite political party. I will donate to a worthy cause. I will encourage others to make sure they are registered to vote. I will engage in my local county government and city government and I will fight for the freedoms of life that I as an American enjoy.”

I thank God I am an American citizen.

Kathy Wilson

Pendleton

PCP member, Umatilla County Republicans

Republican Women, Milton-Freewater

Roundup Republican Women

I want to congratulate everyone for the Hermiston High School Sports Boosters banquet and auction. The public, Hermiston High administrators, school board members, teachers, coaches, businesses, friends, high school parents — all came together for an absolutely wonderful event.

The Barnett family prepared and served a five-star meal. The committee did an excellent job of rounding up everybody and everything possible to bring it all together.

John Lauck is now the Umatilla County emcee of the year. Ford Bonney tied it all together with a triple overhand underhand double-loop cinch knot. His skill and humor added the final touch as he auctioned off everything under the sun.

Thanks and congratulations to all!

Mike Mehren

Hermiston

Growing up in Alaska, our family relied heavily on salmon as a staple. I also was raised to respect and honor the Indigenous members within our community.

The value of increasing efforts to remove the four lower Snake River dams is immeasurable. As a sport fisherperson, I recognize the value of bringing native salmon and steelhead back from the brink of extinction as a moral and ethical endeavor. Bringing back Indigenous rights to their cultural heritage and meeting the treaties is a regional and national obligation.

With two state governors and several legislators supporting investigations to replace the services that these four dams provide is only a first step. Installations of these dams forced environmental and community transitions; removal also will have transient impacts to many. But evidence is mounting that the water, power and transportation concerns can be addressed.

The end goal is to restore a millenniums-old species to its native spawning grounds. To not do so can only be rationalized through humankind’s hubris. I urge all who wish to honor the treaty obligations to Indigenous Peoples, and who value restoring the habitat of endangered fish in order to bring them back, to contact your state and federal representatives.

Time is short. Once lost, these fish start an ecological downslide. Your voice matters.

Mike Dahlstrom

Tigard