Letters To Editor

I would like to thank both Harold Weight and Evelyn Swart for their words in the last Chieftain. Both letters showed a refreshing clarity and understanding of our duty as citizens of this country.

My wife and I visited Joseph and Enterprise last week and were stunned to find so few people wearing masks. People at the Wallowa Lake Lodge, retailers, servers at restaurants, and even the ma…

When I was a small child, I had an immunization on my arm for smallpox. I think I got it at school. There was no vaccination at the time for measles, mumps or whooping cough, and I had all tho…

I write today to give voice to the many Eastern Oregonians who support Sen. Ron Wyden’s River Democracy Act and to the nonhumans who need its protections. Our voices join those of the Nimiipuu…

I find it interesting when people do not use logic in looking at issues such as the moraine plan. I also grew up in Joseph, and as a youngster remember the deer herds wintering on the East Mor…

To Lesley Neuman:

While I appreciate the many compelling national and local stories about the impact of the 9/11 attacks, including those that appeared in the Chieftain, the somber truth of this anniversary has…

The Chieftain published a series of Opinion letters arguing the "pros" and "cons" of COVID preventative measures.

There is a fundamental error with the assertion that “the right to infect” others is not a protected liberty.

This summer marks 50 years for me in Wallowa County. I came to spend a year — and I stayed. I stayed because the land is wonderful. I stayed because of people. In the 50 years countless traged…

Protesters demand freedom from mask and vaccine mandates, claiming personal choice. For most medical decisions, I would agree.

This is America ... land of the free. I have a right to vaccinate or not, wear a mask or not. Because I don’t put on a mask or won’t subject myself to an unproven vaccine does not mean that I'…

Sen. Ron Wyden deserves a big thank you for initiating and guiding the River Democracy Act through the winding channels towards congressional approval. As this drought and fire year has made s…

People who camp and hunt on Hancock land need to be aware of the changes. Camping on their land is no longer free. You will be charged $35 to $300 per night. They will be patrolling the area t…

The recent article, “Anger in Wallowa County: Protesters Reject Mandate,” has me thinking of the question, “How are we going to live together?” When I was boy of 10 our family took in an 8-yea…

Thank you, Jeff and Stephen, for your recent letters to the editor.

Wallowa County protesters are angry. That is not surprising. What is surprising, is the anti-vaxxers and the unmaskers are angry at the governor for trying to make them safe. One has only to c…

Last September, when there were 28,000 daily infections, schools closed to stop the spread and classes were moved online. Today there are 150,000 daily cases and children are back in the classroom.

I just wanted to briefly point out how great it is that Sen. Wyden spearheaded the move to expand the wild and scenic rivers in Oregon. Overall, the state has around 1% of its rivers and strea…

I was out bicycling yesterday, and Labor Day traffic was so unremitting that I could not cross Main Street in Joseph. I resorted to walking my bike in the crosswalk, and fortunately a few driv…

It is an unfortunate observation that data and logic have become largely irrelevant due to the politicization of the pandemic. As I was perusing the Society of Professional Journalists Code of…

On the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 1, I attended a rally at the Wallowa County Courthouse for "Stop the Mandates." It was extremely well-attended for being on a work/school day. People of all …

To those who oppose the use of masks or receiving a vaccination, please realize that the ICU bed that you may occupy could be used for a child who has been in an automobile accident or is figh…

The coronavirus pandemic, hurricanes and flooding, wildfires and the plight of refugees are fueling the division and political unrest in the United States, as well as the entire world. It is t…

The people of Wallowa County are known for their warmth, kindness, and generosity. My personal experience has borne that out — at least until the pandemic reached its current level of lethalit…

There is conflict occurring within our communities pertaining to COVID-19 protocols and masking mandates and it is negatively affecting our school districts and our kids' education.

The recent mask and vaccine mandates issued by the state of Oregon are nonsensical and require intense scrutiny by the public. It is at this time that many of us are questioning our ability to…

In reference to the opinion page "Voice of the Chieftain” on Aug. 18, I would like to offer an alternate opinion (everyone is entitled to an opinion). Mask mandate is more than just a “local i…

In response to a thoughtful letter by Evan Bryan concerning south-end evacuation plans of the lake, I want to argue that to funnel traffic involving large RV’s, camping trailers and rigs pulli…

Evelyn Swart’s letters to the editor always stimulate reflective thought on my part including her most recent (“Politics is a way to discuss country needs,” Aug. 11, 2021).

Dave Ebbert characterized our local situation in his letter to the editor last week: “What a crazy world we live in.” There was certainly evidence in that same issue.

What a crazy world we live in! “COVID-19 cases increasing in Wallowa County at fastest rate of pandemic” (Chieftain, Aug. 11). While on the same front page is the article of the Wallowa County…

With all due respect to the writers at the Chieftain, I have to voice my disagreement with the conclusion that "...smaller districts can’t stand to lose $75,000 or more in fines ..." (for bein…

Many people these days tend to think that the word “politics” is a dirty word and that it is OK to cast aspersions on anyone’s ideas that may be different. Actually, the word “politics” in my …

I am writing in response to Boyd McAvoy’s letter, "Money for proposed road would be better spent improving Wallowa Lake Dam." Mr. McAvoy is right that public money should be spent in a sensibl…

The present proposal to build new road segments (joining the Lake Shore Road) for possible fire evacuation of state park visitors has neither common-sense planning or local support. A fraction…

On July 21, our congressional Representative Cliff Bentz, along with many of his GOP colleagues, signed a letter to “Leaders of Democratic States” decrying the Cuban dictatorship and calling u…

Thank you for the story on the Mentor Match program. I wanted to add that Bayden Menton gave 25% of his proceeds back to Joseph Charter School as a thank you. He also donated several boards to…

It's amazing to me the depths to which society has sunk in recent decades. Discourse, humanity, civility, respect ... all societal traits that are withering and dying, victims of the eliminati…

It's laudable that the Divide Camp uses nature to heal the wounds of our veterans, but trapping has no place in this therapy.

To my amazed Republican and Democratic friends, I did not switch parties. I just mistakenly switched computer files. And to my father who once gave me a dictionary as a Christmas present, I no…

This seems to have become quite an issue at Wallowa Lake, and needs to be addressed. I am sick of trying to put in or take out our boat at the boat launch on the north end of the lake. People …

Totalitarianism: A system of government that is centralized and dictatorial and 
requires complete subservience to the state. Anyone noticing the trend with Oregon and the United States? One w…

The American capitalistic system is based on the theory of supply and demand. When there is not enough product to supply the number of people who want and can afford it, the prices increase. W…

Over the past few years I have noticed a disturbing trend in the Chieftain, where our beautiful mountains are being referred to as the Eagle Cap Mountains or Eagle Caps, rather than their prop…

Why does Mike Simpson expect others to present alternatives to his $33 billion plan to gut the economy of the Pacific Northwest? He claims, “We need to have honest conversations.” So, let’s be…

It seems lately that our government is indecisive as to how to best administer the oversupply of COVID-19 vaccine resource nationwide due to individuals refusing the procedure. Distribution to…

To Evelyn Swart, I will agree to your position in your letter in the May 12 issue of the Wallowa County Chieftain as soon as the government, state and federal, also only have muskets.

May 6 was the National Day of Prayer. Not one church or preacher held any kind of service that I know of in the county. How sad is that?

As Memorial Day Weekend approaches and families have a long weekend to enjoy spring outings, we also turn our thoughts to those who gave their lives for our freedom. The Chieftain gives excell…

When referring to the early colonial days, some people conclude that since the colonists had to fight to gain independence from the tyranny of the king of England, patriots now must have home …

I must respond to Mr. Kemp’s letter to the editor from Wednesday, May 5.

In "I Feel Lucky," Mary Chapin Carpenter sings, “Hey, the stars might lie, but the numbers never do.”