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To the Editor & Gilliam County voters, I plan to vote “No” on the recalls for the following reasons: 1) Recalls divide and damage the communities where they happen. The focus on common goals and cooperation that is necessary to the success of rural areas is clearly affected by the partisan, angry disagreements that always accompany recalls. There is already evidence that working and even family relationships are being strained by the divisions this latest recall effort has created. We cannot afford to sacrifice the gre...
Letter to the Editor: Well, another recall election is upon us, and I am again left to wonder if many voters are aware of or even care as to why they are being asked to vote to remove an elected official from office. Many I am aware of could not tell you why the original petitioners feel the need for a recall or why those reasons may or may not be important and warrant that extreme action. Instead of asking the hard questions, voters often insert their own justifications which could range from past grievances, feelings about...
To the Editor: A couple of weeks ago, I received an anonymous letter, as did other postal patrons. 1. If a letter is worth paying the postage for, it is worth signing. If you don’t wish to sign, then don’t send. 2. Refrain from capitalizing all of the letters in a sentence. We are not discussing the end of time as we know it. This is a worn and overused tactic. 3. Past County Judge discussion: with respect for all, one has been retired coming on eighteen years, one coming on twelve years, and one ran for reelection, and los...
To the Editor and Gilliam County Voters, As I wrote last week, I’m proud of the progress we’ve made together over the last five years; investing more than $1 million to support small businesses, jumpstarting housing development, creating a permanent endowment to provide childcare access for all families, laying the groundwork to bring affordable, reliable, high-speed internet to every home in Gilliam County, and so much more. The choice before you is to continue this progress or to plunge Gilliam County into crisis. Oregon La...
Letter to the Editor: It is my honor and pleasure to highly recommend Honorable Cris Patnode for the position of County Judge in Oregon. I have known Judge Patnode for many years, through our membership in the National Judge’s Association. She worked her way through the various offices of NJA, from Secretary to President, and her service and professionalism was second to none. She has been an inspiration to me, as she understands the balance of being on the bench, between the human element and the legal element. As past P...
To the Editor: With the May primary election fast approaching, we as voters have the opportunity to elect a leader who will bring fiscal responsibility and business-friendly policies to Oregon politics. That is why I am supporting Dave Drotzmann for state senator. Everyday expenses like groceries, medication, and housing are concerns for all Oregonians. We need leaders in Salem who will hold our government accountable for every dollar that is received and spent. During his time as Hermiston mayor, Dave has overseen...
Gilliam County voters will receive ballots for the special recall election of Judge Elizabeth Farrar Campbell and Commissioner Pat Shannon on April 10. We will be voting “No” on both. There is no doubt that the Gilliam County Court unleashed discord when it passed resolution 2023-01 in December. That order stripped the county court of its judicial functions. The court then held listening sessions and discussed the potential of changing the county’s governing structure to a... Full story
To the Editor, I am writing in response to the letter to Gilliam County from Rachel Boyer in last week’s Times Journal. Gilliam County is audited yearly. These audits are kept in the Gilliam County Clerk's Office for public view. You will find no adverse findings. As an elected official, I welcome the investigation of “several” agencies. Rachel, I wish you the best in your future endeavors. —Ellen Wagenaar, Condon...
By Trysten Lofthouse, 4-H Student Reporter The “Super Swine” 4-H hog club met on March 21 at 6pm at the 4-H pavilion. All swine club members were present. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Clyde, 4-H Pledge by Zane. Who has pigs? Trysten, Marie, Mark. We passed out the Barn Bible and talked about daily work with pigs, and learned how to properly brush the pig’s hair. We discussed getting our ideas started for next meeting. We learned about nutrition and played Swine Jeopa...
April 4, 2024 10 years ago— Senator Ron Wyden will be back in Fossil to conduct his 700th town hall in the seat of Wheeler County, where by the way, he conducted his first town hall session as a United States Senator in 1996. The C-W Knights girls’ basketball team was invited to the Portland Trailblazer game for their ‘State Champions Night’. The team was given tickets in the 100 level to enjoy the game against the New Orleans Pelicans. All 14 members of the JV and Varsity teams were able to attend, along with their coaches....
To the Editor, Gilliam County voters timing is everything. I have been studying budget law and the recall ballots will be mailed out this next week which does not give time for the county to adopt a budget and approve tax appropriations due to budget law timelines. That being said, I am not willing to put all my eggs in one basket. If two county court members are recalled there will not be a quorum to continue county business. The Governor of Oregon will appoint an interim county judge, that person will have to accept the... Full story
A friend recently laughed that in a conversation with a city dweller, she said that in small towns we don't just know everyone's name, we know the names of their dogs. The names of three of my favorite dogs evoke memories that always make me smile. My husband and I bought our first home in Fossil in 1975 while teaching at Fossil Grade School. Our next-door neighbors were Bob and Margaret Misener, and their English Springer Spaniel, Oscar. Oscar wasn't a spry puppy when we met...
Dear Editor, It is disheartening to witness a recurring trend in our political landscape: individuals seeking elected positions with no intention of fulfilling their terms. This unethical practice not only undermines the trust of the electorate but also deprives voters of their rightful voice in governance. Whether it's judges, sheriffs, county commissioners, or other officials, the decision to run for office knowing that one will not complete their term is a betrayal of public trust. Elected positions are not stepping...
Letter to the Editor: I have been reading and listening to the comments made by the Elected County Court members and other folks about a total County shutdown if the recall is successful in removing some of the officials. Basically, the lights will have to be turned off and everyone will need to go home due to not having an operational budget in place! This is totally avoidable, I call on the Elected County Officials to step up and do the job duties of your station and move forward with implementing an emergency budget or...
Judge Elizabeth Farrar Campbell presented a million dollar (actually $1,143,600) contract for Court approval on February 7th. It was NOT approved. But if it had been, more than a million dollars would have gone to a Portland firm in exchange for 9,500 hours spent consulting 10 county organizations over the next three years. When asked, Judge Campbell was either unwilling or unable to identify the targeted organizations. Seems like a lot of money for an extraordinary number of hours. More disturbing is the fact Campbell’s p...
When you can't defend your policy or actions the only thing left is fear mongering and scare tactics. The common theme of the County Commissioner's and the Judge. We can't get a budget done or passed if we get recalled. The lights will all go out in our county, no one will get paid, the seniors will suffer, and you will not have law enforcement. This is simply not true. We have consulted several Budget professionals with a combined budget writing and adopting experience of over 50 years, 5 times the level of our County Court...
To the Editor and Gilliam County Voters, “Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving." – William Shakespeare (Othello) In last week’s edition, a letter to the editor drew comparisons between my time serving as Gilliam County Judge with the Elizabethan Era. While Mr. Ball intended this as a scathing indictment, I see it as a Comedy of Errors. Don’t get me wrong; there are many comparisons to draw between my tenure at Gilliam County and the Elizabethan Era. For instanc...
As a bookseller I meet a lot of dead people, or rather, obtain their books, see mementos of them, and meet their spouses, family members, neighbors and colleagues. It’s nice to meet a man who is very much alive. It was nice to pull in yesterday to the parking lot at Bickfords Senior Living in Iowa City, Iowa and meet Dr. Peter Morris Green. I spent a fine, memorable hour with him. I was drafted by Dr. Green’s daughter, the cultural anthropologist Dr. Sarah Green, to obtain, so...
Lately I have contemplated the excess in our society. Most people I know struggle with spare rooms, attics, basements, garages, outbuildings and storage units full of things they don’t know what to do with. They get caught in the indecision twilight zone and they want to keep the thing and dispose of it all at the same time. I call a good problem a champagne problem. Champagne problems are good things to have! As I contemplated on the champagne problem of excess, I r...
Dear Gilliam County, I am writing to encourage the citizens of Gilliam County to ask some critical questions of your incumbent elected officials, including those who are going to be on your ballot for the May primary election. I have been the Finance Director at Gilliam County since July 10, 2023. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA), and I am a Certified Management Accountant (CMA). I have over 20 years of experience in Accounting/Finance and spent the last 8 years try...
To the Editor The Elizabethan Era was when many historic plays and tragedies we all studied in school were written. Gilliam County is now nearing the end of our own tragedy (play) with our own Queen Elizabeth Farrar Campbell. Her court Jester has been Commissioner Pat Shannon, playing the lead role. First year Lady in Waiting Leah Watkins, with only a little over a year's experience, has played an excellent supporting role. Commissioner Leah Watkins appears to be changing her role, however, from Lady in Waiting to Aspiring...
To the Editor and Gilliam County Voters, Yesterday, I filed paperwork with the Gilliam County Clerk’s Office requesting the voters allow me to continue serving them as Gilliam County Judge through the remainder of my term, which ends in January. Today, I am asking for your help in defeating this divisive and reckless waste of taxpayer resources by voting “no” on the recall election. One of the Chief Petitioners, Ms. Parm, has stated this effort is driven by her belief the people of Gilliam County should be able to “voic...
To the Editor, Currently recall petitioners have gathered enough signatures to submit to the County Clerk. A special recall election could potentially remove 2 of the 3 court members. The following are facts voters should consider as they cast their ballots, the effects of which could be devastating and long lasting for our county. If the recall is successful it will result in an emergency shut down of all county services, including furloughing all county employees. Elected Officials may choose to open their respective...
To the Editor, My name is Jim Hassing and I am running for Gilliam County Judge. I have lived in Gilliam County most of my life. Spent three years in U.S. Army, six-time Exalted Ruler of the Condon Elks Lodge. I am going on ten years as Mayor of Condon. Right now with the way the county tax percentage distribution schedule is setup, there is a large difference between the North and South. Which is the Health, School, and Fire District. I feel the county can make up the difference so they are both equal between the north and...
One of my favorite memories of growing up was going to Mrs. Eden’s house for the annual Easter egg party. Mrs. Eden and her husband were retired and they loved kids. We loved every minute of making a big mess in her kitchen. When we were finished decorating the eggs, we ate a rabbit cake that had a pink gumdrop nose, licorice eyes and coconut fur. Down the street we went with a basket full of colorful hardboiled eggs. After Easter comes and goes, your fridge might overflow wit...
