Editor’s note: Per the Blue Mountain Eagle‘s election-year policy, cutoff for letters to the editor which criticize candidates is the Oct. 23 issue. Deadline for the Eagle to receive those letters is noon Monday, Oct. 21. This policy prevents 11th-hour attacks on individuals which the individuals cannot answer before the election. Responses to any letters of criticism will appear as they are received, including (if needed) in the final issue before the election, the Oct. 30 edition. The election is Tuesday, Nov. 5.Fieldings’ neighbor, past Granite councilor respondsI am concerned with your reporting on the Granite Lodge-City of Granite dispute about the stairway and deck that protrudes into the public setback and right-of-way. As a property owner in the City of Granite, I take the stand that everyone should be in compliance with the rules, regulations and codes. As the former owner of the Granite Country Store, I believe that business owners should be doubly sure about following the laws of the town, county and country, to set an example not only for the townspeople, but for everyone concerned, including travelers to our town, guests at the Lodge and store and our children who most times imitate their elders actions. I would like the public to know this is not a vendetta against the Fieldings by myself, as has been suggested. I was a councilor with the City of Granite Council from July 1998 until Aug. 21, 2002. An executive session was held during the Aug. 21, 2002, council meeting at which time it was voted on by the only three council members present, Patricia Fielding, Mitch Fielding and their son Mike Heroff, to remove me from office, because I moved about three blocks from the city limits. My move was not official till the 25th of August. Yes, I did vote to have the Fieldings remove their stairway and deck. I also arranged with the Fieldings to trade 19 feet of my property that borders theirs for the same amount behind the store that I owned at the time. The reason for this was that they also overbuilt into my property by that many feet, by installing their sand filter for their sewer system by that much. This was done before I bought my property in town. But, if I’m hearing accurately what the court is saying – that it is all right to do this to the city – does that mean it would have been quite all right for the Fieldings to take my property, too? And would I not have a favorable outcome either, if I had taken it to court? I was willing to work with the Fieldings in correcting a problem on a personal level, but felt they should face the codes on a city level in this dispute. Scott Myers, county commissioner, at first voted to adhere to the county planning verdict of Nov. 14, 2000. Commissioner Leonard Trafton did not vote yea or nay, but turned it over to Judge Reynolds, who was trying to negotiate a compromise. Commissioner Myers then agreed to go along with the majority. In that decision the stairs are to be torn down, the deck stays for life. It is not to be repaired in any way during that time. Who may I ask would police that for the next 50 years? Or for that matter the next five years?It was reported that 23 citizens of Granite came to the hearing. You did not do your research on the 23 or you would have had to report that 15 of the 23 came in support of the City of Granite’s position – take the deck and stairs off and comply with the rules. Three of the 23 were Mitch and Patricia Fielding and their son Mike Heroff, one was listed as Granite councilor, one as owner of a business, and three for the Lodge. At least five traveled a great distance to show their support for the city’s position. I motored by car from Hood River, where I was working temporarily, as it is of great concern to me to abide by the laws even in a small town of 20 permanent residents. After all, if we do not feel we have to follow rules and regulations, what stand can we take when passers-by travel our streets too fast, steal our belongings or break other laws? In conclusion, I feel the court’s decision is not a just one.Lucille MyersProperty owner, City of GraniteSkateboarder dilemma seeks suggestions, solutionThank you for you wonderful and to-the-point article regarding “Rogue skateboarders. …” I could not agree with you more – on many points. I have talked with some skateboarders about their actions and encouraged them to get a park started. Do you have any idea as to how we could get a skateboard park started in John Day? Would you have any ideas for fund-raising, where to look for financial assistance, or location?Bonnie WattJohn DayEditor’s note: A commonly mentioned potential site for a skateboard park is the Seventh Street Complex in John Day. However, other sites may avail themselves. Grant sources or facilitators for a variety of community-improvement projects include the Southeast Regional Alliance, Greater Eastern Oregon Development Corporation and Training and Employment Consortium. A key component is project leadership. We welcome ideas from readers. Please submit letters to the editor on this topic.Head Oregon in the right direction, vote for MannixThis is a most important time in Oregon. For the past many years, we have had as the governor of Oregon a person that has done nothing for the people of Oregon and many things that have hindered us. The lack of support for business, jobs, families, rural life styles and education have caused a great injustice and harm to us all. The loss of jobs we have experienced in our timber industry alone has been horrendous. We have an opportunity now to put into place a governor that has our best interests at heart. A person who believes a strong state must involve healthy businesses, which in turn create more and better jobs, for support of our schools and the way of life we love. The person I believe will do this the best is Kevin Mannix. Yes, I am a Republican, and I am proud of that. However, even if I were a Democrat, I would vote for Mr. Mannix and the reason I say this is because of the decisions Mannix has made in the past that shows me his intent is the betterment for all of Oregon, not just a specialized few in the northern part of the state. Yes, Portland is our largest city, but the rest of Oregon is what helps keep the cities what they are. There are no farms raising livestock or produce in downtown Portland. There are no sawmills or factories in downtown Portland. The schools of Portland are of no greater importance than the rest of the schools in Oregon. I, for one, feel the whole state needs representation. It is not our privilege, but our right to have a person in office as governor that represents us equally – both rural and urban. We know Kevin Mannix fully supports our timber industry. He would be extremely helpful to us not only within the state, but on a national level as well. Representing us in Washington, D.C., with a positive note for wise use of our natural resources. I ask each and every one of you to help in the effort to get Oregon once again headed in the right direction. I ask that you help put Kevin Mannix in office as our next governor. I ask that you support Kevin Mannix in whatever way you can – verbally, financially, or support letter to the paper. It will take all of us voting for Kevin to change the trend that has been directing Oregon much too long. But we have this opportunity; let’s not waste it. This is not the time to listen to rumor or adverse advertisements that are self-serving. If you have questions, ask Kevin where he stands on these issues you care about. You hear and read a lot of things during election. Find out the truth. I know if you do, you too will support Kevin Mannix as the right person for Oregon’s next governor.Don R. JohnsonD.R. Johnson Lumber CompanyRiddleYoung reader urges: Don’t stereotype skateboardersI am a local skater and would like to tell you that I have never been abused by my parents and would love it if you would stop filling these people’s minds that we are “felons in training.”I am 15 years old and have been skating for some years. Now I love skateboarding. I don’t do it to hurt people, I do it for fun. But I’m taking a stand. We are not “felons in training” or “rebels without a cause or a clue.” You just need to see that we do this for fun. I would like to see that this has lit my flame. Maybe we should have a skatepark. Skateboarders have been hated for as long as its been around. We love what we do. We don’t go to the golf course on Saturday morning and yell, “You punks can’t golf here” or go out to a lake and tell people “You must leave, I am trying to enjoy my day. I’m calling the cops.” We’re just out to have fun. The editor has branded us with a bad name, but skateboarding is not a crime and skateboarding will never be a crime! I know its become too popular to ignore. But don’t hate us. We just want to have fun.Brian DelanoJohn DayBe a leader, vote ‘yes’ on both county initiativesTwo initiatives from Grant County were reviewed by the Oregon State Attorney General this summer. The highest legal authority in Oregon saw no problem with the intent of the initiatives and approved them to become ballot measures that will be voted on starting Oct. 18. These measures ask voters to establish a Grant County Public Forest Commission and petitions Congress for title to Grant County public lands. The intention is to be able to address severe problems with forest health on Forest Service- and BLM-controlled land within the county. The term “public lands” has nothing to do with cities or towns within the county. No one needs to be reminded of the terrible fires in the West this past summer. Oregon had the most acres burned with Grant County receiving another series of blows to our already decimated forests. What did not go up in flames is at grave risk in the future. The U.S. Forest Service has copies available free at the Federal Building in John Day of the president’s forest plan titled, “Healthy Forests, an initiative for wildfire prevention and stronger communities.” President Bush’s call for forest health and “charter forests” are aligned with what we hope to achieve in Grant County with the passing of the ballot measures. We have reached the bottom. Should we ruefully accept ranking with the highest unemployment in state and nation as business as usual? We lost 5 percent of the county’s workforce last year. How many more families will be uprooted to leave homes and friends behind? We know that our forests have the highest fuel loading in the West and that catastrophic fire is a threat to public safety, our waters and wildlife and our very survival. With an “emergency fuel removal program,” similar to the successful citizen’s salvage program of 1997, the forest will receive immediate help in removing dead and blowdown trees. The local economy will receive a much-needed boost with millions of dollars being created without tax or grant monies. The activity will pay for itself and create revenue for the county. An employment opportunity will exist that will help citizens get back on their feet without a large capital investment. Anyone with a pickup truck, trailer, chain saw and a desire to work can earn hundreds of dollars a day. Citizens, the forest and nation will benefit from the work. A U.S. Forest Service coin that was given away years ago features Smokey Bear on one side with the logo, “Please! Only you can prevent forest fires.” The other side of the coin states, “I give my pledge as a citizen to faithfully protect my country’s forests, waters and wildlife, and to do all in my power to prevent their waste and destruction from the ravages of forest fires.”We are not alone in the West in this endeavor. Other states and countries are working towards the same goals. Grant County will just be first. We have been recognized as the leader in these issues. Letters, e-mail, phone calls and radio interviews have all expressed encouragement for our foresight, courage and resolve. Your vote will make you a part of restoring Grant County. If you love this county and our way of life, then look in your heart when you connect the arrows. Remember, noting ventured, nothing gained.Dave TraylorJohn DayTake the initiative, do something about accessCan you imagine hunting and finding your favorite spot closed by road closures? Then think about picture taking, mushroom hunting, camping, wood cutting and mining or ranching. The roads in our area are all being closed and people don’t or won’t do anything about this. We need to stand up on our hind legs and make the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management change their way of doing things. They work for us, don’t they? In closing, I am 67 years old and I can’t walk like I did when I was 30 years old. Road closures aren’t in the best interest of the person wanting to go to the woods. Write letters to your senators or representatives and the Forest Service and BLM offices. Do something!Eugene EmeryMt. VernonVote for Lee Carter’s experience in legal arenaWould you take your livestock to a welder to get well, or your car to a sewing machine repair person to get fixed? No! Then why would you elect a person with no experience to the office of Grant County District Attorney?Mr. Mike Kilpatrick is also anti-government, so how do you put together good cases if you will not work with government personnel, Oregon State Police, the Grant County Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Forest Service, and the many other agencies?Also, in the big picture of things, people will not want to move to Grant County or start businesses here if the D.A. is anti-government. We all know the county needs a boost to the economy, people to buy homes, and kids for the schools, as they are our hope for the future. In Dayville, I listened to Lee Carter speak about his background and qualifications for the job of district attorney. I was impressed with his answers to the questions from the audience. If you haven’t heard him speak, please come to the Communities Against Substance Abuse Candidate’s Forum planned 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at Grant School District 3 conference room, 401 N. Canyon City Blvd. Remember folks, this great land and government of ours has given us the right to vote, and we have a responsibility to choose the candidate we believe to be the best choice.Roger LangDayville‘Yes’ vote urged for local control of public landsI urge Grant County voters to vote yes on both local ballot measures this election. We need to send a bold message to the U.S. Congress that the current federal laws, rules, agencies and courts have created stagnant bureaucracies and practically prevent the effective management of our public lands. Our forests need to be managed by local authorities who are familiar with local conditions and not hog-tied by a tangle of red tape created by people hundreds and thousands of miles away. We are not alone. Rural Americans are struggling and other counties and states are asking for similar concessions: for active management and local control. The unique thing about these two local measures is that measure 40 formally petitions Congress to give title of public lands to the People of Grant County; measure 39 creates a locally elected commission to manage those public lands formerly controlled by the federal government. By having title and control of our public lands, our county will be better able to manage them in an efficient and beneficial way. It would also insulate us from the whims of national politics and the proverbial pendulum that keeps swinging, ever increasingly to our disadvantage. We are in a unique position to show what can be accomplished through conscientious active management. Unlike other places, we still have the infrastructure and the workforce to accomplish good things. If we continue to loose our knowledgeable forestry workers and timber industry, we will not have the tools to fix many of the problems on our public lands and our economy and communities will follow suit. Tourism, telecommuting and cottage industry cannot replace the jobs that produce our food, building materials and energy. We cannot avoid change, but we owe it to ourselves and our country to demand change for the better. Please vote yes to petition Congress for title to our local public lands, and vote yes to establish a local Public Forest Commission, elected by you, the People of Grant County.Nick SheedyJohn Day