To the Editor:

Thirty years ago a man was murdered in John Day. A $1,000 reward was posted for information that might bring the killer to justice. The crime went unsolved. About the same time a Forest Service facility near Starr Ridge was blown up. $5,000 was the reward offered on who may have destroyed an outhouse. The disparity of reward amounts concerning the value of a person’s life and a crapper was talked about.

Recently a wolf was found dead. $16,500 is the reward on who may have killed an apex predator. Is this inflation in action or a case of skewed values?

Dave Traylor

John Day