The news that John Day City Councilor Heather Rookstool’s dog was chemically burned in what appears to have been a deliberate attack is deeply troubling, especially if — as she believes — the attack came in retaliation for her vote against putting the pool bond back on the ballot. It’s certainly possible, as Rookstool acknowledges, that it was a random attack (which would be deeply troubling in its own way), but the councilor has said she also received a veiled threat against her family. 

There have been other disturbing instances in a similar vein. John and Charlene Morris say they received an anonymous letter from someone calling them “the most hated people in Grant County” for their opposition to the pool bond. Former John Day City Manager Nick Green said in announcing his resignation that he had been threatened on multiple occasions because of his policy positions, and former City Councilors Gregg Haberly and Paul Smith both cited the steady drumbeat of criticism from community members as a contributing factor in their decisions to step down.

When political arguments rise to the level of physical threats or outright violence, we have to take a step back and try to restore our perspective. 

We don’t have to let the venom and vitriol that have infected politics at the state and national level take hold here in Grant County. We can resolve, individually and collectively, to remain civil and respectful in our political disagreements and settle them with ballots, not bullets.

We can do better than this. We have to do better than this.

In this week’s edition of the Blue Mountain Eagle, we’ll have a report about Rookstool’s proposal for a $2 million community pool — and exactly what that money would and wouldn’t buy. We’ll also have stories on Grant County’s highly dependent relationship with the U.S. Forest Service, Blue Mountain Hospital’s efforts to address its financial challenges and a convoy of vintage military vehicles that recently passed through John Day.

And in case you missed last week’s edition, we had additional coverage of the Grant County Fair, including results of the 4-H/FFA shows and photos of your friends and neighbors enjoying themselves at the fairgrounds. We also had stories about Grant County kids going back to school, a visit to Prairie City by GOP gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan and an effort to recall a local elected official, among others. 

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