Oregon and Idaho

Distrust and greater Idaho

I find it appalling that my state representative, Vikki Breese-Iverson, attended a closed-door meeting this past Thursday in Baker City to discuss the greater Idaho movement. She was joined by two representatives from, Idaho and movement spokesman Matt McCaw. The meeting was closed to the public and the press. Seriously?

A “press briefing” followed, which is what was reported in the Oct. 21 edition of The Bulletin, picked up from the Baker City Herald. In that article, one of the Idaho representatives was quoted as saying “Why wouldn’t we want to have a conversation that would allow us to bring in a lot more land…more minerals, meaning timber and other resources?” Interesting that she (Idaho Rep. Barbara Ehardt) didn’t talk about welcoming new residents or how they might be affected.

Ms. Breese-Iverson is quoted as saying “I’ve clearly heard from my constituents, and I am here today because they’ve asked me to have this conversation.” While she does represent part of Jefferson County, Crook County residents have not had the opportunity to weigh in on this issue at the ballot box. So that begs the question – what constituents and how did she learn what they want?

Additionally, no other representatives of the 12 counties that have expressed their desire to move the border were present in the meeting. All of this sows distrust in Rep. Breese-Iverson’s judgement and gives the appearance of a campaign stunt meant to endear her to the greater Idaho movement forces.

— Priscilla Smith, Prineville

Remembering George Thayer

George Thayer’s passing brought back two fond memories of the man.

The first concerns the “Downtown Streets and Sidewalks” program of the late 1990s.

The program’s aim was to fix up ailing downtown with new sidewalks and improved streetscapes in Bend. A design firm was hired and created a master plan.

At the City Council level, I was asked to chair a citizen’s committee that would review the proposed plan. George was on that committee as a downtown property owner.

The committee met often at City Hall then went on what turned out to be the penultimate walking tour of the project with the plan’s designer.

At every stop on the tour the designer would point out what would take place at that spot.

George would then explain why the proposed plan fixes or adds were not needed then or in the future. By walking tour’s end, George was instrumental in reducing the size, cost and time to finish of the project by 40%.

On a completely different side of George, in the pre-COVID era of Thursday afternoon old boys gatherings at the M and J, George would arrive and after a bit would get everyone’s attention and tell, with an impish look on his face, a terrible groaner of a joke. A joke that was always topped by yet another and George was one happy guy.

— Bob Woodward, Bend

Bulletin should rethink home delivery

Local newspapers are disappearing rapidly throughout the United States. They serve as a major asset to save our democracy. Reading about local news, events, and opinions helps us become informed citizens so we can make educated decisions about our future. I have been a subscriber to the Bend Bulletin since I moved here seven years ago and I enjoyed walking to the bottom of our driveway in the morning to get our paper.

Losing this service has completely changed my interest in reading the paper; reading online takes away from the ability to flip through the pages and select articles of interest to me. I have found that I spend far less time reading The Bulletin and I’m afraid that in the future I will discontinue subscribing. This would be against my will and if enough other subscribers feel the same way, the result could be the end of The Bulletin. I know that getting drivers is difficult, but maybe reaching out to High School students as a community service might be one avenue. I hope that you will reconsider providing home delivery.

— Andrea Casey, Bend

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