Barry Lopez once asked tribal elders in the far north Indigenous cultures who had taught him so much, “What do you mean by a storyteller?”
Normally, we would give a grace period to a freshly sworn-in politician. But the actions and words of Rep. Cliff Bentz warrant not patience, but condemnation.
It is no secret that Google has secured a near monopoly in the search and local advertising world. However, the impact on newspapers hasn’t been quite as obvious.
I was disappointed in the East Oregonian's article and editorial comments about our new representative, Cliff Bentz.
The challenges for adult learners to master the skills of reading in order to pass the GED appear to be unsurmountable. Althea Huesties-Wolf, Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation…
The Baha'is of Pendleton began organizing a Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration over 30 years ago, believing that the celebration of this day was one important way of pursuing the dream of …
It is not a law that protects a sitting president from being charged with a crime, it is only a Department of Justice policy. Thus, now that Donald Trump is leaving executive office, he needs…
Cliff Bentz is off to a bad start. In one of his first official acts as our member of the House of Representatives, he voted to throw out all of the millions of votes from the Commonwealth of …
Bill Elfering has represented Umatilla County well as a county commissioner, businessman, and caring, compassionate, involved family man. Bill has demonstrated the confidence to stand alone, t…
A tip of the hat to Umatilla County for ramping up its vaccine distribution abilities so quickly and effectively that the county was able to vaccinate hundreds of residents against COVID-19 in…
For this first column of 2021, I intended to address the controversy generated by the Pendleton street markers named for famous Confederates. But the Jan. 6 attack on Congress got me thinking …
We Americans have been handed an opportunity. We can show the world that we are indeed a country that still dreams and has hope for a future. The only way to make that wish come true is to rid…
It’s hard to know what to say when watching what happened in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Jan. 6. This may be a childish comment, but I only can think of this: I hope Donald Trump and all h…
Thank you to the editor of the East Oregonian for the retraction of his support of Rep. Cliff Bentz following his decision to object to the certification of the electoral college votes. The vi…
The resignation of Oregon’s former public records advocate, Ginger McCall, still echoes with consequences.
Two critical tests that any elected representative must pass are that he or she make sound decisions for the good of their constituents, and that they seek the truth. On Wednesday, Jan. 6, and…
Last week on this page we wrote that we believed newly elected U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz had a bright future in the halls of the Congress. We still believe that to be true, but it’s clear the fres…
In a recent article in the East Oregonian titled “Buildable land needed for new housing,” it was stated that the city of Pendleton’s No. 1 priority is housing. If you check the section on the …
Trumpism has been thoroughly expressed as of Wednesday, Jan. 6, by the storming of the nation’s capital. The decomposing soul of the Republican Party has been dramatically exposed.
One-time Texas railroad commissioner and longtime activist Jim Hightower had it right: There’s nothing in the middle of the road but yellow stripes and a dead armadillo. That’s where our newly…
Once upon a time, way too long ago, we Clifton/Smiths and a dog with no surname loaded into a Subaru with a hillock of sleeping bags, pads, books, salami, generic kibble, two huckleberry pies,…
As our climate continues to change, we are all feeling the impacts ranging from longer, drier summers to public health issues. These impacts will affect us all no matter our political persuasi…
Recently, eight prominent scientists sent a letter to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) declaring that the agency’s proposed Tri-State Fuel Break (TSFB) for Oregon, Nevada, and Idaho is flaw…
The new year is a good time to reevaluate our values and consider our priorities to improve our health and well-being. It is said you are doing well if indeed, you actually make one or two sig…
Most of what we read about COVID-19 is bad news. The daily body count, the new more dangerous strain, the fear of contracting or spreading the virus, and the devastating economic shutdowns. Wh…
Here are a few observations I have noticed. Oregon invented the mail-in ballot. Ever since the mail-in ballot there has not been a Republican governor elected and the same for every blue state…
A kick in the pants to the ever-widening divisions in America that led to an angry mob overrunning our nation’s Capitol as members of Congress fled for their safety.
Despite the harangues of a couple hundred uninformed, misguided, and radicalized protestors in Salem on Jan. 1, I believe the overwhelming message to Gov. Kate Brown and Oregon public health a…
Imagine it’s early September and you hold a coveted Mount Emily archery elk tag. After a restless night, you rise three hours before dawn and drive 45 minutes to a trailhead where you are happ…
A state task force is meeting regularly, charged by the Legislature to figure out how a single -payer health care plan might work in Oregon. It’s a big deal.
I remember sitting at the kitchen table with my two daughters 40 years ago telling them, “This is a very special day.” It was Jan. 20, and we were watching the inauguration of the president of…
Rather than starting by looking directly at 2020, let’s go back two decades. It may help put things in perspective.
I’m frustrated and discouraged. As a conservative Republican in a, sadly, liberal Democrat state, I’m typically disappointed on Election Day. However, this presidential election is significant…
The climate crisis threatens us all. The dangers are real and familiar and upon us: unprecedented storms, fires, drought, climate-ignited conflict, too many more. Fortunately, there are soluti…
Ontario lawyer Cliff Bentz has some big shoes to fill.
I have experienced gratitude, peace, and moments of joy over this most difficult year by spending time on the Eagle, Powder, and Grande Ronde rivers. These rivers are not only beautiful, but e…
Light and warmth filtered through the trees as the road wound its way through the winter wonderland. Occasional patches of ice had turned into groomed snow as my sister and I headed west, seek…
One of my favorite movies is “Catch Me If You Can.” At one point, Tom Hanks, who plays FBI agent Carl Hanratty, encounters the target of his investigation, Frank Abagnale, portrayed by Leonard…
I’m incredibly honored to work as a hydropower advocate. My organization champions clean energy, works to fight climate change and campaigns for fair and equitable electricity access for commu…
When I worked for the BLM, us “ologists” (hydrologist, ecologists, biologists, archaeologists, geologists and botanists) used to refer to range conservationists as range “cons” because they co…
I grew up in the Walla Walla Valley in Washington, going to Dixie Elementary School and Pi-Hi; and graduating from Wa-Hi in 1972. In Walla Walla, I worked at Whitman College, Key Technology, I…
