Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency Services Get Up & Go: Jan. 13 Ducks fans' emotions run the gamut in big game A weapon against overdose Ashland robotics team aims to build a winner Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services A weapon against overdose Woman reportedly beat girlfriend with police baton Central Point police say drunken driver hit house Emergency Services Politics and Elections Oregon Legislature convenes, session starts Feb. 12 Councilman stirs online dust-up with anti-marijuana post State certifies recount showing failure of GMO-labeling measure Education Ashland robotics team aims to build a winner Design and innovation program proposed at Talent Middle School College on the K-12 dime Students forge links between forest health and people Medford School Board meeting deferred because of Ducks game Environment OR-7 now officially the leader of his pack Ashland trails up for changes Monument expansion expected to increase tourism, protect resources Biologist resigns over LNG reporting failure Bird flu discovered in Winston backyard flock State News Purchase will transfer large Central Oregon ranch to BLM Kitzhaber focuses on inequality in inauguration speech Oregon Legislature convenes, session starts Feb. 12 Oregon State University plans $60 million forestry complex Washington man arrested in Portland hotel slaying Nation - World Obama makes Maduro’s ‘insolent Yankees’ line harder to sell Obituaries Robert (Bob) Merlyn Fasel Audrey Nyoda Kerr - Delora Lay Van Horn Donnalee Bell Norman D. Roberts Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable In memoriam: 2014’s notable deaths Looking back: Do you remember 2014’s biggest stories? Sports Latest Stories Ducks lose out to Ohio State in national title game, 42-20 TCU climbs to No. 3 in final Top 25 poll No major incidents after Oregon's defeat Mariota falls in what might be his final game Buckeyes' Elliott and his linemen star with title on line Varsity 541 College Sports Ducks lose out to Ohio State in national title game, 42-20 TCU climbs to No. 3 in final Top 25 poll No major incidents after Oregon's defeat Mariota falls in what might be his final game Buckeyes' Elliott and his linemen star with title on line Pro Sports Harden boosts Rockets over Nets Fox, Broncos part ways after playoff failure Reed rallies to win Kapalua in a playoff Lillard heats up in Blazer victory Randolph, Grizz win 2OT battle Community Sports Business Latest Stories Economic future looking brighter Silvio Calabi: The cars of the year Business briefs People in Business Blog: Former Meier & Frank stores avoid Macy's hit list Real Estate News Jackson County real estate market headed back to normal Dear Monty: Best start for 1st-time homebuyers People In Business Transportation Medford airport traffic flies to new heights Falling gas prices help spur travel at Medford airport Agriculture Rising prices bear fruit for local pear growers Opinion Latest Our View: Approaching college with a running start Guest Opinion: Reforms needed to build upon John Day’s success Letters to the Editor, Jan. 13 Jan. 12 Letters to the Editor Our View: A pipeline should not run through it Editorials Our View: Approaching college with a running start Our View: A pipeline should not run through it Other Views: ACLU leader helped change Oregon Our View: It's best to prepare for the worst Our View: Falls has work to do to restore trust Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Jan. 13 Jan. 12 Letters to the Editor Jan. 11 Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Jan. 9 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 8 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Reforms needed to build upon John Day’s success Guest Opinion: FERC fails our planet Guest Opinion: East is east and west is west Guest Opinion: Get the best deal on pipeline Guest Opinion: Say yes to clean energy jobs, no to the LNG project Lifestyle Latest stories Dr. Elaine Heffner: Children, privacy and big data Food for Thought: Give up gluten, but not all grains Kitchen Call: Roasted pork, Tuscan style Book Notes: Essays on aging, from an aging poet Community blog: Braised greens and potatoes epitomize season Food Food for Thought: Give up gluten, but not all grains Kitchen Call: Roasted pork, Tuscan style Community blog: Braised greens and potatoes epitomize season Community blog: Happy New Beer Year! Community blog: Scanty spuds stretch winter greens into salad Home and Garden Home Help: Heighten your home’s style this year 11 reasons why we love wrought iron fencing Dear Monty: Eight great tips to ponder before investing in real estate Home Help: Timeless or trendy? Achieve both in your home decor this year Dear Monty: Best start for 1st-time homebuyers Health Community blog: Dont Let Fear Run Your Life Dr. Murray Feingold: Separation anxiety common in adults Health Watch: Staying fit as a frequent flyer Community blog: Tale of the Tape Community blog: We Don't Have To Conspire Against Good Health Hiking Biking Faith Old stained-glass windows face threats Churches start new year with messages of hope (No heading) Churches, synagogs host seasonal events Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Milestones and Achievements 50 years and counting: Bulebar Wedding: Lindsey-Maria Rios New arrivals Since You Asked: Sheriff's Office sells off foreclosed homes Mt. Ashland Ski Area shut down again by lack of snow Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Thanks for the Memories Theatre presents 'Rent' Live Music in Local Clubs Patty Groth's Morning Glory is still a delight 100 Watt Mind unveils 'Creatures' American Guitar Masters play the Imperial Theater Thanks for the Memories Theatre presents 'Rent' Tangled up in Dylan OSF's 'Great Society' up for Kennedy Prize Next Stage presents a tribute to an iconic folk artist Camelot's 'Fiddler' is a charmer Music Live Music in Local Clubs 100 Watt Mind unveils 'Creatures' American Guitar Masters play the Imperial Chamber Music Concerts presents Tesla Quartet Blues jam tonight at Little Brown Jug Community Events Art Presence showcases 'Naked Art' New Schneider Museum exhibits highlight First Friday Celebrate winter solstice with the Bad Film Society Tomaseen Foley's "A Celtic Christmas" returns to the Craterian Theater Stefan Baumann and Eugene Bennett highlight Third Fridays Dining Patty Groth's Morning Glory is still a delight Entertaining with a gift of treasure Jackson Creek Pizza Co. is a good downtown haunt Dobra Tea menu offers hundreds of brews Food for Thought: Wintertime wining and dining Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Our View: Approaching college with a running start ... Guest Opinion: Reforms needed to build upon John Day’s success ... A weapon against overdose ... Our View: Approaching college with a running start ... Guest Opinion: Reforms needed to build upon John Day’s success ... A weapon against overdose ... GUEST OPINION Transparency is essential in O&C debate Comment By Tony Hyde, Faye Stewart and Simon Hare MailTribune.com By Tony Hyde, Faye Stewart and Simon Hare Posted Sep. 14, 2014 @ 12:01 am By Tony Hyde, Faye Stewart and Simon Hare Posted Sep. 14, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Social News One of the most important issues facing Oregonians is future management for 2.6 million acres of O&C forests. Under federal law, these lands are required by the O&C Act to be managed for sustained timber harvests for the economic benefit of nearby communities and to produce revenue for the 18 O&C Counties. Conflicting federal policies and environmental litigation over the last 20 years have caused a steep decline in timber harvests. With little economic activity and plunging timber sale revenue, county governments have struggled to maintain basic public services, and thousands of jobs have been lost. U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio, Greg Walden and Kurt Schrader have worked hard for several years to pass legislation that would improve management on the O&C lands. More recently, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden has become active in the effort. The Association of O&C Counties has been involved in every federal action concerning the O&C lands since 1926. As elected county commissioners, we have a direct stake in how these lands are managed, as any policy change would have a dramatic impact on the Oregonians we represent. That’s why we were disappointed when Senator Wyden’s spokesman recently referred to the Association as an “extreme lobbying group” simply because we asked for independent experts to objectively determine the sustainable harvest and revenue for counties that would be produced under the senator’s O&C proposal. Our request for transparency is very reasonable; the name-calling by the senator’s staff is not. Senator Wyden recently announced he intends to pass his O&C proposal through the Senate Finance Committee he chairs. To the casual observer, this might sound like good news. Yet at 163 pages, the legislation is laden with inconsistencies, new and untested regulatory requirements, undefined terms and ambiguities. Preliminary reviews from foresters suggest the bill would actually reduce future sustainable harvest levels to below current levels, further threatening businesses and jobs in our communities. The federal government controls much of the land in the 18 O&C Counties, constraining our ability to develop and diversify our local economies. We need legislation we can be confident will increase economic activity, not further hamper our economies and the ability of counties to provide minimally acceptable levels of public services. We would like to be able to support Senator Wyden’s proposal, but we are being asked to give up the O&C Act in exchange for a pig in a poke. His proposal must receive independent analysis by qualified forestry experts, just as several other proposals have already been analyzed in Gov. John Kitzhaber’s O&C Lands Report (2013). Everyone deserves to know the harvest and revenue levels that experts confirm would result from any proposed legislation. We stand ready to work with Senator Wyden on the basis of mutual respect to accomplish the principles supported by the counties, Governor Kitzhaber and Congressmen DeFazio, Walden and Schrader: Sustainable harvest volumes to support our communities, shared revenue with counties to support basic services, protection of environmentally sensitive lands, and legal certainty. Together, we can pass a solution that works for all Oregonians. Columbia County Commissioner Tony Hyde is president of the Association of O&C Counties.  Lane County Commissioner Faye Stewart is AOCC vice president, and Josephine County Commissioner Simon Hare is AOCC treasurer.     By Tony Hyde, Faye Stewart and Simon Hare MailTribune.com By Tony Hyde, Faye Stewart and Simon Hare Posted Sep. 14, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501