Don't mess with John Day
Carla Axtman
Residents of John Day aren't taking crap from anybody. And they're especially not taking it when it's shoveled from Idaho.
First, the town banded together against a group of Aryan Nations members threatening to come in from Idaho to set up their headquarters. Now, they're telling Idaho Power to shape up or ship out:
So when the next threat came to the valley - a proposed transmission line of 190-foot-high towers that would run through their ranches and obscure their scenic views on its way to the Columbia River - folks here knew that words mattered.
That was a lesson Idaho Power executives had to learn the hard way.
After a March 2 public meeting to talk about the power line, company executives and contractors went to John Day's Outpost Pizza, Pub & Grill for drinks and dinner. They loudly made fun of how local people talked, expressed disdain for the locals' complaints and said that in the end they would simply take their land through the utility's power of eminent domain.
Word quickly got around about how the company officials viewed the community and the process, and residents complained to the company that the hearings were a "ruse."
"People were shocked and angry," said Tracey Watson, manager of the Outpost bar. "Both the Aryan Nations and the power line were coming from Idaho."
The company has made several return trips to Grant County to listen and apologize. In doing so, Idaho Power has learned that, away from its home turf, it has to fight in Oregon for its credibility as well as permission to build its transmission lines.
Good for them. It's great to see citizens band together as a community not just once, but twice. They do us all proud.
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connect with blueoregon
Apr 4, '10
Carla I am glad that you posted this story..I am aware of what happened. But...you are criticizing Idaho??? The lines are not from Idaho they are passing through Idaho and we like you are fighting their inappropriate placement. These lines are going through many western states..Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, Utah.... Many Power companies are involved. Please direct your more remarks appropriately.
7:12 p.m.
Apr 4, '10
Idaho Power showed an absolute disdain for Oregon communities throughout the process of siting those power lines. One version of the plan ran through the middle of onion fields near Ontario and impacted view sheds that would have negatively impacted historic sites held by the Oregon Trail Preservation Trust. Even PGE and Pacificorp distanced themselves from their actions in legislative hearings in 2009.
Apr 4, '10
Idaho Power showed disrespect at the courthouse in Murphy Idaho as well. Their MO is to go on as much private land as possible. And if that means over a house, through a housing community, over a dairy, through a scenic view scape, over Indian artifacts ...they do not care! Nor do they care for the people. The routes are planned with no respect for anyone. No respect for property rights. No respect for animals. No respect for historical sites.. etc..etc..
Apr 5, '10
Carla, While I'm originally from John Day and proud of the actions of the community, you don't have to look that far to see a similar situation. Here in Northwest Oregon, folks were galvanized into action against LNG when one of their operatives was heard to say, "We can bulldoze our way in here because the people are unsophisticated, uneducated and vote with their pocketbooks." I am so proud to a part of the group who has proven that wrong!
8:22 a.m.
Apr 5, '10
Gayle:
Excellent point.You're absolutely right. Communities also banded together in Central Oregon over destination resorts at the Metolius. I'm not aware of disdainful comments from developers--but the people there certainly pushed back..and hard.
<h2>Maybe this should be: "Don't Mess With Oregon", eh?</h2>