By Dixon Bledsoe
The mid-term elections are over and those persistent and negative ads are in hibernation until 2016 rears its ugly head. Traditionally, my November columns center around saying thanks, and whom am I to break tradition.
Thank you to the Silver Falls School Board, district administration and staff and the hundreds of people who tried to pass the school bond measure. Thanks to the citizen advisory committee that provided school officials with valuable input as to what made sense as Eugene Field school falls deeper into disrepair. Thank you to the school professionals for the hard work you are now faced with since the decision was already made to close Eugene Field for sound reasons. I want to say thank to voters who rejected the bond measure. That part is hard because I don’t quite understand the reasons why you voted no. But you exercised your right to vote and that deserves a thank you. I recall the rejection of $18 million and $33 million bonds to complete the high school and make capital improvements in outlying schools that turned into a successful attempt years later at $48 million for a lesser project. I seem to recall a rejected bond in about 1969 at nearly $4 million to address Eugene Field issues. That kind of math doesn’t work for me. It certainly doesn’t bode well for the next bond. Penny wise, pound foolish, comes to mind. Old adages usually have some truth.
I have to say thanks to those who served on city council and for those who ran, whether successfully or unsuccessfully. The work is thankless, the pay is zilch, and regardless of how well you do, someone is going to disagree. Congratulations to new councilors coming on board, and to Rick Lewis, mayor-elect in Silverton. A word of advice for councilors – there has been a lot of talk at that partisanship is too powerful and our divides have never been greater. There has been talk at the local level that we have delayed making the tough choices and are now suffering the financial consequences. Things seldom get less expensive as time goes by. Meet as a group, meet with citizens, listen carefully and set your goals. Knock off one priority at a time. You didn’t get elected to make the easy calls. You got elected to make the tough ones. Represent us well – all of us if you can, most of us if you can’t. Do good stuff.
Thanks for letting us have Mike Day for awhile longer. As he recovers in a Boise hospital, surrounded by those who love him, we need to say thanks and a few extra prayers. He is not out of the woods but is moving in the right direction. He fell ill setting up elk camp. His buddy helped save his life. Mike loves his elk trip and I am truly thankful that he was in camp rather than on the mountain hunting. In real estate, we are competitors. But we are a close knit group and he is one of ours. Our best wishes and prayers go out to the Day/Parkinson families.
I’d only met Elizabeth Thompson a few times, but meeting her was good and certainly something to be thankful for. Great smile, loving mom and caring wife who loved her Ducks. Mother to Ben and Ella and wife to Mike, Elizabeth died unexpectedly this month. She leaves family and friends who love her and she will be missed. Keep good thoughts for the Thompson family.
5,000 to 6,000 babies later, Dr. Denis Dalisky is “retiring” from the OB side (only) of his OB/GYN practice after making his last delivery (a boy) earlier this month. Coincidentally, Dr. D had delivered the little guy’s dad, too. That is a bunch of babies and exemplary of a life of dedication to helping women and their families. Thank you, Dr. Dalisky, for delivering the “goods.”
As a Viet Nam era vet with the Air Force, I was pleased to be invited to Mark Twain Middle School Nov. 10 for its annual Veteran’s Day celebration. What an honor to be recognized by kids who appreciated the men and women who served, and an even greater honor to talk to World War II and Korean vets. Special thanks to Darby Hector for coordinating, Bret Lucich for the spectacular music and Sen. Fred Girod and Rick Lewis, for the speeches. It was a touching day.
