On Oct. 26, our area government and volunteer firefighters gathered and worked cooperatively to put out the Pumpkin Ridge Fire. Friends and neighbors joined volunteers and professionals, digging fire line, which was circled by a Cat (bulldozer) line. I arrived home when the response teams were in full swing.

In the dark from the Hug Road, the view of the fires reached to the skyline. By 10 p.m. or so, the fire was out enough that nearly everyone pulled out. In the morning, we explored the Cat-made fire line, which threaded through trees and machinery up a steep slope, in and around young trees with precision and obvious care for what was left afterward.

I am so grateful to all who contributed to avoiding a tragedy, including the Oregon Department of Forestry from La Grande and Wallowa and rural volunteer fire departments from Imbler, Elgin, La Grande, and North Powder.

My heart goes out to those who had to evacuate their homes and endure a terrifying Saturday and night — and beyond grateful for the rains that began in the morning and continued throughout the day after.

Julie Farnam

Summerville

It is clear during this presidential election that there was a massive voter fraud being committed in this country. It is well documented but hardly anyone is talking about it. I am talking about the Electoral College.

In 2016, former President Donald Trump was elected with 46% versus former first lady Hillary Clinton with 48%. In 2000, former President George W. Bush was elected with 47.8% to 48.4% for former Vice President Al Gore. Possibly worse than that, the Electoral College causes candidates to focus all their energy on a few swing states, ignoring three-quarters of the country.

In school I learned that when it was established, the Electoral College was meant to offset the control of presidential elections by a few big states. But today that means a vote in Wyoming is worth several times a vote in California, clearly unfair.

We need to recognize that when it comes to electing a president, we are one country and not a collection of little independent states. Aside from just scrapping the Electoral College with a constitutional amendment, there are other ways to achieve this. Check out Nationalpopularvote.com for one option. The Electoral College needs to go.

David Felley

La Grande

As a member of Generation Z and a current college student, I would like to shed some light on the educational situation I and my peers face. The harsh reality is that we’re struggling in the workplace as we search for jobs and build careers. The American education system is to blame.

Gen Z has been sold a lie, and it’s time we face this uncomfortable truth.

Our youth are told that a college degree is the golden ticket to success, but this one-size-fits-all approach has proven very costly. Instead of equipping students with practical skills and critical thinking abilities, they’re burdened with crushing debt and degrees that often hold little value in today’s job market.

Employers are turning down Gen Z workers, even ones with college degrees, because they are unprepared for the workforce. They remain unfamiliar and uncomfortable with the realities of holding a career.

As students learn how to work the education system, they miss opportunities to develop resilience, adaptability, and communication skills — all essential for success. The education system has yet to adapt to this reality.

College costs are rising exponentially. The current state of the economy makes it unfeasible for many young people to invest in such a costly pursuit. With the rise of AI and technological advancements, college educations are steadily losing value.

The solution: reform our education system. Start focusing on skills and critical thinking that benefit students in all aspects of life. Let students work ahead and determine their own education path. Stop holding students back and let them succeed, let them flourish by enhancing their abilities and exploring unprecedented opportunities. Stop pushing perfection and selling children expensive degrees.

The future of Gen Z — and, indeed, our society — depends on change. Let’s stop perpetuating this lie and start building an education system that serves our young people. We need to reevaluate our approach to education and focus on career preparation. It’s up to parents, educators, policymakers, and community members to wake up and push for meaningful change. We all deserve better.

Aliciana Archibald

Canyon City

Signage is perhaps the most effective medium of advertising. Pendleton city management has come to a standstill in efforts to fill empty storefronts on Main Street, yet now is attempting to enact a more restrictive sign ordinance to appease a very small so-called historical preservation contingent that claim their approach will attract more tourists to Main Street.

It gives the impression that our leadership at city hall has taken up using those substances that they’ve banned the sale of in the downtown area.

Rick Rohde

Pendleton

Do you have a point you would like to make or an issue you feel strongly about? Submit a letter to the editor at eastoregonian.com/opinion/letters or email editor@eastoregonian.com.