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Wednesday, April 15, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Lawmakers, counties
spar over spending
By Jonathan J. Cooper
Associated Press
SALEM (AP) — Short
on money and faced with the
prospect of building expen-
sive new prisons, Oregon
lawmakers made a politically
fractious decision two years
ago.
They agreed to shorten
sentences for some crimes and
let certain low-risk inmates
out a couple of months
early, using the savings to
beef up probation and other
cheaper ways of punishing
criminals.
But some worry the
Legislature will shortchange
the local governments that are
taking on a bigger burden for
punishing people convicted
of crimes. The Legislature’s
chief budget writers have pro-
posed $20 million for the pro-
gram — about a third of the
money that prison officials
say has been saved by slowed
prison growth.
“It’s a signal to the coun-
ties that the Legislature isn’t
really serious about doing
public safety differently,
because they’re willing to
fund prisons, but they’re not
willing to fund local account-
ability,” said Shannon Wright,
deputy director of Partnership
for Safety and Justice, an
advocacy group.
With prison costs balloon-
ing, many states have adopted
varying versions of a policy
known as justice reinvest-
ment. By changing sentenc-
ing laws, they hope to spend
less money building and run-
ning prisons, freeing up cash
to more intensively watch
offenders through probation,
treat them with addiction
or mental-health counsel-
ing or provide housing and
education.
Oregon joined the fray
in 2013. A bill reduced sen-
tences for certain drug and
property crimes as well as
driving with a suspended
license and identity theft. A
“transitional leave” program
was extended from 30 days
to 90 days, allowing low-risk
inmates to leave early and
be closely monitored as they
integrate into society.
The plan was supposed to
freeze the prison population
at around 14,600 inmates for
five years. On April 1, Oregon
had 14,634 inmates in prison,
according to the Department
of Corrections data.
Prison officials say the
changes have saved nearly
$58.5 million during the
next two-year budget cycle
by delaying the opening of a
mothballed prison in Madras,
which otherwise would’ve
opened last year, and delaying
the construction of a prison in
Junction City.
Before he resigned in
February, former Gov. John
Kitzhaber proposed spending
all $58.5 million on grants to
counties for justice reinvest-
ment programs.
House Speaker Tina
Kotek, D-Salem, said the leg-
islative leadership is commit-
ted to the program and hopes
to beef up the proposed $20
million, but “it’s unlikely”
the final number will be $59
million.
Kitzhaber’s budget “did us
a disservice by putting a num-
ber out there that we didn’t
think we could achieve,”
Kotek said.
Kotek did not say where
additional money might come
from when she spoke to the
media last week.
photo proviDeD
Cloverdale Fire District’s Board of Directors received recognition for their efforts to obtain a bond measure to
purchase new buildings and vehicles for the District. From left: Jerry Johnson, John thomas, Keith Cyrus, Cindy
Kettering, tom Barrier, and Lieutenant Damon Frutos.
Cloverdale fire honors its own
Cloverdale Fire District,
friends, and families, met at
the Sisters Rodeo Grounds
clubhouse last Saturday eve-
ning to honor their volun-
teerism. Each year the mem-
bers meet and recognize
accomplishments and activi-
ties in which members have
participated.
The membership of the
district is made up almost
entirely of volunteers, with
only the fire chief and train-
ing officer receiving a salary
for their service.
During the last year, fire-
fighters have participated
in a number of activities to
help their community beyond
emergency response. Volun-
teers participated in activi-
ties ranging from litter pickup
along Highway 20 to rais-
ing funds for victims of the
Helping you fi nd the
best coverage
...without the headache!
mudslide disaster in Oso,
Washington, to teaching stu-
dents at Sisters High School
that participate in the fire
technology curriculum.
In addition to honoring the
volunteers for their efforts,
outgoing volunteer President
Lieutenant Damon Frutos pre-
sented certificates of appre-
ciation to the district’s board
of directors for their support
in asking taxpayers in the dis-
trict for a tax increase to pro-
vide safe, modern equipment
for the volunteers.
Volunteers recognized for
their service were Kyle Wat-
tenburg, Ben Pope, and Wil-
liam Cyrus for reaching one
year of service with the dis-
trict; Marcus Peck and Clin-
ton Weaver for five years of
service; and Jon and Cindy
Kettering, William Farley,
It’s Baby Group Time!
Join our 9-week Tuesday morning group in Sisters for
a special social time to learn about your baby and
communicating with your infant.
Designed for non-walking infants
Serving Sisters
for over 20 years
INSURANCE OF SISTERS
CALL FOR A
QUOTE TODAY
AUTO • HOME • HEALTH • LIFE • BUSINESS
541-549-3172 • 800-752-8540 • 704 W. Hood Ave.
A member of Fullhart Insurance Agency, Inc.
Spencer Cashwell and Keith
Banning for 10 years.
Kyle Wattenburg was pre-
sented with the Rookie of
the Year award, Lieutenant
Damon Frutos with the Vol-
unteer of the Year Award, and
Lieutenant Clinton Weaver
with the Deputy Chief John
Thomas Award for service to
the district.
Firefighter John Downs,
and Lieutenants Rex Parks Jr.
and Clinton Weaver were rec-
ognized for 100 percent train-
ing drill attendance during the
last year.
Numerous volunteers were
recognized for their efforts
to install the modular office
building at the Cloverdale
Road station, and for their
efforts with the upcoming
building and truck-purchasing
projects.
Fun baby activities • Time to share with other parents
Tues. 9:30-10:30 a.m. at SPRD
Linda, 541-280-9686
linda@together-for-children.org
SISTERS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Join us Friday, April 24, 5-7 p.m. at
fisters Habitat for Humanity Thrift ftore
for
4th Friday Art ftroll!
“The Beauty of the American Horse”
Art exhibit & sale featuring the work of
Italian artist Domenico Marcotrigiano
plus Estate Jewelry of Anne Keith
SPRING IS EARLY!
Get ahead and start
your projects now.
Come down for refreshments and
music by Doug Williams
541-549-1740 | 141 W. Main Ave., Sisters
CCB#45478
Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, 12-4 p.m.
Donations accepted Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.