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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 2019)
Wednesday, August 21, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 19 Jury convicts meth traffickers who operated in Central Oregon U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced that a fed- eral jury in Eugene has found two men guilty of traffick- ing methamphetamine from Southern California to Central Oregon and the Portland metro area for distribution. On August 9, 2019, Ronald Wayne Thrasher, 49, of Madras, was found guilty of purchasing and transporting methamphetamine for distri- bution. Thrasher9s supplier, Russell Marvin Jones, 53, of Gresham, was found guilty of selling methamphetamine and possessing a stolen firearm. Both men were also found guilty of being felons in pos- session of a firearm. Thrasher and Jones have each served time in prison for past convictions. Thrasher served time in federal prison for being a felon in posses- sion of a firearm and Jones in Oregon state prison for first degree manslaughter. Nine co-defendants have previously pleaded guilty to conspiring with Thrasher to possess with intent to distrib- ute methamphetamine and are awaiting sentencing: Jordan Michael Johnson, 57, of San Diego, California; Brenda Ann Lederman, 46, of Santee, California; Jason James Puckett, 46, of Prineville; Tyler Wayne Fuller, 30, Renee Marie Scarlett, 48, and Talina Shantel Ortiz, 45, of Madras; Jacklin Renee Bowlby, 36, of Bend; Kerry Wayne Hopson, 33, of Redmond; and Mistie Dawn Cooper, 39, of Alfalfa. Fuller also pleaded guilty to robbing a bank in Madras. According to court docu- ments and testimony produced at trial, in spring of 2016, Thrasher became acquainted with multiple co-defendants who were engaged in traf- ficking methamphetamine from Santee, San Diego, and Portland for resale in Central Oregon. Thrasher used these connections to establish a source of supply for his own use and distribution. In early 2017, after his pri- mary supplier was arrested in Redmond, an associate intro- duced Thrasher to Jones, a methamphetamine manufac- turer, dealer and user in the Portland area. On or about February 17, 2017, Thrasher traveled to Portland with his associates to meet Jones. During this meeting, Jones sold Thrasher several pounds of methamphetamine. On March 20, 2017, after several additional methamphetamine deals, Jones sold Thrasher a stolen firearm. By April 2017, Thrasher was distributing methamphet- amine via multiple associates throughout Central Oregon. On April 9, 2017, he was introduced to new California- based methamphetamine sup- pliers including Stevens. Two weeks later, Thrasher and an associate drove to Santee to meet with his new suppliers. VACCINATION: Personal, informed care benefits decisions going on in our community,= she said. <Protect yourself if you travel. I9ve seen some funny stuff coming back from Costa Rica.= By the same token, one should not live in fear of lurk- ing disease. <Don9t go to the extreme of 8if I don9t vaccinate against everything, I9m going to die!9= she said. Dr. Miller throws up a cau- tion flag of her own when it comes to pushes for vaccina- tions for diseases that can be avoided through lifestyle. <How far should vaccines go?= she queries. <Should it be irresponsibility vaccines?= Recent outbreaks of mea- sles demonstrate that when rates of immunization drop, diseases that have been in check can rear their heads again virulently. People in Sisters are fortu- nate in that they have access to more individualized and per- sonal healthcare and can make appropriate choices in consul- tation with a doctor who actu- ally knows them. That personal relationship is key, as far as Dr. Miller is con- cerned. She defined her stance on vaccination baldly: <I9m pro vaccination that is very personal. That9s what I am.= Continued from page 10 <They take newborns to Costco, a week old,= Dr. Miller said. <We want to do whatever we want to do, regardless of what our bodies are designed to do.= Vaccinations are not just for children. Adults have the possibility of vaccinating against pneumonia, flu, shin- gles and other diseases. Dr. Miller advocates mind- ful assessment of needs, risks and benefits. She says that she is an advocate of <purposeful= vaccination. <Be in tune with what is BEGINNING BIBLICAL GREEK CLASS with Gary Radmacher her Retired Pastor, Former College & Seminary ary Prof. Thursdays 7 to 8:30 p.m. Starting September 12 NO CHARGE, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SISTERS COMMUNITY CHURCH 1300 W. McKenzie Highway, Sisters Be able to dig deeper when studying the New Testament by learning the Greek alphabet, the basic language structure, and the fundamental Greek vocabulary of critical interpretation. The textbook required for the class, Do It Yourself Hebrew and Greek, by Edward Goodrick, is available at Amazon.com. Register or request info at www.radmacher.us gary@radmacher.us • 503-309-0467 During this meeting, Thrasher purchased approximately 13 pounds of methamphetamine from Stevens. In May 2017, a Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) team investiga- tion identified Thrasher as a high-volume metham- phetamine supplier and dis- tributor. On May 29, 2017, CODE detectives, assisted by a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent, arrested Thrasher and seized approximately 16 pounds of methamphetamine, $16,000 in cash, records of drug sales and the stolen firearm from his residence in Madras. Thrasher and Jones will be sentenced on February 4, 2020 and November 14, 2019, respectively, before U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. McShane. This case was investi- gated by CODE; DEA; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Oregon State Police. It was prosecuted by Frank R. Papagni Jr. and Judi Harper, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon, with the assistance of the Jefferson, Crook and Deschutes county district attorney9s offices. Camp Sherman Open 7 days a week, 12-9 p.m. 541-595-6420 Gypsy Wind Clothing Want to Look and Be Cool?! Summer tops and dresses still available! Open Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Sun., 1-4 p.m. 351 W. HOOD AVE., SISTERS The 24th Annual Country Fair & Art Show The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration wishes to thank the following for their support and contribution to the success of our event! Selah Broderick • Mckenzie Wilcox • Barefoot in Sisters • XPress Printing The Pony Express • Sisters Bakery • The Cottonwood Café • The Hair Caché Bedouin • Sisters Coffee Co. • Essentials Skin Care • Paulina Springs Books Sisters Feed & Supply • Sisters Movie House • Rainshadow Organics Wendy Vernon Designs • High Desert Hair Company • Flowers by Deanna Jennifer Hartwig • Ray’s Food Place • Melvin’s by Newport Avenue Market Sisters Rental • Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD • Danica Curtwright Heather McMaster • Norma Holmes • Smart Foodservice Warehouse The Hen’s Tooth • The Paper Place • Three Creeks Brewing Co. • Hike-N-Peaks Alan Higgenbotham • Linda Wolff • The Porch • Dan Rickard • Curtiss Abbott Joanne Donaca • Costco • Fika Sisters Coffeehouse • Conrad Weiler JoAnn Burgess • Joann Donaca • Barbara Slater • Stitchin’ Post • Hola! Schoolhouse Produce • Faveur Boutique • Tate and Tate Catering • Lydia Kulus Suttle Tea • Camp Sherman Store • Lake Creek Lodge • Takoda’s • Seed to Table Mitch & Michelle Deaderick • Sylvia Avenius-Ford • Diane Miyauchi Cari and Terry Papen • Randall Tillery • Sue McLaughlin Wildflower Studio • The Fly Fisher’s Place • Gypsy Wind Clothing Co. Westside Church • St. Edward the Martyr Catholic Church Kathy Deggendorfer • Cork Cellars • Chuck Harper • Heidi & Rick Tremblay Dave Tremblay • Todd, Cash and Crosby Jordan • Ron Bryant All proceeds will go to support our Church Community Outreach Program, which provides grants to local community support organizations throughout the year.