Record-Courier
I
THURSDAY, MARCH 17,2016
HSESS'
News of Record
Voting for Justus
and Hoopes
To the Editor:
Writing or speaking on polit
ical issues is a privilege, not a
right.
Owning a gun is a privilege,
not a right.
Your choice of education for
your children is a privilege, not
a right!
If I can make you believe
your rights are merely a privi
lege then I can easily strip you ’
of those privileges. Many Jews
believed that if they just
showed their travel papers, if
they just wore the patch on
their clothing, if they just sub
mitted to the government they
would be fine.
Approximately six million
Jews were killed. Hitler didn’t
just target the Jews he also
used his power to kill an esti
mated five million others in
cluding mentally or physically
disabled, Gypsy, Jehovah’s
Witnesses,
homosexuals,
Communists, and trade union
ists. The only thing many of
these groups had in common
is that their government didn’t
like them. Once we give the
government power they will
not stop at dealing with the is
sues we wanted them to han
dle. The leaders will change,
the issues will change but their
power over you will not.
I have always preferred to
stay out of politics but as I hear
more and more politicians tell
me that my right to choose my
daughter’s education and my
right to protect my daughter
are a privilege, to this, I cannot
and will not comply. My daugh
ter deserves the rights that I
have been blessed with and I
will learn how to stand for her
freedom.
I may not be as educated or
as well-spoken as some but
that does not make my rights
as an American any less. It
also doesn’t make my respon
sibility to stand against injus
tice any less. I will no longer be
content to merely vent to those
who are in agreement with me.
We must educate ourselves
and vote for local representa
tives who will protect our
rights. By electing and sup
porting county leaders that will
protect my daughter’s liberty
instead of blindly submitting to
unlawful federal rules, I can
make a difference. For this
very reason, I’m voting for
Kody Justus as County Com
missioner and John Hoopes for
sheriff.
Sincerely,
Rachel Hearne Brown
Halfway
Need a Republican
in the White House
To the Editor:
As a Republican, I find Don
ald Trump an embarrassment.
He’s arrogant, obnoxious,
rude, vulgar, profane, sexist,
racist, and more fluff than sub
stance. He has a few, very
few, good ideas but his only
real success in the race has
been in taking the Presidential
debates to a new low. I don’t
understand why he’s in the
lead. I would have preferred
Mike Huckabee - preacher, ex
perienced, thoughtful, and rea
sonable. My second choice
would have been Scott Walker
- son of a preacher, experi
enced, and gutsy enough to
have taken on public employee
unions and won. But these two
gentlemen are gone as candi
dates well before Oregon’s pri
mary. That being said, would I
vote for The Donald in a Trump
vs. Clinton election?
Ab
solutely! Better Trump than the
Obama following, gun grab
bing, baby murdering, debt
raising, security defying, lying,
liberal, socialist Hillary. We
need a Republican in the White
House.
Jim Carnahan
Baker City
Editorial
What Exactly Did Justus Take to the Refuge?
Baker County Voters Have the Right to Know.
Shortly after taking over the Malheur Wildlife
Refuge, Blaine Cooper, one of the armed occupiers
sent out a plea for supplies. Kody Justus, coordinator
of the Baker County Oath Keepers and now
Republican candidate for Baker County Commis
sioner Position #1, answered the call.
Justus, who attended at least one community
meeting at which Ammon Bundy spoke prior to the
rally in Bums, as well as the rally itself, delivered
unspecified supplies to the refuge and its armed
occupiers.
;
. ¿xii, < » . ..
.
The incident was captured in an interview Justus gave
to "Joker J" aka Jason Blomgren while Justus was at
the refuge. The video has been re-posted on the
Record-Courier Facebook page. For those who do not
access the internet, following is a transcript of the
entire video, perhaps minus a few of the "urns and
uhs."
Joker J:Hi, Joker J here, uh, coming from the uh,
refuge here. I have a gentleman here that just came by
from three hours away....donated some supplies. I just
want to have you hear from him and, uh, hear his side
of the story. Hold on guys! Alright sir, uh, if you want,
what's your first name?
Kody Justus: My name is Kody. (The video clearly
shows it's Kody Justus.)
Joker J: And you came from how far away?
Kody Justus: About three hours. Up from Baker.
Joker J: Three hours and you donated a bunch of
stuff. I mean, you don't have to go into details, but you,
you gave us a lot of stuff. What made you come out
here?
Kody Justus: Well, we were down at the protest
pretty upset about what happened to Hammonds. And,
uh, you guys just being opt here has given
everybody in this side of the state a voice.
Joker J: Okay. Ya? That's good. So, you, uh, feel
we're like doing the right thing by sticking up for the
people and everything, right?
Kody Justus: Well, that's like I said, this whole side
of the state's got a voice they've never had.
Joker J:Well, fantastic! I want to shake your hand
on camera and say thank you and God bless you.
Kody Justus: You're welcome.
Joker J: All right....
Joker J (Jason Blomgren) whose home is in North
Carolina, was arrested in February in a Walmart
parking lot near Bunkerville, Nevada. He is one of 26
indicted on federal conspiracy and other charges in the
armed take over of the federal property in Harney
County. Oregon Live reported that a federal judge
ordered his pre-trial release which was vigorously
argued against by U.S. Attorney Craig Gabriel to
relieve his elderly parents who have been caring for
his children. One of them is autistic and Blomgren's
attorney stated Joker J is the only one who can calm
him down. Blomgren will be on electronic monitoring
and home detention until the trial.
The article written by Maxine Bernstein stated,
"Blomgren told authorities that the occupation leaders
never booby-trapped the wildlife sanctuary but talked
about using 'IEDS," or improvised explosive devices,
when planning for a'Wdfst-c'ase scenario arid using at
least two drones to spy on the FBI, the prosecutor
said."
Last Wednesday, Blomgren reportedly plead not
guilty to a new indictment charging him with conspir
acy to impede federal officers and possession of
firearms in a federal facility.
The FBI, in a release, said, “At times, there were
dozens of highly armed militants occupying, visiting
and supplying the refuge.”
Justus, apparently one of the suppliers, thus far has
limited his campaign speaking engagements to those
who support his views and his trip to the refuge. In my
opinion, Justus owes all the citizens, especially those
who do not share his extreme views but whom he
would also represent if elected, a clear explanation of
just exactly what was included in the supplies he de
livered to the occupiers of the Wildlife Refuge.
John Hoopes who is running for Baker County
Sheriff stated that he, too, visited the refuge. Hoopes
is running against Sheriff Travis Ash. According to the
County Clerk, their names will not appear on die pri
mary ballot, but will both advance to the general elec
tion.
It's time to ask the questions....and get some answers.
Just exactly what did Justus deliver to the refuge and
its armed occupiers?
Because the County Commission race remains
partisan (for now), the Republican primary winner will
be decided only by registered Republican voters. Only
one will advance to the General Election where it is
possible they could face a write-in candidate.
Many are changing their voter registration so they,
too, can have a voice in this pivotal primary election
for Baker County. Justus is being challenged by Jeff
Nelson and Bruce Nichols, CPA.
Should Kody Justus be judged by the company he
keeps? Voters will soon make their opinion known.
-GDP
March 6 - Failure to Appear (Josephine County Warrant): Jacob
Ohman Benoist, 24, of Seattle; jailed. Benoist was stopped for
speeding by Oregon State Police on Interstate 84. Warrant was
verified through dispatch and he was transported and lodged in
Baker County Jail without incident.
March 7 - Contempt of Court (Baker County Justice Court War
rant): Joshua David Givens, 21, of 1695 Auburn Ave. #14, at
11:45 a.m., at his residence; jailed.
March 7 - Failure to Pay Fines (Cite Warrant): Kruz Shana Bar
fuss, 26, of 1010 Walnut St., at 12:36 p.m., at her residence;
cited and released.
March 7 - Driving While Suspended Misdemeanor: Jeffrey Jay
Reese, 46, of 2705 Cedar St., at 5:41 p.m., between Ash St.
and Madison Ave.; jailed.
March 8 - Probation Violation (Baker County Circuit Court War
rant): Melissa Jean Lattymer, 30, of Baker City, at 3:48 a.m., be-
• tween Broadway Ave. and Seventh St.; jailed.
March 8 - Contempt of Court x2 and Theft II x2 (Baker County
Warrants): Nichole Dawn Spurlock, 30, address unknown, at
2:06 p.m., 1995 Third St.; jailed.
March 9 - Criminal Trespass II Linda Diane Peterson, 48, of
Baker City at 4:48 p.m., 3325 Pocahontas Rd.; jailed.
March 9 - Probation Violation Randy Allen Backlund, 34, of 1521
Washington St., at 6:33 p.m., at his residence; cited and
released.
March 10 - Criminal Mischief I: Millicent Nonwood Larsen, 22, of
2630 Resort St., at 5:17 p.m., at her residence; jailed.
March 11 - Tampering with Drug Records x2 and Possession of
a Schedule II Controlled Substance x2 (Baker County Warrant):
Sarah Marie Rea, 50, of 1717 Washington Ave., at 6:06 a.m„
3410 K St.; jailed.
March 11 - Harassment: Delbert Lee Morris, 52, of 1905 15th
St., at 12:22 p.m., at his residence; jailed.
March 11 - Harassment: Angela Dawn Nixon, 28, of 2861 Gra
ham Blvd., Vale, Ore., at 12:22 p.m., 1905 15th St.; jailed.
Accidents
March 4 - On Interstate 84, milepost 323 eastbound at 2:03
a.m.: A red Ford F-150 driven by Michelle Marie Taggart, 36, of
Rawlins, Ore., was traveling eastbound. Taggart fell asleep
while driving and awoke when she felt the truck swerve. She
jerked the steering wheel but could not regain control of the ve
hicle. The truck ran off the road and rolled multiple times before
coming to a rest alongside the roadway. Taggart and the other
passengers; two male juveniles aged 13 and 10, and Derek
Bagby, 36, all of Rawlins, Ore.; were taken to the hospital. The
family dog could not be located.
Former North Powder Woman Convicted
On March 9, 2016, a 12 person Baker County
Circuit Court Jury convicted Marlene Frances
Johnston of one count of Aggravated
Harassment, a Class C Felony. The State was
represented by Baker County District Attorney
Matt Shirtcliff and Johnston was represented by
Steve Joseph from La Grande. Johnston was re
manded to the Baker County Jail following the ver
dict and her sentencing occurred Monday, March
14.
Johnston formerly lived in North „Powder and
Bakp^Gity^,,.H j +
LL"«2LJ
Photo from Baker
County Sheriff's
Office
Guest Opinion
Coordinating or cooperating?
By Bill Harvey
Those are two terms that are used a lot in land
use planning but there is a big difference in how
they are applied when you deal with a public land
agency like the Forest Service or the Bureau of
Land Management and you are a local govern
ment unit. One of the biggest differences is that
Record-Courier photo
the PUBLIC is engaged and informed with coor Bill Harvey
dination. As Commissioners we get to voice Baker
County citizen’s point of view as an equal seat at
the table. The County Commission has certain rights and authori
ties in the relationship as it is written in the federal law but a lot of
counties don’t exercise it to its maximum usefulness.
Coordination is a WIN-WIN situation for Baker County and Fed
eral Agencies.
As a Baker County Commissioner I represent a county who is
going through the process of making sure that we are engaged
with the federal government and land agencies as a coordinating
agency. In contrast, when you become a cooperating agency you
have to sign a Memorandum of Understanding in order to partici
pate and the meetings become private and confidential. The PUB
LIC is no longer engaged.
Counties have a much more powerful and effective tool if we ex
ercise our Coordination rights so we can represent and protect our
local people and their desires with regards to local management
and planning. The reason this is important is clear: local govern
ments have the responsibility of funding public services with rev
enue from property taxes and provide necessary services to the
citizens and local governing boards. Baker County Commissioners
have the duty to provide for the public safety, health and welfare,
so must be involved in development and early stages of plans and
policies that affect the human and natural environment and re
sources with Baker County.
Through coordination, local government can place emphasis on
the “Human Environment” often ignored by those interest only in
the “Natural Environment”.
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