REGION
Friday, January 15, 2016
East Oregonian
Page 3A
While rest of Oregon grew,
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special interest groups, it forces them whose district includes Harney County,
to focus on single (wildlife) species and said the actions of the “Bundy bunglers”
spend their dollars on planning rather who took over the wildlife refuge should
not diminish the “incredible problems”
Harney County, now the scene of a than on the ground.”
7KH GHFOLQH RI 3DFL¿F 1RUWKZHVW that dog rural residents.
militia takeover, has been economically
Bentz said the Forest Service spends its
timber industry is an old story, but rural
stagnant for nearly 40 years.
5HVLGHQWV DQG HOHFWHG RI¿FLDOV VD\ residents point out that nothing has EXGJHW¿JKWLQJ¿UHVLQVWHDGRISUHSDULQJ
that’s the reality at the root of the area’s replaced it, economically. The govern timber sales, and the BLM creates “study
muted support for the takeover, even as ment’s role is borne out by statistics: after study” and “haystacks of regulation”
in anticipation
In Oregon, the
they disavow the militia’s tactics.
of litigation. The
While the rest of the state increased federal govern
complexity
of
manages
jobs 74 percent since the late 1970s, ment
management
the number of jobs in Harney County 60 percent of the
rules becomes
dropped by 10 percent, according to a state’s forestland
“crazily exagger
produces
VWXG\E\WKH2UHJRQ2I¿FHRI(FRQRPLF but
ated,” he said.
only 12 percent
Analysis.
“Pretty soon
The county has lost 99 percent of of annual timber
nothing happens
its wood products jobs since 1978, harvest, according
because the land
dropping from 768 to just six in 2014, to the Oregon
managers
are
analyst Josh Lehnersaid in a new report. Forest Resources
so busy trying
“Relative to the late 1970s — just Institute.
to create a plan
Harney Coun
before the state went into the severe
that’s
bullet
early ‘80s recession and timber industry ty’s population
— Steven Grasty, proof, and fail,”
restructuring — the number of jobs stood at 7,126 in
Harney County Judge he said.
today in Harney County is 10 percent 2014, a 4 percent
Meanwhile,
drop
since
below back then,” Lehner said. “Clearly,
struggling rural
that is a really long time with essentially the 2010 U.S.
Census. Since 1980, when the popula business owners are faced with such
no growth.”
Harney County residents know that tion was 8,314 and the job losses began, things as a state proposal to raise the
the county has lost nearly 1,200 people. minimum wage, Bentz said. Businesses
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Those remaining represent an aging operating in larger cities may be able to
County Judge Steven Grasty said
there is a “feeling of despair” in the demographic, as young people seek absorb the increase, but in rural Oregon,
county due to job losses. Federal and opportunity elsewhere. As of 2014, 22 only businesses that are part of national
state agencies, primarily the Bureau percent of county residents were 65 or chains will be able to pay it.
He said the small town of Halfway, in
of Land Management, manage about older, compared to 16 percent statewide.
The county unemployment rate Baker County, needs $4 million to build
75 percent of the land in the county.
Those agencies are so locked into ZDV SHUFHQW LQ 1RYHPEHU a sewage treatment plant as required
process and so fearful of lawsuits from compared to the statewide average of under the federal Clean Water Act, but
has no way to afford it.
environmental groups that they become 5.7 percent.
Grasty, the Harney County judge,
Bill Wilber, a retired rancher in
paralyzed and do no management at all,
Harney County, said a drumbeat said economic problems in rural areas
Grasty said.
As a result, many residents are no of government action or proposals have ripple effects that might not be
longer able to depend on logging, mill involving the federal EPA, BLM, state noticed elsewhere. If a ranch goes out
or ranching work to sustain themselves. Department of Environmental Quality, of business, for example, the local
“We believe the wealth of a nation is sage grouse, “waters of the U.S.” and ¿UH¿JKWLQJ DVVRFLDWLRQ ORVHV VRPHRQH
based on its natural resources,” he said. other issues is tough for residents to who’s out on the ground and can spot
problems early, he said.
“We’ve lost access to natural resources, take.
Grasty said he’s trying to put together
“It’s continued rules and regulations
in particular, timber.
“Our community wants to be good WKDWGRHYHU\WKLQJWRPDNHLWPRUHGLI¿ an economic strategy for the county.
“People are so frustrated that they’re
stewards of the land,” Grasty said. cult to make a living, to pay your bills
“When we managed the land it looked educate your kids, pay your mortgage slowly being undermined out of exis
tence,” he said. “We’re not being heard.
better than when the BLM does it. and lead a good life.” Wilber said.
6WDWH 5HS &OLII %HQW] 52QWDULR We’re listened to, but not heard.”
Because of rules and pressure from
By ERIC MORTENSON
EO Media Group
“We believe the wealth
of a nation is based
on its natural resources.
We’ve lost access to
natural resources,
in particular, timber.”
HERMISTON
MILTON-FREEWATER
FFA team takes first in vet science Defendant claims money for sex
lead to robbery, assault charges
By GEORGE PLAVEN
East Oregonian
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High School students is
headed to the 2016 FFA
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inary science at last month’s
state contest in Ontario.
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iston FFA has ever competed
in the vet science event. The
team consists of sophomores
Gissep Marin and Hannah
Walker; juniors Tanna Osmin
and Sevana Patrick; and
senior Dru Walchli.
Hermiston FFA also took
third place in agricultural
sales at the state competition,
which was Dec. 5 at Treasure
Valley Community College.
That team featured junior
Shasta Jundt, alongside
seniors Claire Wilson, Jessica
Smelser and chapter Presi
dent Emily Vandehey.
The vet science team beat
out more than 15 others from
around the state to earn top
honors. They will travel to
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the national convention and
expo, which draws more than
64,000 people from across
the country.
Despite winning in their
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wasn’t easy. Vet science is a
grueling event that includes a
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presentation and math appli
cations. Students must also
be ready to identify more than
500 animal species, of which
they will be tested on 30.
“We knew it would be
hard, but we had no idea just
the sheer number of things
we’d have to memorize,”
Walchli said.
The team decided to take
on the challenge in October,
and practiced for two hours
every day the week leading
up to competition. As hard as
they prepared, Walchli said
they didn’t expect to win.
By PHIL WRIGHT
East Oregonian
Photo contributed by Leah Smith
Hermiston FFA won first place in vet science at the
state competition Dec. 5 in Ontario. From left: Tanna
Osmin, Dru Walchli, Hannah Walker, Sevana Patrick,
and Gissep Marin.
Photo contributed by Leah Smith
Hermiston FFA took third place in ag sales at the state
competition Dec. 5 in Ontario. From left: Shasta Jundt,
Claire Wilson, Emily Vandehey and Jessica Smelser.
“I think we were all
shaking for about 10 minutes
after (the announcement),”
she said with a laugh.
Things only get more
GLI¿FXOWIRUQDWLRQDOV2VPLQ
said they will get back to
practice soon, and are trying
to get internships at a local
vet clinic to stay on top of
their game.
“We’re really involved,”
she said.
The state agricultural sales
team came in third out of 18
teams at Ontario. That’s an
Live Music
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water, and Glasby and
Phillips followed.
Phillips got out and told
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Glasby claimed,
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protested
he
already
paid
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said there was
a
confrontation
and a police car
cruised by.
Glasby
said
he hustled out of
the car, fearful
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recognize him and arrest him
for illegal driving. An angry
Phillips returned, Glasby
said, and they left, and he
was again at the wheel.
Glasby told jurors he
and his friend argued, so
he pulled over and got out.
By then it was around 4
a.m., and he walked away
and called a friend. Kelly
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picked up Glasby around
4:30 a.m. and brought him
to her place, where he stayed
until around noon.
Glasby’s trial wraps up
Friday, and Phillips has
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Tuesday
with
Circuit
Judge Christopher Brauer
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sentencing is Thursday, Jan.
21, in Hampton’s courtroom.
We’ve Moved!
Home Health/Hospice
3001 St. Anthony Way
(Medical Office
Building - Level 2)
9:00
Introducing
PM
Jon Evans ,
Director Home
Health/Hospice
FRIDAY,
JANUARY 15
Carter Freeman
8 S.E. COURT, PENDLETON
541.278.1100
improvement over last year’s
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Leah Smith, Hermiston
FFA advisor, said she
was pleased with their
overall showing at state,
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students.
A defendant in a
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ping and robbery case told
jurors the real crime was a
prostitution deal that went
south.
Trial began Wednesday
in Umatilla County Circuit
Court, Pendleton, for Skyler
Ian Glasby, 27, of Dayton,
Washington. Judge Lynn
Hampton is presiding.
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John Adam Phillips, 33, of
Walla Walla, have separate
trials for kidnapping, assault,
robbery and more. A third
defendant, Samantha Kaye
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cut a deal with prosecutors
in October and pleaded
guilty to one count each of
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kidnapping.
The state has accused
the two men of beating and
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31, also of Walla Walla,
then taking him against
his will early Sept. 1, 2015
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kicking him out of a vehicle
near Bennington Lake east
of Walla Walla.
Glasby took the stand
Thursday afternoon and told
the jury of eight women and
four men he made a mistake
when he lied to a detective
about his involvement in
the events that night, but
he was telling the truth
now. Defense attorney
Thomas Gray of Pend
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for the state that she and
Phillips concocted a plan to
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brought in Glasby and later
met to split up the cash.
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lied, there was no
plan, but he knew
what went down.
The
group
met
outside
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around 3:30 a.m.
that morning. Phil
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are boyfriend and
girlfriend, Glasby
told the court, Glasby
but she accepted
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“get a room together” at the
Wildhorse Resort & Casino
motel near Pendleton.
Glasby said he was
going with them to gamble
and, while he did not have
a license, he drove Phillips’
car and planned to take
back roads to the casino to
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The groups stopped at a food
mart, Glasby said, then hit
the road.
Moments later, Glasby
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break off the transaction with
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statements about raping
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the parking lot at Orchard
+RPHVDSDUWPHQWVDW1
3001 St. Anthony Way
Pendleton, OR 97801
541-276-4100
www.sahpendleton.org