SHARP
SHOOTERS
Lady Pros advance
to Round 1
– PAGE A10
Grant County’s newspaper since 1868
W EDNESDAY , F EBRUARY 25, 2015
• N O . 8
• 18 P AGES
Contributed
Tanni Wenger
• $1.00
www.MyEagleNews.com
Revising the revision
Battle
looms
over
Zone 1
lands
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County Court Feb. 18, Britton said
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CANYON CITY – Grant County the Forest Partners and the Harney
Commissioner Boyd Britton wants County Collaborative – would be
the Blue Mountains Forest Partners uniquely suited to the task.
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He noted they already have in-
alternative for the ongoing regional volved stakeholders from the com-
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munity, industry, county government
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tional forests, Britton’s idea is to draft ¿WWKHIRUHVWDQGWKHHFRQRP\
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Malheur National Forest.
Judge Scott Myers and Commission-
By Scotta Callister
Blue Mountain Eagle
er Chris Labhart, Britton called the
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most effective method of dealing with
and working with our federal land
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Britton said the Forest Service’s
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wreck to begin with,” as it was devel-
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key elements changed.
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See PLAN, Page A9
Boyd Britton
Ranchers say
ODF must take
new approach
By Scotta Callister
Three standouts honored for service
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
American Legion Auxiliary ladies JoAnn Johnson, left, Evelyn Ogilvie and Ruth Harris were honored Feb. 16 for their many years of
service through the organization.
Event notes their teamwork, contributions
Blue Mountain Eagle
JOHN DAY – A Feb. 16 “Sweet-
hearts’ Dinner” honored a trio of
sweethearts known for long service to
their community.
Held at the Legion Hall in John
Day, the event honored JoAnn John-
son, Evelyn Ogilvie and Ruth Harris,
longtime members of the Ellis Tracy
Post and Unit of the American Legion
and Auxiliary.
Johnson has been an auxiliary
member the longest, joining in 1946.
Her son, Larry, told of her devotion
to her family and her work on many
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Mrs. Ogilvie’s daughter Tam-
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her mother received in her years
serving on the local, district, state
and national levels since joining in
1950.
She served many years as local
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Joyce Nodine noted the teamwork
that has characterized the efforts of
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one with a Portland Trail Blazer hat as
members of the “team.”
Auxiliary member Jessie Lewis
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honorees.
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tnow, who sang the national anthem
and the song “United We Stand,”
written by Harris.
The Rev. Al Altnow gave the invo-
cation and benediction.
The Big Mosquito Project takes shape
that include logging, thin-
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Blue Mountain Eagle
Grant County Court meeting.
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Blue Mountain Ranger
CANYON CITY – Forest was the latest of several set to District Ranger Dave Hale-
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Mosquito Project at last week’s slate of restoration efforts shed-scale restoration effort
Forest Service rolls out more work for MNF
undertaken on the Malheur
National Forest.
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36,000 acres around Galena
on the Middle Fork of the
John Day River.
Blue Mountain Eagle
CANYON CITY – A re-
bellion is simmering over the
so-called Zone 1 lands, as ru-
ral landowners brace for an
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ment that’s unique to Grant
County.
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taxes that are billed along
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In Grant County alone,
landowners are assessed not
just for forest and range lands,
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This year, Grant Coun-
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rates of 169.45 cents for
timber land, 76.51 cents for
grazing land, and 30 cents
for Zone 1. The Grant Coun-
ty Court is scheduled to hear
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crease.
Area ranchers this month
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lenge any rate hike, but also
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management.
Mark Webb, a Mt. Vernon
area landowner and former
county judge, told the Court
last week the basis of the
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quest an assessment increase
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ing for those lands, but “we
suggest the cost does not war-
rant it.”
Landowners say the Zone 1
money has in effect gone to off-
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and to bolster the state agency’s
budget – and that the situa-
tion amounts to a tax on Grant
County landowners unlike any-
thing elsewhere in the state.
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roots, dating back to the 1940s
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Zone 1 category to encour-
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and safeguard the timber and
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tection for the more marginal
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See LAND, Page A9
S TUDENT A RT
See MNF, Page A9
Walden talks issues with MV crowd
Blue Mountain Eagle
MT. VERNON – Nearly
50 residents turned out last
week for a Grant County town
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Walden (R-Hood River).
The event, held Feb. 17 at
the Mt. Vernon Community
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on his efforts in Congress to
grow Eastern Oregon’s econ-
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increase active management
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forest health and grow jobs in
rural communities.
Walden took questions on
local and national issues, rang-
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Administration to combating
terrorist threats to curbing the
national debt.
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all those who turned out for
the event, his 86th town hall in
three years.
“It’s another way to get
feedback and hear about the
Contributed photo
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KDYH´KHVDLG³$WHDFKVWRS U.S. Rep. Greg Walden discusses federal spending
at the town hall in Mt. Vernon last week.
my ‘to do’ list grows.”
‘Zentangle art’
By Emilee Myers
Fifth grade
Teacher: Georgia Boethin
Humbolt Elementary