Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (April 22, 2015)
HAPPY EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY! – PAGES A8-A9 Grant County’s newspaper since 1868 W EDNESDAY , A PRIL 22, 2015 • N O . 16 • 22 P AGES • $1.00 www.MyEagleNews.com Schools back to routine after lockdown Police say caller threatened violence Blue Mountain Eagle PRAIRIE CITY – Grant County schools went back to normal Mon- day after an anonymous threat trig- gered emergency response at three campuses last week. Sgt. Damon Rand of the John Day Police Department said the events be- gan about 1:35 p.m. Thursday, when Prairie City School received an anon- ymous call saying someone was com- ing to the school to shoot some of the kids. 6FKRRO RI¿FLDOV FDOOHG SROLFH DQG put the school on lockdown, telling stu- dents to stay in their locked classrooms. A short time later, the students were sent to the gym, where they were told to call their parents to pick them up from school. The school also sent word to parents to pick up their children immediately. 2QHVWXGHQWVDLGKLVFODVVDW¿UVWDV sumed it was a drill, but realized there was a threat as the lockdown continued. The school was cleared and po- lice searched the building, but found nothing of alarm, Rand said. The situation also triggered a precautionary external lockdown at John Day’s Grant Union Junior-Se- nior High School and Humbolt Ele- mentary in Canyon City. All the lockdowns ended without incident. Rand said an initial investigation traced the phone call to an IP address, indicating it came from a computer. That means the caller could have been local – “or from anywhere,” he said. Rand said that while it could be someone’s idea of “a very bad joke,” police were continuing the investi- gation. He said the caller, if found, would face charges. John Day Police were joined by the Oregon State Police and Grant County 6KHULII¶V2I¿FHLQGHDOLQJZLWKWKHXQ folding situation at the three schools. Sheriff Glenn Palmer said that while there was no threat at the John Day campuses, the lockdown was done as a precaution. The activity brought an early end to the four-day school week. 6FKRRORI¿FLDOVFDQFHOHGDOO*UDQW Union athletic practices and activities Thursday afternoon, as a further pre- caution. The Special Olympics vs. Law En- forcement basketball fundraiser game, which was going to be held that night at Grant Union, also was canceled. Or- ganizers said this week they are work- ing on a new schedule for the event. Group orders Court to act on roads Board hires new GU principal Ryan Gerry, now at PC, starts new job July 1 By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle JOHN DAY – Prairie City’s Ryan Gerry will take the helm at Grant Union Ju- nior-Senior High School on July 1. Members of the Grant School District No. 3 School Board voted to hire Gerry for the prin- cipal’s job at their April 15 meeting, held at Seneca School. Ryan He will Gerry succeed Curt Shelley, who is becoming district superintendent in July – replacing Mark Witty, who is leaving for the su- perintendent’s post in Baker County School District. Gerry is the current su- perintendent and princi- pal of Prairie City School District, and he was a 1995 Prairie City High School graduate. He said this week he’s looking forward to the “op- portunity and challenges that come with being part of a larger district.” “Grant Union Junior-Se- nior High School has a lot of good things going on that are both exciting and en- couraging,” he said. “Prai- rie City School District has been a great place to work over the past 16 years, and I believe there are a lot of great things going on in this district as well, which has made this decision a very difficult one.” Frustrations rise in road debate By Scotta Callister Blue Mountain Eagle Eagle photos/Cheryl Hoefler Prairie City resident Karla Teague, accompanied by her son, Anthony, on guitar, sings the Bette Midler ballad “The Rose.” LET US ENTERTAIN YOU! An array of performers shine in annual show %\&KHU\O+RHÀHU Blue Mountain Eagle PRAIRIE CITY – Like a good ol’ family potluck, the April 18 “Evening of Entertainment” offered something for everyone. With whimsical poetry, comedy skits, a patriotic reading, and a variety of musical performances, local entertainers dazzled the nearly packed house at the Prairie City Community Center. The evening kicked off with young Riley Gregg belting out “The Star-Span- gled Banner.” Musicians on the bill included Joy Waterhouse playing a medley of “golden oldies” on the piano; Karla Teague singing “The Rose,” accompanied by her son, Anthony; guitarists Les Church and Bill Evans, each offering a couple of WXQHV0DUWD)DXONQHUDQG5HEHFFD%RJDUGXVZLWKDÀXWHGXHWRIDSUHVWRE\ Joseph Haydn; and a piano quartet of “When the Saints Go Marching In” by Karla and Kimberly Teague, Joy Waterhouse, and Rose Coombs. Les Church rouses the crowd with See SHOW, Page A12 Van Morrison’s “Brown-Eyed Girl.” The Prairie City Easter Ensemble reprised their musical offertory from the Prairie City Easter service. From left, Karla Teague, Rose Coombs, Chris Lewallen, Maxine Day, Carolyn Bertalotto, Vonnie Blasing and Virginia McMillan. See JOB, Page A11 S TUDENT ART See ROAD, Page A11 JD says no to ban, but limits pot shops Blue Mountain Eagle Jaynee Cave Grade 8 Long Creek School Teacher: Cindy Wimer CANYON CITY – Mem- bers of a public lands access group issued an ultimatum to the Grant County Court last week, reiterating their stand against any road closures on the national forest. Jim Sproul told the Court people are unhappy with the current state of discussions about roads and access on the Malheur National Forest. “We’re sick and tired of you sitting on your hands and doing nothing,” he said. “By June 1, there will be action out of this Court, or we will take it to the next step.” He said that was a “solemn promise,” not a threat. Sproul and others complain the Court is not heeding the county ordinance passed in 2013 that requires agencies to get access changes approved by the Court and the sheriff. They also referred to a 1995 vote to keep all roads open. Ron Phillips asked, “When are you going to get behind the people who elected you?” He and others took um- EUDJH DW KHDULQJ RI¿FLDOV KDG described them as “a vocal mi- nority.” Asked about the commis- sioners’ position on access, County Judge Scott Myers said the Court is having discussions with the Forest Service about roads, and following the ordi- nance. JOHN DAY – The John Day City Council backed off from a proposed ban on medical marijuana dispensa- ries last week. In a 4-3 vote at its April 14 meet- ing, the council voted against estab- lishing an outright ban. The council approved a com- panion ordinance that will limit the hours, location and manner of op- eration of such businesses in the city. That measure needs slight revi- sion, however, because it referred to the ban. The ordinance will be up for final approval at the April 28 council meet- ing. It is proposed as an emergency measure, which would make it effec- tive immediately. The city is one of 142 across the state that adopted one-year mora- toriums on medical marijuana dis- pensaries, a delay allowed by the Legislature. Those moratoriums ex- pire May 1, however, and most of If you have questions about your rights as a victim of crime, please call the Grant County District Attorney’s Office Victim Assistance Program at 541-575-4026. For more details, see page A10. the cities were considering restric- tions on such businesses as their next step. Among other things, the mea- sure will bar medical marijuana out- lets within 1,000 feet of a school or a site used for “youth develop- ment activities” – a category in- cluding sports, music lessons, and tutoring. Such businesses also will face a city application process and require- ments for bookkeeping and back- ground checks.