News Wednesday, December 23, 2015 27(&SUHVHQWV.WR¿UHUHOLHI Blue Mountain Eagle JOHN DAY — Old West Federal Credit Union’s Community Fire Relief Fund recently received a $5,000 boost from Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative. OTEC board member Gary Miller presented the check, issued by the Na- tional Rural Utilities Cooperative Fi- nance Cooperation, to Old West presi- dent Ken Olson on Dec. 9. “I have lived in Grant County all of my life, and it never surprises me the amount of generosity this community has for its neighbors, friends and fami- lies,” Miller said. “When neighbors tru- O\QHHGDKHOSLQJKDQGWKH\ZLOO¿QGLW here.” According to Olson, the fund, estab- lished to assist those impacted by the &DQ\RQ&UHHN&RPSOH[¿UHKDVGLVWULE- uted approximately $250,000 in donated funds throughout the community to date. For more information on donat- ing to help Canyon Creek Complex ¿UH YLFWLPV YLVLW DQ\ 2OG :HVW )HG- eral Credit Union branch, write to the John Day branch at 650 W. Main St., John Day, OR 97845 or call 541-575- 0264. POT Contributed photo Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative board member Gary Miller, left, presents Old West Federal Credit Union president Ken Olson with a check for $5,000 for the Community Fire Relief Fund. GOP: New laws are economic ‘lumps of coal’ Blue Mountain Eagle With the end of a tumultu- ous year in Oregon government drawing to a close, Senate Re- publicans highlighted a number of new laws they believe will harm working families and small businesses in the new year. “Senate Democrats insist- ed on new laws that increase the cost of living for Oregon families and small businesses,” said Senate Republican Leader Ted Ferrioli (R-John Day) in a press release. “Oregonians will get ‘lumps of coal’ in the stocking of Oregon’s economy this year because of Demo- crat leaders who value parti- san projects and padding state agency budgets over helping small businesses and families thrive.” Bills passed by the Demo- crat majority absent bipartisan support during the 2015 legis- lative session going into effect Jan. 1 include: A $55 increase in car insur- ance premiums for most vehi- cles (SB 411) Increases in hunting and ¿VKLQJ OLFHQVHV WKH ¿UVW RI three between now and 2020 (SB 247) New animal nuisance law- suits against small family farm- ers (HB 2888) Expensive mandatory paid time off for requirements for small businesses (SB 454) New authority for BOLI to issue warrants, liens and garnishments on small busi- nesses (SB 468) Senate Republicans also warned of new Democrat proposals coming during the February 2016 short legisla- tive session that will further cripple Oregon’s economy, including a minimum wage as high as $15 per hour and a new cap and trade scheme. 3ULYDWHODQGVDLU¿UHVHHGLQJEHJDQODVWZHHN Blue Mountain Eagle JOHN DAY — Fire rehabil- itation seeding began last week on private land in Grant County. The project planned to seed 4,100 acres affected by the Can- \RQ &UHHN &RPSOH[ ¿UH DF- cording to a press release from Grant Soil and Water Conserva- tion District. Grant SWCD was scheduled this fall to retain an aviation contractor to aerial seed 3,800 acres of state, federal and pri- vately managed lands contained within the Phillip Schneider Wildlife Area affected by the 2014 South Fork Complex Fire. Grant SWCD capitalized on the presence of the aviation contractor and purchased 68.9 tons of seed for the Canyon Creek effort. Applicants sought for Seneca scholarship Blue Mountain Eagle SENECA — The Seneca School Foundation is again offering its annual Seneca Logger Memorial Scholarship. Graduating seniors at Grant Union Ju- nior-Senior High School, who previously attended Seneca School for at least two years and who have a minimum cumula- tive academic GPA of 3.50, are eligible to apply for the $1,000 scholarship. Applications will be accepted from Dec. 1 to Jan. 31, and must include a 750- word essay. Those meeting the minimum criteria will be scheduled for a 30-minute interview with the foundation’s scholar- ship selection committee. The most deserving applicant will be A aware the attorney had been consulted, and he should have been informed. Brit- Continued from Page A1 ton said he did not intend to contact the lawyer se- $WWKHWKLUGDQG¿QDOGD\ cretly but believed counsel of public testimony Dec. may have been necessary 16, the attendees were more regarding the ordinance be- evenly split between propo- fore the hearing. Britton and County nents and opponents of the ban. Proponents argued that Judge Scott Myers both said allowing marijuana busi- they were in favor of the or- nesses to generate revenue dinance as written and later would be abandoning val- signed it into law. After the hearing, ues. Kimberly resident The- da Phelps said marijuana is Kimberly resident Bruce Strange, who spoke in favor “wrong” and “evil.” “Is it worth it to compro- of the ordinance, said he be- mise your own values?” she lieved the ordinance was a positive step for the county. asked. “It isn’t for me.” “I’m pleased with Scott After more than three hours in total of public tes- Myers. I’m pleased with timony, the commissioners Boyd Britton,” he said. “I’m actually ashamed of Com- closed the hearing. Commissioner Chris missioner Labhart’s deci- Labhart said, because the or- sion.” Jerry Russell, who ar- dinance included language stating it was an emergency gued at each opportunity for and effective immediately testimony that he should be upon passage, it would re- allowed to grow marijuana quire a unanimous decision. on his property near Kim- He said he did not intend to berly, said the people in fa- sign the ordinance unless vor of the ban failed to pro- the prohibition on marijuana vide compelling arguments. “I think it was a foolish growing was removed. Commissioner Boyd decision,” he said. “They Britton said, however, he didn’t do a very good job had already consulted the of representing the Grant county’s attorney, who in- County residents.” Russell said discussions formed him only two out of the three commissioner would continue among op- signatures were necessary ponents of the ban about because the ordinance was pursuing a citizens’ initia- not enacted in a single day. tive to overturn the ban by a Labhart said he was un- vote of the people. B REAKING N EWS A LERTS myeaglenews.com/breakingnews selected from an order of merit list and will be awarded the scholarship at Grant Union’s graduation ceremony. Funding for the scholarship is depen- dent on the generosity of current and for- mer Seneca residents and others in the community. For application forms and more infor- mation, visit www.senecakids.org. Pro Saw Shop and a Whole Lot More 02131 Blue Mountain Eagle C OPS & C OURTS -XVWLFH&RXUW CANYON CITY — The Grant County Justice Court UHSRUWHG WKH IROORZLQJ ¿QHV and judgments: Violation of the basic rule: Randi Dean Holbrook, 63, Walla Walla, Wash., 70/55 ]RQH¿QHG Failure to drive within lane: Ashley Cherise Martin, -RKQ'D\¿QHG Violation of the speed limit: Matthew Niel Goslin, (XJHQH]RQH¿QHG $260. 'LVSDWFK John Day dispatch worked 106 calls during the week of Dec. 14-21. Along with WKH YDULRXV WUDI¿F ZDUQLQJV trespassing, injured animals, noise complaints and juvenile complaints, these calls includ- ed: -RKQ'D\3ROLFH: Dec. 14: Report of a pos- sible hit-and-run at Chester’s Thriftway; cited a John Day man for driving while sus- pended. Dec. 16: Cited a Meridian, Idaho, man for speeding. *UDQW&RXQW\6KHULII: Dec. 14: Cited a John Day man for driv- ing without a license and insurance. Dec. 18: Responded to re- ports of fraud in Mt. Vernon Best Wishes this holiday season, from all of us at the Law Office o f Daniel L. Cronin and Canyon City. -RKQ'D\DPEXODQFH: 3UDLULH&LW\DPEXODQFH: Dec. 16: Responded for an 87-year-old woman. Dec. 20: Responded for a 74-year-old woman who passed out; responded for a snowmobile crash near the ¿UHKDOO STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS PG-13 A continuation of the saga set thirty years after Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983). FRIDAY (12:45) (3:45) 6:45 9:35 SAT & SUN (12:45) (3:45) 6:45 9:35 MON-THURS (12:45) (3:45) 6:45 9:35 DADDY’S HOME PG-13 Comedy. Will Ferrell & Mark Wahlberg. Dad & stepdad compete to prove who is the best dad. FRIDAY (12:45) (4:00) 7:00 9:45 SAT & SUN (1:00) (4:00) 7:00 9:45 MON-THURS (12:45) (4:00) 7:00 9:45 ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS PG 2830 10th St., Baker City, OR 541-524-0122 EVERY OTHER TUESDAY The chipmunks try to stop Dave from proposing to his girlfriend. FRIDAY (12:45) (4:10) 7:10 9:40 SAT & SUN (1:10) (4:10) 7:10 9:40 MON-THURS (12:45) (4:10) 7:10 9:40 $9 Adult, $7 Senior (60+), Youth 03233 Driving while suspend- ed-violation: Travis James Freniere, 29, John Day, two counts, fined $435 for each; Brandon L. Stout, 22, John Day, fined $435. Driving uninsured: *UDQW&RXQW\6KHULII Travis James Freniere, 29, CANYON CITY — The John Day, two counts, fined *UDQW&RXQW\6KHULII¶V2I¿FH $260 for each. reported the following for the No seat belt: Brandon week of Dec. 11-17: L. Stout, 22, John Day, Concealed handgun li- fined $110. censes: 4 Travis A. Palmer, Mt. Average inmates: 11 Vernon, was convicted of Bookings: 3 failure to validate tag. He Releases: 4 was sentenced to 18 months Arrests: 1 probation, fined $1,275, Fingerprints: 5 and his hunting privileg- Civil papers: 19 es were suspended for 36 Warrants processed: 9 months. The court dis- Asst./welfare check: 5 missed one count of failure Craig Graven, 32, Mt. to record transfer of pos- Vernon, cited for dog as a session. public nuisance. John Dunn, 34, John Day, cited for driving uninsured and driving without a license. Arrests and citations in the Blue Mountain Eagle are taken from the logs of law en- forcement agencies. Every ef- fort is made to report the court disposition of arrest cases. Merry Christmas JOHN DAY RIVER VETERINARY CENTER 03024