The
Blue Mountain
GRANT
COUNTY
TEAMS
HAVE
WINNING
WEEKEND
EAGLE
– PAGE A8
Grant County’s newspaper since 1868
W EDNESDAY , J ANUARY 13, 2016
N O . 2
16 P AGES
$1.00
www.MyEagleNews.com
Plaintiffs withdraw challenge to county pot ban
Officials to consider referring decision to voters
By Sean Hart
Blue Mountain Eagle
A legal challenge to the Grant County
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na operations has been withdrawn.
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6 was canceled after attorneys for both
sides discussed the matter.
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and Paul and Loreen Cooper. Russell
and the Coopers sought to legally grow
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ijuana patient who relies on others for
transportation to the nearest dispensary
in Deschutes County.
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Myers indicated he was willing to hold
a hearing on referring the ordinance to
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complaint.
“We need a hearing on the referral as
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in the best interest of everyone that the
injunction request be dismissed for now
as to not cost the county or my clients
any more resources. My clients want to
bring resources into this county not take
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street improvement
projects continue
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out further litigation.
“It was going to be expensive for both
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Myers said county attorney Ron
Yockim is looking into the possibility of
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response to the complaint submitted by
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for the complaint to be withdrawn also
included an assurance that the county
Eagle file photo
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From left, Grant County Judge Scott Myers,
schio’s clients.
Raschio said he believed the county Commissioners Boyd Britton and Chris Labhart
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ordinance banning commercial marijuana
See POT, Page A5 operations.
O N THE T OWN
PRAIRIE CITY
Blue Mountain Eagle
JOHN DAY — What does
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of John Day?
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struction of John Day Rural
Fire District’s long anticipated
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City Manager Peggy Gray
said completion is anticipated
this spring.
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said.
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should be able to make up for
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The new facility will replace
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accommodate large emergency
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munity use.
The second major project is
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walks Improvements Project.
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tation Enhance Grant for the
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tation Improvement Program to
construct sidewalks bicycle and
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6th Avenue to Grant Union
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begin the design engineering
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The city has applied for two
more sidewalk projects for the
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the Downtown Improvements
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The Eagle/Cheryl Hoefler
New pedestrian street
lighting with banners
depicting historical sites
in John Day are among
the improvements being
made in John Day’s
downtown business
section.
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provements are the same as
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sidewalks and pedestrian street
lighting along both sides of
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walk project that would run
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where it would connect with
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Projects for the region will
be reviewed and discussed at the
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North East Area Commissions
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Grant County Regional Airport
in John Day. The city hopes to
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ing the top priority.
The Eagle/Cheryl Hoefler
Prairie City rests at the eastern end of the John Day Valley with the Strawberry Wilderness for a
scenic backdrop.
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By Cheryl HoeÀ er
Blue Mountain Eagle
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RAIRIE CITY — “Rich in history and rich
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brook describes life in Prairie City.
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Prairie City lies at the eastern end of the John Day
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on the fringes of the Blue Mountains to the northeast.
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largest in Grant County.
See PC, Page A3
The Eagle/Cheryl Hoefler
With the Prairie City Community Center and
Strawberry Mountain in the background, Prairie
City park in the heart of town is the site of family
gatherings and community events, such as the
Grant County Fourth of July celebration.
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County event
set for Saturday,
Feb. 6
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
JOHN DAY — With the
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preparation is important.
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the local American Red Cross
chapter will hold a Flood
Emergency
Preparedness
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John Day.
Organizers of the event
aim to update citizens on
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gation efforts as well as how
areas near Canyon Creek
could be at increased risk of
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shed.
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tion on a new emergency
alert system which allows for
mass alerts to go out through
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
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A planning meeting for the Flood Emergency
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Preparedness Fair was held Jan. 7. Pictured at the
“It’s going to be a great
meeting are, from left, Shilo Burton, Forest Service
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public affairs specialist; emergency coordinator
alerts to go out to hundreds of
Ted Williams; Red Cross volunteers Jim Spell and
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Paula Long. The organizer, Joan Bowling (not
He added the alert system
pictured) is the local Disaster Action Team captain
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for the American Red Cross.
or if there is an emergency
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they can personally prepare in maps of the area of Canyon LW FRXOG UHDFK MXVW WKRVH UHV
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Grant County Emergency WKH H[WHQW RI ÀRRGLQJ WKDW LV FORJJHG WKH KLJKSULRULW\
Management Coordinator Ted SRVVLEOHDQGDQVZHULQJTXHV PHVVDJHVZRXOGVWLOOEHWUDQV
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Local Red Cross Disaster
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bers will have information
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Cross shelters work and
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pare for a flood.
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ple to have a plan for what
they would do if there was
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to be ready — and be aware
of handicapped or disabled
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Joan Bowling.
Light refreshments will be
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ing for Red Cross.