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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 2016)
The Blue Mountain GRANT UNION HOSTS DISTRICT TOURNEY ON SATURDAY EAGLE – PAGE A10 Grant County’s newspaper since 1868 W EDNESDAY , F EBRUARY 10, 2016 N O . 6 18 P AGES $1.00 O N THE T OWN CANYON CITY ‘Golden’ community is the Grant County seat Eagle photos/Cheryl Hoefler The “1862” on the hill beneath Canyon Mountain proclaims the start of Canyon City’s golden history. Bottom photo: Whiskey Gulch Gang members fire away during the ’62 Days Celebration parade. The event, held every June since 1922, commemorates the discovery of gold in 1862 in Canyon City. By &heryl HoeÀ er Blue Mountain Eagle C ANYON CITY — People were roaming the Grant County area — hunting, trapping, tending sheep and cattle — long before 1862. But it was the discovery of gold near Canyon City that summer that really drew the crowds. In fact, once upon a time, Canyon City, with a popula- tion of about 10,000 people in those early days, was bigger than Portland. Life has settled down somewhat for Canyon City since then, though it is no less a vibrant and attractive commu- nity. The second largest town in Grant County, with a popu- lation of 705, Canyon City is the county seat and home to “ the Grant County Courthouse and Correc- tional Facility. Among Canyon City’s attractions are sev- eral businesses, Grantville Theater, Canyon City Community Hall and the Grant County Historical Museum, which houses a wealth of artifacts, documents and photographs Canyon telling the history of Grant County. City Canyon City is nestled at the base of Mayor Canyon Mountain, which offers a network Steve of hiking trails leading to scenic views up Fischer and down the canyon. Sproul Park, in the center of town, features a playground, covered band stage, picnic areas and restrooms across the street, and is frequently the charming site of sum- mer concerts in the park and other community events. See TOWN, Page A3 www.MyEagleNews.com Sheriffs’ association asked to investigate Palmer’s conduct removed in the past. Current- ly, he said, all 36 Oregon sher- iffs are members. The Oregon State Sheriffs’ Expulsion is the most se- Association has been asked vere punishment available to to investigate the conduct of the association, Wolfe said. If Grant County Sheriff Glenn a criminal investigation was warranted, he said, it would Palmer. Association President be handled by a law enforce- Brian Wolfe, the sheriff of ment agency, not the associa- Malheur County, said, at the tion. Wolfe said he has not seen request of citizens, an exec- evidence indicating utive board would be misconduct by Palmer looking into Palmer’s and that he would need conduct regarding the to see hard facts before occupation of the Mal- commenting further. heur National Wildlife “Each sheriff has Refuge to determine their unique personal- whether to launch an ities and interests,” he of¿ cial investigation. Sheriff said. “We always sup- “What the associ- Glenn port the First Amend- ation will do is look Palmer ment, the freedom of at all the facts: We’ll gather evidence and infor- speech and all that, as long as mation, and then if we think it doesn’t violate the ethics or there is a violation of the state laws.” In John Day Jan. 12, Palm- sheriffs’ (association) bylaws or ethics, then we would take er met with three people who whatever would be the appro- participated in the occupation priate action,” he said. “We of the refuge, including Ryan would just want to make sure, Payne and Jon Ritzheimer, ac- ¿ rst of all, that sheriffs in Ore- cording to Dave Traylor and gon are following the law and Jim Sproul who were also at the meeting. Palmer said he following their oath.” All sheriffs in Oregon, he was unaware the occupiers said, vow to uphold both the would be at the lunch meet- state and federal Constitution. ing, but he followed them He said the association has and others to another location bylaws in effect that allow to continue the meeting after the expulsion of a member for leaving the restaurant. misconduct, though he is not See PALMER, Page A18 aware of any members being By Sean Hart Blue Mountain Eagle It’s a great place to work, with a great council and great people.” City Recorder Corry Rider The Eagle/Sean Hart Kenny Delano, left, and other attendees at a vigil Saturday in John Day mourn the loss of LaVoy Finicum, who was shot by police after a short high- speed chase on Highway 395 north of Burns Jan. 26. Authorities say Finicum reached at least twice toward a jacket pocket that contained a handgun. Finicum and others who had been occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge were en route to a planned community meeting in John Day. Vigil attendees mourn death of LaVoy Finicum By Sean Hart Blue Mountain Eagle County unveils new mass alert system Flood mitigation work underway By Sean Hart Blue Mountain Eagle As the county prepares for the increased possibility of À ooding following last year’s ¿ re, of¿ cials urged people to take certain steps to prepare themselves. At a À ood preparedness fair Saturday, Emergency Manage- ment Coordinator Ted Williams unveiled the county’s new mass alert system, which is now op- erational. People can sign up for free online at public.alertsense. com/signup/?regionID=1170. See FLOOD, Page A18 The Eagle/Sean Hart Attendees at the flood preparedness fair Saturday peruse pamphlets and information from a variety of organizations following a presentation about the county’s efforts to mitigate flooding following the Canyon Creek Complex fire. People can now sign up for the county’s new mass alert system for free online. Candlelight cast a soft glow on the protest signs and American À ags at the vigil for LaVoy Finicum Saturday in John Day. The 54-year-old rancher from Arizona, who partici- pated in the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, was shot by police Jan. 26 en route to a planned community meet- ing in John Day. After leading police on a short, high-speed chase, Finicum exited his vehicle after driving into a snowbank. Authorities say he reached at least twice toward a jacket pocket containing a loaded handgun before police shot and killed him. At Saturday’s vigil, one man carried a sign stating Fin- icum had been murdered by police. Another sign said he died standing up for constitu- tional rights. Several people waved American À ags, and another — upside down and at half-staff — was placed on the hood of a pickup where people signed guest books and a tarp to be sent to Fini- cum’s family. Kenny Delano, Mt. Ver- non, was one of several who spoke to the crowd. “We’re all free men, but they’re taking that away,” he said. “It’s time for us to make that stand. Everyone should stand for their freedom and their neighbor’s rights, and that’s what LaVoy was do- ing.” Delano urged people to contact their governmental representatives — from city council members to national legislators — to make their voices heard. Several of the attendees said they were traveling to Burns Sunday and invited others to join to help rebuild a roadside memorial erect- ed for Finicum that had been destroyed — before it was announced the memorial had already been rebuilt by others. Attendees were also invit- ed to another meeting Feb. 12 in Burns.
