News
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
A5
C OPS & C OURTS
LETTERS
Continued from Page A4
Long Creek City
Council dropped
the ball
To the Editor:
It is of the utmost impor-
tance that the community
and citizens of Long Creek
are aware that there is a city
council meeting on March
10 at 6 p.m. in general re-
gards to the commercializa-
tion of marijuana. All should
attend for support. By a vote
of 3-2, the city council de-
cided to speak for the 105
registered voters of our city
and not allow a vote in re-
gards to this very impactful
subject. Although Measure
91 was passed in regards to
the legalization of marijua-
na, it was voted down on the
east side of the Cascades by
a 65-percent to 35-percent
major majority. Our city
council disregarded that fact
and should change that de-
cision and let the people of
our city vote to decide on
such an extremely important
subject! It was a very dis-
appointing vote by our city
council and too important
to the people of Long Creek
and the county to be decided
by just five people.
Dan Morrow
Long Creek
Editor’s note: The Long
Creek City Council will hold
a public hearing at 6 p.m.
March 10 at the Long Creek
Community Center regarding
a conditional use permit for
Southern Blues Bud LLC to
establish a marijuana grow-
ing business at 755 W. Main
St., Long Creek.
Wishes for
our county
To the Editor:
My husband and I have
lived in Grant County for 18
years. We have loved it here
and have contributed to the
community in a number of
constructive ways. I have fre-
quently been dismayed by the
anger and negativity in letters
to the editor and/or editori-
als, often written by the same
people week after week. Not
wanting to be part of a “con-
versation” like that, I have
hesitated to speak up about
important issues. It’s time to
change that.
Over the past weeks, I’ve
read about and listened to
opinions on many of the is-
sues that are being discussed
in our county, important is-
sues such as: impact and re-
action to last summer’s ¿re,
the County Court resolution,
presence of out-of-county
militia, freedom of speech,
meaning of the constitution,
sheriff’s duties, etc.
It’s encouraging to read
opinions based on facts. But
it’s discouraging and non-pro-
ductive if those statements are
untrue, inÀammatory or are
malicious personal attacks.
It’s also offensive to hear
things like “traitors” shouted
out in our county courtroom.
I hope our county can
become a positive example
for other counties in Oregon
and the entire country. De-
spite differences of opinion,
let’s have respect, civil dis-
cussions, facts, peaceful ex-
pressions of opinion and le-
gal processes. Let’s not have
threats, intimidations, slander,
extralegal interpretations of
laws or mean-spirited words
or actions of any kind.
Releases: 5
Arrests: 1
Fingerprints: 4
Civil papers: 7
Warrants processed: 1
Asst./welfare check: 2
Amy Jean McCool,
Santa Cruz, Calif., was
convicted of no non-resi-
dent hunting license, and
¿ned $2,000.
Scott Anthony Cotter,
John Day, was convicted
Justice Court
of second-degree disor-
CANYON CITY — derly conduct, and ¿ned
The Grant County Justice $435.
Court reported the follow-
ing ¿nes and judgments:
Dispatch
Exceeding the speed
John Day dispatch
limit: Fedor Y. Zarkhin, worked 119 calls during
29, Portland, 93/55 zone, the week of Feb. 29-March
Feb. 12, ¿ned $435; Tricia 6. Along with the various
Grant County Sheriff
Kathleen Smith Burckard, traf¿c warnings, trespass-
CANYON CITY — 45, Hines, 87/55 zone, ing, injured animals, noise
The Grant County Sher- Feb. 12, ¿ned $160.
complaints and juvenile
iff’s Of¿ce reported the
Violation of the basic complaints, these calls in-
following for the week of rule: Janine Amber Weav- cluded:
Feb. 26-March 3:
er, 33, Mt. Vernon, 71/55
John Day Police:
Bookings: 9
zone, Feb. 12, ¿ned $135.
Feb. 29: Harassment
reported on Southwest
Brent Drive in John Day.
March 3: Respond-
ed to a reported dispute
at Meadowbrook Apart-
ments.
March 4: Cited a John
Day woman for no insur-
ance and driving while
suspended.
March 5: Reported hit-
and-run on 6th Street.
March 6: Arrested a
John Day man for parole
violation; theft reported at
Riverside Mobile Home
Park.
Grant County Sher-
iff:
Feb. 29: Trespassing
reported at the Long View
Ranch.
March 1: Theft report-
ed at the Blue Mountain
Motel in Mt. Vernon.
March 2: Cited a John
Day woman for not hav-
ing an ignition interlock
device installed and for no
insurance.
John Day ambu-
lance:
Feb. 29: Dispatched for
an elderly woman.
March 2: Dispatched
for a young child having
a seizure; dispatched for
a woman with difficul-
ty breathing; dispatched
for an elderly man with
pain.
March 3: Responded
for an 82-year-old woman
with a stroke; dispatched
for an elderly woman with
chest pain.
What kind of county do we
want to live in?
Victoria Thompson
Mt. Vernon
ous. One was a former Ma-
rine, so that made four from
the Corps there. Another was
a former Army Ranger and the
third fellow a self-proclaimed
“political activist.” With the
sheriff having served in the
Air Force, we represented ser-
vice in Vietnam and Iraq. You
know, typical militants.
Eager to learn about the
events at the refuge, it was a
surprise when the three men
spoke of “redress of griev-
ance” for the Hammonds and
educating people about the
U.S. Constitution. Dog-eared
and highlighted copies of the
Constitution were produced
and references to poignant
sections of the law of the
land were discussed. It was
an interesting and informative
time. Hardly the wild-eyed
militants some people be-
lieved them to be.
I was there, took notes and
challenge anyone to confront
me and say otherwise.
Dave Traylor
John Day
government decides is ac-
ceptable use of our land.
Haley Olson
John Day
left, with its reputation who
wouldn’t celebrate? Surely
whoever came along and used
their network of cables would
easily provide better customer
service.
Comcast’s use of an even
better tax break than the Leg-
islature intended is unbeliev-
able. The Legislature must
develop a backbone and make
this right.
Jody Wiser
Founder and chair of
Tax Fairness Oregon
Portland
Militia supporters
jeopardizing
county desirability
To the Editor:
We moved to Grant Coun-
ty 18 years ago. We were at-
tracted to this wonderful part
of Oregon as well as Àeeing
the lifestyle of the I-5 corri-
dor.
Our experiences here have
consistently exceeded our ex-
pectations.
I’ve been amazed at how
hard so many individuals,
groups and businesses have
worked to support and grow
our local economy. Much of
that effort has gone to make
Grant County a desirable
place to live, visit and retire.
The ugly rhetoric, intim-
idation and threats coming
from the so-called militia and
their defenders are jeopardiz-
ing that work.
I wouldn’t move here in
this environment, and I’m
having second thoughts about
encouraging young Grant
County people to stay or to
come back and bring their
friends with them. We need a
population of working fami-
lies to make this a vital com-
munity.
Richard Thompson
Mt. Vernon
Refuge occupiers
referenced U.S.
Constitution
To the Editor:
I attended the meeting
at the Outpost Jan. 12 when
three of the “armed militants”
from the wildlife refuge came
over.
Let me set the stage. I was
invited by a friend that is a
local logger that had been at
the refuge the previous Sun-
day and invited several fel-
lows there to come over for
a meeting with people from
Grant County. I brought two
friends and met up with a
rancher and wife, a Realtor,
log truck owner and the sher-
iff. The sheriff did not know
anyone from the refuge would
be there until he arrived. The
three men were in their 30s,
cleanly dressed and courte-
Government
failure
To the Editor:
Citizens of Grant County,
we have a situation unfold-
ing locally that I believe is
setting a dangerous prece-
dent for Grant County and
the citizens of Oregon. In
2014, recreational marijuana
was voted on, and the law
was approved by 55-percent
majority. With the passing of
the measure, it became the
law of our land (Oregon).
Then, our “appointed,”
not elected, governor com-
promised, which allowed
counties all over the state to
disregard the will of state-
wide voters. Some reasons
for the compromise includ-
ed lawsuit threats by East-
ern Oregon representatives,
Eastern Oregon counties
voting against the measure
in 2014 and inability to
move legislation through the
state legislature on HB 3400.
In my opinion, the gov-
ernor failed the citizens of
Oregon — especially the
people in Eastern Oregon
counties like ours. The fact
is, we have major unem-
ployment, serious lack of
funding for schools, roads,
police and fire departments.
Currently, there is little hope
for any new jobs or revenue
in our community.
The governor should have
threatened a veto and insist-
ed all counties, especially
the ones with serious unem-
ployment problems and rev-
enue issues, to implement
the law. To top it off, Grant
County officials jumped on
the “ban” wagon and decid-
ed for everyone, without a
vote, to ban our right under
state law to open a business
on our own property — a
business with good-paying,
sustainable jobs that stay in
Oregon.
Elections have conse-
quences; we may agree or
disagree with the results,
but this is the way our sys-
tem works. What precedent
are we allowing to be set
if a governor, legislator or
county official is allowed
to compromise on statewide
law? In reality, the feds
have not come in and ar-
rested everybody in Colora-
do or Washington, and it is
very unlikely they’re head-
ed to Oregon anytime soon.
If we don’t stand united on
this issue, then the legal use
of your land is and will be
dictated by state and local
officials — not only with
marijuana but whatever the
Comcast
hoodwinked
our legislators
To the Editor:
Last year Comcast hood-
winked our legislators into
a tax loophole for itself. But
taxpayers won’t bene¿t:
Comcast’s rates don’t vary
based on state and local taxes.
Comcast built their tele-
communications network in
Oregon knowing full well
what our taxes were. Did any
taxpayers get a big rate de-
crease last year because the
legislature gave them a tax
break? Of course not.
Now it’s time for legislators
to respond with “tough love,”
and undo all the changes they
made for the bene¿t of com-
munications companies. Let
Comcast, Google and the oth-
ers pay their taxes based on the
law that was here when they
decided to come to Oregon.
What might Comcast do?
Leave? If Comcast up and
Too many
deputies
To the Editor:
Whoa, Glenn Palmer has
outdone himself. With one
sheriff we have gotten not
one, not two or three, but
70 special deputies. Wow. I
feel 70 times safer now that
I know there are 70 hand-
picked, unelected, unidenti-
¿ed, untrained deputies with
the power to arrest and detain
me. It’s like our very own se-
cret police. What could pos-
sibly be wrong with that?
Sam Walker
John Day
OREGON CAPITAL
INSIDER
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02131
Circuit Court
CANYON CITY —
The Grant County Circuit
Court reported the follow-
ing ¿nes and judgments:
James Dean Loveday,
53, pleaded guilty to in-
terference with making a
report. He was sentenced
to bench probation for 12
months, 40 hours of com-
munity service and ¿ned
$600. The court dismissed
one count of fourth-de-
gree of assault, constitut-
ing domestic violence.
Dakota Charles Stout,
18, pleaded guilty to con-
spiracy to deliver meth-
amphetamine. He was
sentenced to jail for 15
days, supervised proba-
tion for 24 months and 80
hours of community ser-
vice. He was ordered to
have no contact with the
victims and ¿ned $250.
The court dismissed one
count of unlawful posses-
sion of meth.
10 CLOVERFIELD LANE PG-13
Woman discovers the horrifying truth about
the outside world while living in an
underground shelter.
A TTENTION G RANT
FRI & SAT
(12:45) (4:10) 7:10 9:35
(1:10) (4:10) 7:10 9:40
SUNDAY
MON-THURS (1:10) (4:00) 7:10
C OUNTY
ZOOTOPIA PG
Disney Animation. Fugitive con artist fox
and a rookie bunny cop work together to
uncover a conspiracy.
See your Grant County Veteran Services
Officer today for more information,
located at Grant County Courthouse.
LONDON HAS FALLEN R
In London for the Prime Minister’s funeral,
Mike Banning discovers a plot to
assassinate all the attending world leaders.
FRI & SAT
(12:45) (4:20) 7:20 9:40
(1:10) (4:20) 7:20 9:40
SUNDAY
MON-THURS (1:10) (4:00) 7:20 9:40
$9 Adult, $7 Senior (60+), Youth
V ETERANS :
Did you know a service-connected
disabled veteran is entitled to
FREE use of Oregon State Parks?
FRI & SAT
(12:45) (4:00) 7:00 9:30
(1:10) (4:00) 7:00 9:40
SUNDAY
MON-THURS (1:10) (4:00) 7:00 9:40
Open Mon, Wed, & Fri, 10 am - 4 pm,
by appointment. Call 541-575-1631
03582
Arrests and citations in
the Blue Mountain Eagle
are taken from the logs of
law enforcement agencies.
Every effort is made to re-
port the court disposition
of arrest cases.
The Blue
Mountain Eagle’s
Debbie Ausmus
245 South Canyon Blvd.
John Day, OR 97845
OPEN WED. & THUR.
9 am - 5 pm
541-575-1113
24 hrs/7 days wk
debbie.ausmus@
countryfinancial.com
$15 for:
Accepting children
2 to 6 years old
Multiple child discount
- Positive - Nurturing - Fun -
• Art
• Physical Activities
• Healthy Menu
227 NW 2nd St.
John Day
Contact Stacie for more info: 541-974-8760
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Stop by 195 N Canyon Blvd., John Day • Deadline for Classifieds is 10 am Mondays.