WILDFIRE PLACE SECOND AT STATE
The
Grant County’s newspaper since 1868
– PAGE A8
The Grant County Wildfire
13-14-15 softball team at the
Oregon State Championships
Blue Mountain
EAGLE
The Eagle/Marissa Williams
W EDNESDAY , J ULY 13, 2016
• N O . 28
• 16 P AGES
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www.MyEagleNews.com
BATES POND
FUTURE IN QUESTION
The deep blue water
of Bates Pond is a
refreshing sight while
meandering the trail
that encircles the pond
and others throughout
Bates State Park.
The Eagle/Cheryl Hoefler
Work group to discuss alternatives to improve fi sh passage
By Sean Hart
Blue Mountain Eagle
work group of stakeholders will hold its fi rst
meeting next week to discuss the future of
Bates Pond and the management of Bates State
Park.
County Judge Scott Myers said he was in-
vited to represent the Grant County Court at the meetings.
The fi rst is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, July
19, in the conference room at the Grant County Regional Air-
port.
Myers said, while some fi shing, conservation and tribal
A
groups would like to remove the dam on Bridge Creek to re-
turn the stream to its natural state for fi sh passage, he did not
believe it would be in the county’s best interest.
“Most of us that have been here for a while are interested
in preserving the pond,” he said. “It has recreational poten-
tial for kayakers, boaters, swimmers, fi shermen. It has a very
strong sense of place for past generations and future genera-
tions of families from Bates and Austin.”
Myers said the meeting will be hosted by Oregon Consen-
sus, from the National Policy Consensus Center in the Hat-
fi eld School of Government at Portland State University, on
behalf of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.
See BATES, Page A16
Commissioner recall petition moves forward
Britton files statement of justification, won’t resign
By George Plaven
EO Media Group
The recall petition against Grant
County Commissioner Boyd Britton
is moving forward, but he does not
plan to resign.
County Clerk Brenda Percy said
she certifi ed 505 signatures as of
Thursday to place a recall on the bal-
lot for Aug. 16. At least 490 signatures
were needed for the petition to move
forward.
The effort to recall Britton comes a
little more than a week after residents
in neighboring Harney County voted
overwhelmingly to keep Judge Steve
Grasty, who earlier this year denied
Ammon Bundy and other members of
the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
occupation from meeting at a county
fairgrounds building.
A prospective petition to recall
Britton was fi led March 28. It accuses
him of failing to represent constitu-
ents on road and access issues; refus-
ing to call for an investigation into the
handling of the 2015 Canyon Creek
wildfi res; failing to recuse himself in
decisions with agencies where he ben-
efi ted both personally and fi nancially;
and deliberately misrepresenting his
intentions of at-
tending a commu-
nity meeting Jan.
26.
Britton, now in
his fourth term as
a commissioner,
fi led his statement
justifi cation
Boyd Britton of
against the allega-
tions July 12, asking citizens to vote
against the recall.
“The reasons offered for my recall
are baseless,” he said in the statement.
“More importantly, I’ve had the priv-
ilege of living here for 20 years and
the honor of serving as your Coun-
ty Commissioner for 13 years. I’ve
worked hard to represent the entire
county...”
Julie Carr, of Dayville, was the
chief petitioner for recalling Britton.
She said she could not discuss it in
depth on Thursday, but was pleased to
see it move ahead to the ballot.
“I’m glad, because a lot of folks
were afraid to sign the petition,” Carr
said. “I’m glad enough people want to
fi nd positive change.”
Frances Preston, of Prairie City,
also volunteered to circulate the pe-
tition and gather signatures. She said
most people she talked to were excit-
ed to sign, and spur additional change
See RECALL, Page A16
Kodesh
indicted on
shooting
charges
Blue Mountain Eagle
David Robert Kodesh,
who has been indicted on
charges related to a shoot-
ing in John Day July 2, is
set to enter a plea at 1:45
p.m. Aug. 3.
Kodesh appeared in
Grant County Circuit
Court Tuesday, repre-
sented by attorney John
Lamborn, who said he
is working on a motion
to reduce his client’s
bail, which was original-
ly set at
$50,000.
K o -
desh, 21,
of Mt. Ver-
non was
indicted
by a grand
David
jury July
Kodesh
8 on one
count each
of second-degree assault,
a class B felony; unlawful
use of a weapon, a class
C felony; menacing, a
class A misdemeanor; and
second-degree disorderly
conduct, a class B misde-
meanor.
John Day Police Ser-
geant Damon Rand said
Kodesh was reported-
ly arguing with Mathew
Walker, 32, of John Day
on the evening of July 2
in the alleyway behind
Chester’s Thriftway in
John Day when the shoot-
ing happened.
Rand and other offi-
cers responded at about
7:30 p.m.
Walker was treated
and released from Blue
Mountain Hospital for a
gunshot wound to the up-
per arm.
Kodesh was arrested in
Prairie City the afternoon
of July 3 and is being held
in the Grant County Jail
in Canyon City.
In a separate case,
Walker was arrested in
John Day the afternoon
of July 3 for a parole vi-
olation and possession of
methamphetamine. He is
in jail for the parole vio-
lation.
Officer Mike Durr of
the John Day Police De-
partment said the gun be-
lieved to have been used
in the shooting was re-
covered from a John Day
residence the afternoon of
July 7.
O N THE T OWN : G RANITE
Fremont Powerhouse, Olive Lake are nearby attractions
By Cheryl Hoefl er
Blue Mountain Eagle
In the far northeastern corner of Grant
County, nestled high in the Blue Mountains,
is the charming community of Granite.
With a population of only 38 — according
to the 2010 census — Granite is the small-
est community in the county, and the fourth
smallest incorporated town in Oregon. It’s
also the only town in the county not located
on a major highway or state route.
But it’s not difficult to reach, at least
in summer, and any trip to Granite is well
worth the venture.
Visitors to the area should be prepared for
a departure from civilization and an entrance
into the great outdoors. Stellar scenery and
just about every type of outdoor recreation
imaginable awaits in the surrounding region.
Olive Lake, 13 miles to the west, is a
Visitors to Granite should check
out the restored Historic Fremont
Powerhouse Site, built in 1908, about
five miles west of Granite.
treasure not to be missed. Camping, fishing,
boating, hiking, swimming, wildlife view-
ing, bird-watching and swimming are all
Eagle file photos
See GRANITE, Page A16
Granite may be small in size, but big when it comes
to welcoming visitors.