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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (July 13, 2016)
A16 News Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, July 13, 2016 Eagle file photos Trails, boating, fishing and camping await outdoor adventurers at Olive Lake, about 13 miles west of Granite. GRANITE Continued from Page A1 available for those seeking a daylong outdoor respite or a longer mountain vacation. A 2-mile trail encircles the crystal blue lake. RECALL Continued from Page A1 in county government after incumbent Commissioner Chris Labhart lost his bid for reelection against Prairie City Mayor Jim Hamsher in May. “I think with a change in the two new commissioners, that will bring about a big dif- ference in the way the county is run,” Preston said. But Britton, who has served nearly 14 years, said he will defend himself vigorously. In February, he voted along with Commissioner Labhart and Judge Scott Myers against funding an investigation into History buffs will also en- joy exploring the area, which was founded on the mining industry. Gold was discovered there on July 4, 1862 — a date which also gave the new town its irst name, Independence. Years later, after learning that name was taken by another town in the state, the commu- nity was christened Granite for the rocks in the area. The Historic Fremont Powerhouse, built in 1908 to provide power to local towns and gold mines, is also not to be missed. Lo- cated between Granite and Olive Lake, and recently restored by the Oregon Na- tional Guard, the property is listed on the National Reg- ister of Historic Places. The site also includes a two-story caretaker’s cabin, available for vacation rentals. About 13 miles west of Granite, Olive Lake offers cool mountain respite and adventure in the summertime. the Canyon Creek Complex, which burned more than 110,000 acres and destroyed nearly 40 homes. Five months later, Britton said he still feels that was the right decision. “We needed to move on and start healing,” he said. “It’s a tragedy, but I really felt it was in the best interest of Grant County.” The Malheur National Forest previously detailed its response to the blaze, which started as two smaller ires that merged and spread amid dry and windy weather. The Grizzly Bear Complex and Cornet-Windy Ridge ires also made big runs on the same day, Aug. 14, of last year. Britton said he did what he could in the immediate af- termath to help residents start rebuilding their homes by reaching out to agencies and streamlining regulations. “We were really able to help all those people out,” he said. The petition also claims that Britton violated a 2013 county ordinance requiring all roads, trails and byways across public lands remain open unless authorized by the county court and sheriff’s ofice. That ordinance was passed in order for the Forest Service to heed county input on road closures, Britton said. Steve Beverlin, supervi- sor on the Malheur National Forest, said he consulted with the U.S. Department of Agri- culture’s Ofice of the Gen- eral Counsel last year, which determined the ordinance is illegal and unenforceable. However, he said the forest continues to consult with the county court on all projects where access might be im- pacted. “Particularly, Commis- sioner Britton has been very willing to sit down and have those discussions,” Beverlin said. On the other hand, Bever- lin said Sheriff Glenn Palmer has never agreed to be a part of those meetings. A letter from Beverlin to Palmer on Feb. 17, 2015, shows the sheriff was previously invited to discuss emergency protocol on the forest, and attend coun- ty court sessions where for- est projects were considered. Palmer declined to discuss the issue any further when con- tacted last week. Britton said he doesn’t recall the court ever denying permission for the Forest Ser- vice to close any roads, which are done on a project-by-proj- ect basis. The third complaint in the petition argues that Britton failed to recuse himself “in decisions with agencies and individuals of which he has not only beneited personal- ly, but inancially.” Britton, who owns a welding shop in John Day, said he works on Forest Service trucks and rigs from time to time, averaging $4,200 in payments each of the last ive years — far from his largest account. Britton said he doesn’t understand how he stands to beneit by being involved in county government and re- viewing projects. “That, to me, is baseless,” he said. Finally, the petition alleges Britton misrepresented his intentions of attending a com- munity meeting Jan. 26 where Bundy and refuge occupiers were scheduled to make an ap- pearance. That was the same night oficers arrested Bundy and four others on Highway 395, and shot and killed Rob- ert “LaVoy” Finicum. Britton said he attended that meeting at the request of others in the community who were uneasy about attending themselves. Commissioner Labhart and Judge Myers also attended the meeting, during which none of them addressed the crowd. Judge Myers said he pre- pared a statement in case he was asked to speak, but other- wise isn’t sure what people ex- pected them to do. Myers said he feels the recall against Brit- ton is unfounded, and believes it will fail as Grasty’s did. Britton said he feels there are similar issues at heart be- tween the two efforts, and said he hopes Grant County resi- dents will feel the same way as Harney County. “Everything I do ... is about what’s in the best interest of the people of Grant County,” he said. In his justiication state- ment, Britton said he has par- ticipated in county successes, including tripling the timber harvest, actively managing federal lands to ensure infra- structure remains, creating Bates State Park, supporting Lake Creek Youth Camp, bringing “millions of transpor- tation dollars” to the county, keeping the county “iscally strong” and writing the Com- munity Wildire Protection Plan. For the remaining two and a half years of his term, Britton said in the statement he plans to work on expanding protection from loods on Canyon Creek, engaging the Forest Service on access issues, developing new water storage sites and protect- ing the agricultural community from outside intervention. BATES irst meeting’s agenda, and the goal is to ind a path forward maximizing the interests of all the stakeholders. Myers said multiple al- ternatives will be discussed, from removing the dam and the pond to creating a diver- sion around the pond for ish to deepening the pond and im- proving the ish ladder. “I don’t see a win-win if we have to compromise and allow the pond to be perma- nently drained,” he said. “I think we will ight that op- tion.” A variety of people, groups and agencies have been in- vited to collaborate at the meetings as stakeholders: landowners Pat Voight and Melanie Dejong; Friends of Bates State Park; conserva- tion groups, the Native Fish Society and the North Fork John Day Watershed Coun- cil; local government, Grant County Court and Grant County Soil and Water Con- servation District; tribes, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the Warm Springs Tribe; state agencies, the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Fish and Wild- life, the Parks and Recreation Department and the Water Resources Department; and federal agencies, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- ministration, the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Myers said meetings are also scheduled for Aug. 18 and Sept. 15, but he was un- sure of the times and places. While all the meetings are open to the public, only 15 minutes will be allotted at each meeting for public com- ments. Myers encouraged county residents to submit their written comments to him at the courthouse or by email, myerssw@grantcounty-or. gov, so he could provide them to the work group. Let our family of Pharmacists serve you! Give us a call today 541-676-9158 - Heppner 541-384-2801 - Condon Continued from Page A1 We welcome the opportunity to visit with you about our services! The department’s master plan for the park focuses on water quality, ish habitat, cul- tural resources, recreation and stewardship, according to the Cowboy Chapel H our KJDY, Sunday, 7 a.m. Heppner & & Condon Heppner Condon Don’t Miss “Just Do It” Whiskey Gulch Gang’s D EMOLITION D ERBY Sat., July 23, 2016 Grant County Fairgrounds Top Prize: $2000 Pre-Sale Tickets: $10 adults, $6 12 & under At The Gate: $12 adults, $8 12 & under Children under age 6 are FREE For more info call Hugh Farrell at 541-575-0329, visit www.grantcountyfairgrounds.com or email farrellhugh@yahoo.com 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