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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (July 27, 2016)
News & Opinion Blue Mountain Eagle LETTERS Continued from Page A4 Town hall would put to rest ‘baseless’ allegations To the Editor: If the recall for County Commissioner Boyd Britton is “baseless,” why did over 500 county citizens opt for the measure? And as many again that did not sign say with a wink, “But I will vote.” The recent paid ad in the Eagle listing supporters of Britton is important by the absence of many people that do not support his bid to stay in office. The debate at a town hall meeting to which Mr. Britton has been invited to participate should provide answers for both sides of the recall issue. Questions and answers should put to rest the “baseless” allega- tions. If Mr. Britton intends to stay in office, he should explain publicly concerning any challenges. Those who support the recall will pro- vide proof for their reasons in promoting the action. A recall is part of the elective process in our re- public intended as a last resort to resolve issues with those who have taken a sworn oath to represent “we the people.” Though rife with contention, it is often necessary. Ron Ballard Mt. Vernon Valley View Drive a safety concern for pedestrians To the Editor: Valley View Drive abso- lutely needs to have white pedestrian safety lines painted on the wide sections of road. In the 11 years I’ve lived here, I’ve almost been creamed twice. Once by a little old lady from John Day who obviously couldn’t see past her headlights in the middle of the day, and the second time by a ruffian party kid who lived up top. The second time was at night, and I was walking my black dog (with his reflec- tion collar and leash). I had on a white reflective safe- ty vest and my very bright head lamp streaming five- by-five. Needless to say, the little old ladies at the rest home heard some expletives that I had forgotten about since becoming a Christian, and I didn’t think my re- deemed vocal chords were capable of de-harmonizing. If this fairly inexpen- sive and very valid safe- ty concern is swept under the carpet by the new city manager, someone is sure to be creamed up here and go immediately to heav- en or worse. The “caution children playing” sign isn’t going to cut the cream for much longer, and both their luck and the city’s will run out as the city of John Day faces a costly, very time-consuming and well-deserved lawsuit under their front doorstep wel- come mat. This fix should not cost any city worker his or her job! Right? I know, I know, raise water and sewer rates to cover the cost. The money has to come from somewhere, right? Scott Cotter John Day Sheriff Palmer above reproach To the Editor: Glenn Palmer was ap- pointed sheriff of Grant County in November of 2000. Since this time he has made the citizens of Grant County his top pri- ority. Sheriff Palmer is a man who is experienced in much more than just law enforcement, and he truly cares about not only the letter of the law, but the spirit of the law as well. Let us compare and contrast with Todd McKinley; he is opportu- nistic, and does not care about the letter, or the spirit of the law. He only cares about his own agenda, and will break the law to further his cause. I was inves- tigated by McKinley in 2007, and he violated ORS 165.540 during this inves- tigation by recording me without my knowledge or consent. Don’t you want your Sheriff to be above reproach? Speaking of reproach, incumbent Sheriff Palmer is currently under inves- tigation by the Depart- ment of Justice for his alleged ties to the Citi- zens for Constitutional Freedom group that oc- cupied Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Harney County earlier this year. While this is unfortunate, I believe that justice will prevail in this case. Sher- iff Palmer did nothing wrong. This is just being used by the people who have always been against him; I know how propa- ganda works! McKinley didn’t waste any time in attempting to further his cause. As soon as this story broke, he was issuing statements insinu- ating that Sheriff Palmer has never cared about the law and has only cared about his own agenda! Sorry, but the record is against McKinley. Fur- thermore, the burden of proof is on the accuser, not the accused! Not to mention that I find it odd that one county official is allowed to comment on the alleged misdeeds of another county official, but we won’t get into that. Sheriff Glenn Palmer has been a duly-elected Sheriff for four terms; un- less I’ve overestimated the intelligence of the citizens of Grant County, he’s going to have a fifth term as well! I support Glenn Palmer! James Tibbets Pendleton Wednesday, July 27, 2016 A5 John Day man dies after falling from cliff Blue Mountain Eagle A 59-year-old John Day man died after falling from a cliff in Murderer’s Creek Sun- day. Donald Earl Elliott and friends were riding all terrain vehicles and stopped to look at a rock formation about 2 miles northwest of the Mur- derer’s Creek Guard Station, according to a press release from Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer. “Elliott walked out onto the rock formation and lost his balance and fell nearly 50 feet to the ground,” he said in the release. “One of the persons in the group made it around and down off the cliff for- mation and got to Elliott and determined that the fall had killed Elliott.” Members of the Grant County Sheriff’s Ofice Search and Rescue team, Ore- gon State Police, Blue Moun- tain Hospital ambulance and several people in the area helped extricate and pack El- liott to an awaiting vehicle. Crews respond to ire near Magone Lake Blue Mountain Eagle Multiple engines from the Malheur National Forest and Oregon Department of For- estry, along with air resourc- es, responded to a reported wildfire on Sunday after- noon approximately 3 miles west-northwest of Magone Lake, near Thompson Creek, according to a Forest Service press release. The fire was reported to be 2 acres in size and be- lieved to be a holdover fire caused by lightning that passed over the area last week. As of Monday afternoon, the fire was contained, and crews were in the process of mopping up (extinguish- ing or removing burning material near control lines). Ground crew efforts were assisted by helicopter bucket work (the dropping of wa- ter from specially designed buckets slung below a heli- copter). Dry and hot weather con- ditions will prevail through the week, with high tempera- tures forecast in the mid-90s. Use caution while outside working or recreating. To report a wildfire, call John Day Interagency Dis- patch Center, 541-575-1321, or Burns Interagency Dis- patch Center, 541-573-1000. C OPS & C OURTS 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. Circuit Court CANYON CITY — The Grant County Circuit Court reported the following fines and judgments: • Fritz Michael Voigt pleaded guilty July 21 to one count of possession of methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 18 months su- pervised probation and 80 hours of community ser- vice. He was fined $600. The offense date was Dec. 24, 2015. Grant County Sheriff CANYON CITY — The Grant County Sheriff’s Ofice reported the following for the week of July 15-21: Concealed handgun li- censes, 3; average inmates, 10; bookings, 8; releases, 11; ingerprints, 5; civil papers, 9; warrants processed, 3; Asst./ welfare check, 5. Justice Court CANYON CITY — The Grant County Justice Court reported the following fines and judgments: • Open container of al- cohol: David Harig, 28, Prairie City, July 8, fined $220. • Minor in possession: Camden Rhinehart, 18, John Day, June 18, fined $260, one year Oregon driver’s li- cense suspension (minimum 90 days). • Dog as a public nui- sance: Abigail Teel, 26, Prairie City, June 28, fined $260, will be dis- missed with six-month diversion, if no further convictions. • Exceeding speed lim- it: Dakota Andrew Clark, 20, Portland, June 20, fined $260. • Violation of basic rule: Bonell May Barber, 44, La Pine, 75/55, June 8, ined $160. • No operator’s license: Joshua Wayne Haskins, 32, Prairie City, June 13, ined $260. WWW.MYEAGLENEWS.COM W E S UPPORT G RANT C OUNTY V OTE NO ON R ECALL Kristin Long Bill Long Kelsey Long Darla Long Shelby Long Kip Mortimore Nancy Viggers Mike Springer Jason Hatfield Bob Bagett Sarah Russ Matthew Goodwin Janine Goodwin Rick Minster Pam Minster Jim Spell Beth Spell Truman (Andy) Anderson Carla Anderson Jennifer Carter Mat Carter Lynn Larssen Ken Larssen Mary Rowell Vic Pike Zola Pike Mark Cerny Adele Cerny Jan Keil Jennifer Barker Lance Barker Kris Beal Roy Beal Jerry Barrow Elaine Mezzo Sheilah Mezzo Kathryn Latham Amy Charette Kyle Cline King Williams Barbara Williams Linda Gingrich Oran Wyatt Lindsay Rausch Susan Church Tom Winters Brad Armstrong Mary Armstrong Mytchell Mead Jan Mead Tim Unterwegner Tracie Unterwegner Chris Labhart Kris Labhart Dave Hannibal Ken Holliday Pat Holliday Eva Harris Sharon Livingston Sophie Cosgrove Mike Cosgrove Bubba Lindley Tom Sutton Dan Becker Joe Clarke John Aasness Diane Aasness Dean Nodine Joyce Nodine Dan Cronin Chris Cronin Jerry Cowger Bruce Strange Larry Vote Leon Skiles Clarence O’Leary Sheila M Bruce Leslie Stillwater Jim Soupir Lana N Abarr David M Abarr Danielle Page Matt Jones Charlene Morris Micah Wilson Bruce Ward Mark Crissman Barbara L Clarke Dennis Reynolds Julie Reynolds Dillon Winters Gail Enright P.L. Gerstner Shirley Enright Bob Phillips Alysia Hafer Sherri Webb Mark Webb Vicki Waters Helen Bogart Kay Scheurer Steele Terry Steele Silver Kelley Richard Randleas Vicki Thompson Richard Thompson Chris Lewallen Dave Lewallen Carolyn Hoeffner Dr. James Johnson Jim Hammett Patti Hammet Chris Kennedy Tonya Wood Terry L. Whitten Sregon Gabriel Greg Moon Robert Warrington Justin Lafata Isaiah Bradford Travis Goddard Kevin Duvall Derek Magnan Robert Larkin Alicia Whitten Ernie Smith Brett Reed Kelly Ashmead Claude Baker Bobetta Baker Judy Schuette Steve Schuette Molly Finley Larry Finley Amy Hoppe Sherry Nehl Ryan Nehl Zach Williams Gail Beverlin Brenda Lovell Doug Lovell Billi Newman Gregg Smith Jeff Thomas Heather Rookstool Sean Kelley Jeanne Strange Tim Holly Carole Holly Chris Bravos Shannon Bravos Join us in supporting our County Commissioner Boyd Britton by voting NO on RECALL! Paid for by Vote No on Boyd Britton Recall, PO Box 64, John Day, OR 97845 • (541) 575-0435 Lynn Larssen, Treasurer