LETTERS
Continued from Page A4
Is it education or
indoctrination
To the Editor:
The pretense for the meet-
ing that didn’t happen on Jan.
26 of last year was to “edu-
cate” Grant County residents
about the Constitution. But
what does education look
like? What does indoctrina-
tion look like? Do you know
when you are subjected to
one or the other? Do you
know when you are behaving
like an educator or an indoc-
trinator?
Indoctrinators are one-sid-
ed. Their truth is the only
truth. The opposition is be-
lieved to be totally wrong,
misguided, not yet awake,
“tools” who are easily manip-
ulated. In the midst of a fight,
God is their personal intelli-
gence officer directing every
move. They use symbols to
appeal to the emotions, and
“experts” to convince with
authority. They focus on all
the ways the opposition is
failing to address problems,
but they never suggest that
their solutions to problems
may need to be tested or scru-
tinized. They criticize. Indoc-
trinators don’t ask questions,
because they have all the
answers. They dismiss those
who have questions of them,
accounting to no one.
Educators are inclusive.
They look at things from
many points of view. Opposi-
tion is fairly considered: “Put
yourself in the other guy’s
shoes.” Educators point out
the differences and subtleties
of opinions, bringing to the
discussion a wide range of
viewpoints. They speak up
when they disagree and give
their reasons why. They are
curious, and ask questions
challenging their own biases
as readily as they do the bi-
ases of others. Why do that?
Because truth is all import-
ant, and they recognize that
no one has a total corner on
truth. Educators speak the
language of liberty. They are
accountable and respond to
those who entrust them with
power. They pray for wisdom
and guidance, but do not ar-
rogantly assume divine ap-
proval.
Indoctrinators or educa-
tors? Grant County neigh-
bors, listen carefully and
think carefully about their
differences. To those bring-
ing their mission to our
county, don’t tell me about
your ideology, tell me your
problem-solving ideas and be
willing to listen to those you
oppose.
True educators, true pa-
triots, work cooperatively to
improve our government —
not destroy it.
Kay Scheurer Steele
Ritter
Clean hydrogen
energy could be
revolutionary
To the Editor:
For all our differences,
“working people” from both
sides of the aisle just want to
see things change for the bet-
ter for everyone. To that end,
I’d like to make a suggestion.
Water is made up of hy-
drogen (H) and oxygen (O),
which both burn. Water
(H2O) would make an excel-
lent “clean” fuel for autos and
heat if it didn’t take as much
energy to separate the two (H
and O) as you get in return. A
Dec. 27, 2016, broadcast of
the PBS News Hour showed a
device built by a Greek physi-
cist that uses frequency to sep-
arate water without expending
much energy. He withheld
that knowledge in hopes of
patenting it to secure it for
the world. The problem is that
free energy would bankrupt
the oil industry along with
the big banks that lent them
money for exploration and
development; which would
cost retirement accounts and
pensions to be lost along
with the fortunes of some of
the world’s oligarchs; and
the American (petro) dollar
would likely plummet in val-
ue. On the other hand, energy
would become plentiful and
nearly free as well as incred-
ibly clean and safe from the
cyber threat of “the grid.” It
would de-fund Putin and Iran
as well. I would have our new
president make that deal for
the sake of the children, put
his “trillion dollar infrastruc-
ture spending” toward giving
free water-driven energy units
to all American families, and
rather than save the banks
again, have government once
again take over the printing
of our currency like Andrew
Jackson did and make that
currency available to small
banks and credit unions at
0 percent interest, allowing
those banks to shift to mak-
ing their money by servicing
loans, checks, etc., rather than
from interest. What would
you choose? If this physi-
cist is a hoax, there is always
“Money For Noth’in and Your
Hydrogen Free” on YouTube.
As for the validity of interest
free banking, check out Bill
Still’s “The Money Masters”
on Google Video and Exodus
22:25 from the Holy Bible.
Russ Denton
Prairie City
C OPS & C OURTS
Arrests and citations in the
Blue Mountain Eagle are taken
from the logs of law enforce-
ment agencies. Every effort is
made to report the court dispo-
sition of arrest cases.
Circuit Court
CANYON CITY — The
Grant County Circuit Court re-
ported the following fines and
judgments:
• Brett Anson Nelson, 54,
was convicted of menacing,
driving under the influence of
intoxicants, third-degree crim-
inal mischief and second-de-
gree disorderly conduct and
sentenced to 18 months proba-
tion, one year driver’s license
suspension and 80 hours of
community service, and fined
$1,255.00.
Grant County Sheriff
CANYON CITY — The
Grant County Sheriff’s Office
reported the following for the
week of Jan. 12-18:
• Concealed handgun li-
censes: 8
• Average inmates: 7
• Bookings: 3
• Releases: 8
• Citations: 2
• Fingerprints: 3
• Civil papers: 15
• Warrants processed: 2
• Asst./welfare check: 3
• David Darling, 42, Can-
yon City, was cited for de-
fective lighting and failure to
renew.
• Two juvenile females
were charged with second-de-
gree theft and second-degree
criminal mischief.
Justice Court
CANYON CITY — The
Grant County Justice Court re-
ported the following fines and
judgments:
• Driving uninsured: Jose
Fabian Huerta-Lopez, 33,
Prairie City, Jan. 4, fined $260.
• Driving while suspended:
Jose Fabian Huerta-Lopez, 33,
Prairie City, Jan. 4, fined $435.
• Exceeding the speed limit:
Michael Lynn Balls, 56, Wal-
la Walla, Washington, 78/65
zone, Jan. 8, fined $260.
Dispatch
John Day dispatch worked
136 calls during the week of
Jan. 16-22. Along with the
various traffic warnings, tres-
passing, injured animals, noise
complaints and juvenile com-
plaints, these calls included:
• John Day Police
Jan. 17: Responded to a re-
port of a subject harassing and
threatening people in a busi-
ness.
Jan. 18: Responded to a re-
port of a suspicious subject in
Prairie City. Received a report
of a restraining order violation.
Jan. 19: Responded to a semi-
truck stuck in the snow on
Main Street in John Day.
Jan. 20: Made contact with
the owner of a dog that charged
a vehicle in traffic and a pedes-
trian. Arrested a 27-year-old
man on sexual abuse charges.
John Day man charged
with 14 sex crimes
By Rylan Boggs
Blue Mountain Eagle
A 27-year-old John Day
Man was arrested for numer-
ous sexual abuse charges on
Friday.
Kevin Andrew Brown
was charged with two counts
of first-degree online sexual
corruption of a child younger
than 16, two counts of third
degree-sexual abuse, two
counts of sexual misconduct,
two counts of contributing
to the sexual delinquency of
a minor, two counts of sec-
ond-degree online sexual cor-
ruption of a child, two counts
of third-degree rape and two
counts of third-degree sodomy,
according to court records. The
charges include eight felonies
and six misdemeanors.
The incidents occurred be-
tween March and December,
according to Grant County
Deputy District Attorney Mara
Houck
He was released Monday
after being issued an order to
not contact the victim and not
to have con-
tact with any
females
un-
der 18 without
third-party adult
supervision.
“The court
Kevin
and state didn’t
Brown
feel he was a
danger to the
public or the victim at this
time,” Houck said.
Brown was denied a public
defender after it was deemed
he was financially able to pay
for his own attorney. He will
next appear in court for a status
check on Feb. 15, Houck said.
LA LA LAND PG-13
Nominated for 14 Oscars, including Best
Picture. A jazz pianist falls for an aspiring
actress in Los Angeles.
FRI - SUN
(12:45) (4:10) 7:10 9:45
MON-THURS (12:45) (4:00) 7:10 9:35
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA R
Nominated for 6 Oscars, including Best
Picture. An uncle is asked to take care of his
teenage nephew after the boy’s father dies.
FRI - SUN
(12:45) (4:00) 7:00 9:35
MON-THURS (12:45) (4:00) 7:00 9:35
HIDDEN FIGURES PG
Nominated for 3 Oscars, including Best
Picture. A team of African-American women
provide NASA with important mathematical
data needed to launch the program’s first
successful space missions.
FRI - SUN
(12:45) (4:20) 7:20 9:40
MON-THURS (12:45) (4:00) 7:20 9:35
$9 Adult, $7 Senior (60+), Youth
05185
Kevin Brown
released after
being deemed
not a threat
Jan. 21: Advised of dogs at
large in John Day. Advised of
dogs running loose and chasing
deer in Prairie City.
• Grant County Sheriff
Jan. 17: Responded to a re-
port of a dog running at large in
Canyon City.
Jan. 18: Responded with
Oregon State Police to a report
of a bus that slid off Highway
395 South. Received a report
of a restraining order violation.
Received a report of a pickup
and trailer that slid off Highway
395 South.
Jan. 21: Arrested a 19-year-
old Canyon City man for DUII.
Responded to a report of an
intoxicated subject causing a
disturbance at the Canyon City
Community Center.
Jan. 22: Responded to a re-
port of an unattended death.
• John Day ambulance
Jan. 19: Responded for a
95-year-old female. Responded
to Canyon City for a man who
had fallen on the ice.
Jan. 20: Responded to a re-
port of a 13-year-old male with
a broken ankle at Grant Union
High School.
Jan. 22: Responded with
OSP and JDPD to a report of a
rollover accident on Highway
26 near the golf course.
• Oregon Department of
Transportation
Jan. 20: Received a report
of a rock-slide on Highway 26
near milepost 125.
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
A5
G RANT C OUNTY C OURT
County discusses
flood prevention
Opening
entertainer
for county fair
selected
By Rylan Boggs
Blue Mountain Eagle
Grant County is prepar-
ing to take measures to safe-
guard investments in Can-
yon City from flooding.
Strategy discussed during
a Jan. 18 Grant County Court
meeting included removing
or replacing bridges over
Canyon Creek and buying
a lot to build a flood barrier
between the creek and Grant
Union High School, as well
as where and when to deploy
sandbags already owned by
the county. The main area
of concern discussed by the
court was a bend in the creek
just below the Inland Drive
bridge. Commissioners said
a spike in temperatures or
a dam created by ice or de-
bris could easily overfill the
creek bed, flooding school
district property.
“There’s no doubt and
everybody agrees that at
some point Canyon Creek
is going to cause us grief,”
Grant County Commission-
er Boyd Britton said.
The court discussed hir-
ing engineer Doug Ferguson
again for flood prevention
efforts, but no action was
taken as a contract was not
ready to be signed.
The court also:
• approved a request from
Mindy Winegar to add eight
hours a week of pay for a
fairgrounds employee to
work on projects during the
winter months.
• approved a request
from Emergency Manage-
ment Coordinator Ted Wil-
The Eagle/Rylan Boggs
Grant County
Commissioner Boyd
Britton listens to
feedback from the public
during a Jan. 18 county
court meeting.
liams to purchase wood for
public information boards.
Prior to the approval, Grant
County Judge Scott Myers
explained any request over
$100 dollars and not in the
yearly budget would have to
be approved by the county
court. He expressed interest
in raising the dollar amount
closer to $300.
• approved country art-
ist Melissa Mickleson as an
opening act for Ned LeDoux
during the Grant County
Fair in August.
At the previous meeting,
the court awarded a three-
year Firewise contract to
Irene Jerome, who also held
the previous contract for the
federally funded program
that helps communities pro-
tect properties against fire.
WANTED
541-575-2710
On
On July
July 26,
26, 2001
2001 the
the Grant
Grant County
County elections
elections office
office received
received a a ballot
ballot title
title for
for a a prospective
prospective County
County measure.
measure. The
The
ballot
title
submitted
establishes
the
Grant
County
Public
Forest
Commission.
The
Grant
County
Public
Forest
ballot title submitted establishes the Grant County Public Forest Commission. The Grant County Public Forest
Commission
Commission was
was enacted
enacted by
by A
A County
County Wide
Wide Initiative
Initiative Measure
Measure 12-39
12-39 that
that passed
passed with
with over
over 70%
70% in
in favor
favor on
on
November
5
of
2002.
On
December
2,
2002
the
initiative
was
forwarded
to
the
Secretary
of
State
Bill
November 5 of 2002. On December 2, 2002 the initiative was forwarded to the Secretary of State Bill Bradbury
Bradbury
whom
whom found
found no
no fault
fault with
with the
the ordinance
ordinance except
except the
the fact
fact that
that elected
elected officials
officials could
could not
not be
be appointed
appointed by
by town
town hall
hall
meetings
but
must
follow
State
election
law.
Constitutional
issues
were
not
an
issue
at
that
time.
The
primary
meetings but must follow State election law. Constitutional issues were not an issue at that time. The primary and
and
general
general election
election of
of 2004
2004 fulfilled
fulfilled that
that requirement.
requirement.
Since
2004
till
present
the
Public
Forest
Since 2004 till present the Public Forest Commission
Commission has
has been
been used
used by
by the
the citizens
citizens of
of Grant
Grant County
County and
and the
the County
County
Court
Court as
as an
an elected
elected representative
representative body
body for
for local
local representation
representation on
on Forest
Forest and
and access
access issues
issues on
on our
our public
public lands.
lands. The
The
commission
commission is
is currently
currently active
active with
with 7 7 members
members and
and two
two alternates.
alternates. The
The commission
commission was
was charged
charged to
to correct
correct the
the
mismanagement
mismanagement of
of our
our natural
natural resources
resources by
by the
the Federal
Federal Government
Government through
through their
their lack
lack of
of Fire
Fire Suppression
Suppression and
and wide
wide
spread
road
closures.
When
enacted
there
was
over
300
square
miles
of
our
forest
lands
that
had
been
burnt
spread road closures. When enacted there was over 300 square miles of our forest lands that had been burnt and
and the
the
roads
roads accessing
accessing those
those lands
lands were
were be
be illegally
illegally closed.
closed.
Intent:
Intent: Establishes
Establishes a a seven
seven member
member Grant
Grant County
County Public
Public Forest
Forest Commission
Commission to
to be
be elected
elected by
by the
the citizens
citizens of
of Grant
Grant
County.
The
commission
would
be
charged
with
the
responsibility
of
managing
all
public
lands
and
natural
County. The commission would be charged with the responsibility of managing all public lands and natural resources
resources
within
within Grant
Grant County.
County. Authorizes
Authorizes Commission
Commission to
to divide
divide public
public lands
lands into
into Ranger
Ranger Districts
Districts and
and to
to hire
hire Forest
Forest
Administrator
and
District
Rangers.
Provides
for
distribution
of
revenues
derived
from
activities
on
Administrator and District Rangers. Provides for distribution of revenues derived from activities on land
land under
under
Commissions
Commissions management
management and
and create
create Forest
Forest Capital
Capital Fund.
Fund. Allows
Allows Commission
Commission to
to purchase,sell,or
purchase,sell,or trade
trade public
public lands
lands
with
with approval
approval of
of majority
majority of
of Grant
Grant County
County voters.
voters. Sets
Sets forth
forth expectations
expectations that
that federal
federal funds
funds currently
currently being
being used
used for
for
fire
fire suppression
suppression in
in Grant
Grant County
County shall
shall be
be available
available to
to the
the Commission
Commission for
for the
the next
next 10
10 years
years and
and that,
that, after
after that
that time,
time,
Grant
Grant County
County citizens
citizens will
will rely
rely solely
solely on
on revenues
revenues generated
generated by
by management
management of
of public
public lands
lands and
and resources
resources in
in Grant
Grant
County
and
on
the
Forest
Capital
Fund.
Provides
for
the
election
of
Commission
members.
County and on the Forest Capital Fund. Provides for the election of Commission members.
In
In March
March of
of 2016
2016 an
an Amended
Amended Petition
Petition was
was filed
filed by
by Mark
Mark Webb
Webb the
the executive
executive Director
Director of
of Blue
Blue Mountain
Mountain Forest
Forest
Partners
a
SOlC
3
tax
free
entity
challenging
the
legality
of
the
commission.
The
BMFP
is
the
local
Partners a SOlC 3 tax free entity challenging the legality of the commission. The BMFP is the local collaborative
collaborative that
that
meets
meets with
with the
the USFS
USFS on
on the
the various
various projects
projects throughout
throughout the
the Forest.
Forest. This
This so
so called
called group
group of
of partners
partners and
and stakeholders
stakeholders
are
are all
all connected
connected both
both by
by the
the collaborative
collaborative and
and the
the money
money trail
trail amongst
amongst its
its members.
members. The
The BMFP
BMFP uses
uses collaboration
collaboration
instead
of
coordination
which
is
required
under
the
Federal
Lands
Management
Act
of
1976.
instead of coordination which is required under the Federal Lands Management Act of 1976.
In
In November
November of
of 2016
2016 Judge
Judge Cramer
Cramer issued
issued his
his nullification
nullification order.
order. It
It should
should be
be noted
noted that
that at
at no
no time
time was
was any
any member
member
of
the
County
Public
Forest
Commission
notified
by
any
means
of
these
proceedings
and
further
more
have
of the County Public Forest Commission notified by any means of these proceedings and further more have not
not been
been
notified
notified to
to this
this date.
date.
In
In the
the May
May primary
primary election
election five
five members
members of
of the
the BMFP
BMFP ran
ran for
for positions
positions on
on the
the Forest
Forest Commission
Commission Ballot.
Ballot. Mark
Mark
Webb,
Dave
Hannibal,
King
Williams,
Larry
Blasing
and
Russ
Young
were
all
soundly
defeated
and
shortly
Webb, Dave Hannibal, King Williams, Larry Blasing and Russ Young were all soundly defeated and shortly thereafter
thereafter
they
they pushed
pushed for
for nullification
nullification
History
Lesson.
History Lesson.
Mark
Mark Webb:
Webb: Ex
Ex County
County Judge(head
Judge(head of
of board
board of
of commissioners).
commissioners). Executive
Executive Director
Director of
of BMFP
BMFP the
the local
local collaborative
collaborative at
at
a a Salary
of
$50,000
source
of
funding
is
suspect.
Contractor
for
the
Forest
Service
on
stewardship
projects
Salary of $50,000 source of funding is suspect. Contractor for the Forest Service on stewardship projects and
and
firefighting.
firefighting.
King
King Williams:
Williams: Ex
Ex Forest
Forest Commission
Commission member
member received
received a a vote
vote of
of no
no confidence
confidence and
and was
was defeated
defeated in
in the
the May
May primary.
primary.
Financial
consultant
for
Iron
Triangle
the
sole
recipient
of
the
stewardship
contract
from
the
USFS.
Principal
Financial consultant for Iron Triangle the sole recipient of the stewardship contract from the USFS. Principal in
in King
King
Inc.
Inc. a a firefighting
firefighting contractor
contractor and
and member
member of
of the
the OPS
OPS committee
committee of
of the
the BMFP.
BMFP.
Dave
Dave Hannibal:
Hannibal: Member
Member of
of BMFP
BMFP OPS
OPS committee
committee and
and principal
principal in
in Gray
Gray Back
Back Forestry
Forestry the
the local
local contractor
contractor for
for
stewardship
and
firefighting
contracts
with
the
USFS.
stewardship and firefighting contracts with the USFS.
Russ
Russ Young:
Young: Owner
Owner of
of Iron
Iron Triangle
Triangle Logging
Logging and
and member
member of
of BMFP
BMFP the
the local
local collaborative.
collaborative. He
He also
also received
received the
the
stewardship
sole
contract
for
all
logging.
Also
has
firefighting
equipment
contracts
with
the
USFS.
stewardship sole contract for all logging. Also has firefighting equipment contracts with the USFS.
Larry
Larry Basing:
Basing: Defeated
Defeated in
in May
May primary.
primary.
Interesting
Facts:
Interesting Facts:
The
The Grant
Grant County
County Court
Court paid
paid their
their attorney
attorney over
over $7500
$7500 and
and claimed
claimed to
to know
know nothing
nothing of
of what
what they
they were
were paying
paying him
him
for!!!!!!
To
defend
the
Public
Forest
Commission
in
this
action.
for!!!!!! To defend the Public Forest Commission in this action.
Public
Public Forestry
Forestry Commission
Commission had
had no
no budget
budget authority
authority and
and thence
thence was
was not
not under
under County
County rule.
rule. The
The only
only way
way we
we could
could
have
have been
been nullified
nullified was
was by
by the
the referendum
referendum process.
process.
Constructive
Constructive notice
notice was
was filed
filed to
to the
the County
County for
for appeal
appeal of
of which
which they
they ignored.
ignored.
Since
2004
an
additional
400
square
miles
of
Grant
County’s
public
lands
Since 2004 an additional 400 square miles of Grant County’s public lands have
have burn’t.
burn’t.
To
this
Date
no
member
of
the
Public
Forest
Commission
has
been
served
any
notice
To this Date no member of the Public Forest Commission has been served any notice and
and we
we continue
continue to
to meet
meet twice
twice
monthly.
monthly.
Paid
Paid for
for by
by Guy
Guy Sproul
Sproul
05183
News
Blue Mountain Eagle