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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 2017)
News Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, February 15, 2017 A5 G RANT C OUNTY C OURT Failing radio facility needs replacement Residents protest road closures By Rylan Boggs Blue Mountain Eagle County radio equipment is in jeopardy because of a fail- ing facility. Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer presented a re- quest during a Feb. 8 Grant County Court meeting to re- place a facility housing radio equipment on Ritter Butte. He said the building has signifi- cant structural issues that were exposing radio gear to the el- ements and allowing pack rats to get in. The court gave him approval to look into alternate sites or to build a new housing facility. Palmer also requested an additional $8,000-10,000 for a new department vehicle. The court told him to continue The Eagle/Rylan Boggs Grant County Commissioner Boyd Britton listens to feedback from the public during a county court meeting. searching for a suitable vehi- cle while they acquired the necessary funds. Palmer also submitted a Title III reimbursement re- quest for search and rescue expenses incurred. Palmer stated search and rescue is performing more operations than they have in past years. In other county news, Grant County Economic Director Sally Bartlett’s re- quest to the court for a part- The Eagle/Rylan Boggs Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer speaks to the court during a Grant County Court Meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 8. time employee to help with research for projects was granted. Commissioner Boyd Britton commended her ser- vice to the county and wished her luck finding an additional staffer. Justice of the Peace Kathy Stinnet’s request to the court to expand clerk Jamie McK- ay’s hours from 30 to 40 was approved. Stinnet said McKay is an integral part of the justice court’s oper- ations and that case loads are becoming increasingly demanding. Grant County resident Steve Parsons expressed displeasure at road closures related to the Magone Lake Project. He asserted the For- est Service was eliminating access public lands for senior citizens like himself. Malheur National Forest Supervisor Steve Beverlin thanked him for voicing his concerns and assured him they had been heard. Commissioner Boyd Brit- ton presented the court with his plan to pursue a natural re- source consultant to aid with the county’s natural resource plan. In this year’s budget, $50,000 was set aside for this purpose. Britton said, while the court was capable, they were sometimes not equipped with the expertise to deal with large regulatory agencies like United States Fish and Wild- life Service. The court also: • approved the district at- torney’s request to send an employee to St. Louis for training in a new software program. • discussed adding an ad- ditional fire exit to the second floor of the courthouse. • approved the purchase of new computer towers for the county clerk and assessor • approved former com- missioner Chris Labhart’s continued service on the Lo- cal Community Advisory Council. 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 report the court disposition of arrest cases. Circuit Court CANYON CITY — The Grant County Circuit Court reported the following fines and judgments: • Jamie Alan Zimmerlee was found convicted of felon in posses- sion of a firearm and sentenced to 18 months probation and five days in jail, and fined $350. • Nicky Joe Ballou was convicted of felon in possession of a restricted weapon and sentenced to 18 months probation and 30 days in jail, and fined $200. • David Edwin Hall was convict- ed of driving uninsured and fined $260. • Jeremiah Obadaai Gwalthney was convicted of driving uninsured and driving under the influence of intoxicants and sentenced to one year driver’s license suspension, 18 months probation and 48 hours in jail, and fined $1,515. • Attoway Davis was convict- ed of driving under the influence of intoxicants and sentenced to one year suspended driver’s license and 18 months probation, and fined $1,255. • Ernest Andrew Chavira was convicted of refusal to test for intox- icants and fined $500. Grant County Sheriff CANYON CITY — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office reported the following for the week of Feb. 2-8: • Concealed handgun licenses: 2 • Average inmates: 3 • Bookings: 12 • Releases: 5 • Citations: 1 • Fingerprints: 3 • Civil papers: 8 • Warrants processed: 4 • Asst./welfare check: 3 • Karen Broemeling, 60, cited for dog as a nuisance. Justice Court CANYON CITY — The Grant County Justice Court reported the following fines and judgments: • Exceeding speed limit: Stevie Lynn Porter, 33, Prairie City, 74/65 zone, Jan. 25, fined $160. • Careless driving accident: Tyler Duane Dehiya, 23, Terrebonne, Jan. 3, fined $370. • Driving uninsured: Tyler Duane Dehiya, 23, Terrebonne, Jan. 3, fined $260. • Driving while suspended: Rob- in Renae Elliott, 54, Mt. Vernon, Jan. 17, fined $370. • Semi trailer exceeding 53 feet: Kevin Ray Bailey, Stanfield, Jan. 25, fined $95. • Violation of the basic rule: Col- by Trent Bradford, 26, Unity, 74/55 zone, Jan. 24, fined $135. • No operator’s license: Jim Ed- ward Koitzsch, 58, John Day, Jan. 19, fined $260. • Take possession of a buck deer: Richard E. Valade, Dayville, 12 months probation, 20 hours com- munity service, hunting privileges suspended for three years and fined $1,125. Dispatch John Day dispatch worked 138 calls during the week of Feb. 6-12. Along with the various traffic warn- ings, trespassing, injured animals, noise complaints and juvenile com- plaints, these calls included: • John Day Police Department Feb. 8: Received a report from a caller that her phone had been stolen at Chester’s Thriftway. Feb. 9: Dispatched to a report of kids playing in the creek. Ar- rested a 26-year-old on a probation violation. Feb. 10: Arrested a 28-year-old John Day resident on a Grant Coun- ty warrant. Feb. 12: Seized marijuana and narcotics at Grant Union High School. • Grant County Sheriff’s Office Feb. 6: Responded with Oregon State Police to a strong chemical smell on Ingle Street in Mt. Vernon. Feb. 8: Responded to a report of a restraining order violation. Received a report of a possible burglary at a Canyon City residence. Feb. 9: Advised along with OSP, emergency manager and Oregon Department of Transportation of wa- ter on Highway 395 at milepost 5. Emergency manager dispatched to a report of a house flooding; the coun- ty road department assisted with sandbags. • John Day ambulance Feb. 8: Responded to an 80-year- old with extreme pain. 130 S. Canyon Blvd. John Day 541-575-0544 05099
