News
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
A5
Memorial weekend crash Eastern counties could see
more land use autonomy
kills two motorcyclists,
injures several others
By Rylan Boggs
Blue Mountain Eagle
‘Heartbreaking
on every side,’
says Wheeler
County sheriff
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
A Memorial Day weekend
crash killed two motorcyclists
and seriously injured several
other riders late Saturday night
on Highway 19, in an area lo-
cated just east of Fossil.
The crash happened when
a vehicle traveling north on
Highway 19 crossed into the
oncoming lane of traffic, strik-
ing a large number of motor-
cycle riders who were south-
bound, authorities said.
Killed in the crash were
Aaron Michael Polsfuss and
Donald Robert Pratt, who died
at the scene.
The driver of the vehicle,
Lisa Ann Niehaus, was arrested
and booked in jail on multiple
charges, including two counts
of criminally negligent homi-
cide, three counts of assault
in the third degree and several
misdemeanors.
Wheeler County Sheriff
Chris Humphreys, who said he
was on the scene from the start,
called it “horrific.”
“It is definitely the worst in
Wheeler County history,” he
said.
Several agencies responded
to the crash at 10:40 p.m. Satur-
day near milepost 60, including
ambulances from Spray, Fossil,
Condon and Arlington. Four
helicopters and a fixed-wing
plane transported patients from
Contributed photo/Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office
A wreck near Fossil killed two motorcyclists Saturday
evening, and injured others.
the scene and from Asher Com-
munity Health Clinic in Fossil.
Volunteer medical crews
and fire departments respond-
ed, along with Wheeler Coun-
ty Sheriff’s office and Oregon
State Police.
Highway 19 was closed for
nearly nine hours as a local
crane operator assisted in clear-
ing the wreckage.
“I’ve seen some things in
the 20 years that I’ve been do-
ing this,” Humphreys said. “It’s
heartbreaking on every side
here. I’m in contact with the
families, and it’s heartbreaking
for them.”
He said first responders,
mainly volunteers, took on a
“gargantuan effort.”
The motorcycle group,
which are self-identified as
members of the Gypsy Jokers
Motorcycle Club, were headed
to the 40th Fossil Motorcycle
Campout at Bear Hollow Park
south of Fossil. Humphreys
said they believe more than 40
motorcyclists were riding to-
gether. He added that getting a
full count was difficult.
A Grant County School
District No. 3 bus driver, who
didn’t wish to be named, said
he was traveling toward Grant
County with students on board
the night of the crash. On Sun-
day, after hearing reports, he
realized he missed the crash by
about two minutes. He said the
thought of how close they came
to having the vehicle hit them,
or possibly being in the middle
of the crash, was sobering.
In addition to the two
charges of criminally negligent
homicide, Class B felonies,
Niehaus was charged with three
counts of assault in the third de-
gree, Class C felonies, for un-
lawfully and recklessly causing
serious physical injury by ve-
hicle to Lucas Andre Mattern,
James Loren Deen and Justin
Lee Mac.
She was also charged with
assault in the fourth degree
for unlawfully and reckless-
ly causing injury to David
Frank McReynolds, Brandon
Dennis Doeden and Pamela
Rashelj “Duddles” Singer.
Additional charges includ-
ed one count of reckless driv-
ing, and three counts of reck-
lessly endangering another
person (McReynolds, Doeden
and Singer) by driving into
oncoming traffic.
Eastern Oregon counties
may have a shot at creating their
own land use laws.
Grant County Commission-
er Boyd Britton updated the
Grant County Court May 24 on
a meeting he attended in Salem
with Gov. Kate Brown, Sen.
Ted Ferrioli and representatives
from other counties in which
they discussed Senate Bill 432
that could allow Eastern Oregon
counties to write their own land
use laws.
Still in its early life, the bill
would give eastern counties
more say in land-use designa-
tions. It would allow Eastern
Oregon counties to opt out of the
state’s land use laws and estab-
lish their own, according to the
Oregon State Legislature.
The bill’s summary states it
“allows (a) rural county with no
population growth, and certain
local governments in county, to
adopt (a) comprehensive land
use plan without complying
with statewide land use planning
goals.”
Britton said different land use
laws could benefit the counties,
which have seen little growth in
recent decades. Grant County is
in better shape than others be-
cause of industrial land located
within the county, he said.
Britton expressed faith in
East Oregonians to come up
with land use laws that fit their
needs.
“I do believe the citizens of
Grant County are smart enough
that we can write our own plan
to protect our most valuable in-
dustry, which is agriculture,” he
said.
Britton said the Oregon Farm
Bureau was against it due to
fears farm land would be taken
over for housing and other uses.
During the meeting, the court
also authorized the purchase of
automated external defibrillators
for the courthouse, library and
airport. Four AEDs will be pur-
chased for $1,225 apiece from
Heartsine Samaritan.
Local resident and Red Cross
volunteer Jim Spell described
the devices as “very necessary
to have.” Commissioner Boyd
Britton expressed interest in pro-
viding training to employees on
how to use the devices.
The court also heard from
Corrections Manager Josh Wolf
of the sheriff’s department to
use funds from the jail’s expan-
sion fund to hire an auditor and
purchase a new air conditioning
unit, washer and dryer for the
jail.
Wolf had solicited bids for
each, and the court gave him per-
mission to move forward with a
$7,026 bid for an air condition-
ing unit from Tri County Equip-
ment in La Grande, a $12,566
bid from Dexter Laundry for a
washer and dryer and a $4,500
bid for an auditor from the
state.
The court also:
• approved a contract with
12X & Costa Fighting Bulls
to provide stock for the Grant
County Fair.
• approved a $207,000 liabil-
ity insurance proposal for coun-
ty vehicles and employees.
• approved a $3,400 bid from
Tri-County Equipment to repair
the fairground’s tractor.
• approved a resolution to
receive funds from Business
Oregon and pass them to Iron
Triangle for a new biomass pro-
cessing facility. A line item in
the budget was also created for
these funds.
• approved a request to re-
move a destroyed single wide
trailer from the tax roll. The
trailer, between Long Creek and
Pendleton, had been destroyed
but not removed from the tax
roll.
• approved an intergov-
ernmental agreement with the
Burns Paiute Tribal Council to
rent beds in the Grant County
Jail when needed.
• approved a $16,393 trans-
fer from the Grant County Air-
port’s contingency fund to fix
runway lights.
Sheriff’s deputy hit by ricochet
Blue Mountain Eagle
A Grant County Sheriff’s
Office corrections deputy
sustained a ricochet wound
last week.
Deputy Samuel Stin-
nett was struck in the left
side of the chest by a small
piece of bullet shrapnel that
ricocheted off a steel target
plate, according to Oregon
State Police. Stinnett was
shooting with another depu-
ty about 3 p.m. on Thursday,
May 26.
Stinnett was taken to
Blue Mountain Hospital by
the other deputy and was
treated and released with a
non life-threatening punc-
ture wound. The incident
was not found to be criminal
in nature.
way 395. Responded to a re-
port of a domestic disturbance
in Mt. Vernon.
May 25: Responded with
Oregon State Police to a re-
port of a man trying to put his
arm in a wood splitter. Re-
ceived a report of a 14-year-
old girl who did not return
home from school.
May 26: Responded to a
non-injury rollover crash on
Highway 395. Notified of a
male racing a motorcycle with
children on it.
• John Day ambulance
May 26: Responded for a
30-year-old male with a gun-
shot wound.
May 28: Responded for a
60-year-old man who was in-
volved in an ATV accident.
•Oregon Department of
Transportation
May 24: Advised of a tree
down across Highway 395.
C OPS AND C OURTS
Grant County Sheriff
The Grant County Sheriff’s
Office reported the following
for the week of May 18-24.
• Concealed handgun li-
censes: 5
• Average inmates: 14
• Bookings: 8
• Releases: 6
• Arrests:1
• Citations: 2
• Fingerprints: 3
• Civil papers: 21
• Warrants processed: 5
• Asst./welfare check: 3
• Search and Rescue: 1
Charged Madison Duvall,
19, John Day, with harassment.
Justice Court
The Grant County Justice
Court reported the following
fines and judgments:
No operator’s license: Dil-
lon Joseph Myers, 97, Mt. Ver-
non, May 2, fined $260.
Violation of the speed lim-
it: Erica Theresa Baldwin, 61,
Talent, 83/55 zone, April 6,
fined $160.
Violation of the basic
rule: Sally Deitchler, 62,
Bend, 75/55, May 14, fined
$135; Mark R. Bey, 47, Ash-
land, 78/55 zone, fined $220;
Daniel N. Zundel, 49, Rose-
burg, 78/55, May 21, fined
$220; James Gregory Low,
69, Redmond, May 7, fined
$220; Dakota S. Emerson, 19,
Monument, 71/55 zone, May
21, fined $135; Christopher
Charles Self, 36, Terrebonne,
78/55 zone, May 7, fined $220;
Garrett Lee Warner, 18, Mon-
ument, 61/45 zone, May 14,
fined $160.
Exceeding speed limit:
Trista L. Cox, 34, John Day,
77/65 zone, May 7, fined $220;
Jeremiah Johnson Jones, 33,
Albany, 85/65 zone, May 14,
fined $260.
Driving uninsured: Timo-
thy L. Keith, 34, Canyon City,
April 29, fined $260.
Driving while suspended:
Timothy L. Keith, 34, Can-
yon City, April 29, fined $435;
Chuck Wayne Adams, 47,
Prineville, March 30, fined
$435.
Driving uninsured: Chuck
Wayne Adams, 47, Prineville,
March 30, fined $260; Cory
Allen Slayton, 25, John Day,
May 1, fined $260.
Operating without proper
fenders: Cory Allen Slayton,
25, John Day, May 1, fined
$135.
Gloria Tirico v. Charles
and Shiloe Lawrence. Money
judgment awarded to Gloria
Tirico for $727.56.
Quick Collect Inc. v. Ste-
phen Cross. Money judgment
awarded to Quick Collect Inc.
for $650.50.
Ray Klein Inc. v. Valeen
M. Madden. Money judgment
awarded to Ray Klein Inc. for
$589.49.
541-620-4255
We offer service now 24/7
from Friday 6pm to Monday 6am.
05686
You never need a taxi until you need one;
put me on speed dial.
Richie Colbeth, Owner/Operator
A TTENTION G RANT
C OUNTY
V ETERANS :
Did you know a service-connected
disabled veteran is entitled to
FREE use of Oregon State Parks?
See your Grant County Veteran Services
Officer today for more information,
located at Grant County Courthouse. Jeff Wilcox
09573
Ray Klein Inc. v. Jason
S. Dole. Money judgment
awarded to Ray Klein Inc. for
$1,806.25.
Ray Klein Inc. v. Bria
Dehaven. Money judgment
awarded to Ray Klein Inc. for
$1,401.16.
Barbara Bryant v. Danet-
ta Lewis. Money judgment
awarded to Danetta Lewis for
$60.
Dispatch
John Day dispatch worked
183 calls during the week of
May 22-29. Along with the
various traffic warnings, tres-
passing, injured animals, noise
complaints and juvenile com-
plaints, these calls included:
• John Day Police Depart-
ment
May 23: Responded to a re-
port of a vehicle hitting a fire
hydrant near Ace Hardware
and driving off. Received a re-
port of a young girl screaming
for help on Charolais Heights.
Arrested a 31-year-old John
Day resident for reckless driv-
ing.
May 26: Advised of a vehi-
cle belonging to a Grant Coun-
ty resident that was found
stripped and abandoned in
Washington. Responded to a
report of an intoxicated subject
in John Day.
May 29: Responded with
the Grant County Sheriff’s Of-
fice to a report of a domestic
disturbance in John Day.
• Grant County Sheriff’s
Office
May 22: Dispatched to a
report of a suspicious subject
in Canyon City Park. Dis-
patched to a report of a suspi-
cious subject on Inland Street
in Canyon City.
May 24: Responded to
a report of a domestic dis-
turbance in Mt. Vernon. Re-
sponded with John Day Police
and Oregon State Police to a
burglary in progress on High-
WONDER WOMAN PG-13
Diana, princess of the Amazons and trained
warriors, leaves home o fight a war to end
all wars.
FRI & SAT
(12:45) (3:45) 6:45 9:40
(12:45) (3:45) 6:45 9:45
SUNDAY
MON & TUES (12:45) (4:00) 6:45
WED & THURS (12:45) (3:45) 6:45 9:40
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN:
DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES PG-13
Captain Jack Sparrow searches for the
trident of Poseidon.
FRI & SAT
(12:45)
(12:45)
SUNDAY
MON & TUES (12:45)
WED & THURS (12:45)
BAYWATCH R
(4:00)
(4:00)
(4:00)
(4:00)
7:00 9:45
7:00 9:45
7:00
7:00 9:45
Comedy. Devoted lifeguard Mitch Buchanan
and a new recruit uncover a local criminal plot
that threatens the future of the Bay.
FRI & SAT
(12:45) (4:10) 7:10 9:50
(12:45) (4:10) 7:10 9:45
SUNDAY
MON & TUES (12:45) (4:00) 7:10
WED & THURS (12:45) (4:10) 7:10 9:50
$9 Adult, $7 Senior (60+), Youth
Thank you to everyone that
attended and participated in the
Butch Goslin dinner/auction. It
was a great success and I
apologize for the names that
weren’t included on the Thank
You list. So many did so much,
and it was greatly appreciated.
My initial ad was cancelled and
replaced. It is understandable
that some donors were missed,
since the printed ad was
submitted by someone that did
not attend the organizational
meetings or the dinner/auction.
Thank you again to all those that
donated, volunteered and
attended. We appreciate your
help and support. Thanks to you,
this event was a great success.
Walt Kight
05685
Arrests and citations in
the Blue Mountain Eagle are
taken from the logs of law en-
forcement agencies. Every ef-
fort is made to report the court
disposition of arrest cases.
Baker City
2830 10th St.
541-524-0122
Every other Monday
in John Day at
Blue Mountain
Hospital
170 Ford Rd.
541-575-1311