JOURNEY SPECIAL SECTION INSIDE
The
Blue Mountain
EAGLE
Grant County’s newspaper since 1868
W EDNESDAY , J ULY 26, 2017
• N O . 30
• 16 P AGES
• $1.00
www.MyEagleNews.com
City
fi res
cashier
By Rylan Boggs
Blue Mountain Eagle
Eagle photos/Rylan Boggs
Nick Stiner, No. 321, of Mt. Vernon collides with other drivers during the first heat of the 28th annual demolition derby at the Grant County
Fairgrounds Saturday, July 22. In his first derby, Stiner went on to win first place in the main event.
MUD, SWEAT
GEARS
&
Stands packed for 28th demolition derby
Derby-goers
and drivers
stand for
the national
anthem before
the 28th annual
demolition
derby at the
Grant County
Fairgrounds
Saturday,
July 22.
By Rylan Boggs
Blue Mountain Eagle
T
he air was fi lled with mud, cheers and
the acrid smoke from dying machines at
the 28th annual demolition derby.
The event pitted 18 drivers against
each other in a vehicular gladiator match
at the Grant County Fairgrounds Saturday.
In the end, only one was left. Rookie Nick Stiner
of Mt. Vernon drove his 1974 Ford LTD to victory
in this year’s derby.
“It’s my fi rst time,” he said before the race. “I’m
just here to have fun.”
Stiner said it took about 30-40 hours to prepare
his fi rst derby car, and he had considerable help
from fellow driver Tyler Nodine. The two removed
all glass and fl ammable materials from the interi-
or, reinforced the vehicle with two metal bars and
chained the bumper and doors.
A pit crew
member
works on a
car in between
rounds at the
demolition
derby at the
Grant County
Fairgrounds.
See DERBY, Page A16
The city of John Day has
fired an employee and has
completed an investigation
into discrepancies in sewer
and water payments.
City Manager Nick Green
said Janine Weaver, who was
hired Oct. 24, 2016, as the
city secretary/cashier, was
terminated July 10. Green
said he could not com-
ment about the termination.
Weaver could not be reached
for comment.
The city
has
also
completed
an investiga-
tion that be-
gan the first
week of July
John
into sewer
Day City
and
water
Manager
payment is-
Nick Green
sues, Green
said, but he
declined to discuss the re-
sults. The city is generating
a report, he said, and plans
to submit it to Grant County
District Attorney Jim Car-
penter next week.
The city notified Carpen-
ter as soon as concerns with
the city’s accounting were
discovered, Green said.
Carpenter said he was
“peripherally aware” of an
investigation regarding a
city employee but could
not comment further. No
charges have been filed as of
Tuesday.
The investigation also
included an unrelated soft-
ware issue in which June
payments were not credited
to residents’ accounts, Green
said, and that issue has since
been resolved.
Green said, to the best of
his knowledge, all resident
account balances are cur-
rently accurate.
Residents
urged to
prepare for
total solar
eclipse
By Angel Carpenter
“
It’s pretty amazing how bad a car can get beat up and then get back in there.”
Hugh Farrell, demolition derby organizer
John Day receives $2M in state
broadband, dispatch funding
Innovation Gateway determined a priority by Oregon Solutions survey
By Rylan Boggs
Blue Mountain Eagle
State legislators approved
$2.25 million in funding for
John Day earlier this month.
John Day City Manag-
er Nick Green said $1.82
million will go toward fi ber
optic broadband service, and
$420,000 will go to help fund
the local dispatch center.
The broadband funding,
requested by Sen. Ted Ferr-
ioli, will allow for nearly 70
percent of county residents
to access high-speed inter-
net, Green said.
The local dispatch money
will allow the city to free up
roughly $100,000 allocated
to fund the dispatch center
and instead use it on commu-
nity enhancing projects, ac-
cording to John Day Mayor
Ron Lundbom.
“The 911 funds provide a
critical bridging solution to
provide us with time for the
Grant County Court to refer
See FUNDING, Page A16
The Eagle/Rylan Boggs
John Day Mayor Ron Lundbom, right, speaks to the
city council as City Manager Nick Green listens.
Blue Mountain Eagle
“Be prepared, and be pa-
tient.”
That is Grant County
Emergency Coordinator Ted
Williams’ advice for residents
as the Aug.
21 total solar
eclipse nears.
There is
still a big
question
mark
sur-
rounding the
Ted
event: How
Williams
many people
will travel to and through our
county?
Williams
speculates
50,000 may visit Grant Coun-
ty, and the state is estimating
1 million statewide.
Most motels and per-
manent campsites in Grant
County are full. Private camp-
ing spots are also popping up,
and some residents will rent
rooms in their homes.
With the surge in tourists,
See ECLIPSE, Page A16