News
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
A5
Local electric rates go up after BPA increase
Blue Mountain Eagle
Local electricity costs will
soon be increasing.
On July 26, the Bonne-
ville Power Administration
adopted a 5.4 percent average
wholesale power rate increase
and an average transmission
rate decrease of 0.7 percent
for the cost of power it pro-
vides to its nonprofi t electric
utilities in the Northwest, in-
cluding Oregon Trail Electric
Cooperative, according to
an OTEC press release. BPA
will apply this rate increase
to OTEC’s wholesale power
Objection
period set
on Camp
Lick
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Camp Lick planning
area on the Blue Mountain
Ranger District of the Mal-
heur National Forest entered
the 45-day objection fi ling
period for the draft decision
notice and fi nding of no
signifi cant impact Aug. 23.
Individuals and entities who
have previously submitted
specifi c written comments
regarding the proposed
project during the 30-day
scoping period or comment
period on the preliminary en-
vironmental assessment may
submit an objection.
The draft includes silvi-
culture and fuels treatments,
riparian and upland water-
shed restoration treatments,
prescribed burning opera-
tions, the installation of an
interpretive sign and multi-
ple road projects. The proj-
ect also includes forest plan
amendments to change old
growth boundaries to bring
these areas up to Malheur
Forest Plan standards, allow
removal of trees greater than
or equal to 21 inches diame-
ter at breast height and allow
harvest in late and old struc-
ture stands.
Specifi c directions on
how to fi le an objection and
complete details for this
project can be accessed on
the Forest Service website
at: fs.usda.gov/project/?proj-
ect=46219, or copies can
be requested by contacting
Hannah Smith at 541-575-
3031 or hannahksmith@
fs.fed.us. Objections must be
postmarked or received by
the reviewing offi cer with-
in 45 days from the date of
the publication of the legal
notice. All objections are
available for public inspec-
tion during and after the ob-
jection process.
For more information,
contact Hannah Smith,
NEPA Planner, at 541-575-
3031 or by e-mail at han-
nahksmith@fs.fed.us.
purchases beginning Oct. 1.
Over the last several
months, OTEC has been dis-
cussing its cost of service, the
potential impacts of a BPA
wholesale rate increase and
associated distribution cost
increases. OTEC’s current
average rate including power
supply and distribution costs
ranks them 26th lowest in the
nation.
“Regardless of this favor-
able ranking, we continue to
focus on utility operations
and effi ciency in delivering
power. Because we under-
stand the impact it has on our
local economies,” said OTEC
General Manager Les Pen-
ning in the release.
BPA delivers clean re-
newable hydropower to more
than 140 Northwest utilities
and continues to face signif-
icant challenges in several
areas.
“The combination of a
recent court decision order-
ing increased spill at the hy-
droelectric dams along the
Columbia River and the col-
lapse of the secondary energy
market has many Northwest
utilities who get their power
from BPA, including OTEC,
concerned,” Penning said.
“Combined with continued
investments in their aging
infrastructure (approximate-
ly $6 billion over the next 6
years) and lost revenues from
the reduced demand for the
sale of the excess power BPA
produces, consumers may
now be expected to make up
for those lost revenues.”
Historically, the sales of
BPA’s excess energy onto the
secondary open energy mar-
ket helped to reduce whole-
sale rates to their consumers,
including OTEC.
Prior to the increase
taking affect in October,
OTEC’s Board of Directors
will review the fi nal “Cost of
Service” study assessing rev-
enue requirements for opera-
tions of OTEC’s distribution
system as well as the fi nal
landing point of the whole-
sale power cost and approve
the fi nal rate design and in-
crease.
“When looking at rates,
generally our Board of Direc-
tors will concentrate on two
primary categories,” said Pen-
ning. “Delivery charge and
energy charge. Our upcom-
ing ‘Cost of Service’ study
will guide the delivery charge
and ensure that it is — or is
moving closer to — covering
all fi xed costs such as poles
wires, etc.”
OTEC’s members will be
informed of the exact amount
of this rate increase beginning
in October through the Ru-
ralite magazine, the “News
from the Trail” billing insert,
OTEC’s website (www.otecc.
com) and Facebook page
(www.facebook.com/OTE-
Coop).
For more information
on BPA’s rate increase visit
www.bpa.gov/news.
sidewalk. Responded to a re-
port of a dog fi ght in Prairie
City and cited a man for fail-
ure to provide rabies vacci-
nation and maintaining a dog
as a nuisance. Responded to
a report of illegal drugs being
sold near the Dollar Store.
Aug. 19: Responded to a
report of a dispute in Prairie
City. Responded to a report
of an illegal campfi re.
Aug. 20: Arrested a Cali-
fornia man for driving under
the infl uence of intoxicants.
Cited a John Day man after
catching two dogs running in
the street.
• Grant County Sheriff’s
Offi ce
Aug. 16: Received a re-
port of dogs running loose in
Canyon City. Responded to
a caller who reported an un-
wanted evicted subject.
Aug. 17: Responded with
Oregon State Police and For-
est Service law enforcement
to a report of a fi ght in Mt.
Vernon. Responded with Or-
egon State Police, John Day
police and Forest Service
law enforcement to a report
of a woman screaming at the
Trout Farm.
Aug. 18: Responded to a
report of a domestic assault.
Warned campers about hav-
ing a campfi re. Respond-
ed to a report of illegal
fi reworks.
Aug. 20: Responded to a
report of an illegal campfi re.
Aug. 20: Responded to
a report of shots fi red at the
rock pit. Received a report of
an ATV accident in the Sen-
eca area.
• John Day ambulance
Aug. 15: Responded for a
58-year-old woman who was
unconscious.
• Mount Vernon Fire De-
partment
Aug. 18: Responded to a
grass fi re on the side of High-
way 26.
• John Day Fire Depart-
ment
Aug. 16: Responded to a
report of illegal burning.
Aug. 20: Responded to the
Industrial Park for a report of
a campfi re.
• United States Forest
Service
Aug. 18: Advised of a
possible fi re southwest of the
Cant Ranch.
Aug. 19: Advised of an il-
legal campfi re.
Aug. 21: Dispatch called
AAA for a subject with a hole
in their oil pan. Advised of a
possible fi re near Forest Ser-
vice Road 131.
C OPS AND 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.
Grant County Circuit
Court
One count of harassment
against Anthony William
Westlund was dismissed.
Oregon State Police
Arrested Tanaya S. Rob-
inson, 37, for driving under
the infl uence of intoxicants
Aug. 15.
Arrested James J. Credeur,
28, on a warrant for failure
to appear for second-degree
animal abuse in Deschutes
County Aug. 18.
Arrested David R. Still-
well, 22, for driving under
the infl uence of intoxicants
after stopping him for pro-
hibited lighting.
Arrested Liv Madeline
Elfstrom, 28, for driving un-
der the infl uence after stop-
ping her for a traffi c violation
Aug. 19.
Grant County Sheriff
The Grant County Sher-
iff’s Offi ce reported the fol-
lowing for the week of Aug.
11-16:
• Average inmates: 17
• Bookings: 5
• Releases: 8
• Arrests: 1
• Citations: 1
• Fingerprints: 2
• Civil papers: 16
• Warrants processed: 2
• Asst./welfare check: 3
Justice Court
The Grant County Justice
Court reported the following
fi nes and judgments:
Carrying concealed weap-
on: Jordan Mackenzie Dia-
mond-Hughes, Burns, fi ned
$590.
Unlawful possession of
marijuana: William A. West-
lund, John Day, sentenced
to 24 months probation,
36 hours in jail, 60 hours
community service, fi ned
$390.
Second-degree disorderly
conduct: Holly Ann New-
man, fi ned $435, required to
have no contact with the vic-
tim.
Offensive
littering:
George E. Duff, Joplin, Mis-
souri, sentenced to 120 hours
in jail, fi ned $100.
No resident shellfi sh li-
cense: Keith Alan Brandt, 61,
Redmond, July 28, fi ned $72.
Interfering with an emer-
gency vehicle: Elizabeth Ann
Fischer, 39, Minneapolis,
Minnesota, July 23, fi ned
$260.
Operate without prop-
er fenders: Eric Michael
Vanderzanden, 27, Banks,
April 10, fi ned $170.
Driving while suspended:
Emma Lam, 22, Wilmington,
Delaware, April 12, fi ned
$445; Talia C. Maloy, 40,
Prairie City, April 13, fi ned
$445; Brandon Neil Hoodie,
28, Burns, June 6, fi ned $445.
Consumption of intoxi-
cants: Brandon Neil Hoodie,
28, Burns, June 6, fi ned $445.
No operator’s license:
Ashlee Annamarrie Herrera,
18, Clearfi eld, Utah, June 3,
fi ned $260; Michael Wain-
right, 38, Raleigh, North Car-
olina, July 3, fi ned $260.
Operating a motor vehicle
while using a mobile commu-
nication device: Cameron H.
Schneider, 24, John Day, July
30, fi ned $135.
Driving uninsured: Mi-
chael Wainright, 38, Raleigh,
North Carolina, July 3, fi ned
$260; Tina Kay Couey, 57,
Canyon City, May 22, fi ned
$130; Adrian Leah Couey,
32, John Day, July 11, fi ned
$260.
Careless driving – acci-
dent: Brandi K. Henderson,
31, John Day, June 9, fi ned
$370; Jorene Jean Smith, 63,
Bonanza, July 10, fi ned $370;
Harold E. Miller, 76, Baker
City, July 5, fi ned $435.
Violation of the speed lim-
it: Marianne Lowrey Buck,
62, Livingston, Texas, 52/25
zone, May 29, fi ned $260.
Violation of the basic rule:
Jose Luis Garza, 33, Fresno,
California, 72/55 zone, May
1, fi ned $160; Annalise Lee
Bradshaw, 20, Payette, Ida-
ho, 76/55 zone, Aug. 1, fi ned
$160.
Exceeding speed limit:
Timothy B. Stypolkowski,
38, Bend, 70/50 zone, July
31, fi ned $160; Matthew
Alan Witzel, 19, Crane,
73/65 zone, July 21, fi ned
$160; William Alan Kuhn,
55, Bend, 44/30 zone, July
23, fi ned $135; Wayne Keith
Frater, 71, San Francisco,
44/30 zone, July 23, fi ned
$160.
Small Claims: Colleen
Robertson vs. Robert Mo-
reland. Money judgment
awarded to Colleen Rob-
ertson for $236.90; Colleen
Robertson vs. Danetta Lew-
is. Money judgment award-
ed to Colleen Robertson for
$3,021.99; Colleen Robert-
son vs. Kyra Adair. Money
judgment awarded to Colleen
Robertson for $486.06.
Dispatch
John Day dispatch worked
451 calls during the week
of Aug. 14-21. Along with
the various traffi c warnings,
trespassing, injured animals,
noise complaints and juve-
nile complaints, these calls
included:
• John Day Police De-
partment
Aug. 18: Responded with
Grant County Sheriff’s Of-
fi ce, Oregon State Police and
Forest Service law enforce-
ment to a report of someone
who drove off from Leathers
with a gas hose in the tank.
Cited a 53-year-old man for
driving an ATV on a high-
way. Cited a 66-year-old
John Day man for failure to
wear a helmet after stopping
him for riding a moped on the
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For the September 6th Edition
Ad, Classified & Legal Deadline
August 31st by 5pm
Office will be closed
Monday, September 4th.
Blue Mountain
EAGLE
Grant County’s Newspaper Since 1868
195 N. Canyon Blvd, John Day, Oregon
MyEagleNews.com • 541-575-0710
Baker City
2830 10th St.
541-524-0122
Every other Monday
in John Day at
Blue Mountain
Hospital
170 Ford Rd.
541-575-1311