News
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
A9
ESCAPE
Continued from Page A1
Down to Florida
After graduating, he married a
woman in Idaho. Their relation-
ship was short-lived and he quickly
moved to Wyoming and then Flori-
da, working as a carpenter.
When he arrived in Florida he
had roughly $6,000 in cash. He
woke up one morning in a ditch,
“broker than a Georgia convict,” he
said.
Following this, he got a job work-
ing on a wealthy man’s yacht as a
deckhand.
“It was party time on that yacht
’cause he was always gone,” Otis
said. “He had a push-button bar
that would open up, and it was solid
booze on one wall.”
Life was good for Otis. It got
even better when he stole the yacht
and sailed it to the Bahamas with the
captain. When the owner realized
what happened, life got significantly
worse.
“He said, ‘Otis, I’m giving you
your notice.’”
Alcohol gave him permission
to do these things and was a factor
whenever he would lie, cheat or
steal, he said.
Up to Oregon
From Florida, it was on to the dis-
cos and bars of Portland.
“I had a really good time in those
years, until I reached a point in my
life where I got so sick and tired of
getting kicked out of bars, I bought
one,” he said.
This was part of a six-year peri-
od where he would regularly wake
up not knowing if it was Tuesday or
Sunday.
Thinkstockphotos.com
It wasn’t just drinking anymore
either.
“Drugs are free whenever you
have booze,” he said.
His drug and alcohol use resulted
in him being charged with driving
while intoxicated seven times, three
within a 30-day period. Willing to
take anything, he was “just trying to
get out of Otis,” he said.
Seeking treatment
Eventually he came to terms with
the fact he had a problem. He sold
the bar to save his life and began
treatment and thought it would be as
easy as getting a quick fix, entertain-
ing everyone at the treatment center
with his mandolin and walking out.
The employees immediately con-
fiscated his instrument and told him
to cut the jokes, that this was serious.
While in treatment he met a man
with one eye sewn shut. Giving in to
his curiosity, Otis asked him what
happened.
The man told him he didn’t know
how he lost his eye; he just woke up
without it.
This story moved Otis, motivat-
ing him to stay in treatment and stay
clean.
And it worked, for six months.
Once out of treatment, he went
back to working as a carpenter.
In an interview, his boss com-
LAWS
Continued from Page A1
offense, up to a maximum of
364 days.”
He also said these new
criminal classifications will
increase his workload with-
out providing any additional
funding. Probation for felo-
ny crimes are supervised by
the probation office while
misdemeanors are super-
vised by the DA’s office.
He also said the new
sentencing guidelines could
send the wrong message to
young people.
“Oregon has just an-
nounced that possession of
very dangerous substances,
such as methamphetamine,
is less serious this month
mended him for not drinking. How-
ever, he also opened a desk drawer
revealing a pile of cocaine and asked
Otis if he “partook.”
“Well, shoot,” Otis responded,
“I’ve been known to partake.”
And for three months, he said, it
was “off to the races.”
Turning point
One weekend, he was late pick-
ing up his daughter, showing up two
days late on a Sunday. When he did
show up, he fainted in front of her.
He woke up to her rubbing his
face, saying, “You’re sick, daddy.
You’re sick.” That was a turning
point.
than it was last month,” Car-
penter said. “If anything, we
should be telling our youth
that possession of meth is
more serious than it ever
was.”
Thad Labhart, clinical di-
rector at Community Coun-
seling Solutions, disagreed.
He said harsh penalties
don’t dissuade people from
drug use, especially once
addiction takes over.
“I think this bill helps
county residents by assist-
ing those who need treat-
ment to receive it, which in
turns addresses the underly-
ing problem,” he said. “Jail
has been shown time and
time again to not deter drug
use. The upside of the bill
outweighs any downside. ...
One only has to look at our
Otis is now 66 and has been sober
for 29 years. He recently became a
grandparent, and couldn’t be more
enthusiastic about it.
“I’m so happy to be a grandpa.
Oh my God, that kid is gonna be
spoiled,” he said.
In those 29 years, Otis bought
a lodge and followed his dream
of being an outfitter and guide,
has been married for 18 years
and still finds time to play a little
music.
“I couldn’t even look in the mir-
ror and look in my own eyes before
I got sober,” he said. “I’m doing re-
ally good right now, and I just feel
fantastic.”
jail population to see how
stiff drug possession laws
don’t deter many.”
Labhart said the bill is a
step in the right direction in
dealing with drug addiction
in the state, but the focus
needs to be on treatment.
Community
Counseling
Solutions offers DUII coun-
seling, individual coun-
seling, family counseling,
peer counseling and referral
to inpatient/residential ser-
vices as well as urinalysis
testing and a jail diversion
program.
He said supporting treat-
ment did not mean being
“soft on crime.”
“Unfortunately, things
like theft and money crimes
often accompany substance
use disorders. This bill
doesn’t reduce penalties for
such crimes,” he said. “The
bill, however, was support-
ed by the Oregon Associ-
ation Chiefs of Police as
well as the Oregon State
Sheriffs’ Association. That
alone says something.”
The American Civil
Liberties Union of Oregon
took the stance this could
be good for Oregonians.
“A felony conviction for
small-scale drug possession
can prevent people from
getting housing, a job or a
student loan,” the ACLU of
Oregon said in a statement.
“The current approach is
also unfair. People of color
possess drugs at the same
rates as everyone else but
are more much likely to be
arrested.”
CHAMBER CHATTER
Thinkstockphotos.com
The majority of Oregon wolves remain in the northeast
corner of the state.
WOLF
Continued from Page A1
tough spot” Morgan has been
in.
“What I’ve found is respect
for your professionalism and
objectivity,” Wolley said. “It
reflects on the whole depart-
ment and on all of us.”
Morgan was questioned
about Oregon’s wolf popu-
lation. The state confirmed
a minimum of 112 wolves
at the end of 2016, only one
more than the previous year
after many consecutive years
of rapid population increas-
es. ODFW officials maintain
the population survey late
last year was hampered by
extreme weather and that Or-
egon has more wolves than
were counted.
Morgan said new wolves
have shown up this year,
ODFW placed more tracking
collars on wolves than ever
before, and he is encouraged
by the numbers.
“There was talk of a stalled
population, but one data point
doesn’t make a trend,” he
said. “I think we will see a
promising increase in wolves.
Oregon wolves, I’m confi-
dent, are doing well and will
continue to do well.”
The majority of Oregon
wolves remain in the north-
east corner of the state, but
Morgan said they will con-
tinue to disperse into the
Cascade Mountains and else-
where.
A man wakes up in
the morning after
sleeping on an
ADVERTISED BED,
in ADVERTISED
PAJAMAS.
He will bathe in an ADVERTISED TUB, shave with an ADVERTISED RAZOR,
have a breakfast of ADVERTISED JUICE, cereal and toast, toasted in an
ADVERTISED TOASTER, put on ADVERTISED CLOTHES and glance at his
ADVERTISED WATCH. He’ll ride to work in his ADVERTISED CAR, sit at an
ADVERTISED DESK and write with an ADVERTISED PEN. Yet this person
hesitates to advertise, saying that advertising doesn’t pay. Finally, when his
non-advertised business is going under, HE’LL ADVERTISE IT FOR SALE.
Then it’s too late.
AND THEY SAY ADVERTISING DOESN’T WORK?
DON’T MAKE THIS SAME MISTAKE
Advertising is an investment, not an expense. Think about it!
Blue Mountain Eagle
MyEagleNews.com
Don’t get left behind, call today! Kim Kell 541-575-0710
THANK YOU GRANT COUNTY!! We survived
the eclipse and in my opinion as well as others
in the county our guests went away with an
appreciation of our friendly nature and a
preview of our many attractions that we get to
enjoy each and every day. We were working
with an unknown factor of how many visitors to
expect and we were prepared and up for the
task. I have heard estimates of 22,000 to
23,000 in the valley and it might have been a
blessing that we didn’t have as indicated a
possible 50,000 visitors. The Chamber wants
to thank each and every one of you for your
efforts and we hope that some of you made a
few bucks for your time invested. We also want
to give a special thank you to Tammy Bremner
for her organizational skills and for taking the
lead a year ago in starting up the planning
process for the eclipse, and kudos to her
capable staff of dedicated volunteers, who
have had their hands full helping her make this
a very successful event. They also gave the
Chamber a very positive public image. Who
knows, maybe one of our visitors will bring a
business back and provide a few jobs and
more children for our schools.
The addition of our new 24/7 secured front
entry public information area, plus the electric
charging station and access to wi-fi, has
worked out well and has provided an
important service to our visitors and local
businesses. Within the next two weeks you will
become aware of something new at the
Chamber office, which will be heralded a first
in the nation, Grant County and in John, which
will be in the forefront. STAY TUNED!
For obvious reasons we are running a little
behind with our annual dinner and installation
of officers but it is in the works. This will be the
completion of my third and final term as
president of the Grant County Chamber of
Commerce. It has been a real privilege and
honor to serve such a vital and valuable
organization, focused on making our county
and businesses as viable as possible. I am
extremely proud of what we have
accomplished these past few years, and it is
all because we have a good group of pro-
active board members, a dedicated office
manager and her volunteer staff, plus a strong
supportive group of Chamber members. I want
to welcome our new incoming President Bruce
Ward and wish him much success. I know that
he will do a good job of keeping the Chamber
moving forward in a positive direction.
Our guest speaker for our September 21,
2017 lunch board meeting will be John Day
City Manager Nick Green, who will address
local projects and activities. Join us for both
our 11:00 a.m. board meeting at the Chamber
office and/or luncheon meeting at noon at the
Outpost restaurant.
Jerry Franklin,
President
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