Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 2017)
News Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, December 20, 2017 County court approves forest patrol position Forest Service will contribute $6,000 By Richard Hanners Blue Mountain Eagle The Grant County Court voted 2-1 to move forward with a proposal from the sheriff’s office to provide a part-time depu- ty to conduct forest patrols. Commissioner Boyd Britton voted against the proposal, saying he hadn’t seen the final agreement with the U.S. Forest Service. Grant County Undersheriff Zach Mob- ley brought back the proposal after it was tabled by the court at its Nov. 22 meeting. He said he met with Malheur National Forest Deputy Supervisor Ryan Nehl and Capt. Bob Field, a Forest Service law en- forcement official based in Pendleton, to discuss the proposal. Nehl and Field were present at the court meeting to hear the discussion. Mobley said the forest patrol deputy Eagle file photo Grant County Commissioner Boyd Britton at the Nov. 22 meeting of the Grant County Court. would be hired part-time, not 20 hours per week, to provide more flexibility. The posi- tion would be non-union, which is the same for some part-time staff at the county jail and has not been a problem there, he said. The contract with the Forest Service Volunteer fire association elects officers will provide $6,000 to the county to pay for forest patrol through December 2018, Mobley said. The contract is nearly iden- tical to the one drafted in response to the 2017 Rainbow Gathering and similar to contracts used in other Oregon counties, he said. Field said the contracts work well with the Forest Service. “What will be different this time?” Brit- ton asked. Mobley said the forest patrol position would be filled by a trained deputy dedi- cated to that job. In the past, other depu- ties performed forest patrols as they passed through the area. He noted, under the agree- ment, sheriff deputies will enforce state and county law, and Forest Service personnel will enforce federal laws. Mobley said he hoped to maintain the forest patrol program in the future with the same funding. County Judge Scott Myers noted that the county budget committee had asked Mobley to try to bring the pro- gram back, and Mobley was applauded for his efforts. Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative’s board of directors approved the return of $2.95 million to the cooperative’s mem- ber-owners in December at its Nov. 16 meeting. The money is being returned to mem- bers in the form of capital credits, also known as members’ equity or margins, according to a press release. Because OTEC is a nonprofit utility, margins earned during the year are invested in capital projects that keep the cooper- ative’s infrastructure in good working order so power is available when it is needed. On an annual basis, part of the margins earned from past years is re- turned to members served by the coop- erative. This December, capital credits will be distributed to members by a credit on their electric bill or a check. Capital credits less than $15 will be applied as a billing credit to the member’s account. Members with capital credit balanc- es $15 or greater will receive a check through the mail. “Capital credits are an important part of being a cooperative, said OTEC Gen- eral Manager and CEO Les Penning. “Because we are a nonprofit cooperative, The volunteer associa- tion meets for training at 7 p.m. Wednesdays at the fire station, 316 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, and most sessions are open to the public. Anyone interested in learning more about the association or becoming a volunteer can attend a train- ing session or contact Fire Chief Ron Smith at 541- 620-0049. Volunteers must be at least 18 and able to pass a criminal background check. Blue Mountain Eagle Ron Phillips was re-elected as president of the John Day Volunteer Firefighters Association during the annual election of executive officers at the business meeting Dec. 6. Addison Fox was elect- ed vice president, and Carl Metler was elected sec- retary-treasurer. Ronda Metler prepared a turkey for the traditional potluck, and members furnished their favorite holiday dish. Ragged Ruby Project scoping period extended for plan amendments Electric co-op distributing capital credits Blue Mountain Eagle A5 ered and should not be re- submitted. Comments must be postmarked or received by the Blue Mountain Ranger District on or before Jan. 8. The full Ragged Ruby Project Scoping Package and Addendum is avail- able on the Malheur Na- tional Forest website, fs.usda.gov/project/?proj- ect=49392, or from Sasha Fertig at 541-575-3061 or sashafertig@fs.fed.us. For more information, contact Fertig. Blue Mountain Eagle The scoping period for the Ragged Ruby Project is being extended by 30 days for two project-spe- cific forest plan amend- ments for connectivity and harvest in late and old structure stands, accord- ing to a Forest Service press release. The opportunity for comment applies only to these two forest plan amendments. Previously submitted comments will be consid- OTEC is returning excess revenues gen- erated during the harsh winter season last year in addition to capital credits already scheduled for retirement.” Since 1995, OTEC has returned $33 million in capital credits to members. This year’s distribution is the largest re- turn of capital credits in the history of the cooperative. Anyone with questions about their capital credit account should call their local OTEC office. Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric utility serving 25,000 member-owners in Baker, Union, Grant and Harney counties. For more in- formation visit otecc.com. C OPS AND C OURTS 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. Grant County Circuit Court Shellie L. Wiscarson, 52, John Day, was convicted by a jury on Dec. 6 of fourth-degree assault constituting domestic violence, fourth-degree assault, harassment constituting domes- tic violence and harassment on July 8, all misdemeanors. She was sentenced to 22 days in jail, 96 months probation and 140 hours of community ser- vice, and fined $400. Ben Luethe, 73, Mt. Ver- non, was convicted based on a no contest plea Dec. 14 of ve- hicular assault of a bicyclist or pedestrian and reckless driving on July 13, both misdemeanors. He was sentenced to 120 hours house arrest and 24 months probation, and fined $850. Brian R. Terry, 28, La Pine, pleaded guilty Dec. 13 to driv- ing under the influence of in- toxicants on Oct. 16. He was sentenced to 24 months proba- tion and fined $2,335. Justin M. Spells, 47, Can- yon City, pleaded guilty Dec. 14 to driving under the influ- ence of intoxicants on Sept. 10. He was sentenced to 24 months probation and fined $2,335. Grant County Sheriff The Grant County Sher- iff’s Office reported the fol- lowing for the week of Dec. 7-13: • Concealed handgun li- censes: 8 • Average inmates: 21 • Bookings: 7 • Releases: 9 • Arrests: 1 • Citations: 1 • Fingerprints: 5 • Civil papers: 12 • Warrants processed: 1 • Asst./welfare check: 9 • Search and Rescue: 1 Julie Humbird, 42, Canyon City, was arrested on Dec. 12 and charged with operating a motor vehicle without a driv- er’s license or proof of insur- ance. Justice Court The Grant County Justice Court reported the following fines and judgments: Exceeding speed limit: Jashiel L. Doumer, 20, Cald- well, Idaho, Nov. 11, 88/65 zone, fined $260; Casey C. Stack, 51, Peoria, Arizona, Nov. 19, 74/65 zone, fined $160; Tyler S. Waggoner, 32, Nampa, Idaho, Nov. 6, 73/65 zone, fined $160; Tamara K. Workman, 48, Mt. Vernon, Nov. 12, 36/25 zone, fined $135. Driving while suspended: Christopher J. Keith, 36, Prai- rie City, Nov. 18, fined $435. Driving while revoked: Christopher J. Keith, 36, Prai- rie City, Nov. 27, fined $435. Driving uninsured: Dennis Asher, 50, Mt. Vernon, Nov. 25, fined $260. Stephen R. Johnson, 28, Prineville, pleaded guilty to reckless endangering. He was sentenced to 15 days in jail and a $100 fine. Danny L. McBride, 69, Tygh Valley, pleaded guilty to driving with a suspended license and no contest to un- lawful possession of a fire- arm. He was fined $1,250. Robert J. Bryant Jr., 20, Mt. Vernon, was convicted of probation violation. His pro- bation for criminal trespass on Aug. 22 was extended 12 months, and he was fined $42 for attorney’s fees. Ian E. Humbird, 21, Can- yon City, pleaded guilty to criminal mischief. He was sentenced to 12 months pro- bation and 30 hours of com- munity service, and $422 in fines and restitution to the Grant County Fairgrounds. John W. Davenport, 72, Loma, Colorado, was con- victed of violating travel man- agement regulations. He was fined $435. Donald D. Hildreth, 52, John Day, pleaded guilty to second-degree theft. He was sentenced to 12 days in jail and fined $138. Corey S. Rich, 45, Mc- Minnville, was sentenced for taking or possessing a buck deer. He was fined $685. Oregon State Police Dec. 15: Investigated a single-vehicle, noninjury rollover crash on Highway 395 near Canyon City. Dec. 15: Responded to a single-vehicle, noninjury crash on Highway 26 near Mt. Vernon. JUNIPER ARTS COUNCIL/GRANT COUNTY CULTURAL COALITION IS SEEKING GRANT PROPOSALS FOR OREGON CULTURAL TRUST GRANT AWARDS The coalition has $7,000 from the Oregon Cultural Trust to distribute in Grant County to organizations for projects relating to culture. Projects may be related to the visual or performing arts, heritage, and/or humanities. Applications are available from Karin Barntish, 131 W. Main Street, John Day or call Kris Beal at 541-932-4892 for more information or an application. Dispatch John Day dispatch worked 141 calls during the week of Dec. 10-17. Along with the various traffic warn- ings, trespassing, injured an- imals, noise complaints and juvenile complaints, these calls included: • John Day Police De- partment Dec. 10: Britt M. Wilcox, 23, John Day, was arrested on Highway 26 near Pine Creek Road and charged with violating a no-contact order. Dec. 11: Responded to East Main Street in John Day for a suspicious person. Dec. 12: Dispatched to a hit-and-run crash on North- east Elm Street in John Day. Dec. 12: Sylvia R. Swee- ney, 58, American Falls, 30862 fire to Monument for a 40-year-old woman with sei- zures. Dec. 15: Dispatched to North Johnson Avenue in Prairie City for a 58-year-old female with chest pains and nausea. Dec. 15: Responded with Seneca ambulance for an 80-year-old man with cardiac issues. Dec. 15: Dispatched to West Main Street in John Day for a 55-year-old woman with a possible drug reaction. Dec. 15: Responded with sheriff’s office to Widows Creek Road west of Mt. Ver- non for an emergency. Dec. 16: Dispatched to Northwest Bridge Street in John Day for a man with leg and back pain. Dec. 16: Responded to a senior care facility in John Day for a 92-year-old wom- an. Dec. 17: Dispatched to In- gle Street in Mt. Vernon for an 84-year-old man. Dec. 17: Responded to a church on Highway 26 in John Day for a 60-year-old woman. Dec. 17: Dispatched with Prairie City ambulance to a senior care facility in Prairie City for an 83-year-old person with nausea and vomiting. • Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Dec. 11: Dispatched two deer on McCallum Avenue in Prairie City. J OIN O UR C APITAL C AMPAIGN * A library is an essential part of every community * PLEASE HELP US BUILD A NEW LIBRARY FOR GRANT COUNTY IN 2019 Donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by the law. Donor Name: Address: City: Telephone: Donation: Grant applications will be accepted until February 2, 2018 at 5:00 pm. Idaho, was cited in John Day for hindering prosecution. Dec. 16: Responded to a report of children sledding on North Humbolt Street in Canyon City. Dec. 17: Efrain Camacho, 29, John Day, was cited on Third Street in John Day for driving with a suspended li- cense and no insurance. • Grant County Sher- iff’s Office Dec. 10: Responded to Carpenter Pond Road in John Day for a report of shots fired and pellets hit- ting a resident’s roof. Dec. 12: Dispatched with John Day police and Oregon State Police to Budget 8 Mo- tel in John Day for an assault report. Dec. 13: Responded to East Riverside Street in Mt. Vernon for a report of a bur- glary. • John Day ambulance Dec. 10: Responded to West Main Street in John Day for a 57-year-old wom- an. Dec. 12: Dispatched to Northeast Seventh Avenue in John Day for an elderly woman who had fallen. Dec. 13: Responded to a report of children playing barefoot on Canton Street in John Day. Dec. 14: Dispatched to East Main Street in John Day for a 67-year-old man. Dec. 15: Responded with Monument ambulance and Dec. 15: Responded to single-vehicle, roll- over crash with injuries on snow-covered Highway 26 near Austin Junction. Dec. 15: Investigated a single-vehicle, noninjury rollover crash on Highway 395 near Logan Valley Road. The vehicle was unoccupied when OSP arrived. Dec. 16: Responded to a single-vehicle, fatal rollover crash on Highway 395 near Ritter Junction. Dec. 17: Dispatched to Summit Prairie Road in Prai- rie City for a report of shots fired and illegal hunting. 50 $ State: E-mail: 100 $ 250 $ 500 $ Zip: 1,000 $ Other Please mail your donation to: PO Box 875, John Day, OR 97845 Or donate via paypal @ www.gclibraryfoundation.com/donations.php The Grant County Library Foundation is a 501(c3) non-profit. 30465
