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
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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.
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