News
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
A5
Court agrees to beef up sheriff’s office
By Richard Hanners
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Grant County Court unani-
mously approved creating two new
sergeant positions with the sheriff’s
office at the July 11 meeting.
One position will oversee the of-
fice’s road deputies, and the other will
assist Sgt. Josh Wolf in overseeing the
county jail. Grant County Treasurer
Julie Ellison estimates that each posi-
tion will cost about $80,000 per year,
including salary, health insurance, re-
tirement and other costs.
Increasing road
deputies
In the case of the road sergeant, the
goal is to eliminate the need to call out
deputies, which puts a toll on staff and
runs up overtime costs, Undersheriff
Zach Mobley said.
Grant County Judge Scott Myers
noted that he’d like to see officers have
a chance to use their vacation time
rather than just get the money.
The result would be the same sev-
en-day-a-week patrol coverage for the
road deputies, but the sheriff’s office
The Eagle/Richard Hanners
Grant County Undersheriff Zach
Mobley addresses the Grant
County Court on July 11.
will have a supervisor on duty for ev-
ery shift, Mobley told the court. He
and Sheriff Glenn Palmer hold admin-
istrative positions and have had to take
over supervisory roles and respond to
needs at night, he said.
Currently a fourth road deputy po-
sition is being filled on a temporary
full-time basis by using a corrections
deputy. That position will be replaced
by the new road sergeant, who will
be exempt from overtime pay, Mo-
bley said. Ellison told the Eagle the
county last year budgeted $30,000 for
overtime and $50,000 for relief help at
the sheriff’s office last year. Costs ran
$30,000 over that amount last year,
totaling about $110,000, she said. The
eclipse event and the Rainbow Gath-
ering accounted for much of the unex-
pected costs.
Law enforcement agreements with
John Day and Prairie City could help
to cover additional costs of the road
sergeant, Mobley said. Contracts be-
tween the county and the two cities
have not yet been signed, but pay-
ments are being made, he said.
The county will not be able to keep
those contracts without a fourth road
deputy, Mobley said. He noted that
Prairie City has a much higher call
volume than Long Creek, Monument
and Dayville combined. Without the
fourth road deputy, Prairie City cov-
erage would be for emergencies only,
and John Day would have to figure out
a solution on their own, Mobley said.
Ken Olson, a volunteer deputy
who accrued long hours for the sher-
iff’s office last year, noted that the of-
fice is in reactive mode, with deputies
running from call to call without the
time to consider preventive measures.
He also noted that the county has a
serious drug problem that could be
exacerbated with the legalization of
recreational marijuana.
Staffing issues at jail
Mobley said staffing at the Grant
County Jail is down to a skeleton two-
man crew, and the new sergeant posi-
tion will enable the sheriff’s office to
run the jail with three people much of
the time and maintain required stan-
dards. Grant County has contracts with
several surrounding counties and the
Burns Paiute Tribe to house inmates.
The county has nine to 10 correc-
tions deputies, including part-time
staff, for 24-hour, seven-day-a-week
operations at the jail. But various
needs put a strain on the staff, such as
assigning two deputies for transporta-
tion, providing security during court
sessions and booking.
Over-reliance on part-time depu-
ties to fill those needs could lead to a
union grievance, Mobley said. Skele-
ton staffing also poses a safety issue —
if a fight breaks out, corrections staff
must stay in the control room until a
road deputy arrives to assist.
The new corrections sergeant posi-
tion will provide a supervisor at the jail
seven days a week for 12 hours, Mob-
ley said. Commissioner Rob Raschio,
in his first county court session since
being appointed, expressed concern
about having two equally ranked offi-
cers in charge of the same facility but
voted with Myers and Commissioner
Jim Hamsher in favor of creating the
new position at the jail.
In other county court news, volun-
teers were appointed to four county
boards:
• Curt and Elizabeth Shelley re-
signed from the College Advisory
Board. Chris Cronin was appointed to
fill Elizabeth Shelley’s seat, with the
suggestion the new Grant School Dis-
trict 3 superintendent would fill Curt
Shelley’s seat.
• Mary Michael and Dolores Ost-
berg were reappointed to the Library
Advisory Board.
• Judy Kerr and Hank Lissman
were reappointed to the Road Adviso-
ry Board.
• Charles Dowse was reappointed
to the Senior Citizens Advisory Coun-
cil. Bruce Kaufman has resigned, leav-
ing a vacancy.
The court’s next regularly sched-
uled meeting is July 25.
C OPS AND C OURTS
Arrests and citations in the
Blue Mountain Eagle are taken
from the logs of law enforce-
ment agencies. Every effort is
made to report the court dispo-
sition of arrest cases.
Grant County
Circuit Court
A charge against Michael D.
Waddell, 61, Canyon City, of
driving under the influence of
intoxicants committed on May
27, 2017, was dismissed with
prejudice on July 13. Waddell
had showed substantial compli-
ance with the requirements of
the DUII diversion agreement.
Tiffany Huffaker, 36, Boise,
Idaho, was found not guilty by
a jury July 12 of one count of
felony driving under the influ-
ence of intoxicants committed
on March 24. The defendant
was discharged.
Ryan D. Mingus, 51, Burns,
pleaded guilty July 5 to misde-
meanor fourth-degree assault
committed on May 19. He was
sentenced to 15 days in jail, 24
months probation, 20 hours
community service, $300 in
fines and fees and $100 res-
titution. Charges of criminal
mischief and harassment were
dismissed. Mingus also plead-
ed guilty July 5 to violating a
court’s stalking protective or-
der, a misdemeanor committed
on June 7. He was sentenced
to 10 days in jail, 24 months
probation, 15 hours commu-
nity service and a $100 fine,
all consecutive to the previous
case. Five additional charges of
violating a court’s stalking pro-
tective order were dismissed.
Grant County
Sheriff
The Grant County Sheriff’s
Office reported the following
for the week of July 11: con-
cealed handgun licenses, 8;
average inmates, 16; bookings,
12; releases, 14; arrests, 1; ci-
tations, 7; fingerprints, 1; civil
papers, 12; warrants processed,
4; asst./welfare check, 1; search
and rescue, 1.
July 6: Austin Nelson, 21,
La Grande, was cited for vio-
lation of the basic rule, 83/55
zone.
July 9: Megan Lee, 53, Ed-
monds, Washington, was cited
for exceeding the posted speed
limit, 47/30 zone.
July 9: Phillip Stuwe, 59,
Milwaukie, was cited for ex-
ceeding the posted speed limit,
67/45 zone.
July 9: Richard Boren, 61,
Dayville, was cited for ex-
ceeding the posted speed limit,
67/45 zone.
July 9: A juvenile from
Prineville was cited for being
a minor in possession of mari-
juana and warned about being a
minor in possession of tobacco.
July 9: A juvenile from Ter-
rebonne was cited for being a
minor in possession of mari-
juana and warned about being a
minor in possession of tobacco.
July 11: Melani Finch, 28,
Burns, was cited for violation
of the basic rule, 83/55 zone.
Justice Court
Speed limit violation: Bran-
don A. Merisch, 29, San Cle-
mente, California, June 12,
80/65 zone, fined $165; Tyler J.
Rooney, 28, Mt. Vernon, June
8, 50/35 zone, fined $140.
Exceeding speed limit: Kirk
S. Scilacci, 62, Baker City,
June 24, 43/25 zone, fined
$165; Randall R. Griffith, 61,
Canyon City, June 16, 37/25
zone, fined $140.
Violation of basic rule:
Jackie A. Haff, 53, Mt. Ver-
non, June 18, 75/55 zone, fined
$165.
Driving uninsured: Tyler J.
Rooney, 28, Mt. Vernon, June
8, fined $265; Victoria J. Mc-
Lean, 35, Prairie City, June 19,
fined $200.
Driving while suspended:
Victoria J. McLean, 35, Prairie
City, June 19, fined $340.
Heather A. Reilly, 29,
John Day, pleaded guilty to
second-degree forgery and
third-degree theft. Reilly was
sentenced to 192 hours in jail,
18 months probation, 50 hours
community service and $697
in fines, fees and restitution.
Three counts of second-degree
forgery were dismissed. Proba-
tion was revoked for an earlier
case, and Reilly was sentenced
to 120 hours in jail, and the
fines became a $684 civil judg-
ment.
Dispatch
John Day dispatch worked
178 calls during the week of
July 9-15, including:
• John Day Police Depart-
ment
July 11: Received a report
of a hit and run crash on East
Main Street in John Day.
July 11: Dispatched with
sheriff’s office and state police
to West Main Street in John
Day for a domestic dispute.
Jessica L. Officer was arrested
and charged with disorderly
conduct and probation viola-
tion.
July 12: Following a traffic
stop on Highway 26 west of
John Day, Adrian S. Obiero,
Omaha, Nebraska, was cited
for driving without a license
and no insurance.
July 14: Following a traffic
stop on Main Street in John
Day, Tami L. Sasser, 36, Can-
yon City, was cited for driving
with a suspended license and
no insurance.
July 15: Dispatched to an
apartment complex on High-
way 26 east of John Day for
a possible assault and harass-
ment.
July 15: Received a report
of a stolen vehicle title on
Southwest Brent Drive in John
Day.
July 15: Following a traf-
fic stop on West Main Street
in John Day, Debra Parlin, 56,
North Powder, and Benjamin
Buchee, 54, Haines, were cited
for open containers.
• Oregon State Police
July 9: Received a report of
a vehicle hanging off the road
on Highway 26 east of Mitch-
ell.
July 10: Received a report of
bicyclists taking up a lane and
refusing to yield on Highway
26 near Fields Creek Road.
• Grant County Sheriff’s
Office
July 9: Received a theft re-
port on West Bench Road.
July 10: Responded with
John Day ambulance to Cot-
tonwood Creek Trail near
Wheeler County for a search
and rescue call.
July 11: Received a report
of sexual abuse in Mt. Vernon.
July 12: Received a report
of a suspicious person on High-
way 402 near Monument.
July 12: Received a report
of sexual abuse on Highway 19
near Kimberly.
July 13: Received a report
of unwanted mules on Luce
Creek Road in John Day.
July 13: Dispatched to
South Bridge Street in Prairie
City for suspicious circum-
stances.
July 14: Responded with
state police to B Avenue in Sen-
eca for a report of a domestic
dispute.
• John Day ambulance
July 9: Responded with
Seneca ambulance to Park Av-
enue in Seneca for a woman
who had passed out and hit her
head.
July 10: Dispatched with
Prairie City ambulance to East
Fifth Street in Prairie City for
a woman who possibly had a
stroke.
July 10: Prairie City am-
bulance responded for John
Day ambulance to Laycock
Creek Road in John Day for an
83-year-old woman with a pos-
sible stroke.
July 11: Responded to
Northwest First Street in John
Day for a 36-year-old woman
with difficulty breathing.
July 12: Responded to a
gas station in John Day for a
34-year-old man.
July 13: Dispatched with
Prairie City ambulance to Main
Street in John Day for a woman
with flu-like symptoms.
July 14: Dispatched to
Southeast Dayton Street in
John Day for a woman who
had fallen.
July 14: Responded with
Prairie City ambulance to
North Johnson Avenue in
Prairie City for a woman who
fell while stepping out of a
pool.
July 15: Dispatched with
sheriff’s office to Aldrich
Mountain south of Dayville for
an ATV accident.
• Prairie City fire
July 11: Responded to Kee-
ney Fork Road in Prairie City
for a report of an illegal camp-
fire.
July 12: Dispatched with
sheriff’s office to South John-
son Avenue in Prairie City for
illegal burning.
• Forest Service
July 11: Received a report of
smoke near Starr Campground.
Hello Grant County,
Did you notice the Horseless Carriages last week?
There were about 30 of them tooling around Grant
County. I was told they had a wonderful time!
On July 19, watch the skies for the antique and classic
aircrafts that will be flying in to our airport. There will
be eight planes. Take a drive up to the airport and
check them out!
On Friday, July 20, there will be a presentation and
discussion on Chinatowns and Placer Mines – The
Lives of Chinese Gold Miners on the Oregon Frontier.
It will be held at the Canyon City Community Hall from.
6:00 to 7:30 PM. It is FREE, and is sponsored by
Southern Oregon University Laboratory of
Anthropology, the Grant County Historical Museum,
1188 Brewing Company, Oregon State Parks, USDA,
and the Forest Service.
July 20 – 22 is the BIG John Day swim meet, so the
town will be buzzing for sure! Stop by and wish our
swimmers good luck!
Don’t miss the Farmers Market on the 21st and 28th
and every Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
We will also have 300 bicyclists for the “Ride the
Range” bike tour July 21-28, sponsored by Bicycle
Rides Northwest. They will begin and end in beautiful
Seneca, Oregon, with overnight stops in John Day and
Clyde Holliday State Park. So, let’s be ready to share
the road and show them some Grant County
hospitality.
What else is happening this month:
25th & 26th - Velocette Owners Club Convention at the
Fairgrounds
28th - Blue Mountain Hospital Foundation Golf
Scramble
28th – National Day of the Cowboy in Prairie City – A
full day of fun with a parade, games, dog exhibitions
and talent contest and a concert at the Prairie City
Community Hall with Brenn Hill and Andy Nelson at
7:00 PM and special guest, our own A.K. Moss!
The Chamber board will meet Thursday, July 19, at
10:30 at the Chamber office. The no-host membership
luncheon will follow at 12:00 at the Outpost restaurant.
Our guest speakers this month will be Kathy Cancilla,
the accreditation coordinator for the Grant County
Health Department, and members of the Grant County
Economic Council. Cathy will be discussing the
Community Health Assessment, and the economic
council will be sharing information about the new John
Day bike park.
Everyone is welcome to come to our meetings.
It is time for our annual election of Chamber Directors.
If you are interested in serving as a director, please let
me know as soon as possible.
Current Directors are: Bruce Ward, President, Jerry
Franklin, Scotta Callister, Bob Quinton, Greg
Armstrong, David Driscoll, Amber Wright, Elaine
Eisenbraun, Sally Knowles and Elaine Livran.
Tammy Bremner
Chamber Manager
68829