News
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
A5
County to settle over runway project
By Richard Hanners
Blue Mountain Eagle
A $100,000 overpayment
claimed by the Oregon De-
partment of Transportation for
a 2012 runway repaving proj-
ect at Grant County Regional
Airport was whittled down
to about $55,000, thanks to a
careful line-by-line review by
the airport manager.
Haley Walker told the
Grant County Court at their
Nov. 7 meeting that an audit
revealed the payment dis-
crepancy. She said she asked
ODOT if they were willing to
settle for half but was told the
airport couldn’t show a profit
for the runway project.
Walker, who took over as
airport manager in 2016, said
she went through the billing
with a fine-tooth comb and
was able to reduce the claim
by about half. The overpay-
ment had already been spent
The Eagle/ Richard Hanners
Grant County Judge Scott Myers, left,
and Commissioner Jim Hamsher listen
to discussion about wages paid to cooks
at the county’s senior centers during the
Nov. 7 court meeting.
on a tractor and payroll.
Grant County Judge Scott
Myers said Walker’s careful
review amounted to the same
result as a settlement. He also
took note of Walker’s careful
bookkeeping practices and
The Eagle/ Richard Hanners
Airport Manager Haley Walker provides
details on an overpayment to the Oregon
Department of Transportation at the Nov.
7 Grant County Court meeting.
felt assured a similar discrep-
ancy would not happen again.
Commissioner Jim Ham-
sher noted that the project
came to nearly $1 million
and was worthwhile to the
community. The county was
fortunate to get the ODOT
funding, he noted.
Hamsher agreed with
Myers’ motion to settle with
ODOT for $55,000, using the
county’s contingency fund.
Myers noted that the contin-
gency fund was $550,000 as
a result of a significant federal
payment-in-lieu-of-taxes pay-
ment this year.
In other county court
news:
• The court agreed to raise
the pay for cooks in area se-
nior centers. Senior Program
Director Veanne Weddle said
the cooks have much of the
same responsibilities as cooks
at private restaurants, includ-
ing licensing and shopping
for supplies.
But senior center cooks
also must be ready for un-
expected numbers of diners,
interact with patrons and take
feedback and clean the dishes
and kitchen after each meal.
The cooks at the Monument
Senior Center have been there
for two decades, she said, and
relief cooks get paid more
than permanent cooks.
Hamsher noted that senior
center cooks could easily find
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
Brandon J. Elliott, 31, John
Day, pleaded guilty Nov. 1 to mis-
demeanor menacing constituting
domestic violence committed July
1 and attempt to commit felony
strangulation constituting domestic
violence committed between May
15 and June 15. He was sentenced to
14 days in jail, 48 months probation
and $525 in fines and fees. Charges
of interference with making a report,
menacing, second-degree criminal
mischief and harassment were dis-
missed.
Jaremy V. Flanary, 24, Vero
Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty Oct.
18 to misdemeanor fourth-degree
assault committed on July 27, mis-
demeanor second-degree failure to
appear committed on Sept. 6 and
felony first-degree criminal mis-
chief committed on Oct. 1. He was
sentenced to 105 days in jail, 36
months probation, 70 hours com-
munity service and $1,467 in fines
and fees. A charge of menacing was
dismissed.
A charge against Sarah L. Ake,
30, Ontario, was dismissed Nov. 7
on the district attorney’s recommen-
dation as the conditions had been
met for a conditional discharge. She
pleaded guilty June 22, 2017, to
felony possession of methamphet-
amine committed on Feb. 20, 2016.
A misdemeanor charge of stran-
gulation constituting domestic vio-
lence committed Nov. 25, 2015, by
Michael A. Marcucci, 44, Mt. Ver-
non, was dismissed Nov. 9 after the
district attorney’s office stated that
the conditions of a July 14, 2016,
diversion agreement had been met.
Tari L. Knop, 60, La Grande,
pleaded guilty Nov. 8 to driving un-
der the influence of intoxicants com-
mitted on April 13. She was sen-
tenced to five days in jail, 24 months
probation, 120 hours community
service and $2,355 in fines and fees.
Her driver’s license was suspended
for one year, and she was ordered to
install an ignition interlock device
on any vehicle she drives.
Grant County Sheriff
The Grant County Sheriff’s Of-
fice reported the following for the
week of Nov. 7:
Concealed handgun licenses: 8
Average inmates: 14
Bookings: 15
Releases: 8
Arrests: 3
Citations: 0
Fingerprints: 2
Civil papers: 11
Warrants processed: 3
Asst./welfare check: 0
Search and rescue: 0
Justice Court
• Violation of basic rule: Jenelle
A. Moulton, 62, Canyon City, Oct.
22, 81/55 zone, fined $265.
• Violation of speed limit: Aus-
tene L. Hendrix, 72, John Day, Oct.
28, 30/20 zone, fined $115.
Oregon State Police
Nov. 4: Responded to a sin-
gle-vehicle crash with minor inju-
ries on Highway 395 near the Vance
Creek rest area that occurred the
night before. The driver swerved to
avoid deer and lost control, and the
vehicle went airborne and ended up
on its side in Vance Creek. Reuben
P. Harvey, 22, Seneca, was cited for
careless driving.
Nov. 4: Dispatched to Thompson
Avenue in Mt. Vernon and arrested
Shelby M. Pickenpaugh on a felony
arrest warrant from Grant County.
Nov. 4: A reportedly stolen hand-
gun was found by a hunter. The
handgun was given to the Gilliam
County Sheriff’s Office to be re-
turned to its owner.
Nov. 4: Investigated a single-ve-
hicle rollover with serious injuries
on Highway 7 east of Austin Junc-
tion. The 2009 Honda Accord failed
to negotiate a curve and went air-
borne, rolling end over end down a
steep embankment and striking sev-
eral trees. The 19-year-old female
driver and 19-year-old male passen-
ger were transported to a hospital in
Bend by air ambulance. Speed was
determined to be a factor.
Nov. 8: A hunter reported acci-
dentally shooting an antlerless elk in
a spike-bull only hunting unit. The
hunting party had field dressed the
elk, and a game trooper picked it up
the next day for donation to a food
bank. The hunter was warned for
unlawful taking of an antlerless elk.
Nov. 10: A hunting group was
warned about not entering the Mur-
derers Creek ranch house owned by
the Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife.
Dispatch
John Day dispatch worked 166
calls during the week of Nov. 5-11,
including:
• John Day Police Department
Nov. 5: Responded to a restau-
rant on Main Street in John Day and
arrested Tylor J. Gifford, 34, John
Day, on a parole warrant.
Nov. 8: Received a report of a
suspicious person on Brent Drive in
John Day.
Nov. 9: Followed up on a bad
check investigation at a snowmobile
dealership in John Day.
Nov. 9: Following a traffic stop
on Highway 26 east of John Day,
Jaden M. Corely, 18, Unity, was cit-
ed for speeding, 55/35 zone.
Nov. 10: Responded to a call
about a dog at large attacking other
dogs on West Main Street in John
Day. Anne Mingus, 47, John Day,
was citing for having a nuisance dog.
Nov. 10: Received a report of
a stalking order violation on West
Main Street in John Day.
Nov. 10: Responded to a restau-
rant on Main Street in John Day to
assist probation agents with a re-
ported probation violation.
Nov. 11: Dispatched to West
Main Street in John Day for a pos-
sible suicidal person.
Nov. 11: Following a traffic stop
on Highway 26 east of John Day,
Sara Christiansen, 50, of Minnesota,
was cited for speeding, 65/35 zone.
• Grant County Sheriff’s Office
Nov. 5: Advised of a burglary
report on South Johnson Avenue in
Prairie City.
Nov. 6: Received a report of a
noninjury crash on the road to Izee.
Nov. 6: Advised of trespassing in
Fox.
Nov. 6: Received a theft report
from Dog Creek Road in John Day.
Nov. 6: Responded with state po-
lice and Forest Service to Northwest
Cozart Avenue in Prairie City for a
report of shots fired.
Nov. 7: Dispatched with John
Day and Monument ambulance,
Monument fire, state police and Or-
egon Department of Transportation
to Highway 19 for a report of a ve-
hicle in the river.
Nov. 8: Advised of a disorderly
person on Nelson Road in Canyon
City.
Nov. 10: Received a report of
a noninjury crash on Highway 26
west of John Day.
Nov. 10: Advised of a domestic
violation on West Sixth Street in
John Day.
Nov. 11: Received a call about
custodial interference on Bradley
Street in Long Creek.
• John Day ambulance
Nov. 5: Responded to Cotton-
wood Street in Mt. Vernon for a lift
assist.
Nov. 5: Dispatched to South
Main Street in Prairie City for an el-
derly woman.
Nov. 5: Responded to Northeast
Front Street in Prairie City for a hos-
pital transport.
Nov. 5: Dispatched to Coyote
Trail Lane in Mt. Vernon.
Nov. 5: Responded to the hospi-
tal in John Day for a patient trans-
port to the airport.
Nov. 8: Dispatched to a senior
home in John Day for a 75-year-old
woman.
Nov. 8: Responded to Buckhorn
Road in Canyon City for a man who
had fallen.
Nov. 8: Dispatched to a motel on
Main Street in John Day for a man
who had fallen.
Nov. 8: Responded to Highway
395 in Canyon City for a 40-year-
old man.
Nov. 8: Dispatched to a motel in
Mt. Vernon for a 68-year-old man.
Nov. 9: Responded to Forest
Road 4550 in the Middle Fork area
for an unconscious 71-year-old man.
Nov. 10: Dispatched to West
Main Street in John Day for a
48-year-old woman with flu-like
symptoms.
Nov. 11: Responded to East Fifth
Street for a 63-year-old man.
Nov. 11: Dispatched to North-
east Front Street in Prairie City for a
27-year-old man with loss of feeling
in his extremities.
Nov. 11: Responded to Northeast
Seventh Avenue in John Day for an
85-year-old woman who had fallen.
• John Day fire
Nov. 7: Dispatched to North
Canyon Boulevard in John Day for
a report of a flue fire.
Nov. 9: Received a call from a
resident at Third Avenue and Elm
Street in John Day that he was let-
ting his chimney burn out and didn’t
want anyone to call the fire depart-
ment.
• Oregon State Police
Nov. 6: Responded to a noninju-
ry crash on Highway 395 north of
Mt. Vernon.
Nov. 6: Dispatched with John
Day and Prairie City ambulance,
sheriff’s office and Forest Service to
a motor vehicle crash on Highway 7
east of Austin Junction.
Nov. 7: Advised of a calf on
Highway 26 near Moon Creek.
Nov. 8: Responded to Highway
395 south of Fox for a noninjury
crash.
• Oregon Department of Trans-
portation
Nov. 5: Received a livestock
complaint for Highway 26 at Moon
Creek.
• U.S. Forest Service
Nov. 5: Responded to a forest fire
report near Galena.
Nov. 6: Received a theft report
from Forest Road 3945 north of Ma-
gone Lake.
TREAT
YOUR
FEET
work elsewhere. The court
agreed to raise the pay for
assistant cooks from $10.71
to $12 per hour and for head
cooks from $10.81 to $12.50
with both effective Oct. 26.
• The court approved a
$14,520 bid by Red’s Electric
to upgrade lighting fixtures in
the Grant County Courthouse
to energy-efficient LED fix-
tures. The cost to upgrade the
jail to LED fixtures cost about
$14,000 with a rebate of about
$12,000 from Oregon Trail
Electric Cooperative. Savings
from electric bills at the jail
were expected to make up for
the difference, Myers said.
• The court appointed April
Bieber, a certified physician’s
assistant at Strawberry Wil-
derness Clinic, as the county
medical examiner after Dr.
Raffaella Betza resigned from
the position.
• The court’s next meeting
is Nov. 28.
Comments
solicited
for Ragged
Ruby Project
Deadline to offer
suggestions or
changes is Dec. 17
Blue Mountain Eagle
The 45-day comment period for
the Ragged Ruby Project Draft En-
vironmental Impact Statement on
the Malheur and Umatilla national
forests began Nov. 2.
The Ragged Ruby Project
proposes alternatives for upland
restoration activities (8,210-
9,200 acres), prescribed burning
(31,500-34,000 acres), road activ-
ities (11.6-12.4 miles temporary
road construction, 2.9 miles road
opening, 7.3 miles road closure,
1.7 miles road decommissioning,
1.2 miles conversion of road to
trail, 9.9 miles seasonal wildlife
road closures modified and 25.3
miles confirmation of past admin-
istratively closed roads), recre-
ation opportunity improvements
(2.8 miles new trail construction,
8.4 miles co-designation of roads
as trails, 5.1 miles trail un-desig-
nation, four new trailheads, three
new parking areas at trailheads,
four trailheads un-designated and
one interpretive sign installed)
and forest plan amendments. Ad-
ditionally, typical road mainte-
nance activities designed to meet
Malheur Forest Plan standards
and guidelines would be per-
formed.
Comments must be postmarked
or received within 45 days, Dec.
17.
An open house is scheduled
from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 in Ju-
niper Hall at the Malheur Nation-
al Forest Supervisor’s Office, 431
Patterson Bridge Road, John Day,
OR 97845.
From 5:30-6:30 p.m., the format
will be an open house style with
members of the interdisciplinary
team available to answer questions
about the project. At 6:30 p.m.,
there will be a group round-robin
session where people can provide
feedback.
The Ragged Ruby Project Draft
Environmental Impact Statement
is available at fs.usda.gov/pro-
ject/?project=49392 or by contact-
ing Sasha Fertig at 541-575-3061
or sashafertig@fs.fed.us.
Our Services by a registered nurse include:
• Pedi-Spa treatment for your feet
• Particular attention to Diabetic Foot
• Multifunctional massage chair
• Skin Inspection • Callus Removal • Nail Cutting
We also check your blood pressure, blood sugar level and oxygen saturation.
Call
541- 575-1648
for an appointment
$35 00 fee
Blue Mountain Hospital
541-523-6377
541-963-6577
541-573-6377
FOOT CLINIC
541-576-2160
84502
www.bluemountainhospital.org
Services available at the
Home Health Office,
422 W. Main, John Day.