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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 26, 2018)
NEWS BlueMountainEagle.com Continued from Page A6 percent of the vote. Incum- bent Scott Myers defeated Jim Hamsher 1,653-1,584 in the race for county judge. Sam Palmer and Gordon Larson were the top two candidates out of six can- didates for county commis- sioner and would compete again in the fall election. Turnout was 65.8 percent. June A team of dragon danc- ers from Portland performed at a dinner celebrating the 140th anniversary of the Kam Wah Chung historic site in John Day. Former First Lady Mary Oberst and other notables also attended. After two advisory com- mittees reviewed the plan, John Day City Council approved a housing incen- tive program to encourage new home construction and remodeling. The fi rst pay- ments were expected to take place in late 2019. Experts at the Northwest Coordinating Center in Port- land forecast elevated fi re dangers in Eastern Oregon, following a continuing trend of hot, dry summers. Smoke from fi res in Central Oregon began to fi ll the John Day Valley. The John Day City Coun- cil chose a design for the city’s new wastewater treat- ment plant that would use hydroponics to reclaim water. Engineering consul- tant Anderson & Perry pre- sented three options for the facility, but constricted geography ruled out land application and cost ruled out mechanical treatment. July Commissioner Boyd Britton stepped down as Grant County commissioner after 15 years. The court appointed attorney Rob Raschio to fi ll the position for the remainder of Brit- ton’s term. Britton closed down his welding shop and moved to Arizona. Rough-in work for a new bike park on a hillside over- looking the Seventh Street sports complex was com- pleted, with single-track trails of varying diffi culty and fl ow features all part of the design. Local law enforcement announced Terry Smith, 67, and Sharon Smith, 65, were missing following a fi re at their remote cabin on Nan’s Rock Road south of Mt. Ver- non. Sheriff Glenn Palmer considered their disappear- ance suspicious, saying the Smiths were a social couple but had left no messages. In addition, the couple’s pickup truck was missing. Palmer said no evidence of human remains had been found. The Federal Bureau of Investiga- tion and state police assisted the local sheriff’s offi ce in the investigation. The city of John Day announced plans to sell park land around the Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site, including the Gleason Pool, to the state so an interpretive center could be constructed. City Manager Nick Green recommended the city hire consultants to help with planning for a new aquat- ics facility to replace Glea- son Pool. The John Day City Coun- cil approved a notice of intent to purchase three greenhouse bays from Euro- mex for $337,500 capable of producing 30 tons of gar- den vegetables per year. The sale of the produce would be used to pay off the loan for the greenhouse. August Lonestar was the head- liner at the Grant County Fair. The theme of the fair was “Boots, Chaps and Cowboy Hats.” Prairie City offi cials declared a water emergency as the city’s Dixie Creek water source dried up. Ten- ders began delivering water from John Day, and Mayor Jim Hamsher drove around the city looking for viola- tors of the water restrictions. Debt on past water projects made it diffi cult for the city to fi nd fi nancing for a new source of water at Fainman Springs. The state later agreed to provide the city with $1.5 million in loans and grants to develop the springs. A plea agreement was reached for the Oct. 16, 2017, shooting incident at Dixie Campground. Kevin J. Rapp pleaded guilty to fi rst degree attempted assault and possession of methamphet- amine. The victim had been shot twice in the head. Rapp later was sentenced to 85 months in prison and $300 in restitution. September Former Grant County Judge Mark Webb fi led chal- lenges to a 2013 county mea- sure demanding the United Nations not act within the county, a 2013 county mea- sure petitioning Congress to transfer title of public lands inside Grant County to the county and a 2013 ordinance stating that all roads, trails, stock driveways and byways The Eagle/Richard Hanners Commissioner-appointee Rob Raschio speaks with Commissioner-elect Sam Palmer at Raschio’s last Grant County Court meeting Dec. 19. Palmer defeated Gordon Larson in the November election and will take offi ce in January 2019. crossing public lands in Grant County be kept open to the public. The Grant County Court approved a settlement agree- ment with Sheriff Glenn Palmer and Civil Deputy Sally DeFord to pay $14,000 of the legal expenses they incurred while defending themselves against a public records lawsuit brought by The Oregonian. Grant County Dis- trict Attorney Jim Carpen- ter learned that a $167,000 per year federal Violence Against Women Act grant would not be renewed. The grant had been used to pay for a deputy district attor- ney, an intervention spe- cialist and a director at the Heart of Grant County. The information coincided with Deputy District Attorney Mara Houck’s departure announcement. October The Blue Mountains Forest Plan Revision drew 341 objections. Concerns included timber harvest, grazing restrictions, access changes and combining plans for the Malheur, Wal- lowa-Whitman and Umatilla national forests in one docu- ment. Objectors included the Grant County Court, Eastern Oregon Counties Associa- tion, Sheriff Glenn Palmer, Blue Mountains Forest Part- ners and the Grant County Stockgrowers. Sheriff Glenn Palmer announced that the remains of Terry Smith had been identifi ed at the burned cabin on Nan’s Rock Road and the missing cou- ple’s truck had been found in Boise, Idaho. Ear- lier in September, Palmer reported that evidence col- lected at the site of the missing couple appeared to be of human origin, and he declared the case to be a homicide. November Sam Palmer defeated Gordon Larson in the race for Grant County commis- sioner with 54.3 percent of the vote to Larson’s 45.2 percent. Jim Hamsher won a write-in campaign to retain his position as mayor of Prai- rie City. Incumbents Paul Smith and Gregg Haberly along with appointee Shan- non Adair were elected to the John Day City Coun- cil. Three new city council- ors were elected in Prairie City: Scott Offi cer, Chase McClung and Tisha Pack- ard. The winners in the Mt. Vernon City Council elec- tion were Bryan Montague and Mitchel Wilson. The winners in the Long Creek City Council election were Denise Porter and Alvin Hunt. A 48-year-old man in Mt. Vernon was arrested and charged with the rape and kidnapping of a 15-year-old girl from Idaho. Andy Vogt was later extradited to Idaho where he faced charges with life sentences. The Ada County Sheriff’s Offi ce alleged Vogt forced the girl to leave Eagle, Idaho, with him. A house fi re on Sky- view Drive was visible from much of downtown John Day. The garage and a bed- room of the Mosiers’ home was completely destroyed, but Dale and Shelly Mosier escaped unharmed along with their dog. Grant County could see a large infl ux of tourism next year, Don Merritt, cura- tor at the Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site in John Day, told the Grant County Chamber of Commerce. Film crews from China and Singapore shot video at the site during the summer for documentaries to be shown on the Chinese and U.S. networks of the Discovery Channel. While the state had plans to purchase adja- cent land from the city of John Day for an improved heritage site, a new inter- pretative center to handle all those new tourists might not be completed for four to six years, Merritt said. The city of John Day’s announcement that Glea- son Pool would remain open only two more seasons raised public concerns. Options for replacing the pool ranged from $4.3 million for an out- door pool to $15 million for an indoor aquatics facility. The city hoped to hand over pool design, construction, fi nancing and operation to a countywide agency. December Sheriff Glenn Palmer announced that the His- tory Channel had expressed interest in a 20-year-old cold case in Grant County A7 and offered to pay for addi- tional analysis to identify the remains. The body of a man was found in Vance Creek in 1998, and the case was con- sidered a homicide. The Grant County Digital Network Coalition learned it had not been selected to receive a $3 million federal Community Connect grant needed to construct a fi ber cable system from the John Day Fire Hall to Seneca. The coalition continued to look for grants needed to improve internet access in the county. The body of a miss- ing hiker was recovered from Fields Peak after sev- eral days of single-digit temperatures and strong winds. Lucas F. Cavalle, 38, Mt. Vernon, planned to hike from near the summit 9 miles down to his home. A large search and rescue effort was mounted, both on land and in the air. Financial hurdles impacted plans for three John Day city projects. Reluctance by Oregon State University to sup- port construction of two more bays at the city’s greenhouse project made a fourth and fi fth bay unsus- tainable. Extremely high operation and maintenance costs appeared to rule out an indoor aquatics facil- ity. And the state’s decision to fund only one $100,000 street project instead of two delayed the extension of Valley View Drive to Pat- terson Bridge Road for now. A TTENTION G RANT C OUNTY V ETERANS : Are you using or interested in learning about Choice Card Medical Care? Katee See your Grant County Veteran Services Hoffman Officer today for more information. Monday through Friday 10 am – 4 pm. Call 541-620-8057 for an appointment 530 E. Main, Ste. 5, John Day, OR. 71661 1809 First Street • Baker City • (541)523-5439 BARGAIN MATINEE IN ( ) Adults $7 ALL FILMS $6 ON TIGHTWAD TUESDAY MOVIE SCHEDULE DEC 21- DEC 27 CALL FOR TIMES 95984 541-523-2522 or go to www.eltrym.com $9 Adult, $7 Senior (60+), Youth There’s No Place Like Home 96889 Review Wednesday, December 26, 2018 For The Holidays Restoration Fuels, LLC Open House On Thursday, January 10, 2019 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, representatives from Restoration Fuels and Oregon Torrefaction invites the community to an informal open house. The opportunity will be held at the Canyon City Community Hall at 104 S. Humbolt St, Canyon City, OR 97820. The meeting will have information stations on Restoration Fuels installation of a 12 ton/hour torrefaction facility at the Malheur Lumber Company mill in John Day. 331 W. Main, John Day 541-575-2710 1-800-575-2710 Fax 541-575-2610 Please join us for some light refreshments and an informative evening to answer any questions you may have about this first, U.S. large-scale, commercial effort to help restore forests and create economic oportunity in the region. www.RMLS.com eastoregonrealestate.com We’d like to deliver our sincere best wishes to your door this holiday. May the season bring much happiness, health and good fortune to you and your loved ones. If you’re looking for a home for the holidays and beyond, please keep us in mind. We’ve been helping area residents find the perfect place to call home for over 10 years. Every other Monday in John Day at Blue Mountain Hospital 170 Ford Rd. • 541-575-1311 Torrefied Wood Pellets Amy Denman 503-577-7029 96063 Wendy Cates 541-620-4239 Al Denman 503-709-0425 Wishing you the Peace and Joy of the Christmas Season. Best wishes for 2019 from your friends at Eastern Oregon Realty. Jerry, Michal, Lindsey, Traci, Deann and Jo. 541-523-6377 541-963-6577 541-573-6377 541-576-2160 95986 Fred Winegar 541-820-3589
