Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2019)
The Blue Mountain EAGLE Happy New Year Wednesday, January 1, 2020 152nd Year • No. 1 • 16 Pages • $1.50 MyEagleNews.com Alea King and Casey Myers paddle a canoe on the pond that formed at the former Oregon Pine mill site on April 11. Eagle file photo YEAR IN REVIEW A month-by-month recap of 2019 By Rudy Diaz Blue Mountain Eagle W elcome to the start of a new year and a time of ambitious resolutions for the future. While the future can be full of surprises, 2019 is one for the history books. Grant County provided a year full of progress, projects, ups and downs, trials and tribula- tions, grant funding and an abundance of news. Here is a month-by-month recap of some of the highlights for the year. JANUARY A local effort was put together to get approval for use of ATVs on state highways in Grant County. Senate Bill 344, which passed in 2017, allows the Oregon Trans- portation Commission to designate specific routes on state highways where ATVs could travel. The John Day City Council gave con- sensus support to forming a working group with other nearby communities to identify proposed routes in Grant County and to con- sider a joint application for designation. A relocation of wild horses to Malheur National Forest upset ranchers who said the area was already overstocked with the ani- mals. Rancher Mike Moore encountered a Forest Service vehicle pulling a trailer on Dec. 14 in the Murderers Creek allotment of the national forest. Upon questioning the For- est Service worker, Moore was told that the trailer contained wild horses from Ochoco National Forest. Representatives from Mal- heur National Forest said they were coordi- nating with Ochoco National Forest to talk about the horses. Grant County Undersheriff Zach Mobley was awarded the Enforcement Council Com- mander of the Year award at the Oregon State Sheriff’s Associations annual awards program. Dean and Courtney Fox of Canyon City Contributed photo A group of ATV riders make their way through a wooded area of the Morrow-Grant County OHV Park. Local officials have expressed sup- port for allowing ATVs on designated routes on state highways within Grant County. offered a helping hand to Camp Fire survivors in Butte County, California. It was a devastat- ing wildfire that killed 86, destroyed 13,900 homes and displaced 50,000 residents. The Foxes started a fundraiser in November 2018, and many Grant County residents and busi- nesses contributed. Silvies Valley Ranch caught the atten- tion of golfing professionals and publications across the U.S. Silvies was recognized by two nationwide magazines, and the resort’s chef was given a top award by the Oregon Beef Council. The Dayville School Board planned to ask voters to approve a $700,000 bond for school improvements in the May election. Prairie City Cemetery saw improvements and had plans for more improvements in the future such as a Marciel Drilling rig that will install an irrigation well for the cemetery. Officer Zachary D. Carpenter received his police officer certification Jan. 23 at the Ore- gon Department of Public Safety Standards Training in Salem. FEBRUARY A new program supporting local veterans with coffee, haircuts, counseling and more was offered. The Oregon Department of Transportation took extra time to protect fish in Canyon Creek during a flood mitigation project. After 11 years as the Grant County Eco- nomic Development Coordinator, Sally Bart- lett left for a new job, and Allison Field took the position. Prairie City was awarded a $1 million emergency grant that could be used to offset a state loan to develop the Fainman Springs well site and the cost of hauling water during the Eagle file photo Grant County veterans join together for coffee on Wednesdays at the John Day Elks Lodge 1824. On Jan. 30, from left, Josh Parker of John Day (Coast Guard), Bob Van Voorhis of John Day (Army) and Greg Ford of Bend (Navy) attended. water emergency in 2018. The John Day-Canyon City Parks and Rec- reation District was awarded a $243,083 grant from the state Parks and Recreation Depart- ment. The money was planned to be used for a new kiddie park, splash pad and exercise sta- tion at the Seventh Street Complex in John Day. See Review, Page A3 City addresses concerns about fees, taxes By Rudy Diaz Blue Mountain Eagle As the John Day City Council began to wrap up the last meeting of 2019, a county resident raised his hand with concerns. Steve A. Parsons of Mt. Ver- non asked a variety of question regarding grants, taxes and the job duties of John Day City Man- ager Nick Green. “It’s a lot easier coming into a meeting and asking questions than just hearing rumors on the streets,” Parsons said. “That’s the reason why I came tonight.” Parsons asked if writing, man- aging and collecting administra- tive fees from grants were part of Green’s job — and whether the 1% administrative fee the council agreed to pay to Green from the proceeds from successful grants was ethical. He asked if Green worked on the grants during his office hours. Green said these grants require work during his office hours and at home. “We’ve been awarded 23 grants, and it’s a lot of extra time,” he said. Councilor Shannon Adair said, if the city didn’t have Green work- ing on grants, it would have to pay somebody else for the work, which would cost more than the 1% administrative fee. “When we hired (Green), that was not a part of what we hired him to do,” said John Day Mayor See Concerns, Page A5 The Eagle/Rudy Diaz City Manager Nick Green talks about the ongoing projects in John Day as Mayor Ron Lundbom looks through the agenda for more information on Dec. 10.
