NEWS
BlueMountainEagle.com
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
A3
Timko sworn in as justice of the peace pro tem
By Richard Hanners
Blue Mountain Eagle
Local attorney Christie A.
Timko was sworn in as Grant
County Justice of the Peace
pro tem for 2019 after being
approved by the county court
Jan. 9.
Timko received her law
degree from the Univer-
sity of Oregon in 1997. She
has served as a prosecutor
in Harney County, the dis-
trict attorney in Grant County
and the executive director of
Grant-Harney County CASA.
Justice of the Peace Kathy
Stinnett explained, with four
local law enforcement officers
related to her, it was important
to avoid even the appearance
of impropriety by having a pro
tem judge handle some cases.
Cris Patnode, the justice of
the peace in Gilliam County,
and Vicky Clemens, the jus-
tice of the peace in Harney
County, were approved as
alternates.
In other county court news:
• The court approved a
request by Grant County
Regional Airport Manager
Haley Walker for the county to
partner with the Oregon Avia-
tion Industries organization to
promote rural air service.
The group is an aviation
cluster group of the Oregon
Business Council and the Ore-
gon Business Plan that includes
more than 400 aviation-related
businesses in the state.
The group promotes rural
air service in Oregon by uti-
lizing government subsi-
dies, avoiding expensive air-
port security screening and
matching right-sized aircraft to
demand.
Walker said the only cost to
the county would be her time.
ORAVI will create a marketing
plan and present it to a com-
mercial carrier that might offer
air service in John Day, she
said.
• The court approved a
request from Grant County
District Attorney Jim Car-
penter to apply for a federal
Office on Violence Against
Women grant. Fifty grants up
to $750,000 will be awarded,
but submissions will be com-
petitive. The exact amount the
district attorney’s office will
apply for will be determined
closer to the Feb. 14 deadline,
Carpenter said.
Carpenter said the grant
could be used to pay for part
or all of the costs for a Heart
of Grant County executive
director, a victim intervention
The Eagle/Richard Hanners
Grant County Justice of the Peace Kathy Stinnett swears
in Christie Timko as the new pro tem judge for the
county justice court.
specialist, training and travel
expenses, community aware-
ness and education projects,
providing for emergency ser-
vices and collaborating with
the Heart of Grant County for
a support advocate and the
group’s proposed domestic
abuse shelter project.
Carpenter also informed
the court that Victim Assis-
tance Director Andrea Officer
had resigned to take another
job, and Kimberly Neault, the
victim intervention specialist,
would fill that position.
• The court approved an
emergency ordinance codify-
ing the court’s decision in Octo-
ber regarding the Meadow-
brook Quarry near Dale. The
court had opposed a request
by the Oregon Department of
Transportation to designate the
quarry as a significant aggre-
gate site with a 1,500-foot buf-
fer zone that would limit land
uses near the site.
The court approved a des-
ignation that would not limit
uses by the property owner,
and ODOT appealed the
court’s decision to the state
Land Use Board of Appeals.
Attorneys for ODOT and the
county agreed that codifying
the court’s decision in an ordi-
nance was needed to move the
matter forward.
• The court approved a sti-
pend to pay for internet service
at Commissioner Sam Palm-
er’s home. The court is moving
to “paperless” management,
and Palmer needed quality
internet access. Palmer agreed
not to take a stipend for serv-
ing as the county’s new public
health administrator, a position
recently mandated by the state.
• The court appointed new
volunteers to 11 committees
and boards.
Commissioner Palmer was
appointed to the Local Com-
munity and the Regional advi-
sory councils.
Robert Watt and Robert
Bagett were reappointed to
the Airport Commission, and
Doug Ferguson was appointed
to the commission. Ron Lund-
bom, who served as chairman
for many years, has stepped
down.
Robert
Stewart
was
reappointed to the Budget
Committee.
Kris Beal and Chris Cro-
nin were reappointed to the
College Advisory Board, and
David Kebler was appointed
to the board. Bruce Ward, who
had served for a long time on
the board, has stepped down.
Gail Enright could not be
reappointed to the Extension &
4-H Service District Advisory
Council, and no applications
were received.
Jake Taylor and MT Ander-
son were reappointed to the
Fair Board.
Donna Johnston and Dale
Stennett were reappointed to
the Mental Health Advisory
Board.
No volunteers submitted
applications for the Senior Cit-
izens Advisory Council.
Sally Bartlett, Haley Walker
and Rick Minster were reap-
pointed to the South East Area
Commission on Transporta-
tion, and Commissioner Jim
Hamsher was appointed to the
commission.
Rick Henslee, Shaun Rob-
ertson and Larry Burton were
reappointed to the Wildlife
Advisory Board.
With no actions for the
Wolf Depredation Advisory
Committee to handle for many
years, the committee needed to
be recreated for a recently doc-
umented case of a wolf attack
on a calf. Commissioner Ham-
sher, Alec Oliver, Pat Holli-
day, James Driscoll and Rob
Stewart were appointed to the
committee.
Shooting the Breeze: The .22-250 Remington
By Dale Valade
For the Blue Mountain Eagle
If you ever want to start an argu-
ment, a surefire way to drop the
gauntlet is by making absolute dec-
larations about guns. For example,
saying a .270 is all you need or my
favorite elk rifle is a .243 can be
blood boilers. As a culture, blessed
as we are with so many “best”
choices, it’s hard to find common
ground with such different expe-
riences and backgrounds. It seems
like no matter the merits or misgiv-
ings of any cartridge, people either
love it or hate it. Case in point, the
.22-250 Remington.
Standardized in 1965, the .22-
250 was divined in 1937 as a wild-
cat round. The pop-
ular .250 Savage
case was necked
down to take .224
caliber
bullets,
hence the moniker
“.22-250.” While
Dale
hardly an overnight
Valade
sensation, it even-
tually outclassed its
competitors. An efficient, accurate
load, it is nearly perfect for what its
progenitors intended.
Here in Eastern Oregon, I think
there are more “truck guns” cham-
bered in .22-250 than anything else.
I learned of the deadly potential of
this classic round at a young age.
My father never misses a chance
to sing its praises. It’s definitely
one of his favorites and mine too.
It’s popularity is well warranted;
a flat-shooting varminter, it also is
an adequate deer rifle in the hands
of a good shot. Adequate as in it
will work under the right condi-
tions but isn’t the best choice in all
conditions. The controversy over
this application isn’t unfounded as
many have heard of or witnessed
mixed results using .22s on big
game.
These naysayers aren’t wrong,
per se; the factories load their ammo
with thin-jacketed, rapid-expansion
bullets perfect for vermin, but not so
reliable on bigger critters. Sticking
with the heavier 55 grain bullets for
all-around use is strongly advised.
Bullet performance is just as
important as shot placement in my
experience; your bullet must have
enough integrity to penetrate to the
vitals even when you put it in the
“right spot.” Knowing that .22 bul-
lets are “soft,” hunters must restrict
themselves to broadside shots into
the lungs, avoiding the front shoul-
ders. Handloading premium bullets
aids in attaining the desired perfor-
mance as these have thicker jack-
ets. While these boutique bullets
will give greater penetration, they
do not increase the killing power
of your weapon. The class of game
animals for which a .22-250 should
be applied does not enlarge by using
“hard” bullets.
Some recommend head or neck
shots as an additional alternative,
and I leave this up to you to decide
for yourself, though I personally
don’t endorse it. The “pie plate”
sized vital area behind the front
shoulder is a much better target.
Believe it or not, head shot animals
can survive if the brain or spine does
not take a direct hit. Poor shot place-
ment leads to a slow, painful death.
No creature deserves that.
Precautions aside, for varmints
and big game animals under 100
pounds, a .22-250 works great.
Recoil is minimal, rifles and ammu-
nition abundant and accuracy top
notch. Remember to pick a heavier,
quality-made bullet and place your
shots just so. Of course, if you own
a .22-250, you already know exactly
what it’s capable of.
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