NEWS
BlueMountainEagle.com
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
A5
John Day to consider impounding vehicles
By Richard Hanners
Blue Mountain Eagle
The city of John Day
is considering impound-
ing vehicles when drivers
stopped for a traffic viola-
tion are repeat offenders and
behind on fine payments,
Police Chief Mike Durr told
the city council Feb. 12.
Some repeat offenders
who don’t have a valid driv-
er’s license or insurance
have been put on a payment
plan by the courts but aren’t
making the payments, he
said. One woman has racked
up about $12,000 in fines, he
noted.
The impounded vehicle
owner will be responsible
for the towing and storage
charges and an administra-
tive fee to the city. All vehi-
cle and driver requirements
must be met to retrieve a
vehicle, including license
plates, registration, insur-
ance and a driver’s license,
he said.
It would be up to the tow
truck company to decide
what to do with vehicles that
are never retrieved, Durr
said.
Annual report
According to the city’s
“Annual Public Safety
Review,” public safety
spending in fiscal year 2017-
18 included $422,840 for
police, $173,676 for fire and
$423,116 for 911 dispatch.
Total
spending
has
increased about $23,000 per
year from about $500,000
in FY1999 to $1 million
in FY2018, which is faster
than inflation, City Man-
ager Nick Green said. The
$100,000 increase in the
past fiscal year resulted
from capital improvements,
he said.
Transition of 911 dis-
patch service from the city
to the Grant County Emer-
gency
Communications
Agency effective Jan. 1 will
significantly change pub-
lic safety spending. The city
will no longer receive fund-
ing from a state tax on phone
bills, but the tax revenue
was not keeping up with the
cost of providing emergency
communications service.
Dispatch consoles and
other furniture have been
installed at the new dis-
patch center in the John
Day Fire Hall, and the coun-
cil approved a payment of
$49,476 to Evans Consoles
Inc. of Virginia for the new
consoles. A lease agreement
The Eagle/Richard Hanners
From left, John Day Fire Chief Ron Smith and Police Chief
Mike Durr updated the city council at their Feb. 12 meeting.
for use of the fire hall space
has been fully executed,
Green said.
Remaining work for the
dispatch center includes
fiber optic work by Blue
Mountain Telecom and
installation of security cam-
eras and magnetic door
locks. Dispatch service is
expected to physically move
from the John Day City
Hall to the fire hall in early
March, Green said.
This year’s annual pub-
lic safety review document
lacked statistics from local
agencies, Green said, but
according to Oregon Uni-
form Crime Report figures
from 2016, Grant County
ranks fairly well for three
crime rates compared to
Oregon’s 36 counties – 13th
for behavioral crimes, 29th
for personal and 25th for
property.
Police department
Durr has been chief for
about half a year now and
also has been serving as
the school resource officer
at Grant Union Junior-Se-
nior High School. He said
some policy changes should
improve service, such as
providing overlapping and
more flexible shifts, which
will allow two officers to be
ing Officer Scott Moore to
fill in for Durr when he’s
absent.
on duty in busy time periods.
A more proactive than
reactive approach, with offi-
cers contacting residents
and establishing a relation-
ship, has reduced call outs,
Durr said, but he didn’t have
the numbers yet to support
that conclusion. His offi-
cers investigated two seri-
ous domestic assault cases
that led to prison sentences
last year.
Durr said the depart-
ment’s four vehicles have
less than 100,000 miles and
won’t need replacement for
several years. Plans call for
purchasing two electronic
radar signs for installation
at two locations with the
most complaints – Highway
26 east of John Day and the
intersection of Bridge and
Third streets. He also said
he wants to sell the depart-
ment’s 12 aged shotguns and
purchase five new identical
shotguns.
With the recent return of
a new officer from the police
academy, the department is
now up to full staffing lev-
els, Durr said. Online train-
ing will allow the officers to
maintain certification with
less travel. Durr said he is
considering hiring a part-
time clerical clerk and train-
John Day Fire Chief
Ron Smith also updated the
council. The fire department
has 12 volunteers, including
an assistant chief and two
lieutenants. He said the staff
support moving 911 dis-
patch to the fire hall as it will
provide 24/7 security.
Most fires in the John
Day area are weather-re-
lated as opposed to human-
caused, Smith said. The past
year was not a busy year,
with few significant fires.
The department responded
to 30 city calls and 19 rural,
including mutual aid calls,
he said.
Looking forward, Smith
noted that the department’s
backup engine has some
issues, and they are begin-
ning to look for a replace-
ment pumper. With the fire
hall completed, the com-
pressor system for the
department’s self-contained
breathing apparatus will
be moved from the public
works department to the fire
hall, which will make top-
ping off bottles after a call
much easier, he said.
to Leasy Road in Long Creek
for a man who had a seizure.
Feb. 15: Responded with
Monument ambulance to Crib-
bage Lane for a 3-year-old with
a finger injury.
Feb. 16: Dispatched to East
Main Street in John Day for a
woman with swollen legs and
feet.
Feb. 16: Responded to East
Main Street in John Day.
Feb. 16: Dispatched to a
mobile home park on West
Main Street in John Day for a
62-year-old woman with stroke
symptoms.
Feb. 16: Responded to Lay-
cock Creek Road in John Day
for a 75-year-old man with
breathing complications.
Feb. 17: Dispatched with
Seneca ambulance to A Ave-
nue in Seneca for a 63-year-old
woman having seizures.
Feb. 17: Responded to a
911 call from Northeast Sev-
enth Street in John Day.
Feb. 17: Dispatched for a
911 call from Bridge Street in
John Day.
Feb. 17: Responded to
South Johnson Avenue in
Prairie City for a 74-year-old
woman who had fallen.
Feb. 17: Transported a
patient to the airport in John
Day.
• Monument ambulance
Feb. 17: Responded to Top
Road in Monument for a 911
call.
• John Day fire
Feb. 11: Responded to East
Main Street for a flue fire.
Feb. 16: Received a report
of a chimney fire on East Main
Street in John Day.
• Long Creek fire
Feb. 16: Responded with
Long Creek ambulance, Grant
County sheriff’s deputies, state
police and Columbia Power
personnel to a structure fire
on Highway 402 near Long
Creek.
Fire department
COPS AND COURTS
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
Nathan M. Elledge, 27,
Bend, pleaded guilty Feb. 14
to felony fleeing or attempting
to elude a police officer and
misdemeanor reckless driv-
ing committed on Dec. 6 or 7.
He was sentenced to 10 days
jail, 10 hours community ser-
vice, 18 months probation and
$550 in fines and fees.
Debra L. Shawn, 63, Mt.
Vernon, pleaded guilty Feb.
14 to failing to perform the
duties of a driver in a crash
involving property damage
committed on Nov. 4. She
was sentenced to 20 days
house arrest, 10 hours com-
munity service, 12 months
bench probation and a $100
fee. Her driver’s license was
suspended for 90 days.
Nicholas P. Gibson, 27,
Prairie City, pleaded guilty
Feb. 14 to fleeing or attempt-
ing to elude a police officer
committed on Jan. 3. He was
sentenced to 15 days jail, 30
hours community service, 18
months probation and a $100
fine. His license was sus-
pended for 90 days. A second
count of attempting to elude a
police officer was dismissed.
Grant County Sheriff
The Grant County Sheriff’s
Office reported the following
for the week of Feb. 13:
Concealed
handgun
licenses: 12
Average inmates: 17
Bookings: 6
Releases: 4
Arrests: 1
Citations: 0
Fingerprints: 2
Civil papers: 9
Warrants processed: 4
Asst./welfare check: 0
Search and rescue: 1
Justice Court
• Exceeding speed limit:
Laurel K. Nelson, 72, John
Day, Dec. 19, 42/20 zone, fined
$165.
• Gregg A. Chambers, 30,
Cape Coral, Florida was found
guilty by jury trial Feb. 12 of
second-degree criminal tres-
pass. He was sentenced to 30
days jail and $100 in fines and
fees.
Dispatch
John Day dispatch worked
133 calls during the week of
Feb. 11-17, including:
• John Day Police
Department
Feb. 11: Following a traffic
stop on Main Street in down-
town John Day, Tina Couey,
58, Prairie City, was cited
for driving with a suspended
license and no insurance.
Feb. 11: Responded to
Northwest Seventh Street in
John Day for a suicidal person.
Feb. 13: Advised of suspi-
cious circumstances at Dayton
and East Main streets in John
Day.
Feb. 14: Took a credit card
fraud report at a mobile home
park on West Main Street in
John Day.
Feb. 14: Responded to a
noninjury crash near the high
school in John Day.
Feb. 15: Following a traf-
fic stop on Highway 26 east of
John Day, Christine N. Daum,
30, was cited for driving with
a suspended license and no
insurance.
Feb. 16: Received a report
of a theft at the fairgrounds in
John Day.
Feb. 16: Following a traffic
stop in the John Day City Hall
parking lot, David S. Ashby,
55, Redmond, was cited for
speeding, 45/25 zone.
Feb. 17: Advised of sus-
picious circumstances at an
apartment complex on High-
way 26 east of John Day.
• Oregon State Police
Feb. 11: Dispatched to
Highway 395 near Highway
402 for a vehicle slide-off.
Feb. 13: Responded to a
noninjury crash on North Can-
yon City Boulevard in Canyon
City.
Feb. 14: Advised of a sus-
picious vehicle on Highway 26
A man wakes up in
the morning after
sleeping on an
ADVERTISED BED,
in ADVERTISED
PAJAMAS.
He will bathe in an ADVERTISED TUB, shave with an ADVERTISED RAZOR,
have a breakfast of ADVERTISED JUICE, cereal and toast, toasted in an
ADVERTISED TOASTER, put on ADVERTISED CLOTHES and glance at his
ADVERTISED WATCH. He’ll ride to work in his ADVERTISED CAR, sit at an
ADVERTISED DESK and write with an ADVERTISED PEN. Yet this person
hesitates to advertise, saying that advertising doesn’t pay. Finally, when his
non-advertised business is going under, HE’LL ADVERTISE IT FOR SALE.
Then it’s too late.
Advertising is an investment, not an expense. Think about it!
Blue Mountain Eagle
MyEagleNews.com
105442
AND THEY SAY ADVERTISING DOESN’T WORK?
DON’T MAKE THIS SAME MISTAKE
Don’t get left behind, call today! Kim Kell 541-575-0710
east of Dayville.
• Grant County Sheriff’s
Office
Feb. 11: Received a report
of suspicious circumstances in
Mt. Vernon.
Feb. 12: Advised of sus-
picious circumstances at the
Prairie City School.
Feb. 12: Search and rescue
crews stood down when sev-
eral snowmobile riders became
stuck in the Vinegar Hill area
of the Middle Fork of John
Day River drainage and spent
the night.
Feb. 13: Received a report
of an assault on Ingle Street in
Mt. Vernon.
Feb. 14: Advised of crimi-
nal mischief at the RV park in
Prairie City.
Feb. 14: Received a report
of shots fired on South Bridge
Street in Prairie City.
Feb. 16: Advised of a dis-
pute on North Johnson Avenue
in Prairie City.
Feb. 17: Received a report
of suspicious circumstances on
Owens Street in Dayville.
• John Day ambulance
Feb. 11: Responded to Long
Creek.
Feb. 11: Dispatched to
Bridge and Second streets in
John Day for an elderly woman
who fell.
Feb. 12: Transported a
patient to the airport in John
Day.
Feb. 13: Transported a
patient to the airport in John
Day.
Feb. 14: Responded to a
senior home in John Day for a
97-year-old woman.
Feb. 14: Dispatched to a
mobile home park on West
Main Street in John Day.
Feb. 15: Responded to
Southwest First Street in John
Day for a 76-year-old man with
chest pain.
Feb. 15: Dispatched with
Long Creek ambulance and fire
Hello Grant County,
Did you know that the Chamber
has a Facebook page? If you haven’t
“liked” us, please do! We are at
Grant County Oregon Chamber of
Commerce. We will be doing some
contests soon, so check us out and
you could win some Grant County
Greenbacks!
Our February Chamber meeting is
Thursday, February 21st. The Board
meets at 10:30 a.m. at the Chamber
office and the no-host luncheon is at
12 p.m. at the Outpost Pizza,
Pub & Grill.
Kim Randleas will be sharing
exciting news about a new Center
for the Arts that is in the works.
This is the time of year we secure
sponsors for our newsletter and
banner ads on our website; we have
a couple sponsor spots available for
both. The cost is $200/year; if you
are interested, please call Tammy at
the Chamber office, 541-575-0547.
We would like to welcome Apricot
Apiaries as new members! Matt
Allen and Liz Lovelock are based in
Kimberly. Check them out on our
website or Facebook.
If you’re not a member of the Grant
County Chamber of Commerce, we
would love to talk to you about
joining. Call the Chamber office, or
talk to one of our directors, Bruce
Ward, Jerry Franklin, Greg Armstrong,
Shannon Adair, Taci Philbrook, Dave
Driscoll, Elaine Eisenbraun, Sally
Knowles or Amber Wright.
It seems like we had a short spring,
and now it’s winter again! Well, I’m not
going to complain - it’s one of the nice
things about living in Grant County!
And, the snowmobilers are happy!
We have been working on a
design for a billboard on the
freeway near Ontario, and we are
waiting for one to open up between
Portland and the Coast. You can
check out the preliminary design on
our Facebook page and watch out!
More people will be heading for
Grant County!
We hope to see you Thursday!
Tammy Bremner
Manager, Grant County Chamber
of Commerce
105447