Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 6, 2019)
NEWS BlueMountainEagle.com Wednesday, March 6, 2019 A3 County asked to fully fund predator control D.C. group to request exemption from Forest Service Travel Management Rule By Richard Hanners Blue Mountain Eagle Eagle photos/Richard Hanners Grant County Wildlife Advisory Board Chairman Larry Burton spoke to the Grant County Court Feb. 27 about the need for more predator control work to protect deer populations. Grant County Treasurer Julie Ellison spoke to the Grant County Court Feb. 27 about cost-of-living wage increases for the next fi scal year budget. tion of Grant County natu- ral resource adviser using the “approved” job descrip- tion and asked that the posi- tion be fi lled with a member of the wildlife board. The court, however, indi- cated it had not made up its mind on how to provide for a natural resource adviser — whether it be a single per- son in a budgeted position, a fi ve-member committee or a partnership with Oregon State University. Commissioner Jim Ham- sher suggested holding a dis- cussion on fi lling the posi- tion in the evening so more members of the public could attend. When asked if the wildlife board had chosen a person to fi ll the position, Burton said no. The matter will only harm local com- munities, county residents and recreational opportuni- ties, while offering no tan- gible resource benefi ts,” the petition states. “In fact, it will have negative resource consequences.” • The court approved the following volunteers for the new Water Resource Com- mittee: Jim Driscoll, Doug Ferguson, Lance Zweygardt, Elaine Eisenbraun, Jason Kehrberg, Melanie DeJong, Shaun Robertson, Mike Martin and Justin Rowell. • The court approved two ordinances establish- ing enforcement authority and a fee schedule for an intergovernmental agree- ment with Harney County to share costs for inspection was tabled by the court. • Hamsher will travel to Washington, D.C., in early March with represen- tatives from Harney, Wal- lowa, Malheur, Baker and Union counties to meet with Rep. Greg Walden and the National Association of Counties’ Public Lands Steering Committee. The group will carry a court-approved peti- tion addressed to Agricul- ture Secretary Sonny Per- due requesting exemption from the Forest Service’s 2005 Travel Management Rule for the Malheur and Wallowa-Whitman national forests. “Any additional reg- ulation, such as the 2005 Travel Management Rule, Moving toward an art center in John Day By Richard Hanners Blue Mountain Eagle Kim Randleas has been making the rounds promot- ing her idea of establish- ing an art center in the John Day area. She presented her con- cept to the Grant County Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 21 and has spoken to members of the Grant County Court and the John Day City Council about her proposal. A native of Eastern Oregon with ancestors who were homestead- ers, Randleas is an estab- lished and recognized Western artist who paints Native Americans along with pioneer men, women and children in their rustic settings. Her concept for a local art center has expanded over time to include a robust curriculum that ranges from painting, weaving, glass works, leather craft, photography and pottery to creative writing, music and theater — even business classes for artists. Classes could be pro- vided for children as after- school education and senior projects or fun activities with seasonal themes, such as Halloween or Christmas costumes and decorations. As the program grows, she hopes to provide stu- dio space for working art- ists and gallery space for artists to show their works. The program could also coordinate with First Fri- day downtown events. She envisions the program over time growing into a regional art center and a vital part of the local economy. Randleas says she has solid numbers for a self-sustaining program, with revenue coming from tuition while fundraising and grants would provide seed money. Contributed photo OREGON CAPITAL INSIDER Eagle fi le photo Artist Kim Randleas with one of her oil paintings at an exhibit in John Day in December 2017. Randleas is interested in starting an art center in John Day. One hundred people responded to an online sur- vey March 1 that Randleas used to gauge interest in the art center. Forty percent said they would very likely take an art, music or cre- ative writing class in John Day, and 36 percent said they would likely take such a class. Fifty-fi ve percent said they or their child would be interested in painting classes, 51 percent in pot- tery, 46 percent in drawing, 38 percent in music, 28 per- cent in leather craft, 28 per- cent in creative writing, 26 percent in knitting or cro- cheting and 21 percent in printmaking. About 15 percent said they would pay $10-20 for a two-hour class, about 37 percent said $20-$30, about 16 percent said $30-$40 and about 37 percent said they were not familiar with the cost of art classes. The art center would need to start small and phase up, she said. She has found a dozen peo- ple to serve on an art cen- ter committee and has lined up teachers in a variety of fi elds. She also has the sup- port of community lead- ers and business people. A name and location are still being decided. Anyone interested in teaching or volunteering can contact Kim Randleas at krandleas0250@gmail. com. Attention Grant County Veterans: Did you know Grant County Veterans Services Officer is available to assist YOU in applying for all VA benefits you may be entitled to? Katee Hoffman See your Grant County Veteran Services Officer today for more information. 10am-4pm Monday-Friday • 541-620-8057 530 E. Main, Ste. 5, John Day, OR 97688 We’re investing in Salem coverage when other news organizations are cutting back. Get the inside scoop on state government and politics! 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. AND THEY SAY ADVERTISING DOESN’T WORK? DON’T MAKE THIS SAME MISTAKE Advertising is an investment, not an expense. Think about it! Blue Mountain Eagle MyEagleNews.com Don’t get left behind, call today! Kim Kell 541-575-0710 Blue Mountain BARGAIN MATINEE IN ( ) Adults $7 ALL FILMS $6 ON TIGHTWAD TUESDAY MOVIE SCHEDULE MARCH 8-14 EAGLE 541-575-0710 195 N. Canyon Blvd., John Day 106285 $9 Adult, $7 Senior (60+), Youth New Farm Bureau directors elected New members were elected to the Grant County Farm Bureau board of directors at their Jan. 19 meeting held at the OSU Extension offi ce in John Day: from left, Dan Driscoll, Rick Henslee, John Thomas, Jeff Thomas (vice president), Matt Allen, Roger Ediger (treasurer), Pat Holliday (secretary) and Shaun Robertson (president). 1809 First Street • Baker City • (541)523-5439 CAPTAIN MARVEL (PG-13) Carol Danvers becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races. FRI & SAT (4:00) 7:00 9:45 SUNDAY (4:00) 7:00 MON- THURS 7:00 HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD (PG) Hiccup must seek “The Hidden World” a secret Dragon Utopia before a hired tyrant finds it first. FRI & SAT (4:10) 7:10 9:50 SUNDAY (4:10) 7:10 MON- THURS 7:10 GRETA (R) A young woman befriends a lonely widow who’s harboring a dark and deadly agenda towards her. FRI & SAT 7:20 9:55 SUN-THURS 7:20 FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY (PG-13) A former wrestler and his family make a living performing at small venues around the country while his kids dream of joining WWE. FRI- SUN (4:20) services for residential sep- tic systems. Assistant Planner Shan- non Springer said prop- erty owners now rely on inspection services from the Department of Environmen- tal Quality offi ce in Pendle- ton and were receiving less than satisfactory service. The court also approved sending a letter to the state Building Codes Division cit- ing two pages of complaints about service. Springer said processing for permits for new construction could take 10-12 weeks, which created a hardship for contractors and property owners. • The court approved hir- ing former economic devel- opment coordinator Sally Bartlett to continue track- 106163 Mismanagement by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has led to a serious decline in mule deer populations, Wildlife Advisory Board Chairman Larry Burton told the Grant County Court on Feb. 27. While the board had no specifi c recommendations for how to address ODFW management at this time, they wanted a commitment from the court to continue funding for a wildlife pro- tection agent. The court was asked to establish a permanent bud- geted county position for a wildlife protection agent with an annual budget of $85,000 and to hire the cur- rent contract employee, Nick Lulay. County Judge Scott Myers agreed the county probably could continue to partially fund the position and noted that $11,000 still remained for predator con- trol in the current fi scal year. The wildlife board also asked the court to fi ll the “already approved” posi- ing federal Secure Rural Schools Title III funding to the county. She will receive $500 per month through the end of August while she also trains the new county eco- nomic coordinator, Allison Field, to take over the work. • The court approved a request by Grant County Assessor David Thunell to cancel back taxes for 84 properties totaling nearly $70,000 because they could not be collected. • Hamsher informed the court the electronic con- trol systems for Prairie City’s newly installed vari- able-speed septic pumps were damaged during the power outage that struck the county in the early morning hours of Feb. 25. • The court approved a request by Roadmaster Alan Hickerson to allow an intern to learn mechanics through a program offered by Cooley Associates of Bend. After one year of working in the Road Department, the intern could apply for a job with the county if a position is available. • The court approved Treasurer Julie Ellison pre- senting a cost-of-living wage increase of 2.55 per- cent for the next fi scal year to the county’s budget com- mittee. The fi gure comes from the annual Consumer Price Index report • The county’s new web- site is up and running at grantcountyoregon.net. 541-523-6377 541-963-6577 541-573-6377 MyEagleNews.com 541-576-2160