The
Blue Mountain
EAGLE
Grant County’s newspaper since 1868
INSIDE THIS EDITION
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
151st Year • No. 31 • 16 Pages • $1.00
MyEagleNews.com
Coordination
hearing draws
discussion
Proposed ordinance
identifies eight objectives
By Richard Hanners
Blue Mountain Eagle
A county ordinance that would
formally invoke coordination with
state and federal agencies for nat-
ural resource planning drew equal
numbers of supporters and oppo-
nents during the July 24 Grant County
Court meeting.
Grant County Judge Scott Myers
said he personally felt the county was
working closer with the U.S. Forest
Service than six months or 20 years
ago. He wasn’t sure if the ordinance
was needed or defensible in court.
New language
The draft ordinance cites state and
federal laws and calls for preserving
the customs, culture and economic
stability
of
Grant County’s
citizens. It also
calls for protect-
ing the environ-
ment and prop-
erty rights.
“State
and
federal
agen-
cies develop-
ing plans, pro-
grams
and
projects which
may affect pri-
vate
citizens
Grant County
who
contrib-
Judge Scott
ute to the eco-
Myers listens to
nomic stability
discussion during
of Grant County
the July 24 court
shall assure that
meeting.
serious consid-
eration is given
to
protecting
the environment without depriving
county citizens of their economic sta-
bility and private property rights and
way of life,” the ordinance states.
The ordinance identifies eight
objectives, including:
• Significant consequences of pro-
posed state or federal actions should
be disclosed to decision makers and
the public.
• Means to mitigate adverse
impacts to the environment should be
identified.
• Intergovernmental coordination
and cooperation should be ensured.
• Conflict between county and
state or federal personnel should be
minimized.
To achieve these objectives, the
county court will establish regulations
and policies by which the county can
DEMOLITION
DERBY
• Patterson takes first
• Law named Most
Aggressive Driver
By Richard Hanners
Blue Mountain Eagle
A
relatively dry rodeo arena
made for fast driving at Sat-
urday’s demolition derby, but
a good dousing by an Iron Tri
angle water truck at halftime
didn’t slow down the action.
A large crowd turned out for the Whis-
key Gulch Gang’s annual derby at the
Grant County Fairgrounds. Ten cars
entered the two heats, but only eight
made it to the main event.
Steve Patterson of Prairie City took
first place in the main event and a $2,000
prize. Chad Law of Mt. Vernon took sec-
ond and $1,000. Patterson’s son Mike of
Pendleton took third place and $500.
Law also was named Most Aggres-
sive Driver and took home a Craftsman
air compressor donated by Nydam’s Ace
Hardware.
Joey Reyes of Idaho, who took sec-
ond in the first heat but was unable to get
his car ready for the main event, was the
Hard Luck winner, with a trophy and free
entry to next year’s derby.
Wayne Saul of Mt. Vernon was last
year’s winner, but he entered a different
car this year that won the Beauty Con-
test. He made it to the main event but
was knocked out of the running. Keith
Dougharity of Mt. Vernon drove Saul’s
Eagle photos/Richard Hanners
Trophy winners for the 2019 Whiskey Gulch Gang Demolition Derby include, from left,
Joey Reyes, Homedale, Idaho, Hard Luck Award and second in heat one; Mike Patterson,
Pendleton, third in main event; Chad Law, Mt. Vernon, second in main event and Most
Aggressive Driver award; Steve Patterson, Prairie City, first in main event and first in
heat one; Chase Jeys, Prineville, first in heat two; and Mark Jeys, Prineville, second in
heat two.
LEFT: Keith
Dougharity, Mt.
Vernon, works on
a ball joint repair
during halftime.
TOP PHOTO: Car No.
88, driven by Mike
Patterson, Prairie
City, rams car No.
52, driven by Joey
Reyes, Homedale,
Idaho.
See Derby, Page A16
See Hearing, Page A16
Inland Street bridge to be fixed
By Richard Hanners
Blue Mountain Eagle
Good news for residents of Can-
yon City, students and staff in Grant
School District 3 and county resi-
dents: The Inland Street bridge over
Canyon Creek will be repaired and
lifted 2 feet higher to protect it from
future flooding.
The solution emerged during the
Grant County Court’s July 24 meet-
ing when an unusually low engi-
neering bid prompted the court to
agree to split the out-of-pocket con-
struction expenses with Canyon
City. The upgraded bridge could be
ready for traffic by Oct. 1, Mayor
Steve Fischer told the court.
Past flooding
The 27-foot long two-lane bridge,
located just upstream from the Grant
Union track and football field, was
closed when Canyon Creek topped
the bridge during April flooding.
Crews maintained watch over the
bridge during the flood, pulling
debris and eventually removing the
pedestrian walkway attached to it.
The upstream Nugget Street
bridge was reopened after an engi-
neer was able to inspect it during
low water, but a weight limit restric-
tion prevents school buses from
using it. The closing of Inland Street
bridge has placed a hardship on the
school district, restricting bus routes
for getting children to Humbolt Ele-
mentary School.
The problem has lingered for
years with no easy solution. Canyon
City, with seven bridges, lacks the
finances to repair the Inland Street
bridge on its own. Fischer recalled
a large grant to fix the bridge that
required a $140,000 match the city
did not have.
Fischer noted that during the
2011 flood, there was talk about the
county taking ownership of Inland
Street and the bridge, including a
public comment by former Commis-
sioner Boyd Britton.
“He’s not here now,” Grant
County Judge Scott Myers told
Fischer during the court meeting,
adding that he had concerns about
the county taking over liability and
maintenance for the bridge.
When asked about a recent fed-
eral disaster declaration and the
possibility that Federal Emergency
Management Administration fund-
ing could cover the cost of the bridge
repair, Fischer said his experience
The Eagle/Richard Hanners
Canyon City resident Garth Leighton
speaks to the Grant County Court
about a proposal to upgrade the
Inland Street Bridge on July 24.
with federal assistance has been long
delays and little production.
See Bridge, Page A16