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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 18, 2019)
A10 NEWS Blue Mountain Eagle Deputy Continued from Page A1 The timeline Smith’s spouse filed a petition for dissolution of marriage citing “irreconcil- able differences” Aug. 5. Smith was placed on administrative leave for an unrelated issue Aug. 9. Sheriff Glenn Palmer served Smith Aug. 13 with a summons to appear in court for the divorce proceedings. An OSP spokesman said its Criminal Investigations Division received a request to conduct an investigation of Smith Sept. 6. OSP arrested Smith Sept. 9. Smith was also the sub- ment forwarded a copy of the complaint to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office for further review. Wright said Tyler Smith’s leave was not related to the DPSST complaint. Carpenter said the investi- gation is ongoing, but “early indications are that Smith will formally be charged with attempted rape, assault and child neglect.” Smith has posted bail and has been released from cus- tody, Carpenter said, and is scheduled to be in court Oct. 24 for arraignment. ject of a Feb. 2 complaint to Oregon’s police licensing agency, the Department of Public Safety Standards & Training, regarding an inci- dent from Sept. 15, 2018. In the complaint, Pam Smith of Baker City said Tyler Smith “was rude, arrogant and completely out of line as an officer” while refusing to enforce a restraining order in John Day. DPSST Professional Standards Coordinator Kris- ten Hibberds said in a March 4 response the department “does not have jurisdic- tion over the operations of law enforcement agencies” because it is “limited to the certification standards found in Oregon law and rule.” Hibberds said the depart- Flag Continued from Page A1 ODOT flagger Tom Wil- son said he enjoyed the tribute. “It’s pretty neat for 9/11,” he said. At Ferguson Surveying, Kenny Delano, who is also Mt. Vernon’s mayor, was at work and said it was a touch- ing sight that morning. “It showed a lot of integ- rity on the bridge crews’ part to fly that flag, especially today,” he said. Sharing his thoughts about Sept. 11, 2001, Delano said he recalls the courage and bravery of people who over- took terrorists on the plane (United Airlines Flight 93) that crashed in Shanks- ville, Pennsylvania, as well as the first responders at the World Trade Center and The Pentagon. He said he’d been listening to recordings of the air traffic controllers and how, at first, when the first plane hit one of the Twin Towers in New York, they didn’t know what had happened, then a second plane hit the other tower. “The country came together,” he said. “I’m torn — I’m proud, but pretty emo- tional. It’s still devastating to think of what happened.” The cost Wright said Tyler Smith’s hourly wage is about $22.70, so he earns about $3,934 in gross monthly wages. All benefits remain active when an employee is on administrative leave, Wright said, including health insur- ance, PERS retirement, sick leave and vacation accrual, 10 paid holidays through- out the year, life insurance and long-term disability insurance. The county pays the entire medical premium for employees and a portion of any dependents added to the plan, Wright said: • For an employee only, the county pays $840.54. • For an employee and spouse, the county pays $1,544.35, and the employee pays $189.54. • For an employee and one child, the county pays $1,547.64, and the employee Wednesday, September 18, 2019 pays $191.74. • For an employee and two children, the county pays $2,291, and the employee pays $687.56. • For an employee and family, the county pays $2,335.44, and the employee pays $717.20. Each month of Tyler Smith’s health insurance costs the county at least $840 — but likely $2,335, consid- ering the Aug. 5 dissolution of marriage petition states Tyler Smith “should main- tain medical and dental insur- ance” for the children. While the PERS retire- ment contribution costs the county about 6% of the sal- ary for most employees, Wright said law enforce- ment officers are in a differ- ent PERS category requiring a contribution of 11% of the employee’s salary. At 11% of his wage, Tyler Smith’s PERS contribution costs about $432 per month. Accruing 10 hours of vacation and eight hours of sick leave each month costs the county another $408. Dividing the 80 paid holi- day hours equally throughout the year gives a monthly cost of about $151. Wright said life insurance and long-term disability costs vary by age and monthly wages but range from about $20-30 per month. Each month Tyler Smith remains on administrative leave costs Grant County taxpayers between $5,785 and $7,290. Staff The Eagle/Angel Carpenter Continued from Page A1 ODOT flagger Tom Wilson said he appreciated the tribute on 9/11 when a bridge crew placed the flag on a crane in Mt. Vernon. enjoy.” Mary Cade is starting her first year at Monu- ment, teaching grades 2-4. She graduated from the school in 2012. She taught in Fossil at Wheeler County School District until a teaching position opened Monument. Cade said she enjoys the school and being near family to help maintain their farm and raise livestock. Four generations of her family were educated at Monument School. “I am now teaching in the same building my great-grandmother, May De Ett Hinton, taught in,” she said. Cade said once she decided on the education field, her dream was to return and teach alongside the teachers who positively impacted her life. “I hope to inspire my students like many of my past teachers did and give the students the best education that I can offer as a teacher,” she said. “I also hope to give them more than just a textbook education but skills they will carry with them the rest of their lives.” Emerson said Monument is a giving and sup- portive community. When she graduated in 1990 there were more students and staff, but “it was the same feeling,” she said. In high school, Emerson babysat a couple of familiar faces at the school, including Hamil- ton and Brittany Desadier, who is a school board member. “It’s full circle,” she said. It’s a blessing to work here and give back,” she said. “We have a great staff, and I think we have great opportunities ahead of us this school year and in the years to follow.” AVAILABLE NOW! 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