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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 9, 2019)
Grant Union volleyball posts wins at Dig Pink Rally | Page A9 The Blue Mountain EAGLE Grant County’s newspaper since 1868 Wednesday, October 9, 2019 151st Year • No. 41 • 18 Pages • $1.50 MyEagleNews.com Sheriff’s Office: Hunter’s death ‘tragic accident’ Body found after weeklong search in Wallowa Mountains By Jayson Jacoby EO Media Group Searchers found the body of Andrew Dean Dennis of Haines late Sunday morning in a nearly sheer rock chute in the Wallowa Mountains, eight days after the 60-year-old Haines man failed to return from a planned one-day deer-hunting trip. It appears that Dennis died from a fall in the steep terrain near East Eagle Creek, his niece, Candy Sturm, said Sunday. Sturm said her uncle’s body was found near where Andy searchers trapped Dennis Dennis’ dog, Bar- ney, on Saturday evening. The site is near where Curtis Creek crosses the East Eagle trail, about 2 miles from the trailhead where Dennis parked his vehicle on Sept. 28. Dennis’ body was initially spot- ted by a drone, according to a post Sturm made on her Facebook page. Searchers found Dennis about 11:30 a.m. Sunday, according to a press release from the Baker County Sheriff’s Office. “His death appears to be a tragic accident,” according to the press release. “No foul play is suspected.” Ashley McClay, the public information officer for the sheriff’s office, said a drone operated by the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue team located Dennis’ body. McClay said searchers later found his body in what they described as a “waterfall, crevice area” on a steep slope above the East Eagle trail. Sheriff Travis Ash described the location as a chute. McClay said it appears that Dennis fell on Sept. 28, the day he arrived in the area to hunt for deer. “We believe that he died the day he went hunting,” McClay said. Sturm said Barney was reunited with Dennis’ wife, Patty, and that the dog, although he has lost some weight, is doing well. Sturm said she “cannot express enough” thanks to all the people who participated in the search for her uncle over the past week. On her Facebook page Sturm, See Hunter, Page A18 Contributed photo/Baker County Sheriff’s Office Andy Dennis’ body was found in this steep rock chute above the East Eagle Trail. SUPPORT ON DARK DAYS Eagle file photo From left, John Day City Manager Nick Green and Mayor Ron Lundbom listen to discussion during the city council’s June 25 meeting. John Day receives excellence award from League of Oregon Cities City one of 10 in nation chosen for EPA revitalization assistance By Rudy Diaz Blue Mountain Eagle The city of John Day is receiving state and national recognition for its efforts to improve the community. The city received the 2019 Award for Excel- lence at the League of Ore- gon Cities annual con- ference Sept. 27 in Bend for its Innovation Gate- way and Riverfront Recre- ation Area. The award rec- ognizes progressive and innovative city operations and services. “Eleven cities in Ore- gon submitted to be in this competition, and we got the award,” said John Day Mayor Ron Lundbom. The Innovation Gate- way includes several proj- ects centered around the revitalization of the Ore- gon Pine mill site in John Day, such as the restoration of the John Day River, increased public access and recreational oppor- tunities, a new wastewa- ter treatment plant and a hydroponic greenhouse. “In the next four years, John Day will be a place to come, a place where cit- izens can enjoy the river,” Lundbom said. “The sewer plant is going to happen, but the (other plans) will happen as money and per- mitting allows.” John Day City Manager Nick Green said the river access will be great for the city. “Opening up access to the John Day River to mul- tiple neighborhoods, in an area where it was previ- ously inaccessible, is a big part of the plan,” Green said. “The trail along the north side of the river that connects to Charolais Heights to Valley View Drive, south to Canton Street in between Sev- enth Street and the fair- grounds will now be able to give people access from downtown to the river and from the neighborhood to the river, which has been blocked from pub- lic access for the last 100 years.” To help fund some of the projects, the city sub- mitted multiple grant appli- cations. On Sept. 19, it was announced that John Day was awarded $511,927 through two grants from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The Eagle/Angel Carpenter Providing support for victims of domestic violence in Grant County are, from left, Cindy Kalin, Kimberly Neault and Shelly Whale. Kalin is a domestic violence and sexual assault victims advocate, Neault is the director of Victim Assistance and victims advocate at the Grant County District Attorney’s office and Whale is the executive director and an advocate at Heart of Grant County. The ladies are standing in front of a Domestic Violence Awareness Month ‘clothesline’ at the Heart office in John Day, which displays T-shirts with positive messages created by clients. Local help available for victims of domestic violence By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle H elp is available in Grant County for any- one experiencing domestic violence. Three women who provide assistance to those experiencing domestic trauma say being there for victims experiencing dark days and seeing them progress to survivors make their efforts worth it. Shelly Whale is executive director of Heart of Grant County in John Day, and she and Cindy Kalin are both domestic violence and sexual assault advocates. Kimberly Neault is the director of the Victim Assis- tance Program at the Grant County District Attorney’s Office at the courthouse in Canyon City. Sometimes the two agencies assist the same clients, and although some of their roles differ, their goal is the same: to support clients experiencing abuse. At Heart, trained advocates are available through a confidential 24/7 crisis and support hotline, for calls or texts, and at their office located at 518 S. Canyon Blvd. Heart can also assist with emergency shelter, sup- port groups, legal advocacy, services for children and youth, prevention education and confidential advocacy, safety planning and referrals to other services. Heart hopes to break ground on a new shelter and office called the Meredith House next year. Neault provides support for victims and protects their rights as they navigate the judicial system. She and other staff members at the office can also provide victims with transportation to court hearings. While the police speak with an abuser or make an arrest, advocates from Heart and Victim Assistance can help the person experiencing the trauma. “— with tissues, a hug or a cup of tea,” Whale said. One difference between the two agencies is that con- See Support, Page A18 See Award, Page A18 Governor announces six-month ban on flavored vaping products By Claire Withycombe Oregon Capital Bureau Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has imposed a six-month ban on the sale of flavored vaping products. Eight cases of respiratory illness associated with vaping have been reported in Oregon as of Oct. 1. In two of those cases, the patients died, according to the Ore- gon Health Authority. People vape by breathing in through electronic cigarettes or vape pens that heat liquid to cre- ate an aerosol. That liquid can con- tain nicotine, THC and other ingre- dients such as flavorings. The industry has been criticized for promoting sweet-flavored products that Oregon Gov. appeal to chil- Kate Brown dren, such as bubble gum and crème brulee flavors. The ban does not cover unfla- vored vaping products. “My first priority is to safe- guard the health of all Oregonians,” Brown said in a statement Friday, Oct. 4. “By keeping potentially unsafe products off of store shelves and out of the hands of Oregon’s children and youth, we prevent exposing more people to potentially dangerous chemical compounds, and help lessen the chance of fur- ther tragedy for any other Oregon family.” Brown added that the “saf- est option” for people right now is stop vaping altogether, in line with what State Health Officer Dean Sidelinger advised Sept. 26. “Until we know more about what is causing this illness, please, do not vape,” Brown said. “Encour- age your friends and family mem- bers to stop vaping immediately. Talk to your children about the dan- gers of vaping. The risks are far too high.” Last week, the state health agency had suggested a six-month ban as one of the policy options Brown could consider. She is also ordering state agen- cies to develop “long-term solu- tions” for the legislature to consider. Within three months, Brown wants state agencies to come up with plans with respect to consumer warnings about vaping, ingredient See Vaping, Page A18