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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (May 27, 2020)
NEWS MyEagleNews.com Wednesday, May 27, 2020 A3 Middle Fork, Canyon Creek experience flooding May 20 Highway 395 remains closed south of Pilot Rock Thursday morning By Rudy Diaz Blue Mountain Eagle Several areas in Grant County experienced flooding May 20. Dave Dobler, the coun- ty’s interim emergency man- agement coordinator, said the National Weather Ser- vice forecast did not expect the amount of precipitation received Tuesday night or Canyon Creek rising 1 inch per hour for 13 hours. “Galena experienced flooding in some areas (Wednesday) ...,” he said May 20. “One home is surrounded by water, and we have had contact with them. They do not have any requests for assistance at this time.” The flooding caused the closure of Middle Fork Road, as well as Highway 395 south of Pilot Rock. The county road department worked to clean up Middle Fork Road, he said. Dobler said there was The Eagle/Rudy Diaz A sign warns drivers entering Canyon City from John Day. Contributed photo/Dave Dobler Flooding in Galena Wednesday. minor flooding in the usual areas on Highway 395 south of Canyon City and along Canyon Creek. He said there were no evacuations or sand-bagging. Search and rescue person- nel made contact with several residents in impacted areas May 20, he said, and helped two residents remove pumps and equipment near Canyon Creek along Southwest Brent Drive. Water levels around Grant County receded Thursday after Wednesday’s flooding. Grant County Commis- sioner Jim Hamsher said Galena and the Middle Fork were the most impacted areas. The Eagle/Rudy Diaz Sandbags placed in front of a home entryway as rain continues on May 20. The Eagle/Rudy Diaz The Eagle/Rudy Diaz Sandbags around Canyon Creek at the Inland Bridge as rain falls on May 20. Contributed photo/Dave Dobler Flooding in Galena Wednesday. The bridge on Inland Street over Canyon Creek as water flows on May 20. Baker County judge declines to vacate opinion that would end governor’s coronavirus closures Buehler rules out bid for governor By Gary A. Warner For the Oregon Capital Bureau Knute Buehler says he will not run for governor in 2022 and endorses President Don- ald Trump’s reelection this November. Buehler, the former two- term state representative from Bend, lost the Republican pri- mary for the 2nd Congressio- nal District on Tuesday. It was his third loss at the polls for a major office, following unsuc- cessful bids for secretary of state in 2012 and governor in 2018. In an exchange of emails, the 55-year-old Buehler said Thurs- day he wouldn’t run again for the state’s top job in two years. “No, I am not considering a run for governor in 2022,” Bue- hler said. “But I will support a candidate who can help restore fiscal responsibility and bring government accountability to the state I love so dearly.” Buehler didn’t specifically rule out a run for some office someday but spoke of his per- sonal political career in past tense. “Politics and public service has been an exhilarating expe- rience made possible by family, friends, and tremendous sup- porters,” he said. “I’ll never for- get it but it is time to change my focus to other pursuits.” Debbie Ausmus 245 South Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845 OPEN WED. & THUR. 9 am - 5 pm sion granting the preliminary injunction. Brown’s attorneys, mean- while, argue that the governor’s executive orders are not sub- ject to the 28-day limit in that law because her initial declara- tion of an emergency related to the coronavirus was under a dif- ferent law — a general emer- gency statute that has no time limit. Brown has since extended the emergency declaration to July 6. 541-575-1113 24 hrs/7 days wk debbie.ausmus@ countryfinancial.com S185395-1 TOM CHRISTENSEN CHRISTENSEN TOM S185393-1 CONSTRUCTION (541) 410-0557 • (541) 575-0192 CCB# 106077 REMODELS • NEW CONSTRUCTION • POLE BUILDINGS CONCRETE EXCAVATION • SHEET ROCK • SIDING ROOFING • FENCES • DECKS • TELESCOPING FORKLIFT SERVICES S185396-1 541-523-6377 541-963-6577 541-573-6377 541-576-2160 MEAT PROCESSING Don’t get caught in the shortage! Cheap pork and beef custom cut Geoff just Witmer like you want it! Call now! Monday - Thursday 7am- 6pm Monday - Thursday 7am- 6pm Friday 8am - 5pm Friday Sharpe 8am - 5pm Mendy FNP Mendy Sharpe FNP Apppointments available Geoff Witmer Geoff Witmer I think of you and miss you every day, Clayton. You will never be forgotten. Love, Mom (541) 620-4260 S188348-1 Baker County Circuit Court Judge Matt Shirtcliff is standing by his May 18 opinion that Ore- gon Gov. Kate Brown exceeded her legal authority in issuing executive orders related to the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter dated May 26, Shirtcliff wrote, “I have elected to stand by original ruling.” The Oregon Supreme Court had given Shirtcliff a deadline of 5 p.m. Tuesday to respond to the alternative writ of man- damus the Court issued on Saturday. That legal document asked Shirtcliff to either vacate his May 18 ruling, which tempo- rarily prevented the state from enforcing the governor’s exec- utive orders, or to issue a writ- ten opinion defending his deci- sion. The Supreme Court issued a stay on May 18, which tem- porarily put a halt to the prelim- inary injunction and allowed the state to enforce the gover- health emergencies, is subject to that law’s 28-day limit on such emergencies. By that mea- sure the executive orders ended in early April, and the plaintiffs contend the governor no longer has the legal authority to restrict a variety of activities, includ- ing the current 25-person limit on public gatherings, including church services. Shirtcliff agreed with the plaintiffs and cited the 28-day limit in his May 18 deci- 41931 H N 41931 Hwy 395 Long Creek, OR 97856 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 S189352-1 S190547-1 By Jayson Jacoby EO Media Group nor’s execu- tive orders. The state con- tinues to have that authority. Shirtcliff’s third option Judge Matt is the one he Shirtcliff chose — to not vacate his decision but not issue a supplemental written opinion. The issue now returns to the Oregon Supreme Court. Attorneys representing the governor have until Thursday, May 28, to file briefs related to the preliminary injunction. The plaintiffs attorney have until June 2 to file responding briefs. The current legal issue is the preliminary injunction, not the lawsuit itself. Whether or not the Supreme Court decides to reinstate the injunction Shirtcliff granted May 18, the lawsuit could pro- ceed to trial in Baker County Circuit Court. The plaintiffs, led by Elk- horn Baptist Church of Baker City and represented by Salem attorney Ray Hacke of the Pacific Justice Institute, which defends religious freedom, argue that Brown, by invok- ing in her executive orders a state law dealing with public S185394-1 139101 Closure orders remain valid until Oregon Supreme Court can rule on the matter Don’t get left behind, call today! Kim Kell 541-575-0710