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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (June 24, 2020)
NEWS MyEagleNews.com Wednesday, June 24, 2020 Commissioners disagree over EOC’s future at the airport By Steven Mitchell Blue Mountain Eagle As the June 17 session of Grant County Court winded down, County Judge Scott Myers told the court that the future and loca- tion of the county’s Emergency Opera- tions Center is “not defined.” However, County Commis- sioner Jim Hamsher said in order for the Seth county to qualify for Klingbeil Federal Emergency Management Administration reim- bursements the county’s EOC must meet certain FEMA guidelines. He said those include a clear flight path, a spot for helicopters and a com- munications room. Currently, the EOC is at the Grant County Regional Airport at a dis- counted rate. The EOC is renting offices at the airport terminal, includ- ing the upper conference and commu- nication rooms and a storage/server room. Airport Manager Haley Walker has asked the court at the last three The Eagle/Steven Mitchell Grant County Airport Regional Manager Haley Walker addresses the court June 17. Walker said she was under the impression the Emergency Operations Center was winding down and that she has approached the court twice about the future of the EOC at the airport. county court sessions about the EOC’s long-term plans but, until last week, did not receive clear answer from the commissioners. Two weeks ago, Walker said that she does not mind if the EOC con- tinues to stay at the airport, but asked that the staff keep the common areas open to the public now that county buildings are open. She said days after buildings had opened back up that the staff had locked the front door to the terminal. Walker said the perception the community has is the airport is the EOC, but she had heard from Chris Rushing, interim incident commander, that the EOC was leaving the airport. “It is my job to control the safety and the security of the airport, includ- ing the terminal,” she said. Walker said the storage space the EOC is renting is a “mess” and that she went to get light bulbs earlier in the week and could not get the door open. Hamsher said the personal protec- tive equipment in the storage room is owned by the state and has to be kept under lock and key. He said the PPE stockpile in the storage room is only to be handed out to hospital or health department staff or first responders, following request. Myers read the portion of former Incident Commander Dave Dobler’s resignation letter pertaining to demo- bilizing the EOC. Myers said, while he does not want to dissolve the EOC completely, he would like to relocate it to the Emer- gency Management office at the L building, next door to the Grant County Health Department. Myers said the EOC is down to three or four staff members. “It only makes sense,” he said. “Three or four people on staff can comfortably be accommodated in that other building.” A5 Murder suspect arrested in Grant County Blue Mountain Eagle Oregon State Police and Grant County Sheriff’s Office offi- cers took a murder suspect from Washington County into cus- tody early Saturday morning in Seneca. Lisa Akers, 39, was arrested without incident, according to an OSP media report from OSP Trooper William Blood. Akers was lodged at Grant County Jail based on prob- able cause by the Washing- ton County Sheriff’s Office detectives, according to OSP. According to The Orego- nian newspaper, police iden- tified Akers as a suspect in a double-shooting that left one person dead and another with life-threatening injuries in an unincorporated area of Wash- ington County Friday. COPS AND COURTS Arrests and citations in the Blue Mountain Eagle are taken from the logs of law enforcement agencies. Every effort is made to report the court disposition of arrest cases. Grant County Sheriff The Grant County Sheriff’s Office reported the following for the week of June 17: Concealed handgun licenses: 5 Average inmates: 10 Bookings: 10 Releases: 9 Arrests: 1 Citations: 1 Fingerprints: 0 Civil papers: 32 Warrants processed: 5 Assistance/Welfare check: 1 Search and Rescue: 3 Emily Vahsholtz, 24, Klamath Falls, was cited for violation of basic rule, 80/65 zone. Grant County Justice Court Violation of the basic rule: Daniel S. Fox, 54, Prineville, June 4, 74/55 zone, fined $165; Sharon M. Dufek, 50, Medford, May 25, 69/55 zone, fined $140; Kevin E. Wil- liams, 34, Portland, May 23, 75/55 zone, fined $165; Ken- neth A. Ganey, 64, Puyallup, Washington, 75/55 zone, fined $165; Bayley M. Harper, 20, Mt. Vernon, 74/55 zone, fined $165; James M. Strawn, 54, Shady Cove, May 17, 75/55 zone, fined $165. Exceeding speed limit: Ariana Dominique Van Dyken, 30, Baker City, March 25, 81/65 zone, fined $225; Hayden L. Young, 22, John Day, April 15, 75/65, fined $165; Emily L. Ennis, 20, Prairie City, March 11, 64/40, fined $225; Austin J. Parish, 24, Lebanon, Ohio, May 13, 53/35 zone, fined $165; Karen J. Williams, 60, Sisters, May 21, 53/35 zone, fined $165; Diane D. John, 54, Monroe, Washington, May 20, 48/35 zone, fined $165; Quenton S. Adkins, 23, Seneca, April 24, 85/65 zone, fined $265; Juve- nile, 16, John Day, May 5, 76/65 zone, fined $200. Driving while suspended: Gage R. Lambeth, 20, John Day, March 29, fined $440. Driving uninsured: Gage R. Lambeth, 20, John Day, March 29, fined $265. Driving while outside of probation: Juvenile, 16, John Day, May 5, fined $340. Operate motor vehicle in violation if license restric- tions: Juvenile, 16, John Day, April 17, fined $200. Failure to obey traffic con- trol device: Krista E. Sheedy, 30, John Day, May 21, fined $265. Operating with a nonstan- dard light: Franklin C. Oster, 21, Redmond, March 20, fined $165. Clinton T. Walczyk, was convicted of taking/posses- sion of bull elk parts/head after a plea of no contest. He was ordered to pay a fine of $440. On June 18, the court granted a judgment for Suzette Mael, against Corinne Aze- uedo, Kimberly, for $461.75. Oregon State Police June 14: A John Day Fish and Wildlife trooper responded to a noninjury, sin- gle-vehicle-versus-deer crash at milepost 32 on Highway 395C. The vehicle could not be driven from the scene, and a tow was called to transport the vehicle and the driver. June 17: OSP stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation near milepost 151 on High- way 26. On the initial contact, OSP talked to a 32-year-old man and a 27-year-old female passenger. The 32-year-old man said he didn’t have his license with him. After further investigation the male driver gave a fictitious name. Jus- tin R. Warmuth, 32, of North Powder was detained until fur- ther investigation. Later in the investigation, Warmuth iden- tified himself. Warmuth had a nationwide Washington state warrant for his arrest. War- muth was cited in lieu of cus- tody for giving false informa- tion to a police officer. The passenger, Heather N. Lear- mouth, 27, of Chiloquin was arrested for hindering prose- cution. Learmouth was trans- ported by a deputy from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. Doug’s Towing responded and removed the vehicle. OSP transported Warmuth to the Grant County Jail where OSP lodged him for a Wash- ington Department of Correc- tions warrant. Learmouth was booked and later released for hindering prosecution. June 18: OSP saw a vehi- cle approaching southbound on Highway 395C near mile- post 1. OSP recognized this vehicle to be one operated by a suspended driver who does not have insurance. OSP also knows the vehicle’s registra- tion is expired from 2017. OSP stopped the vehicle on North Humbolt Street in Can- yon City. OSP contacted the driver, Steven M. Warrington, 30, of Granite. According to the DMV, Warrington’s license is suspended for vio- lation. Warrington did not have insurance. Frontier Tow- ing responded and towed the vehicle. OSP issued the driver citations for driving while sus- pended and driving uninsured. June 19: OSP was dis- patched to a rollover crash on State Route 402 near mile- post 1. When OSP arrived, a flatbed truck was on its side off the road. Based on road- way evidence, the truck was eastbound when it drifted onto the eastbound shoul- der. The driver, a 34-year- old man, overcorrected, went into the westbound lane, then back across the eastbound lane where he left the road- way and rolled the truck. OSP contacted the driver at his res- idence which was nearby. On contact, the driver had glassy, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. The driver admit- ted to drinking three beers and several shots of bour- bon throughout the afternoon and told me he had not been drinking since the crash. The driver consented to field sobri- ety tests and showed further indicators of impairment. OSP arrested the driver, Mat- thew D. Allen, 34, of Kim- berly for DUII. OSP learned there were several thousand bees being transported on the truck. The driver and his wife advised they were going to get help from friends to remove the truck in the morning. The driver and his wife are expe- rienced bee keepers. OSP did not tow the pickup due to the bee hazard that would endan- ger a tow truck driver and opted to give the driver and his wife (with proper protec- tive equipment) an opportu- nity to remove the truck. OSP marked the vehicle to let pass- ing motorists know the crash had already been reported. OSP also tagged the vehicle as abandoned. OSP transported Allen to the Grant County Jail. Allen consented to a breath test, which indicated a blood alcohol concentration result of 0.09% approximately four hours after the crash was reported to OSP. OSP issued the driver citations for DUII and careless driving causing an cccident and lodged him at the jail. June 20: OSP was dis- patched to milepost 68 on Highway 395B for a reported domestic altercation. OSP contacted Michael W. Sims, 57, of Sprague River while an OSP Fish and Wildlife ser- Blue Mountain Eagle geant contacted the involved 55-year-old woman. The woman had damaged pants and injuries to both knees from the incident on this date. Probable cause was developed to arrest Sims for fourth-de- gree assault. Sims also had a warrant for failure to appear out of Klamath County. Klam- ath County requested Sims be cited and released on the war- rant. OSP arrested Sims for fourth-degree assault. During the investigation, OSP learned the altercation occurred near milepost 51 in Umatilla County. OSP issued a citation to Sims for failure to appear, with a scheduled appearance in Klamath County Circuit Court. OSP met near Ukiah with an OSP trooper from Pendleton who transported Sims to the Umatilla County Jail where he was lodged for assault. Dispatch John Day dispatch worked 144 calls during the week of June 15-21, including: • John Day Police Department June 15: Cited Justin Wells, 36, of Hillsboro for driving while suspended and no insurance on Highway 26 near milepost 162. June 15: Cited Steve War- rington, 30, of John Day driv- ing while suspended violation and no insurance. June 15: Cited Travis Fre- niere, 33, of John Day for driving while suspended and no insurance. June 18: Cited Brent Shawin, 54, of Seneca and Lyssa Sawin, 29, of John Day for open container. • Oregon State Police June 17: Advised of cows on the road on Highway 26 near milepost 138. June 18: Received a report of a goat on Highway 26 near milepost 155. June 19: Received a report of a noninjury, single-vehi- cle, rollover crash on High- way 402. June 20: Along with JDPD and OSP, responded for a sus- pect who wished to turn him- self in on Highway 26. June 20: Responded to a domestic dispute on the state highway near Dale. • Grant County Sheriff’s Office June 15: Received a report of an injury accident on A Avenue. June 15: Received a report of animal abuse on East Sec- ond Street. June 17: Received a report of theft in the Gran- ite area. June 19: Received a report of criminal mischief on D Avenue. • John Day ambulance June 15: Along with Prairie City ambulance, responded for an 81-year-old woman who had set off her medical alarm on South Main Street. June 15: Responded to a 77-year-old man with cardiac arrest on Highway 26. June 21: Along with Prairie City ambulance, responded to a 60-year-old man. • Prairie City ambulance June 21: Responded to assist John Day ambulance with a 49-year-old woman having seizures on Second Avenue. OPENING JULY 1 ST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH THRIFT SHOP Early Deadline • Customers required to wear a mask • Bring your own bags • Only 8 customers allowed in the store at once • Need to keep 6 ft social distancing at all times Donations will be accepted on July 1st. When the sliding door is closed, we are FULL – please bring your donations at another time. We look forward to seeing you & keeping you safe! 126 NW Canton, John Day S195255-1 Jim & Mya Ennis For July 8th Edition 50th Wedding Anniversary Ad, Classified & Legal Deadline Thursday, July 2nd by 5p.m. Office will be Married on horse back on July 4, 1970 Outside of the Terrebonne Grange Hall. After working on many large ranches, they have retired and settled in Mt. Vernon. Please send cards to: P.O. Box 521 Mt. Vernon, Oregon 97865 Closed July 3rd Blue Mountain Eagle 195 N. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR. 97845 www.MyEagleNews.com 541-575-0710 S194107-1 S194481-1
