NEWS
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
A5
Risk of large wildfires elevated in parts of West DA: Several alleged
Percent of normal precipitation
By Brad Carlson
EO Media Group
Wildfire risk will be above
average in much of the West,
according to the National Inter-
agency Fire Center’s new
forecast.
July marks the start of the
primary wildfire season in the
Northwest, Intermountain West
and the northern Great Basin.
Bryan Henry, fire weather
program manager at the Boi-
se-based center, said in an inter-
view that an unusually wet June
— precipitation was 200-400%
of average across most of Idaho
except in the northern panhan-
dle — “will delay the onset of
more significant fire activity
until mid- to late July.”
Idaho’s central mountains,
where snowpack and runoff
have been well below average,
could see some small fires by
around July 10, a few days later
than usual after some rain in late
June, he said.
Henry said, in northeast-
ern Washington, the northern
Idaho panhandle and northwest-
ern Montana, precipitation was
50-75% of normal in the second
half of June, so “a normal July
is expected as the pre-existing
conditions continue.”
“Areas of emerging concern
are northern California, north-
%
300
200
150
130
110
June 1, 2020
Through
June 30, 2020
100
90
70
50
25
5
Source: NOAA Regional Climate Centers
Capital Press graphic
western Nevada and south-
ern through central Oregon,”
he said. “Precipitation received
over the last month in these
areas has been generally below
50% of average, and in some
cases less than 5% of average.”
That was the case in the San
Francisco Bay Area.
Temperatures across most
of the West have been about 2
degrees above average over the
past two months, Henry said.
In his forecast for July
through October, he said the
potential for significant large
fires, burning total acres exceed-
ing long-term medians, is above
normal in the Northwest, North-
ern California, Hawaii and the
northern Great Basin. It’s nor-
mal in the northern Rockies,
Alaska and Southern California.
The Northwest’s cool, wet
weather in June delayed some
fuel curing, but will be followed
by conditions that are warmer
and drier than average through
September — increasing the
risk of large fires, particularly
in central Oregon and central
Washington, Henry wrote.
Conditions expected to be
warmer and drier than normal
should elevate fire risk in north-
ern California and Hawaii, he
wrote. Dead fuels at all ele-
vations are expected to be dry
enough to carry fire.
Fine-fuel loading was 100-
300% of normal across parts
of Nevada, Arizona, Utah and
southern Idaho as July began,
and patchier in parts of southern
Utah and Idaho.
The chance of thunderstorms
will increase through July in
the northern Great Basin, with
some periods of gusty winds,
precipitation and lower tem-
peratures as low pressure con-
tinues to track, Henry wrote.
This will prevent much of Idaho
from being critically dry during
much of July.
thieves identified
Anyone with
information about
recent thefts
should contact the
sheriff’s office
Blue Mountain Eagle
Grant County’s dis-
trict attorney has released
the names of several peo-
ple believed to be involved
in thefts, stemming from an
investigation that began in
September.
“By admission and the
recovery of some of the sto-
len items, alleged perpe-
trators include (a 14-year-
old boy), Austin Catron,
Tanner Walczyk and oth-
ers,” District Attorney Jim
Carpenter said in a press
release. “Items stolen are
likely being taken out of
the county to be sold and
traded.”
Carpenter said Grant
County has experienced
an uptick in thefts, includ-
ing the thefts of chain-
saws, firearms, tools and
other equipment. These
thefts are currently being
Tanner
Walczyk
Austin
Catron
investigated by the Grant
County Sheriff’s Office.
Other agencies that have
provided valuable assistance
include the John Day Police
Department and the Oregon
State Police, he said. The
investigation has been ongo-
ing since September 2019.
The District Attorney’s
Office is currently wait-
ing for the finalization of
the investigation. Residents
and others with informa-
tion regarding recent thefts
are encouraged to contact
the Grant County Sheriff’s
Office at 541-575-1131, or
notify Grant County Dis-
patch at 541-575-0195.
Carpenter encouraged
residents to lock their cars
and homes, not leave valu-
ables in plain sight and be
vigilant in watching out
for themselves and their
neighbors.
Human-caused fire near Kimberly destroys house, burns just over 30 acres
By Rudy Diaz
Blue Mountain Eagle
A house was destroyed
by a human-caused fire near
Kimberly July 1.
The John Day Inter-
agency Dispatch Center
received a report of a fire
about 6 miles west of Monu-
ment at a residence on High-
way 402 at about 1 p.m. July
1.
The fire was was con-
trolled at 8:05 p.m.
Oregon Department of
Forestry Central Oregon
District Public Informa-
tion Officer Christie Shaw
said the fire was human-
caused, but it was still under
investigation.
She said the fire burned
a little over 30 acres, and
most of what was burned
was grass and brush in terms
of the wildland fuels.
ODF was assisted by
type 1 helicopters avail-
able from federal partners,
seven wildland engines, a
local landowner’s bulldozer,
a bulldozer from ODF and
assistance from the Monu-
ment Fire Department.
“By early evening last
night, we had gotten it fully
lined so some of the lines are
dozer lines and some of the
lines were hand lines where
they couldn’t get to with the
dozer,” Shaw said Thursday.
“Once they finished securing
that line and once the spread
of the fire has stopped, they
began to mop-up and con-
tinue those activities today.”
Monument Fire Chief
Kevin
Mitchell,
who
responded to the call as ODF,
said there were no injuries at
the incident and Monument
fire had a truck at the scene.
Mitchell
added
that
defensible space around a
home is important to protect
a house from incidents like
this where the grass is three
to four feet tall and near the
house.
The driver of the vehicle that
was following the white SUV
began backing up not seeing
a another vehicle which was
struck. The driver that was fol-
lowing the white SUV left the
scene, calling 911, while being
followed by the white SUV for
several miles. The driver of the
vehicle that was hit was unin-
jured, pulled off the highway
and called 911 to report the
incident. The unidentified male
subject was identified as Pat-
rick La Monte Burns, 50, and a
report will be forwarded to the
Grant County District Attorney
for menacing, reckless driving
and reckless endangering.
Avenue.
July 4: Received a report of
a 3-year-old wandering around
alone on West Main Street.
• Oregon State Police
July 4: Advised of cattle on
the roadway on Highway 26
near milepost 137.
July 5: Responded to a
report of an injured deer on
East Main Street.
• Grant County Sheriff’s
Office
June 30: Along with John
Day and Long Creek ambu-
lance, dispatched for an elderly
man with a bladder issue on
Trout Road.
June 30: Received a report
of theft in Prairie City.
July 2: Received a report of
theft in Canyon City.
July 5: Received a report of
a burglary on Ingle Street.
• John Day ambulance
June 30: Responded for a
78-year-old woman who had
become unresponsive on Can-
yon Mountain Trail.
June 30: Responded for an
82-year-old woman who was
unresponsive on East Fifth
Street.
• United States Forest
Service
July 5: Responded to a
request from a campground
host to remove campers who
were refusing to leave on Bull
Prairie.
• Seneca ambulance
July 5: Responded to a
70-year-old man with arm
pain on Park Avenue.
COPS AND COURTS
Arrests: 1
Citations: 0
Fingerprints: 4
Civil papers: 17
Warrants processed: 3
Assistance/Welfare check:
A count of harassment and
second-degree criminal tres-
pass against James W. Cook Jr.,
allegedly committed Dec. 17,
was dismissed on July 1 based
on a motion by Grant County
District Attorney Jim Carpenter
because of the wishes of victims
and a lack of state resources.
A count of harassment and
second-degree disorderly con-
duct against Charles E. Wil-
liams, allegedly committed
Feb. 1, was dismissed on July
2 based on a motion by Car-
penter because the victims are
protected and a lack of state
resources.
A conviction on appeal
of first-degree sexual abuse
against Bradley D. Moles,
allegedly committed Feb. 1,
2016, was dismissed June 29
based on a motion by Carpen-
ter because Moles’ jury convic-
tion was not unanimous and the
United States Supreme Court
ruled that jury verdicts in crim-
inal trials must be unanimous.
Carpenter said in the motion
that the state has decided not to
pursue retrial.
Grant County Sheriff
The Grant County Sheriff’s
Office reported the following
for the week of July 1:
Concealed
handgun
licenses: 7
Average inmates: 10
Bookings: 10
Releases: 9
Search and Rescue: 0
Grant County Justice
Court
Violation of the basic rule:
Mackenzie J. Coggin, 28,
Enterprise, May 13, 70/55
zone, fined $165; Ronald B.
Borello, 57, Sumpter, June 9,
74/55 zone, fined $165; Daniel
C. Sigler, 66, Irvine, Califor-
nia, June 10, 75/55 zone, fined
$165; Ted W. Law, 72, Bed-
ford, Kentucky, June 8, 68/55
zone, fined $165.
Exceeding speed limit:
Noah R. Schultz, 28, Mil-
waukie, March 25, 91/65 zone,
fined $440; Daniel R. Cook,
55, Canyon City, April 29,
48/30 zone, fined $140; Philip
J. Milburn, 49, Ontario, May 4,
74/65 zone, fined $140; Dakota
L. Wolfer, 20, John Day, May
21, 45/35 zone, fined $140;
Michael N. McGarry, 67, Prai-
rie City, May 4, 74/65 zone,
fined $140; Sylvia R. Sweeney,
60, John Day, Jan. 24, 53/35
zone, fined $165; Alexander
J. Titus, 26, Prairie City, 79/65
zone, fined $265; Dessiree M.
Sutton, 47, Kimberly, June 10,
55/40 zone, fined $165.
Driving while suspended:
Sylvia R. Sweeney, 60, John
Day, Jan. 24, fined $440; Jared
J. Baker, 25, John Day, May
16, fined $440, Jimm E. Roba,
45, John Day, June 7, fined
$440.
Driving uninsured: Sylvia
R. Sweeney, 60, John Day, Jan.
24, fined $265; Jared J. Baker,
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Dispatch
John Day dispatch worked
126 calls during the week of
June 30 to July 5, including:
• John Day Police
Department
June 30: Along with Long
Creek ambulance, cited Caleb
Vielme, 31, for driving while
suspended and uninsured.
July 1: Morgan Westphal,
22, was cited for driving while
suspended on Highway 395.
July 1: Received a report of
trespassing in John Day.
July 2: Received a report of
criminal mischief on Seventh
Avenue.
July 3: Arrested Greg L.
Whatley, 33, of John Day for
driving under the influence on
Main Street.
July 4: Received a report
of attempted rape on First
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!
7
7
S197097-1
Wendy
Cates
Principal
Broker
Oregon State Police
June 28: OSP stopped a
vehicle for speeding, failure
to use headlights and failure
to drive within lane on High-
way 26 near milepost 162. On
contact, the driver, Mariah N.
Boyd, 22, had glassy, blood-
shot eyes. There was a strong
odor of an alcoholic bever-
age coming from the vehi-
cle. She admitted to consum-
ing a couple shots of whiskey.
The driver consented to field
sobriety tests and showed fur-
ther indicators of impairment.
OSP arrested the driver for
driving under the influence of
intoxicants. OSP left the vehi-
cle at the scene with two of the
driver’s friends. OSP trans-
ported the driver to the Grant
County Jail. Boyd submitted to
a breath test, which indicated
a blood alcohol concentration
level of 0.12%. OSP issued the
driver a citation for DUII-Al-
cohol and lodged her at the jail.
June 28: OSP responded
to a serious injury crash on
State Route 19 near mile-
post 109. A caller was report-
ing a rollover crash with one
occupant ejected. Investiga-
tion revealed the driver, Colton
J. David, 24, Monument, was
traveling northbound on State
Route 19 when he lost con-
trol of his vehicle and went
into a small ditch, rolling his
car and ejecting his passenger,
a 21-year-old man. The driver
had glassy eyes and a moder-
ate odor of an alcoholic bev-
erage coming from his breath.
The driver admitted to drink-
ing one beer. The passenger
was transported via Life Flight
to Kadlec Regional Medi-
cal Center in Richland, Wash-
ington, and then transferred to
Oregon Health & Science Uni-
versity in Portland with serious
injuries. The driver was trans-
ported by ground ambulance to
Blue Mountain Hospital. Hos-
pital staff drew a blood sam-
ple that indicated a BAC of
0.248%. A search warrant was
obtained to seize all blood and
urine samples from the hospi-
tal as well as new samples from
the driver. The driver had been
discharged from the hospital
prior to OSP’s arrival, and OSP
was unable to reach the driver
to obtain new samples pursu-
ant to the warrant. The vehi-
cle was seized as evidence and
towed by Doug’s Towing to a
secure location. Investigation
is ongoing.
July 1: OSP investigated a
reported driving complaint that
had been received on June 28
on Highway 26 near milepost
155. Investigation revealed a
vehicle was following a white
SUV westbound on High-
way 26 when the unidenti-
fied man in the white SUV
abruptly stopped on the high-
way, stepped out of the white
SUV and charged towards the
vehicle that was following.
S193239-1
1
Grant County Circuit
Court
25, John Day, May 16, fined
$265.
Following too closely:
Cherith R. Sheedy, 44, John
Day, March 10, fined $225.
Failure to drive within
lane: Michael J. Weedman, 73,
Salem, June 11, fined $265.
Failure to register vehicle:
Kyle L. Hand, 29, Dayville,
Feb. 8, fined $220.
Baylee K. Metcalf was con-
victed of misrepresentation of
age by a minor after a plea of
not guilty. The defendant was
ordered to pay a fine of $440.
Blue Mountain Eagle
MyEagleNews.com
S197425-1
Arrests and citations in the
Blue Mountain Eagle are taken
from the logs of law enforce-
ment agencies. Every effort is
made to report the court dispo-
sition of arrest cases.
Don’t get left behind, call today! Kim Kell 541-575-0710
DP HOME ENTERTAINMENT
137 E. Main Street, John Day 541.575.1637