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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 2020)
A16 NEWS Blue Mountain Eagle Raschio Continued from Page A1 ney’s, neighbors and judges. A summary focused on interviews of Cramer and Tammy Wheeler, the trial court administrator for the 24th Judi- cial District. Raschio admitted to OSP during his interview that he has had disputes with oppos- ing attorneys. Both Cramer and Wheeler concurred. Cramer’s interview Cramer told OSP there have been difficulties in the past with Raschio and both Har- ney and Grant counties’ district attorney’s offices. “I did need to address issues between attorneys when they affected the functioning of the court,” Cramer recently told the Eagle. “From my perspec- tive it ‘takes two to tango’ and there were things that were said that could be taken as personal on both sides.” Cramer stressed that this Carpenter Continued from Page A1 During the hearing with the Oregon Supreme Court, the message from the account was presented: “Hey all! How is it going. I am married to an incredibly beautiful woman, AND I get to hang out with high school chicks all day (and some evenings too). I have Wheeler’s interview was not something that rose to the level of disqualifying Raschio as a candidate, and this was just an answer to a question in the interview. Cramer said he expressed concerns about the gover- nor making an appointment before the election, because if someone had been appointed, it would have led to conflicts of interest requiring fill-in judges with a defense attorney being appointed to the bench months before the official elec- tion. Cramer said that was the reason the governor cited when choosing not to make an appointment. “I do want to clarify that there was nothing in the inter- view that indicated Rob Raschio was anything but qualified for the position based upon his legal work before me,” Cramer said. Cramer said he is not taking a position in the election and that both Raschio and opposing candidate Grant County Dis- trict Attorney Jim Carpenter are qualified for the position. Wheeler told OSP that Raschio had been dismissive of her, some of her court staff and other government agen- cies, at times talking down to them. Wheeler said she had to address the issues with Raschio. Wheeler shared that Raschio mistakenly sent an email to the court staff that was meant for his staff. Wheeler said it con- sisted of a lot of swearing and anger toward the judge about a ruling. Wheeler said she con- tacted Raschio about the email, and he told her that was how he interacts with his staff. Wheeler told the Eagle that she had already discussed everything in her interview with Raschio and that the past con- flicts would not prevent them from working together if he is elected in November. “If he’s the guy elected and that’s who people want on the bench, my ultimate hope is that he rises to the occasion, and it will be my job to help him do that,” Wheeler said. been lucky with a few. It just doesn’t get better than this.” Carpenter testified that he acted on a whim and had in mind only a practical joke when he posted the message. The message prompted the school to start investigating the teacher, who denied posting the message and denied having sexual relations with students. The teacher tried to dis- cover the author of the message through Classmates.com, but the information was not given, so he referred the matter to the Oregon State Police. Based on the information given from Classmates.com, OSP interviewed Carpenter, and he admitted to sending the message. The state brought no criminal charges against him. Several days after Carpen- ter admitted to sending the message, he apologized to the teacher, according to court documents. Wednesday, August 5, 2020 Raschio told the Eagle that he shared the same position as Cramer, that there are times in the throes of an adversarial pro- cess when advocates from all sides can say things that can be taken as personal by both sides. “In the case referred to, as Judge Cramer pointed out, ‘there were things that were said that could be taken as per- sonal on both sides’. We all rec- ognize that happens,” Raschio said. “As Judge, I will leave the role of advocate to others and make all of my decisions based upon the law and facts...” He said that he has no con- flicts with the DA’s offices any- more than they have a problem with defense attorneys, and he looks forward to working with them in his new role, if elected. Raschio said he has respect and admiration for the work the court staff does on a daily basis. “I had heard that some peo- ple thought I was unkind to staff and so I went to the staff I worked with and apologized to them,” Raschio said. He also let staff know that if he offended them in any way or if it happened again to let him know at that moment. Raschio said he did not swear at or express anger toward the judge. He said it was a short email express- ing frustration about a hear- ing being set. When he real- ized he sent an email to court staff, he said he sent an apology to the person for the language and clarified that the email was only meant for his staff. He said he then apologized to that staff member in person. Other interviews in the background check showed that Raschio was arrested for driv- ing under the influence of intox- icants in 2009. He completed a diversion program in 2011, and the charge was dismissed, according to court documents. Raschio said he took imme- diate responsibility for the inci- dent that occurred over a decade ago. “I made a mistake, I am extremely embarrassed by it, I corrected my actions in the diversion process, and I am thankful we have a legal sys- tem and process that works the way it does to allow for due pro- cess,” Raschio said. Raschio has also received several speeding violations and almost 50 parking violations in Multnomah County, according to court records. Raschio said he has received over 150 endorsements from people throughout Grant and Harney counties and across the state. “I’m honored to have such strong support and to have been voted for by nearly 50% of our communities in the Primary Election, that’s not something I take for granted or take lightly,” Raschio said. The Oregon state bar, which licenses attorneys, filed a complaint in 2002 for violation of its professional responsibility code for dis- honesty, but the trial panel of the disciplinary board dis- missed the charge. The bar sought a review by the Oregon Supreme Court that resulted in the pub- lic reprimand. Two justices dis- sented, stating that, although the content was dishonest, the bar’s disciplinary rules did not “extend to that dishonest conduct.” “I clearly made a mistake in 2001,” Carpenter told the Eagle. “I took immediate mea- sures to correct that behav- ior and make it right with the victim. Since then I have been diligent with the courts, other attorneys, and the public in building a relationship of trust and veracity.” Carpenter testified to the Supreme Court that he ceased campaigning for the office of district attorney at the time of the incident to avoid further publicity. “That mistake has helped me to realize that people can change, and given me hope that the people I deal with in the Justice System will take the opportunities provided to cor- rect their behavior and move forward successfully,” Carpen- ter said. She also said the information in the interview was not meant to slander Raschio and that the information was meant for the governor to use in her appoint- ment decision. She noted one of the answers recorded by OSP was not completely accurate. Raschio’s response The Eagle/Steven Mitchell The Eagle/Steven Mitchell Trey Brown checks out his goat during a 4-H meeting July 26 in his front yard. Fair Arrest Continued from Page A1 The Smiths’ pickup was later discovered abandoned in the Boise, Idaho, area after the fire, and follow-up interviews with witnesses indicated that Isaac Connery took the pickup the night of the fire, the release states. He was indicted June 23 for unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and a nationwide war- rant was issued for his arrest. During an interview, Grant County Undersheriff Zach Mobley learned that the Con- nerys had dropped off two Connery minor children at a local campground, likely Clyde Holliday State Park, on the afternoon or evening of July 17, 2018, and then Gabrielle Connery drove Isaac Connery to the Smith home and dropped him off, before returning alone to the camp- ground to pick up the children, according to the release. “Isaac Connery went to the Smith home and shot Terry, then Sharon Smith, and set fire to their home,” the release states. “Then Isaac Connery took their pickup and drove to meet Gabrielle Connery” in the Boise, Idaho, area. Continued from Page A1 Nonetheless, the in-person livestock shows will provide some familiarity for the youth. The students that are showing their animals are excited to be participating. Seventh-grader Brooke Taynton will be showing off her pig “Pheobe” this year. Taynton said she likes to learn about other animals and jumped at the oppor- tunity to practice with goats at Brown’s Canyon City farm on July 26. Taynton said she always loves to help other kids with their animals and be a team player. “I love animals,” she said. “I like the responsibility, and I like working hard.” Sierra May, an eighth-grader at Grant Union Junior High, almost won reserve grand champion at the Grant County Fair when she was in the fourth grade. May said, along with the county fair’s Sierra May with her pig she will show at the Grant County Fair this year. uncertainty due to COVID-19, raising a hog in a pen by itself has been a challenge. She said earlier she lost one of her pigs due to illness. “So it’s been harder getting the pig to eat all of its food,” she said. “Because usually pigs do better with two or more, like they compete with each other to eat more food.” She said the hog, JC, which is short for John Cena, “doesn’t like to listen all the time, but he does listen half the time.” She said her brother named the pig after the professional wrestler, actor and rapper and that she has since shortened the swine’s name to “JC.” “I don’t know,” she said. “It just felt weird going to the fair with a pig named John Cena.” Initially, May had to feed JC by hand to get him to eat more, but now, she said, he “eats like crazy.” Grant Union freshman Trey Brown, who will show both a pig and a goat this year, took reserve grand champion last year in showmanship in the goat category. Trey Brown said he has been in 4-H since the fourth grade and loves the live- stock side of the program. “It is just a good time to be with my friends that have similar interests as me,” he said. Trey Brown said he especially likes to teach people about goats. “I don’t really like being in the spot- light as much, but, yeah, I like to let peo- ple know about goats because it is an up-and-coming industry,” he said. May said she likes the social side of the 4-H events, and she has never strug- gled to sell her pig at the fair. She said she loves to answer ques- tions about her pig from buyers, which range from its name to how much it weighs. She said she loves animals and wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up. “I’m that one kid in the barns who is always in there with my pig and ani- mals,” she said. Contributed photo Back-to-School Immunizations School starts soon! Make sure immunizations are on your child's back to school list. Due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions, the annual Adolescent Well Child Day has been cancelled this year. Contact Strawberry Wilderness Community Clinic at 541-575-0404 to schedule an appointment for your child's immunizations and wellness check. Immunizations: SWCC has all of the vaccines on hand that school aged children would commonly receive including HPV, Meningococcal, Tetanus (Tdap), Hep A, and seasonal Flu. Protect your child from serious childhood diseases. Wellness Exams: SWCC healthcare providers highly recommend that adolescents receive a physical exam every year. This includes a brief eye exam, body mass index calculation, a review of body systems, a health assessment that explores nutrition, physical activity, emotional well-being, safety, and social topics. Sports Physicals: A SWCC healthcare provider will complete the OSAA Physical Examination form required to compete in Oregon High School and Middle School athletic activities. A full adolescent well child exam is highly recommended. Don’t wait until the day before practice to make an appointment! S201840-1 Contributed photo Terry and Sharon Smith went missing following a fire at their re- mote cabin in the Laycock Creek Road area on July 17-18, 2018. Brooke Taynton practices showing a goat at 4-H club leader Laura Brown’s farm in Canyon City. S201872-1
