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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 14, 2020)
NEWS MyEagleNews.com Letters Continued from Page A4 ‘Vote for Carina Miller’ To the Editor: Are you ready to vote for a dynamic, smart, articulate Native American woman who has served on the Tribal Coun- cil of the Warm Springs Reser- vation? Are you ready to elect a candidate who has the lived and professional experience to advo- cate for all rural Oregonians in Salem? Then vote for Carina Miller for Senate District 30. We’ve met Carina Miller and heard her talk several times. We’re impressed with her knowledge of the issues and solutions. She will stand for our environment, passing pol- icy to address climate change now, creating a more sustainable economy and making sure we have just transition. She’ll advo- cate for recovery services, mak- ing sure we are advocating for communities in rural Oregon who need access to geographi- cally available treatment, men- tal health and in- and outpatient programs. Education is a prior- ity for her to ensure we are pro- viding more educational oppor- tunities to all communities in Oregon. This means more kinds of learning options, like bringing trades programs back. She’ll back social justice pro- grams, because it’s important we have elected officials who recognize issues of systemic racism and inequitable policies and laws, and who take steps in addressing them. She’ll represent all the peo- ple in her district, not just the big economic interests. She’s not a quitter. She won’t walk off the job when important legislation is at stake like the incumbent did. She’s committed to work- ing with people of all persua- sions to make life better for all the constituents in her district. Marjorie and John Thelen Burns ‘Is this just political?’ To the Editor: Just an observation about a quote from Todd McKin- ley’s comments that things were shoved under the rug. Well, as a law enforcement officer, weren’t you obligated to disclose that information to someone? District attorney, county judge? Doesn’t that make you as bad as the people who are doing this? Or is this just political? Just wondering. Delbert Newman John Day ‘Join me in voting for Rob Raschio’ To the Editor: I have had the opportunity to work in different aspects of the legal system in Grant County. I began my career at the Dis- trict Attorney’s Office, where I worked for approximately 11 years before making the deci- sion to leave that office to work with Rob Raschio near the end of 2015. I quickly realized how fortunate I was to work with Rob in his law practice. His wealth of knowledge and expe- rience helps to put clients at ease and creates a positive rela- tionship amongst clients, courts and other attorneys. Rob works incredibly hard to do what’s best for our clients and gives thoughtful consideration of how the outcomes will impact their lives. As a judge, Rob will take the time to ensure that every outcome is suiting to the situa- tion presented before him. I am very excited to see Rob accomplish his goal to be elected to the circuit court in Grant and Harney coun- ties. I have the utmost confi- dence in his abilities and know he will continue to serve in a just, fair and impartial manner. Please join me in voting for Rob Raschio this November. Cleo McCluskey John Day ‘Two weeks on the local news’ To the Editor: It’s been a lively two weeks on the local news. On the one hand, we have, allegedly, likely, if truth were known, a group of county offi- cials engaged in gross misuse of emergency funds including attempted theft, hours billed, etc., complete with misspeaks and occultation, presently being whitewashed, getting away with it. On the other, we have a handful of youngsters who allegedly committed thefts, lower level, less value, no chance of getting away with it. And we have, lo and behold, more salacious criminal allega- tions against the very enforc- ers and executors of the law who will sit in judgment of those youngsters — but not the county officials; that’s handled — in the family. And how is theft (keeping a found item though the rightful owner is known: a former col- laborator!) of a fishing pole less of a crime than theft of a rifle? Admittedly, GCSO has been short staffed. That $100,000 fact raises some questions: Was the sheriff required to report his wayward deputy to the DA, the county commis- sion, back in February 2019? Even before any determination of crime level, if any. The diffi- culty obtaining information (by the BME) speaks a volume. Is the county set up to take appropriate action, i.e. termi- nating employees who cost the taxpayer more than their salary, unnecessarily, for pure mischief (LGBT issue)? The COVID-19 situation did indeed require quick planning, as Mr. Myers states. To facilitate, therefore, an experienced EOC manager is fired, replaced by inexperienced predatory interlopers. Hmm. The new cow mutilations further shock us: The featured ranchers have family here. The “no blood” issue can be explained by any biology major at GU High: blood con- sists of lymph, red and white blood cells, platelets. A pump- ing heart keeps this mix in con- stant motion, and red. Pump- ing stops, lymph and particles separate, and we find clear to yellowish lymph, pulled to the lower portions by gravity. This takes one to three hours after death. My guess: We will never see the investigation results; “ongo- ing case” for the next 50 years, joining those of the last 50. Vega Nunez Ritter Wednesday, October 14, 2020 A5 Monument receiving improvements to their water system New irrigation system, filtration and well pumps gained in the project By Rudy Diaz Blue Mountain Eagle Improvements to Monu- ment’s water system are under- way as crews begin working on the system to help address filtration, irrigation and water levels. Monument City Recorder Dorothy Jordan said the state tested their water system back in 2010 and categorized their system as under the influence of surface water. The state gave Monument two options: find a new source or do additional treatment to the water. “Over the last 10 years the city was trying to explore all these different avenues, and a new source wasn’t feasible,” Jor- dan said. “They decided to go ahead with the additional treat- ment, which is the filtration.” Eagle file photo The North Fork John Day Riv- er flows on the edge of Monu- ment. The river passes under Highway 402 on the east side of town. Heco Engineer from Pay- ette, Idaho, started work in the beginning of September with preliminary work such as bringing in their equipment and supplies, trench digging and getting ready to put in an irri- gation system. This $1.8 mil- lion project is being covered by a Community Development Block Grant. This will allow residents to irrigate from the irrigation sys- tem instead of using drinking water to do so. “They’re getting the trenches dug, and they’re get- ting the irrigation pipes laid out,” Jordan said. The irrigation pipes aren’t getting hooked up yet, but the crew is working to get the pipes in the ground to beat the win- ter weather. A filtration build- ing will be added at the water tower, and the current well will see improvements, such as new pumps and redoing the build- ing, according to Jordan. The improvements of the well will also help minimize the chance for water levels to get low like this summer. Jordan said this is the first year Monument’s pumps and well weren’t keeping up with the community’s demand. “The level in the tower was uncomfortable for public works because you really want to make sure your water tower is at full capacity for fires and fire suppression, especially in the summer,” Jordan said. Monument had a perfect storm of many variables coin- ciding at the same time. She said the pumps weren’t work- ing as well as they had been, the community had a higher demand, the water table was low and the tower was not stay- ing full. The city implemented water restrictions to combat the prob- lem that started in the begin- ning of August. “Until we had the water tower catch up, we asked everybody to do no outside irrigation whatsoever,” Jordan said. “Once the tower caught up and the well was maintain- ing a decent level, we opened back up with restrictions.” The city asked the residents to water two days a week for up to two hours. Even with the restrictions, the community accommodated to the changes and helped the current water system recover. “Our residents really stepped up and did what we asked them to do,” Jordan said. “Some lawns got a little browner, but like I said they pulled together as a commu- nity, and we, the entire staff here at the city, appreciate the fact that they did that.” 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 Circuit Court Bobbi Jo Workman, 38, pleaded guilty Oct. 8 to a count of recklessly endan- gering another person and a count of violating speed limit committed on Sept. 12. Her license was suspended for 90 days, and she was sentenced to 18 months of bench proba- tion. She was ordered to com- plete 40 hours of community service and pay $365 in fines. A count of driving under the influence of intoxicants was diverted and a count of reck- lessly endangering another person was dismissed. Kevin G. Kimberling, 48, pleaded guilty Sept. 17 to a count of driving under the influence of intoxicants com- mitted on Sept. 7. His license was revoked for life, and he was sentenced to serve 45 days in jail, 24 months of supervised probation. He was ordered to complete 80 hours of community service and pay $2,755 in fines. Grant County Sheriff The Grant County Sheriff’s Office reported the following for the week of Oct. 7: Concealed handgun licenses: 9 Average inmates: 20 Bookings: 10 Releases: 4 Arrests: 2 Citations: 2 Fingerprints: 2 Civil papers: 6 Warrants processed: 2 Assistance/Welfare check: 0 Search and Rescue: 1 Torrie Weathers, 29, of Boring was cited for violation of the basic rule, 74/55 zone. Leticia Palmer, 47, of Baker City was cited for vio- lating speed limit, 42/25 zone. reported hearing two shots near his property on Roe Creek Road near Fossil. A mule deer buck was subse- quently located with a gun- shot wound. Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office notified Ore- gon State Police to continue the investigation. Oct. 5: A John Day Fish and Wildlife trooper received information that a hunter checked his bear into the Ore- gon Department of Fish and Wildlife past the required 10-day time limit. The trooper contacted the hunter and learned that, due to com- pound circumstances includ- ing interim regulation changes due to COVID-19, the hunter did not fully understand the regulation. The hunter was educated regarding the requirement, and a warning was issued. Oct. 10: OSP saw a known suspended driver eastbound on Highway 26 near milepost 162. OSP stopped the vehicle at the Les Schwab’s parking lot and contacted the driver, Blain S. Ross, 37, of Canyon City. OSP confirmed Ross’s Oregon license was misde- meanor suspended for refus- ing a breath test. OSP arrested Ross and secured his vehicle at the scene. OSP transported Ross to the Grant County Jail. OSP issued Ross a citation for driving while suspended and lodged him at the jail. Oct. 10: OSP stopped a vehicle on Highway 26 near milepost 154 for a turn signal violation. The driver, Kaylee Dyer, 25, had a felony war- rant for her arrest for burglary out of Spokane County, Wash- ington. OSP arrested Dyer on the warrant. OSP was famil- iar with Dyer and a man asso- ciated with her. OSP knew the man, Lucas Klum, 41, of Redmond also had a felony warrant for his arrest for bur- glary out of Spokane County, Washington, as well as a fel- ony failure to appear warrant out of Deschutes County. OSP went to Mt. Vernon to notify Dyer’s mother of her arrest as well as her needing to move the vehicle. Klum came to the door, and OSP took him into custody without incident. Deschutes County requested Klum be cited and released on their warrant. Spokane County requested physical custody for both subjects. OSP transported both subjects to the Grant County Jail where OSP lodged them on the Spokane County warrants. OSP issued Klum a citation for the Deschutes County warrant. Dispatch John Day dispatch worked 184 calls during the week of Oct. 5-11, including: • John Day Police Department Oct. 5: Dispatched to a report of criminal mischief on Southwest Brent Street. Oct. 8: Responded to a dis- pute on East Main Street. Oct. 10: Responded to a hit and run on Valley View Drive. Oct. 10: Received a report of identification fraud in John Day. • Oregon State Police Oct. 7: Advised of a nonin- jury crash on Highway 26. • Grant County Sheriff’s Office Oct. 5: Received a report of trespassing at Miller Mountain. Oct. 5: Received a report of a noninjury crash on Crane Prairie GS. Oct. 5: Received a report of a dispute on South Adam Drive. Oct. 6: Received a report of theft at Granite. Oct. 6: Received a report of theft on Ingle Street. Oct. 6: Received a report of burglary on Ford Road. Oct. 7: Received a report of theft on Highway 395S. Oct. 11: Along with OSP, Oregon Trail Electric Cooper- ative and Oregon Department of Transportation, responded for a power line down across Highway 26 near milepost 152. • John Day ambulance Oct. 6: Paged for a man with a pinched nerve who fell on Roper Road. Oct. 7: Dispatched to an elderly woman who fell on West Main Street. Oct. 9: Along with Seneca, dispatched for a woman who fell on A Avenue. Oct. 9: Paged for a woman who was weak with nose- bleeds on Southwest Moore Street. Oct. 10: Responded for an 82-year-old woman with chest pain on South McCal- lum Avenue. Oct. 11: Responded for an 85-year-old woman who had fallen on Northwest Third Avenue. Oct. 11: Responded for an 86-year-old man with diffi- culty breathing on Northwest First Avenue. Beth Spell VOTE for State Representative Oregon State Police Oct. 4: A landowner Democratic Party of Grant County ENDORSES THESE CANDIDATES: President Joe Biden joebiden.com US Senate Jeff Merkley jeffmerkley.com State Treasurer Tobias Read tobiasread.com Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum ellenrosenblum.com Secretary of State Shemia Fagan shemiafororegon.com State Senate District 30 Carina Miller carinamiller.com State House District 60 Beth Spell 2nd Congressional District Alex Spenser spenser2020.com bethspellforeasternoregon.com Nominated by Endorsed by Ballot Measures ~Vote Yes! See info at ORDemsVote.com Vote Early! Mail your ballot by October 27th. After the 27th, use a ballot box. www.facebook.com/BethSpellForEasternOregon www.bethspellforeasternoregon.com S211431-1 Paid by Beth Spell for Oregon House of Representatives District 60 S211467-1 Measure 107 – Campaign Finance Limits Amendment Measure 108 – E-Cigarette and Tobacco Tax Increase for Health Programs Measure 109 – Psilocybin Mushroom Services Program Initiative Measure 110 – Drug Decriminalization and Addiction Treatment Initiative