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