NEWS
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
A5
John Day makes new goals for airport industrial park
First step is reducing
land use restrictions
By Rudy Diaz
Blue Mountain Eagle
Contributed photo
The Grant County Sheriff’s Of-
fice found Michael Pittman,
71. They had been searching
in the Murderers Creek Wild-
life Unit and the Swamp Creek
and Hay Creek drainages near
the Bear Valley Work Center.
Missing man
found after
six nights
71-year-old slept
in his vehicle
Blue Mountain Eagle
A man reported missing
in Grant County has been
found.
The Grant County Sher-
iff’s Office said it was search-
ing for a 71-year-old man in
the Murderers Creek Wildlife
Unit, according to a Tuesday
press release.
Sheriff Glenn Palmer
said Michael Joe Pittman got
stuck and spent six nights in
his vehicle. Palmer said he
had shelter, food and water
and is doing fine.
He had last been seen
driving a four-door white
Chevrolet Suburban that was
described as unreliable.
The sheriff’s also searched
in the Swamp Creek and Hay
Creek drainages near the
Bear Valley Work Center.
The John Day City Council estab-
lished a plan to find a bigger return on
the industrial park investment made
almost 20 years ago.
John Day purchased the 100 acres
of land in 2001, and the property will
be paid off in full next December.
The city established three topics to
focus on during a work session Oct.
13, which starts with making adjust-
ments to land use restrictions, then
seeking appraisal for the land, then
marketing and providing incentives
for the land, if needed.
These will address some of the
challenges of selling the lots at the
industrial park.
Creating flexibility for land use at
the industrial park was the first step
the city council decided to pursue. The
The Eagle/Rudy Diaz
The John Day City Council discusses the land at the industrial park near the air-
port during a work session Oct. 13.
land is currently classified as an Airport
Industrial Park Zone and as an Airport
Safety and Compatibility Zone.
The combination of the two zones
presented limitations that made the
list of prohibited land uses longer than
the list of allowed uses, according to
the meeting’s agenda.
John Day City Councilor Dave
Holland said the restrictions were
established to help bring commercial
activity, commerce, jobs and tax reve-
nues to John Day, but he has seen that
the restrictions have not worked.
“My opinion is we need to remove
as much of that and make that (land)
as usable and as sellable and produc-
tive as possible,” Holland said.
John Day City Manager Nick
Green said the city could consider leg-
islative amendments to create greater
flexibility on the land use restrictions
to increase the diversity in the permit-
ted uses.
The land would still have to abide
by the safety and compatibility zone
restrictions for the safety of the pilots
using the airport.
ODF terminates fire season
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Oregon Department of Forestry
ended its fire season in the John Day Unit
of the Central Oregon District Oct. 24.
Cooling temperatures and increased
humidity have reduced the fire danger
and potential for rapid spread of fire due
to fuel conditions, according to a press
release. Additional precipitation is needed
before burn permits for logging slash will
be issued in the Central Oregon District.
Yard debris, burn barrels and other
open burning should follow local and
county fire restrictions. Prior to any burn-
ing, landowners should plan for safe burn-
ing practices including monitoring current
weather conditions and future forecasts.
Safe burning practices also include clear-
ing flammable debris from the burn pile or
burn area, having a water source nearby,
having tools such as a shovel handy while
burning, not burning in windy conditions
and never leaving a fire unattended. Con-
tinue to check the fire area for residual heat
in the days after burning to ensure embers
do not rekindle and spread to nearby fuels.
Year-to-date in the Central Oregon
District, firefighters have responded to
70 lightning fires burning 11,300 acres
and 69 human caused fires burning 1,659
acres. The 10-year average for this time
period is 63 lightning fires for 5,823 acres
and 65 human caused fires for 2,192 acres.
Eighty-five percent of all fires were less
than 10 acres in size.
For additional information on ODF’s
Central Oregon District, including contact
information and unit offices, visit odfcen-
traloregon.com.
Holland recommended chang-
ing the industrial zone to allow light
industrial and commercial activity.
Green recommended that, instead
of changing zones, the city could
also issue conditional use permits or
require a variance for commercial or
agricultural land uses. This would
give the city more control of the
potential conditional uses and vari-
ances, he said.
The city decided they would then
want to pursue an appraisal for the
land to establish the fair market value
and get a better idea of a price when
selling the land.
Marketing the land would be the
next step to encourage interest in the
site, and incentives would come later
if there has not been much success
with the new effort to sell some of the
lots.
“Let’s get the flexibility in there,
get it appraised and do a marketing
strategy just like what we want to do
down here,” Councilor Paul Smith
said.
County reports 11th COVID-19 case
the following precautions:
• Wear masks indoors and
outdoors if 6 feet of distancing
can not be maintained.
• Wash your hands often with
soap and water for at least 20
seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes,
nose, or mouth with unwashed
hands.
• Cover your mouth and nose
when you cough or sneeze.
• Stay home if you feel ill.
After someone contracts
COVID-19, if the develop symp-
toms they will usually appear
within 14 days.
The Grant County Health
Department urges anyone exhib-
iting these symptoms to call 211
or 541-575-0429.
Blue Mountain Eagle
Grant County has its 11th
COVID-19 case.
The Grant County Health
Department confirmed in a press
release Friday an individual in
the Canyon City ZIP code tested
positive.
The health department said
they initiated contact tracing.
The individual is working with
their health care provider for
proper care and safety, the press
release said, and the department
is contacting other people who
meet the definition of close con-
tacts — within 6 feet for more
than 15 minutes.
The
health
department
encourages all residents to take
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
James W. Cook, pleaded
guilty Oct. 21 for criminal
driving while suspended or
revoked. He was sentenced to
18 months of bench probation
and to pay a $1,000 fine and a
$100 bench probation fee. He
was acquitted for a count of
driving under the influence of
intoxicants.
Grant County Sheriff
The Grant County Sher-
iff’s Office reported the fol-
lowing for the week of Oct.
21:
Concealed
handgun
licenses: 15
Average inmates: 17
Bookings: 8
Releases: 13
Arrests: 1
Citations: 4
Fingerprints: 0
Civil papers: 7
Warrants processed: 0
Assistance/Welfare check:
0
Search and Rescue: 0
Jyla Hill, 31, of John Day
was cited for operating with-
out required lighting equip-
ment and driving uninsured.
Waleed Malik, 25, Bel-
levue, Washington, was cited
for violation of the basic rule,
79/65 zone.
Michael Salanti, 64, of Mt.
Vernon was cited for dog as a
public nuisance.
Andrew Ballou, 26, of Mt.
Vernon was cited for violation
of the basic rule, 80/65 zone.
Grant County Justice
Court
Violation of basic rule:
Gerald B. Cummings, 49,
Redmond, Sept. 11, 75/55
zone, fined $125; Ivan J. Oral,
28, Long Creek, March 15,
78/55 zone, fined $265; Orie
W. Nephi, 40, Fort Duch-
esne, Utah, June 17, 76/55
zone, fined $265; Kris-
ten L. Hardy, 57, Tualatin,
Aug. 10, 74/55, fined $265;
Juvenile, 16, Bend, July 28,
71/55 zone, fined $165; Aus-
tin K. Crumbley, 30, Leba-
non, Aug. 3, 78/55 zone, fined
$265; Chris A. Hanshew, 45,
Prineville, Aug. 7, 85/55 zone,
fined $265; Joseph S. Didner,
21, Portland, Aug. 17, 82/55
zone, fined $265; Rachel L.
Strong, 30, Medford, Jan. 28,
74/55 zone, fined $165; April
L. Davis, 40, Silverton, July
29, 75/55 zone, fined $165;
Julien J. Franceschi, 32, Seat-
tle, Washington, 71/55 zone,
fined $165; Arno H. Jenkins,
55, Portland, Aug. 20, 70/55
zone, fined $165; Russell D.
Ruthstrom, 60, Medford, Aug.
24, 75/55 zone, fined $165;
Alicia M. Tafoya, 34, Board-
man, July 5, 75/55 zone, fined
$165; Clifford T. Curtis, 65,
Baker City, Aug. 20, 75/55
zone, fined $165; Jerrid W.
Herndon, 37, Milton Freewa-
ter, Sept. 4, 78/55 zone, fined
$200; Michael J. Godfrey, 32,
Portland, Aug. 19, 82/55 zone,
fined $265.
Exceeding speed limit:
Tahj M. Miller, 19, John
Day, Sept. 18, 105/65 zone,
fined $1,150 and a 30 day
license suspension; Janet D.
Smith, 57, Shasta Lake, Cal-
ifornia, July 18, 84/65 zone,
fined $265; Dennis M. Clark,
67, Sonora, California, Aug.
18, 38/25 zone, fined $165;
Joshua B. Souders, 31, Pay-
ette, Idaho, Aug. 6, 69/60 zone,
fined $165; Sad I. Jardaneh,
47, La Grande, Aug. 15, 51/25
zone, fined $265; Joshua J.
Schaan, 37, Redmond, July
14, 74/65 zone, fined $165;
Liam K. Casey, 20, Portland,
Aug. 25, 80/65 zone, fined
$265; Bridget L. Pilgreen, 43,
Bandon, Sept. 19, 75/65 zone,
fined $165; Tyler W. Klein,
25, Albany, Sept. 3, 50/35
zone, fined $165; Anthony
I. Reeves, 53, Canyon City,
Sept. 17, 73/60 zone, fined
$265; Juvenile, 17, Forest
Grove, Sept. 12, 60/35 zone,
fined $265; Sophia A. Mesler,
21, Katy, Texas, Sept. 13,
54/35 zone, fined $165; Ven-
tura E. Ortiz, 20, Prineville,
Sept. 19, 61/35 zone, fined
$265; Andrew D. Wolfer, 40,
Union, Sept. 20, 40/25 zone,
fined $165; Christopher R.
Jacobsen, 27, Medford, Sept.
17, 55/35 zone, fined $165;
Nora A. Healey, 59, John Day,
Aug. 24, 57/45 zone, fined
$165; Leobardo Ceballos,
43, Minden, Nevada, Sept.
18, 55/35, fined $165; Travis
Born, 30, John Day, Jan. 21,
2007, 68/55 zone, fined $165;
Mariah C. Denman, 26, Mil-
waukie, Sept. 1, 55/35 zone,
fined $165; Max J. Stern-
berg, 37, El Cerrito, Califor-
nia, Aug. 6, 80/65 zone, fined
$265; Timothy S. Trollinger,
31, Bend, Aug. 7, 78/65 zone,
fined $265; Dale J. Boeshara,
42, Bend, July 25, 56/40, fined
$165; Kayla D. Lambeth, 26,
John Day, March 20, 35/25
zone, fined $115.
Oregon State Police
Oct. 18: A vehicle was
southbound on Highway 395C
when the driver lost control
due to a mechanical issue. The
vehicle veered off the east side
of the highway, striking a rock
face. The vehicle rolled and
came to an uncontrolled rest
on its wheels in the ditch. The
driver was taken to the hospi-
tal by ambulance with com-
plaints of pain. The vehicle
was towed by Frontier Tow-
ing to the owner’s house.
Oct. 22: Oregon State
Police investigated a sin-
gle-vehicle,
non-blocking,
rollover motor vehicle crash
on Highway 26 near milepost
190. The driver and passen-
ger sustained minor abrasions
and scratches while exiting
the vehicle. Oregon Depart-
ment of Transportation ren-
dered medical assistance and
kept the occupants warm in
a vehicle until the arrival of
medical personnel. Superior
Towing out of Baker City
was contacted by the driver’s
spouse and removed the vehi-
cle and trailer from the scene.
Blue Mountain Ambulance
responded, but the vehicle
occupants refused transport.
176 calls during the week of
Oct. 19-25, including:
• John Day Police
Department
Oct. 19: Steven War-
rington, 31, of John Day was
cited for no license and driv-
ing uninsured.
Oct. 19: Received a report
of a domestic dispute on
Southeast Elm Street.
Oct. 20: Received a report
of a noninjury crash on High-
way 26 near milepost 163.
Oct. 23: Elmer R. Ahrend-
sen Jr., 46, was arrested for
theft at a business on West
Main Street.
• Oregon State Police
Oct. 24: Received a report
of a black and white cow on
Highway 26 near Keeney
Fork Road.
• Grant County Sheriff’s
Office
Oct. 19: Received a report
of fraud in Mt. Vernon.
Oct. 20: Received a report
of a noninjury crash on
County Road 16.
Oct. 24: Multiple units
were dispatched to a fight in
Dayville.
• John Day ambulance
Oct. 19: Responded for a
patient with heart issues on
Hansen Lane.
Oct. 20: Along with the
Prairie City ambulance,
paged for a woman not feel-
ing well who was excessively
sleepy on Northwest Johnson
Avenue.
Oct. 20: Responded for an
80-year-old woman with diffi-
culty breathing on West Main
Street.
Oct. 21: Responded for
a 13-year-old boy with neck
spasms.
Oct. 22: Received a report
of an injury crash on Austin
Road.
Oct. 23: Dispatched for a
man with difficulty breathing
on Laycock Creek Road.
Oct. 23: Dispatched for an
elderly woman who fell and
hit her head on Summit Prai-
rie Road.
Oct. 24: Dispatched for a
woman who was unconscious
with high blood pressure and
high glucose on Valley View
Drive.
Oct. 24: Responded for
a 58-year-old woman with
swelling and heart trouble on
Canyon Creek Trail Road.
• Dayville fire
Oct. 24: Responded to a
report of a power pole on fire
on Highway 26 near milepost
126.5.
TOM CHRISTENSEN
CHRISTENSEN
TOM
CONSTRUCTION
Dispatch
John Day dispatch worked
(541) 410-0557 • (541) 575-0192
CCB# 106077
REMODELS • NEW CONSTRUCTION • POLE BUILDINGS
CONCRETE EXCAVATION • SHEET ROCK • SIDING
ROOFING • FENCES • DECKS • TELESCOPING FORKLIFT SERVICES
S208920-1
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A MAN
WAKES
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morning
after sleeping on...
an advertised bed, in advertised
pajamas.
Blue Mountain Eagle
MyEagleNews.com
( 541) 575-3518 • (541) 620-8980
342 W Main St, John Day, OR 97845
S213475-1
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
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245 South Canyon Blvd.
John Day, OR 97845
OPEN WED. & THUR.
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