NEWS
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Two COVID-19 deaths in two days doubles county death toll
County reports deaths of
Grant County women, 63
and 87, last week
By Steven Mitchell
Blue Mountain Eagle
“I can’t say why,” Lindsay told
the Eagle. “But it is. And so to that
end, I think that it behooves all of
Grant County to not let their guard
down.”
Underlying conditions
COVID-19 killed two Grant
County residents in two days last
week.
On Thursday, the Grant County
Health Department reported the
COVID-19-related death of a
63-year-old Grant County woman
with underlying conditions, who
died at St. Charles Medical Cen-
ter in Bend on March 23. Friday,
the health department reported
the COVID-19-related death of an
87-year-old Grant County woman
who had underlying conditions as
well.
Meanwhile, according to the
health department, 11 more people
in the county tested positive for the
virus.
Public Health Administrator
Kimberly Lindsay said, while the
county is not seeing a virus variant,
the strain of COVID-19 the county
is seeing is particularly potent.
“This strain that we have of
COVID is robust,” she said. “It is
for me potentially the most robust
that I’ve seen. Clearly, we’ve seen
more deaths, and I’ve seen more
people need to access the emer-
gency room.”
Lindsay said that it is not the
only strain in the county, and she
cannot tell why this version of
the virus is causing more severe
illnesses.
Lindsay responded to criti-
cism the health department faced
over stating the deaths were
“COVID-19-related.”
She said noting someone’s
underlying conditions — which
could be almost anything from dia-
betes to high blood pressure — is
not a judgment on why or how the
person died.
“Because none of them could be
fully ruled out, we have to state that
there were underlying medical con-
ditions,” she said.
To illustrate the point, she said
if someone with high blood pres-
sure were to die from an infection
caused by an ingrown toenail, they
would list high blood pressure as an
underlying medical condition.
“Underlying medical condi-
tions can’t be ruled out as contribu-
tors,” she said. “I’m not saying that
I agree or disagree, but if there are
underlying medical conditions, it
has to be stated.”
County leaders weigh in on
an uptick in cases
County Judge Scott Myers
said whether people believe that
COVID-19 is real or not, they
should be concerned about what
will happen to businesses, public
offices and the day-to-day opera-
tions of the county should positive
cases continue to increase.
Eagle file photo
A vial of the Moderna COVID-19 vac-
cine.
“The downside of not taking the
pandemic seriously is what hap-
pens if we keep getting positives,”
he said.
Myers said restaurants and pub-
lic buildings would have to close if
the county continues to see a spike
in cases.
County Commissioner and Prai-
rie City Mayor Jim Hamsher said
the virus is real and affects people
differently.
Hamsher said it does not just
affect the elderly. He said he has
seen middle-aged people have
severe health issues with it.
“If you have existing medical
conditions, it can be severe and
deadly for you,” he said.
Hamsher said that vulnerable
populations are affected by any
infectious disease — flu or the
coronavirus — and can produce
disastrous consequences when they
spread to a nursing home, as was
the case earlier this month.
Hamsher said he is waiting to
get the vaccine since he was in
close contact with someone who
tested positive for the virus.
“They recommend you wait
90 days if you’ve had it or been
in close contact because you have
those antibodies, and the vaccine
fights with those antibodies,” he
said.
For his part, Myers said he got
the vaccine the day he became
eligible.
He said the only hesitancy he
had in getting the vaccine would
have been if there had been a short-
age of doses and there were older
adults who wanted them. He said he
would have stepped aside.
“I just thought, with my contact
with other people, the public and
family, I needed not to be suscep-
tible to getting it and carrying it to
someone else,” Myers said.
County Commissioner Sam
Palmer did not respond to the
Eagle’s request for comment.
Vaccine update
Lindsay said Monday the county
received 200 new vaccine doses
and 100 booster shots.
She said the county vaccinated
people in eligible groups who the
health department had previously
scheduled and others on the Grant
County waitlist.
Lindsay said the health depart-
ment would hold a Johnson &
Johnson single-shot vaccine event
from 10-11 a.m. April 7 at Seneca
City Hall. She said another event is
being planned on April 8 in Monu-
ment, Dayville and Long Creek.
To join the vaccine waitlist,
email vaccine@ccsemail.org with
name, date of birth, phone num-
ber, address and any chronic health
conditions. If unable to email, call
541-575-0429.
A5
No signs of foul
play in Long
Creek fire
investigation
By Steven Mitchell
Blue Mountain Eagle
A woman’s death in a house fire near
Long Creek that was being investigated
as arson has not turned up any evidence
of foul play so far, according to Grant
County Sheriff Todd McKinley.
In August, the body of Susan Car-
ter, 72, was discov-
ered inside her mobile
home on Carter Lane
near Long Creek after
it became engulfed
in flames, then-Grant
County Sheriff Glenn
Palmer said in a press Grant County
release.
Sheriff Todd
The sheriff’s office
McKinley
received a report of the
burning home at about 5 a.m. on Aug.
3, and both the Long Creek fire depart-
ment and ambulance were dispatched to
the scene. The sheriff’s office and Ore-
gon State Fire Marshal’s Office also
responded.
During a subsequent investigation,
authorities learned that Carter had gone
to the Pendleton area the previous week
and returned home on Saturday.
Members of the state fire marshal’s
office and an arson investigator with the
Oregon State Police began an investi-
gation into the fire’s cause when Carter
was located in the burned home.
McKinley said the investigation is
ongoing.
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
David E. Hall, 26, pleaded
guilty March 25 to a count of
delivery of methamphetamine
committed on Feb. 23. He was
sentenced to 30 days in jail
and three years of supervised
probation.
Grant County Sheriff
The Grant County Sheriff’s
Office reported the following
for the week of March 24:
Concealed
handgun
licenses: 11
Average inmates: 7
Bookings: 3
Releases: 5
Arrests: 0
Citations: 0
Fingerprints: 5
Civil papers: 6
Warrants processed: 2
Assistance/Welfare check:
1
Search and Rescue: 1
Grant County Justice
Court
Violation of the basic rule:
Tegan J. Hulsey, 25, Madras,
March 12, 80/55 zone, fined
$265; Edward J. Miltner, 41,
Boise, Idaho, Feb. 15, 71/55
zone, fined $140; Robert D.
Marsh, 26, Canyon City, Feb.
26, 84/55 zone, fined $265.
Exceeding speed limit:
Brady A. Sherburn, 18, Princ-
eton, June 13, 58/35 zone,
fined $265; John E. Guth-
ridge, 57, Burns, March 3,
55/35 zone, fined $165; Aus-
tin L. Sommers, 25, Naples,
Idaho, Dec. 29, 90/65 zone,
fined $440; Ronald L. Weed,
79, Kennewick, Washington,
March 2, 85/65 zone, fined
$265; Paul D. Luscomb, 48,
Herriman, Utah, March 2,
71/60 zone, fined $115.
Driving while suspended:
Tylor J. Gifford, 26, John Day,
Feb. 17, fined $440.
Driving uninsured: John E.
Guthridge, 57, Burns, July 13,
fined $265, Feb. 6, fined $265,
Feb. 22, fined $265.
Failure to carry proof of
insurance: John E. Guthridge,
57, Burns, March 3, fined
$265.
Operating vehicle while
using mobile device: Hannah
Mae Deming, 24, Mt. Vernon,
March 2, fined $265, fine sus-
pended upon completion of
distracted driving course.
Obstruction of vehicle
windows: David W. Davis,
64, John Day, March 12, fined
$115.
Delbert L. Snode pleaded
guilty March 15 to a count
of second-degree disorderly
conduct. He was sentenced
to 18 months of probation,
60 hours of community ser-
vice and ordered to pay $700
in fines and fees and $500 in
compensation.
On March 24, the court
granted a judgment for CSO
Financial Inc. against Gary W.
Moulton for $4,047.51.
Oregon State Police
March 21: Oregon State
Police stopped a vehicle for
a traffic violation near mile-
post 174 on Highway 26.
The driver, Talia C. Gilliam,
44, had a misdemeanor war-
rant out of Grant County Jus-
tice Court for failure to appear
on a traffic offense. The driver
was cited in lieu of custody for
the warrant.
March 22: A state trooper
investigated a minor-injury,
single motor vehicle crash on
Highway 395B, near milepost
98. The driver fell asleep and
the vehicle traveled onto the
gravel shoulder of the north
bound lane. The driver woke
up and overcorrected, los-
ing control of the vehicle.
The vehicle traveled back
across the highway, leaving
the roadway on the shoul-
der of the southbound lane.
The driver traveled through
a barbwire fence, striking a
large post and gate, coming to
rest pointed toward the west.
The driver, Jeffrey Parolini,
26, was issued a citation for
careless driving with accident
involved. Parolini’s insur-
ance company called Frontier
Towing to respond.
March 23: A 28-year-old
woman had been repeatedly
contacted by a 28-year-old
man over the past year while
awaiting trial on an assault
charge. Two reports have
already been sent to the Grant
County District Attorney for
a charging decision on the
prior violations of the no con-
tact order by the 28-year-old
man.
March 24: A state trooper
stopped a known suspended
driver on Highway 26 near
milepost 168. The trooper
contacted the driver, Adrian
L. Couey, 36, who claimed
to not know she was sus-
pended despite having eight
active suspensions and eight
pending suspensions. Couey
had no proof of insurance.
The trooper previously cited
Couey for driving while sus-
pended as has John Day
Police Department several
times. The trooper issued
Couey citations for driving
while suspended and driv-
ing uninsured. The trooper
impounded the vehicle, and
Frontier Towing took posses-
sion of the vehicle. Couey got
a ride from the scene from a
friend.
March 24: OSP stopped a
vehicle for speed near mile-
post 175 on Highway 26.
The driver showed signs of
impairment and consented to
Standardized Field Sobriety
Tests. After SFSTs, the driver,
Courtney G. Wildeboer, 28, of
Portland was arrested for driv-
ing under of the influence of
intoxicants–drug and taken to
the Grant County Jail where
she was lodged for probation
violation. The driver’s friend
took possession of the car.
March 25: A state trooper
stopped a vehicle near mile-
post 161 on Highway 26 for
speeding. When conducting
a records check of the driver,
his license returned as sto-
len. Investigation revealed the
driver’s pickup had been sto-
len in Portland multiple times,
and his wallet with his driver’s
license was inside the vehi-
cle once when it was stolen.
When the vehicle was recov-
ered, the driver did not notify
the Portland Police Bureau
that he recovered his wallet
and license. Dispatch coordi-
nated with the Portland Police
Bureau to have the record
removed from LEDS/NCIC.
Dispatch
John Day dispatch worked
145 calls during the week of
March 22-28, including:
• John Day Police
Department
March 24: Received a
report of theft of service from
a gas station.
March 25: Received a
report of fraud on East Main
Street.
March 26: Advised of a
stolen vehicle involved in pur-
suit out of Malheur County.
March 27: Cited Somer
Lee Robinson, 32, of Dayville
for driving while suspended,
uninsured and failure to carry
and present on Highway 26
near milepost 160.
• Oregon State Police
Strawberry Mountain Law, PC
206 S. Humbolt Street • Canyon City, OR 97820
541-575-5750 • office@strawberrymountainlaw.com
March 26: Advised of an
injured deer on Highway 26
near Dayville.
• Grant County Sheriff’s
Office
March 24: Received a
report of theft on Highway 26
near milepost 173.
March 26: Zachary T.
Tschanz, 26, of Redmond was
cited for speeding on High-
way 26 near milepost 131.
March 26: Responded to
a domestic/unwanted subject
report along with JDPD at
North Johnson Avenue. Rob-
ert L. Crosby II, 34, of Prairie
City was arrested.
March 27: Responded to a
report of theft on Highway 19.
• John Day ambulance
March 22:Responded for
an elderly woman with dif-
ficulty breathing on Valley
View Drive.
March 26: Responded for a
74-year-old woman who had
fallen on Northeast Seventh
Avenue.
• Long Creek ambulance
March 22: Along with John
Day ambulance, dispatched
for an elderly man with dif-
ficulty breathing on Ridge
Road.
March 22: Along with
OSP, GCSO and John Day
ambulance, dispatched to a
vehicle crash on Highway 395
near Fox.
• Monument ambulance
March 27: Along with John
Day ambulance, responded
for a 69-year-old man with
convulsions on Highway 19.
Kati Dunn, Kyra Rohner,
Greg Goebel, Thomas Boone,
Fianna MacGregor-Whitman,
Marcus Oatman
• Criminal Law • Family Law • Wills & Probate • Notary Public
EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY SMALL BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT CENTER IS SEEKING A PART-TIME
BUSINESS ADVISER RESPONSIBLE FOR COVERING ALL
OF GRANT AND WHEELER COUNTY.
The successful applicant must have a strong business
background with a minimum of four years experience to assist
entrepreneurs and existing business owners. A business related
degree is preferred. There are reporting requirements to be
completed in a timely manner and utmost confidentiality is a must.
Hourly rate DOE.

If you are interested in applying, email a cover
letter, resume and three professional references
to eousbdc@gmail.com.
Oregon Small Business Development Centers are funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the
U.S. Small Business Administration and by the Oregon Business Development Department.
S235168-1
Applicants must have reliable transportation and a valid driver’s
license as travel within the counties is required. If you would like
further information or have questions, please call 541-962-1532.
S234533-1