NEWS
MyEagleNews.com
Commissioners agree to meet with group
pushing back against pandemic restrictions
By Steven Mitchell
Blue Mountain Eagle
Grant County’s leaders
said July 28 that they would
meet with executives from
a group that urges local gov-
ernments and municipalities
in Oregon to push back on
Gov. Kate Brown’s pandemic
restrictions by adopting reso-
lutions and
ordinances
that cite the
U.S. Consti-
tution as the
highest law
in the land.
P r a i -
Frances
rie City res-
Preston
ident Fran-
ces Preston
told the Eagle Thursday that
the group, dubbed Stand 4
Freedom, opposes enforce-
ment of the governor’s emer-
gency declaration via local
ordinances.
During the July 28 court
session, County Judge Scott
Myers said that, while the
court would be open to meet-
ing with the group, the county
would follow all laws and
regulations.
Preston collected 350 sig-
natures from Grant County
residents before approach-
ing the court, which, she said,
works out to about 5% of the
county’s population.
According to a July 28 let-
ter Preston sent to court mem-
bers, Douglas County’s board
of commissioners adopted a
similar Stand 4 Freedom res-
olution declaring the county
Wednesday, August 4, 2021
Umatilla National Forest to
reopen most lands for public entry
Pomeroy Ranger
District and portions
of Walla Walla
Ranger District
remain closed
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Eagle/Steven Mitchell
County Commissioner Sam Palmer, left, and County Judge Scott
Myers at the July 28 Grant County Court meeting.
will not help state agencies or
the governor with enforcing
“laws, mandates or edicts” that
conflict with the Constitution.
According to a proposed
resolution Preston submit-
ted to the court, Grant County
commissioners would not
assist in the enforcement of
business or school closures
or stay-at-home directives
under the executive orders of
the Governor relating to the
coronavirus, including state
agency directives or guidance.
However, the proposal makes
an exception when the county
commissioners give executive
authorization.
It is a very reasonable res-
olution, Preston said. “The
important part of this is that
we show that we are standing
with the merchants.”
Preston said that it is crit-
ical the people — not the
elected officials — have a
document in the form of a
resolution stating they have
protection under the U.S.
Constitution.
She said some people
told her that it was too late,
given that Brown lifted most
COVID-19 restrictions June
30. Preston said she disagrees
and that it is only the “begin-
ning.” Indeed, the govern-
ment announced that Oregon
would follow guidance from
the Centers for Disease Con-
trol requiring masks in K-12
schools and state agencies.
Preston said it was import-
ant that the court members
met with her and are willing
to meet with the public. More-
over, she said, it is encour-
aging to see the court inter-
ested in doing what they can
to show that they’re support-
ing the local businesses.
“The elected officials do
not run the county,” Pres-
ton said. “They answer to the
people.”
A5
With recent precipita-
tion and reduced initial attack
on new fires across the Uma-
tilla National Forest, officials
reopened much of the forest on
Wednesday, Aug. 4, including
all Heppner and North Fork
John Day ranger district lands
and part of the Walla Walla
Ranger District, according to
a press release. The Pomeroy
Ranger District and northern
portions of the Walla Walla
Ranger District remain closed.
Due to active large wild-
fires, the modified closure
includes the entirety of the
Pomeroy Ranger District lands
and the portion of Walla Walla
Ranger District lands north of
Forest Road 64 up to Jubilee
Lake, north of Jubilee Lake and
east of Forest Road 63. While
these roads are the bound-
ary of the closure area, the
roads themselves will re-open
to Jubilee Lake campground,
which will also be open to the
public. Access is prohibited in
areas identified in the closure,
which includes national forest
lands, roads, trails and recre-
ational facilities.
Visitors planning a trip to
areas within the closure should
cancel any plans for the next sev-
eral weeks. These areas remain
closed to protect public and fire-
fighter safety as the forest con-
tinues to actively suppress wild-
fires, while also responding to
new smoke reports.
Closure barriers and signs
will be posted on the ground.
Despite the recent precipi-
tation, fire danger on the Uma-
tilla National Forest is still
extreme. For areas that will
re-open to the public, Phase
C Public Use Restrictions
will be in effect. Under these
restrictions:
• Campfires are prohibited
on the Forest. Use liquid and
bottle (propane) gas stoves
only.
• No internal combustion
engine operation (including
chainsaws), except for motor-
ized vehicles.
• Electrical generators
operated under the follow-
ing conditions are allowed: in
the center of an area at least
10 feet in diameter that is bar-
ren or cleared of all flammable
material, or when fully con-
tained within a pickup truck
bed that is empty of all flam-
mable material, or when fac-
tory installed in a recreational
vehicle and the generator
exhaust discharge is located
in the center of an area at least
10 feet in diameter that is bar-
ren or cleared of all flammable
material.
No off-road/off-trail vehi-
cle travel or travel on roads
not cleared of standing grass
or other flammable material.
Vehicle travel is never permit-
ted on currently closed forest
service roads where access has
been impeded or blocked by
earthen berms, logs, boulders,
barriers, barricades or gates, or
as otherwise identified in a clo-
sure order.
Smoking is allowed only in
enclosed vehicles and build-
ings, developed recreation
sites, or in cleared areas.
Violating closures and fire
restrictions is a violation that
carries a mandatory appear-
ance in federal court, punish-
able as a Class B misdemeanor
with a fine of up to $5,000 for
an individual or $10,000 for
an organization, or up to six
months in prison, or both.
Additional information on
the Lick Creek, Green Ridge,
and Elbow Creek Fires is
available at:
Lick
Creek
Fire:
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
incident/7615/
Green
Ridge
Fire:
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
incident/7628/
Elbow
Creek
Fire:
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
incident/7672/
For more information
regarding restrictions, con-
tact the Information Hotline at
877-958-9663.
The latest fire informa-
tion will be posted on the Blue
Mountains Fire Information
Blog at http://bluemountain-
fireinfo.blogspot.com/.
More information about
the Umatilla National Forest
is available at https://www.
fs.usda.gov/umatilla.
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
Braden M. Breyette, 22,
pleaded guilty Aug. 2 to driv-
ing under the influence of
intoxicants committed on
Aug. 22, 2020. His driv-
er’s license was revoked for
life. He was sentenced to 18
months of supervised proba-
tion, 120 hours of commu-
nity service and 90 days house
arrest. He was fined $2,255.
A count of criminal driving
while suspended or revoked
was dismissed.
Ivy A. Markwick, 25,
pleaded guilty July 29 to
fourth-degree assault consti-
tuting domestic violence com-
mitted on April 25. She was
sentenced to 10 days in jail,
24 months of bench probation
and 80 hours of community
service. A count of harassment
was dismissed.
Nicholas P. Gibson admit-
ted July 27 to committing con-
tempt of court. He was sen-
tenced to 20 days in jail.
Jimmy J. Tohet Jr., 41,
pleaded guilty July 26 to hunt-
ing on cultivated/enclosed
land of another committed
on Oct. 28, 2018. His hunt-
ing license was suspended for
three years. He was sentenced
to 18 months of bench proba-
tion and 40 hours of commu-
nity service. He was ordered
to pay $500 in restitution to
Michael Keerins.
Tena K. Montange was
found in violation of the terms
of probation on two counts
for failure to complete com-
munity service work and
failure to pay. Her proba-
tion was revoked, and she
was sentenced to 45 days
in jail.
Grant County Sheriff
The Grant County Sheriff’s
Office reported the following
for the week ending July 28:
Concealed
handgun
licenses: 11
Average inmates: 14
Bookings: 3
Releases: 10
Arrests: 0
Citations: 2
Fingerprints: 4
Civil papers: 17
Warrants processed: 1
Assistance/Welfare check:
1
Search and Rescue: 0
July 23: Joy Mahurin, 59,
Dayton, was cited for operat-
ing without a license.
July 26: William Dieken,
45, Springfield, was cited for
violation of the basic rule,
80/55 zone.
Oregon State Police
July 28: A state trooper
arrested Somer Robinson,
32, without incident in Day-
ville on South Fork Road after
9 p.m. on four Grant County
warrants. Robinson was
lodged in the Grant County
Jail.
July 28: A state trooper
responded to an non-injury
motor vehicle crash on High-
way 395 near milepost 12.5C.
Dispatch
John Day dispatch worked
170 calls during the week of
July 25-31, including:
July 31: Dispatch took
on information on an ani-
mal potentially with rabies
on South Canyon Boulevard.
• John Day Police
Department
July 28: An officer
responded to a call of an
unwanted subject at Advan-
tage Dental.
July 28: Responded to a
driver complaint on High-
way 26 near milepost 151.
July 31: Responded to a
woman in crisis in front of
the John Day laundromat.
July 31: Responded to a
report of criminal mischief
at the Squeeze-In Restaurant
and Deck.
July 31: Responded to an
assault on West Main Street.
July 31: Responded to a
Well Child/Adolescent Visits on August 17th and 18th, at the Health Department. 
• This will include an OSAA sports
participation form (sports physical) if
needed. 
• Patients will need to come 15
minutes prior to their appointment,
they will need to fill out paper-
work, and a parent will need to sign
their OSAA sports participation form. 
• Patients 17 and under will need to
have a parent at least sign their OSAA
sports participation form although they
do not have to stay with the pt. So, parents may need to be reminded of this. (15 and older
can sign their own paperwork but a parent is encouraged to do this until age 18). 
We will also be doing vision
screening, offering vaccines
including HPV, TDAP, Meningitis
and COVID-19 and any other
vaccines that are needed.  
Grant County
Health Department
528 E Main St | John Day
541-575-0429 | 888-443-9104
Open Mon.-Fri. 8am-5pm
• There will be incentives that will be
given out after the completion of an
appt. (likely a yeti bottle and
greenbucks). They will also be
entered into a drawing for likely a
paddleboard or some other cool
prizes. 
• These will be billed as well child
exams, so insurance information/
cards will be needed.
S255684-1
report of a domestic assault
on North Humbolt.
July 31: Cited a driver for
speeding on Highway 26,
near milepost 163. Could not
collect any personal infor-
mation due to an outage with
the Oregon Department of
Motor Vehicles.
• Grant County Sheriff’s
Office
July 28: Responded to
a report of harassment on
North Johnson Road.
July 29: Responded to a
driver complaint on Summit
Prairie Road.
July 29: Responded to a
domestic violence call on
Half Street.
July 29: Responded to a
livestock complaint on High-
way 26, near Art Morgan
Road.
July 29: Cited Tammy
Caldwell, 59, Long Creek,
for speeding, 56/30 zone, on
Highway 395 near milepost
120B.
July 30: Responded to a
parking complaint on Sum-
mit Prairie Road.
July 30: Cited Everett
Ruckman, 42, of Eugene for
a traffic violation on High-
way 26, near milepost 157.
July 30: Responded to
a report of a dead cow on
Highway 26 near Dixie Pass.
July 31: Responded to
trespassing on the Umatilla
National Forest.
July 31: Responded to a
domestic assault at the Sun-
set Inn Motel.
July 31: Investigated a
possible arson on Highway
395.
July 31: Responded to a
burglar alarm on West Main
Street.
July 31: Responded to an
unattended death at the Mon-
ument Church.
July 31: Cited a driver for
operating a vehicle without a
license on Highway 26, near
milepost 131. Could not col-
lect personal data due to a
DMV outage.
• John Day ambulance
July 28: Ambulance trans-
port to Bend.
July 30: Responded to a
call on North Humbolt for a
woman, 78, with high blood
pressure and confusion.
July 31: Responded to a
report of a woman possibly
suffering from mini strokes
on North Humbolt.
• Prairie City ambulance
July 31: Responded with
the John Day ambulance for
a man approximately 70 with
a shoulder injury on Austin
Road.
• Long Creek ambulance
July 30: Responded to a
call on North Humbolt for a
woman, 78, with high blood
pressure and confusion.
July 30: Dispatched
to East Main Street for
a woman, 83, with diffi-
culty breathing and chest
pain.
Grant County Youth Livestock Auction
to be held Saturday August 14th starting at 4pm.
• There will be a buyers dinner starting at 3:30 sponsored by
Northwest Farm Credit Services and prepared by the Beaver
Believer's 4-H Club.
• Cocktails will be served by Spit Fire Cocktails and registered
buyers get free drink tickets.
• Cold water will be provided courtesy of Iron Triangle.
• Auction will also be offered over Live Auctions TV as well. People
can register to view or to bid at liveauctions.tv
Helena Agri-Enterprises
Longview Ranch
Parma Post & Pole
Chester’s Market
Les Schwab
Ed Staub and Sons
Pioneer Feed & Farm Supply
Iron Triangle
Law Office of Rob Raschio, PC
Ben & Chandra Holliday
Juniper Ridge Acute Care
Center
Holliday Land and Livestock
Ken and CiCi Brooks
TG Mechanical
Solutions, CPA
Rude Logging
L & L Excavating
Old West Federal Credit Union
Treavan Boer Goats
Willow Canyon Trucking
John Day True Value
Clark’s Disposal
Triangle Ranches
Triangle Oil
Timbers Bistro
GRANT COUNTY HEALTH
DEPARTMENT/
COMMUNITY COUNSELING
Len’s Drug
Norton Cattle Company
Central Oregon Livestock
Ty’s Mobile Welding
High Desert Engineering, LLC
Oregon Telephone Corp
Northwest Farm Credit
Services
Sunnie Phillips
Country Preferred Realtors
Coast Range Forestry
Duke Warner Realty. Mobile
Glass
Loop Ranch
Gardner Enterprises
Crown Cattle Co
STRUX Engineering
Riverside Ranch
Jackie and Katie Johns
Northern California Nail
Company Inc
Fields Grassfed Beef
Bill Gander
Tidewater Contractors, Inc
Darren Kimball, LLC
Wilson’s Welding and Fab
Gibco Ag and Industrial
DJF Ranching LLC
Benchmark Land Surveying
1871 Land & Livestock
Amanda Born & Nolan Riis
Bank of Eastern Oregon
Bear Branch Tree Farm
Campo & Poole Distributing
CG Enterprises
City of John Day
Columbia Power Co-op
Cornerstone Christian
Fellowship
Crown Cattle Co -
Mat & Jennifer Carter
Crown Ranch c/o Donna Carter
Daniel & Aunt Luky
First Community Credit Union
Gary Rapp
Gibco Ag & Industrial
Glenna Thiel
Heather & Zach Bailey
Helena Agri Enterprises
High Desert Cattle Company
Huffmans Market
J & D Logging & Contracting
J & D Ranch
Jan O’Rorke - O’Rorke Family
Trust
Jewell Contracting
Jim & Kim Jacobs - 45 Cattle
John Day Auto Parts
Judy Rankin
Lance & Louanne Zweygardt
Len’s Drug
Longhorn Lumber Company
Longview Ranch
Mahogany Ridge Properties
Malheur Lumber Company
Northwest Farm Credit
Services
Oregon Trail Electric Co-op
Oregon Trail Livestock Supply
Outlaw Meats
Ray & Tanni Wenger
Robert & Rhea Lanting
S & C Electric - Tye Parsons
Silver Spur
Snaffle Bit Dinner House
Southworth Brothers
Tidewater Contractors
Treavan Boer Goats
Wade & Simmie Waddel
Windwave
S256072-1