NEWS
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
A7
Area grocers ready for Thanksgiving
By ALEX WITTWER
EO Media Group
PRAIRIE CITY — Supply chain
issues gripping the nation have led
to shortages in everything from
semiconductors
to paper trays at
school cafeterias,
but Thanksgiving
looks to be run-
ning smoothly and
on time, according
to grocery stores in
rural Oregon cities.
Blaine
“Turkey’s on the
Huff man
table — we’ve got
turkey already in our freezer,” said
Blaine Huff man, owner of Huff -
man’s Market in Prairie City. “I’m
sure there’s going to be items we’re
going to be short on, but on the
whole we’re fi ne.”
Grocery stores have had to adapt
to a changing supply landscape that
has seen shortages crop up in unex-
pected places.
“We don’t know one load from
the next what we’re going to get —
it changes every time,” Huff man
said. “The food supply chain is vul-
Steven Mitchell/Eagle fi le photo
Despite current supply chain challenges, Chester’s Market in John Day is pre-
pared for Thanksgiving with plenty of staples for the holiday feast, according
to manager Mike Shaff er.
nerable; a lot of stuff is still sitting
out in the ocean.”
Huff man said he had some
issues ordering pre-made pies for
Thanksgiving, and the store was
out of stock of those items. Sup-
plies for homemade pies, however,
were available.
Considering that smaller mar-
kets lack the same buying power
as larger chains such as Safe-
way or Walmart, there was cause
for concern that residents in fron-
tier towns, including John Day and
Prairie City, might have to travel
further to fi ll their shopping cart for
the upcoming holiday.
Grocery stores report that while
ordering has been a challenge, the
staples for a Thanksgiving feast
have yet to cause any concerns.
“Before, I was able to buy pal-
lets of certain things like con-
densed milk — when it comes to
those really big staples, a lot of it is
on an allocation that you can’t buy
big amounts like that because they
wouldn’t be able to service every-
body,” said Mike Shaff er, opera-
tions manager for Chester’s Market
in John Day. “As far as staples go,
we’re sitting pretty good.”
Shaff er said he has had to order
months in advance for key items,
especially during Thanksgiving and
similar holidays, when supplies go
fast as the holiday approaches and
the deadline for putting the turkey
in the oven looms.
For now, the store is well stocked
for the upcoming feast, according
to Shaff er.
“It was really easy to get what
you needed before all this stuff
happened and before — I call it a
logistical nightmare, but you know
all the logistic issues that every-
one is experiencing — before that
we’d have pretty big item counts,
big ads so people could come in
and get a good deal on whatever
they need for dinner and stuff like
that, so it has changed,” Shaff er
said. “If you commit to something
like we did this year — if you have
to reorder it, that’s where you may
run into an issue because everybody
else is reordering, especially for the
season.”
Supply chain issues have cropped
up from a myriad of pandemic-re-
lated minutiae, from labor and raw
material shortages — including
dock workers and truck drivers — to
low production yields and increased
costs of goods as shipping costs sky-
rocket due to increases in fuel and
container prices.
That means when orders fi nally
arrive at grocery stores, the contents
might be less than what was ordered,
or the order itself would be delayed.
“It’s hard to plan around, I’ll put
it to you that way,” Shaff er said.
Those issues exacerbated an
already vulnerable system. Still, the
grocery stores remain optimistic
about the upcoming holiday.
“It’s not like it was last year,”
Huff man said. “I think it will be
good. I think everything will be
good.”
COPS AND COURTS
Arrests and citations in the Blue
Mountain Eagle are taken from the
logs of law enforcement agencies.
Every eff ort is made to report the
court disposition of arrest cases.
Grant County Circuit
Court
Nov. 12: Laura Marie Brun-
ton, 60, of John Day pleaded guilty
to driving under the infl uence of
intoxicants and violation of an igni-
tion interlock device requirement.
She was sentenced to two years of
supervised probation, fi ned $2,225
and had her driver’s license sus-
pended for life. In addition, she was
ordered to obtain a substance abuse
evaluation, complete any recom-
mended treatment programs, stay
out of bars and liquor stores and not
use or possess intoxicants, includ-
ing alcohol.
Oregon State Police
Nov. 9: At 2:08 p.m., a trooper
stopped a Mazda Protege for a traf-
fi c violation on Highway 26 near
milepost 161. The driver, Maria
Bernadette Bologna, 55, of John
Day, was cited for driving unin-
sured and giving false information
regarding insurance.
Nov. 10: At 11:41 a.m., OSP
fi sh and wildlife troopers responded
to a report of trophy mule deer
buck that had been shot and left in
the Murderers Creek hunt unit. Te
meat was deemed fi t for consump-
tion and was salvaged. Investiga-
tion is ongoing.
Nov. 11: At 11:18 p.m., a
trooper responded to reports of a
non-injury accident on Highway
26 near milepost 68 in Wheeler
County. The driver of a Ram
pickup reported he had been trav-
eling at about 60 mph when he
rounded a curve and saw a rock-
slide covering both lanes of the
highway. He was unable to stop
and drove over the top of the slide,
causing two fl at tires and substan-
tial damage to the undercarriage of
his truck. The vehicle was towed
by Frontier Towing, and the Ore-
gon Department of Transportation
cleared the highway.
Nov. 12: At 9:54 a.m., a trooper
took a report of a hit-and-run crash
that occurred about 7:15 p.m. on
Nov. 11. A man reported he had
been driving on Highway 395C
near milepost 13 when he met a
vehicle towing a cattle trailer on a
sharp curve. The man reported that
the trailer struck and damaged his
vehicle, but the vehicle towing the
trailer kept going. Investigation
ongoing.
Nov. 12: About 4:15 p.m.,
a trooper stopped a vehicle on
Highway 26 near milepost 162
to speak with an occupant known
to be an out-of-compliance sex
off ender. While taking the man
into custody, the trooper allegedly
found a spring-assisted knife con-
cealed under his clothing. Olle
Leroi Starnes, 51, of John Day
was arrested on charges of failure
to report as a sex off ender after a
change of residence, felon in pos-
session of a restricted weapon and
carrying a concealed weapon.
Grant County Sheriff
The Grant County Sheriff ’s
Offi ce reported the following for
the week ending Nov. 10:
Concealed handgun licenses: 8
Average inmates: 10
Bookings: 5
Releases: 4
Arrests: 4
Citations: 0
Fingerprints: 7
Civil papers: 12
Warrants processed: 5
Asst./welfare check: 0
Search and rescue: 1
Justice Court
The Grant County Justice Court
reported the following activity for
the week ending Nov. 10:
Traffi c citations fi led: 19
Violations fi led: 5
Misdemeanors fi led: 13
Persons on probation: 42
Warrants issued: 1
Evictions in favor of tenants: 1
Evictions in favor of landlords:
0
• Violation of basic rule: Scott J.
Pence, 53, Sunriver, Sept. 25, 78/55
zone, fi ned $265.
• Violation speed limit: Savio
Philip, 26, Seattle, Oct. 16, 94/65
zone, fi ned $440.
• Driving uninsured: Gage Rob-
ert Lambeth, 21, John Day, April
18, fi ned $265; Thomas Edward
Pfeifer, 52, Prairie City, Sept. 25,
fi ned $265; Tanner Joseph Prock,
25, John Day, May 31, fi ned $265;
Wade Franklin Keith, 29, Pon-
deray, Idaho, Jan. 4, 2020, fi ned
$265; Wade Franklin Keith, 29,
Ponderay, Idaho, Jan. 8, 2020, fi ned
$265.
• Driving while suspended:
Gage Robert Lambeth, 21, John
Day, April 18, fi ned $440; Thomas
Edward Pfeifer, 52, Prairie City,
Sept. 25, fi ned $440; Tanner Joseph
Prock, 25, John Day, May 31, fi ned
$265; Tanner Joseph Prock, 25,
John Day, June 13, fi ned $440;
Wade Franklin Keith, 29, Pon-
deray, Idaho, Jan. 4, 2020, fi ned
$440; Wade Franklin Keith, 29,
Ponderay, Idaho, Jan. 8, 2020, fi ned
$440.
• Open container of alcohol:
Andrean P. Kuzmin, 52, Silverton,
Oct. 5, fi ned $265.
Nov. 8: Elmer Ray Ahrend-
sen pleaded guilty to third-degree
theft. Ahrendsen was sentenced to
one year of probation, fi ve days in
jail with credit for time served and
20 hours of community service and
was ordered to pay a $440 fi ne.
Dispatch
Grant County dispatch worked
150 calls during the week ending
Nov. 12, including:
• Oregon State Police
Nov. 5: Responded to Highway
26 at Lower Yard Road for a report
fo an injured animal.
Nov. 9: Responded to Highway
S226597-1
26 near milepost 174 for a report
for an injured animal. Prairie City
Public Works dispatched an injured
deer.
Nov. 10: Advised of a deer vs.
vehicle accident on Highway 26
east of Prairie City.
Nov. 11: Advised of a driv-
ing complaint on Highway 395 at
Long Creek.
Nov. 12: Responded to High-
way 395 South for a hit and run.
• Grant County Sheriff ’s
Offi ce
Nov. 6: Responded to the John
Day Motel for a domestic violence
call.
Nov. 6: Responded to the
Meadowbrook Apartments in
John day for a restraining order
violation.
Nov. 6: Responded to West
Bench Road for a scam report.
Nov. 6: Responded to Wiley
Creek for a report of trespassing
and possible poaching.
Nov. 6: Responded with Ore-
gon State Police to South Canyon
Boulevard near Dark Horse Rent-
als, John Day, for an injured ani-
mal report.
Nov. 6: Responded to West
Main Street in John Day. Matthew
Paul Walker, 38, was arrested on a
restraining order violation.
Nov. 6: Advised of a trespass-
ing complaint at the Monument
Fire Department.
Nov. 6: Responded to Humbolt
Street in Canyon City for a report
of trespassing and restraining order
violation. Report unfounded.
Nov. 7: Responded to Sun-
fl ower Flat for a trespassing
complaint.
Nov. 7: Performed a public
assist at Long Creek Mountain.
Nov. 7: Performed a traffi c stop
on Highway 26 near milepost 147.
Driver warned for speeding.
Nov. 7: Responded to Northeast
Front Street, Prairie City, for a resi-
dential alarm.
Nov. 7: Responded to the park-
ing lot of Blue Mountain Hospital
in John Day for a stalking report.
Nov. 7: Responded to Ingle
Street, Mt. Vernon, for a domestic
dispute.
Nov. 8: Responded to Pineview
Lane, Canyon City, for an unat-
tended death.
Nov. 8: Responded to Prairie
City for a report of elder abuse.
Nov. 8: Responded to West
Main Street, John Day, for a driv-
ing complaint.
Nov. 8: Responded to Meadow-
brook Apartments,, John Day, for a
welfare check.
Nov. 8: Performed a public
assist at Texas Creek.
Nov. 8: Responded to Dayville
Church for a trespassing complaint.
Nov. 8: Responded to Southeast
Hillcrest Road, John Day, for suspi-
cious circumstances.
Nov. 9: Responded to Les
Schwab in John Day for a commer-
cial alarm.
Nov. 9: Advised of a search and
rescue call fro Seneca.
Nov. 9: Responded to Dollar
General in John Day for suspicious
circumstances.
Nov. 9: Responded to South
Canyon Boulevard, John Day, for
a theft report.
Nov. 9: Responded to Meadow-
brook Apartments, John Day, for a
juvenile problem.
Nov. 9: Responded to Canyon
City for a fraud report.
Nov. 9: Made a traffi c stop
on East Main Street in John Day.
Driver warned for speeding.
Nov. 9: Made a traffi c stop at
Highway 26 and Gunther. Driver
warned for speeding.
Nov. 9: Responded to Frank-
lin Avenue, Dayville, for a juvenile
problem.
Nov. 10: Responded to North-
west First Avenue, John Day, for a
welfare check.
Nov. 10: Responded to Prairie
City for a civil issue.
Nov. 10: Responded to North
McHaley Street, Prairie City. Rob-
ert L. Crosby II, 35, was arrested on
a probation violation.
Nov. 11: Responded to Bare
Bones, John Day, for a fi ght.
Nov. 11: Advised of a theft of
services complaint on Screech
Alley Loop, John Day.
Nov. 11: Advised of a tree that
had fallen onto a house and vehicle
on Ingle Street in Mt. Vernon.
Nov. 11: Responded to the
Polaris dealership in John Day for
possible unlawful use of a motor
vehicle.
Nov. 11: Responded to High-
way 402 for a domestic violence
report.
Nov. 11: Responded to the Sev-
enth Street Sports Complex, John
Day, for suspicious circumstances.
Nov. 11: Responded to North
Main Street, Prairie City, for a
report of juveniles trespassing.
Nov. 12: Responded to Moun-
tain Boulevard, Mt. Vernon, for a
civil issue.
Nov. 12: Responded to West
main Street, John Day, for an alarm
at a bank. Unfounded.
• John Day Ambulance
Nov. 6: Dispatched to Valley
View Assisted Living, John Day,
for a dizziness complaint.
Nov. 6: Responded with Long
Creek Ambulance to Highway 395
North for a rollover accident with
injuries.
Nov. 6: Responded to North-
west Fifth Street for a fall injury.
Nov. 7: Responded to Budget 8
Motel for a man with hypertension.
Nov. 9: Dispatched to South-
west First Street for a possible heart
attack.
Nov. 10: Patient transfer at the
airport.
Nov. 10: Patient transfer at the
airport.
Nov. 11: Patient transfer at the
airport.
Nov. 11: Responded with Prai-
rie City Ambulance to Blue Moun-
tain Care Center, Prairie City, for a
fall injury.
Nov. 11: Responded to Cotton-
wood Street for a fall injury.
Nov. 12: Patient transfer at the
airport.
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