NEWS
MyEagleNews.com
Wyden holds virtual town hall
Blue Mountains Forest Partners, got
emotional talking about the steward-
ship deal.
WASHINGTON — Meeting with
“I’ll probably start crying,” he
Grant County constituents via video- said, “because it seems you really
conference, Sen. Ron Wyden fi elded saved the timber industry in Grant
questions on a variety of topics during County, and I can’t thank you enough
an hourlong virtual town hall meeting for that.”
on Saturday, March 12.
Webb also asked about economic
Speaking from his offi ce
sanctions against Russia over
in the nation’s capital, the
its invasion of Ukraine and
Oregon Democrat began by
potential action to address
honoring two Grant County
what he called price manip-
public
health
offi cials.
ulation by large meatpacking
Wyden presented Ameri-
companies. Wyden said he
can fl ags to Jessica Winegar,
was working on both issues.
Grant County Health Depart-
First, he said, there would
Wyden
ment clinic manager, and
be a bipartisan vote in Con-
Kimberly Lindsay, the Health
gress next week to pass tough
Department’s administrator and exec- trade sanctions against Russia.
utive director of Community Coun-
“What Russia has done with their
seling Solutions, and thanked them inhumane conduct (in Ukraine) is
for their service during the COVID- they have forfeited their ability to
19 pandemic.
get the benefits of the international
“You all are so lucky to have Jes- trading system,” Wyden said.
sica and Kimberly on the front lines
He also said there was a bipar-
on health care,” Wyden told the audi- tisan bill in the works to promote
ence. “Those two really are health fair competition in the meatpacking
care heroes, in every sense of the industry, which is dominated by a
word.”
handful of large companies.
Grant County Commissioner Jim
“I think there are some very trou-
Hamsher opened the questions from bling signals coming out of there in
the audience by asking about addi- terms of anticompetitive practices,”
tional federal funding for timber-de- he said.
pendent counties.
Wyden answered questions on
Wyden, who is running for reelec- a number of other issues as well,
tion, started by noting that the Secure including:
Rural Schools Act and the payment in
• Medicare coverage for tele-
lieu of taxes program, both of which health: “I want to get it expanded.”
he helped create, had brought $3.5
• Accurate country-of-origin
billion in federal money to the state.
labeling for meat: “I’m very much
He added that a bill to create an for it.”
additional path for federal funding to
• Old-growth logging on pub-
rural counties like Grant was moving lic lands: “Responsible logging and
through Congress.
responsible land management trans-
“We’re out of the Senate and we’re lates to strong local economies and
working to get it through the House fits Oregon values.”
and over the fi nish line,” he said.
• Health care: Medicare should be
Genevieve Perdue of the Blue allowed to negotiate for lower drug
Mountain Land Trust asked about prices. “Everybody negotiates, but
Wyden’s priorities for preserv- not Medicare.”
ing agricultural lands, and the sen-
• Moving Oregon’s border: He’s
ator turned the conversation toward against it. “I just feel so strongly
forest management and wildfire that we’re all stronger when we are
prevention.
together. Oregon just got a sixth con-
Wyden said he had met with For- gressional district. Shoot, folks, why
est Service Chief Randy Moore to would we want to give up our infl u-
express his support for another long- ence in Congress?”
term stewardship contract on the Mal-
• Creating a no-fl y zone over
heur National Forest. Wyden helped Ukraine: He thinks it could lead to
broker the original 10-year steward- a broader confl ict. “I am very, very
ship contract, which he said provided cautious about that kind of pros-
a stable supply of logs for the Mal- pect. … I think these economic sanc-
heur Lumber mill in John Day while tions, coupled with assistance to
advancing environmental goals.
the Ukrainians, have really helped
Mark Webb, executive director of so far.”
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
A3
Labhart lands open seat on council
By BENNETT HALL
Blue Mountain Eagle
By BENNETT HALL
Blue Mountain Eagle
JOHN DAY — The odd man
out in the last election for the
John Day City Council is now the
body’s newest member.
At the council’s March 8 meet-
ing, Chris Labhart was appointed
to fi ll the vacant Position 7 seat
left open by the resignation of
Paul Smith, who stepped down in
January citing health reasons and
“other personal circumstances.”
Labhart, a retired educator, was
one of four people who applied
to fi ll the open spot on the coun-
cil. The others were small busi-
ness owner Brian Hubbard, retired
Bureau of Land Management
planner Liz Aleman and retired
serviceman Chris Stauty.
Each of them fi led an applica-
tion listing their background and
qualifi cations for the position and
made a brief presentation at the
start of the meeting.
L a b h a r t
received
four
votes from the
six sitting council
members, with
one vote going to
Hubbard, one to
Labhart
Stauty and none
to Aleman. The
appointment runs through the end
of this year, and the Position 7 seat
will go up for election again on the
November ballot.
If the last election had turned
out diff erently, Labhart would
already have had a council seat.
The November 2020 race
ended in a dead heat, with Labhart
and Heather Rookstool tied at 470
votes apiece for the last remain-
ing spot on the council. Rookstool
secured the position by winning a
coin toss.
Labhart took a seat at the coun-
cil table immediately following his
appointment, but he was already
familiar with the job: He sat on the
John Day City Council previously,
stepping down in 2012 after being
elected to the Grant County Court.
He has also served a stint as the
city’s mayor.
In a brief interview after the
meeting, Labhart said he thought
his previous experience on the
council would serve him well.
He said he intends to represent
the interests of senior citizens and
would work to increase the city’s
housing supply and restore the
police department.
He also said he would try to
get more Secure Rural Schools
Act funding for the city and
touted his good working relation-
ship with Grant County Judge
Scott Myers.
“I felt my experience as a
county commissioner and hav-
ing been on or led committees
throughout the county and the
state would help me understand
what people want in the commu-
nity,” he said.
Guard wraps deployment at BMH
By STEVEN MITCHELL Blue
Mountain Eagle
JOHN DAY — With a declin-
ing number of COVID-19 patients
and dwindling case counts, the Ore-
gon National Guard ended its staff -
ing assistance for the Blue Mountain
Hospital District on March 4.
In mid-January, as the rapidly
spreading omicron variant put pres-
sure on health systems all over the
country, Blue Mountain Hospital
was one of a half-dozen hospitals in
Eastern Oregon to receive aid from
the Oregon National Guard when
Gov. Kate Brown ordered a second
relief mission to support strained
hospitals across the state.
During the deployment, seven
guard members from the Ontario
area helped with non-clinical duties
and assisted with non-critical tasks
such as sanitation and cleaning at
the hospital in John Day and Blue
Mountain Care Center in Prairie
City.
For Sgt. Bailey Frasch, the
non-commissioned offi cer in charge
of the mission, the deployment was
just part of what the guard does.
Frasch said the deployment took
the guard members away from their
jobs and their families, but that is
what they signed up for.
“Everybody needs to sacrifi ce,”
Frasch said. “Like my soldiers lose
time with their kids and their wives.”
Frasch, who is not married and
does not have any kids, said she did
miss her dog.
“It sucks to leave my dog for a
long time,” she said, “but I’m kind of
used to it. (Being away from home)
is another job. It’s another mission.”
Frasch said guard members
receive deployment pay when they
go on missions, which in her case
paid her more than what she earns
at her civilian job at an Ontario con-
struction company.
One thing that helped with being
away from home, Frasch said, was
that she had a friend in the county,
Jolynn Radinovich of John Day.
Frasch said Radinovich had her
over for home-cooked meals and
let her do her laundry at her home
instead of having to use the laun-
dromat at the Best Western Hotel in
John Day.
The whole community was very
hospitable throughout the entire
mission, Frasch said. For instance,
the members of the John Day Elks
Lodge welcomed her and the other
members for Taco Tuesdays and
Wednesday morning coff ee with vet-
erans. Frasch, who joined the guard
in 2014, said she had wanted to join
the Army since she was a child and
saw her Aunt Julia in her fatigues
after a deployment with the Wash-
ington National Guard.
“Seeing (my aunt) in her uni-
form and seeing that if she could do
it, anybody could do it,” Frasch said.
A year into her National Guard
career, Frasch said the Defense
Department cleared women to serve
alongside men in combat roles.
Shortly after the announcement,
Frasch said she was asked if she
wanted to go into the tank corps after
basic training.
She said she shrugged off the
off er as a joke. However, later that
year, Frasch said, her sergeant told
her that she would be leaving her
fuel attendant job to drive tanks.
Frasch said it did not make any
diff erence to her at the time that, as a
woman, the guard had promoted her
to the tank battalion.
In the National Guard, Frasch
said, she gets to do “cool” things that
she would not have had the opportu-
nity to do otherwise.
“Nobody wants to be a fuel atten-
dant for their whole career,” she said.
“I mean, some people do. I didn’t
want to.”
WHAT’S HAPPENING
WEDNESDAY,
MARCH 16
Lenten luncheon
• 11:30 a.m., Redeemer
Lutheran Church, 627 SE Hill-
crest Road, John Day
Part of a series of lunchtime
services during Lent spon-
sored by the John Day Min-
isterial Association. Lunch
includes choice of soup, bread
and beverage, followed by a
worship service at 12:15 p.m.
For more information, call
541-575-5840.
Jam session
• 6 p.m., Country Preferred
Realtors, 121 E. Main St, John
Day
The Grant County Jammers
will host a jam session every
Wednesday starting at 6 p.m.
All instruments welcome.
The group plays mostly tradi-
tional old-time music, includ-
WHAT’S
wants to help is welcome. For
more information, call Colby
Farrel at 541-620-0874.
WEDNESDAY,
MARCH 23
HAPPENING
ing bluegrass, country-west-
ern, folk, gospel and pop tunes
of the 1920-40s. The offi ce will
open at 5 for tuneup and setup.
For more information, call Ron
Phillips at 541-575-1927.
FRIDAY,
MARCH 18
’62 Days planning meeting
• 7 p.m., Sel’s Brewery, 113
Washington St., Canyon City
Regular weekly meeting
of the Whiskey Gulch Gang
to plan this year’s ‘62 Days
festivities. Anyone who
Lenten luncheon
• 11:30 a.m., First Chris-
tian Church, 311 NE Dayton
St., John Day
Part of a series of lunch-
time services during Lent
sponsored by the John
Day Ministerial Associa-
tion. Lunch includes choice
of soup, bread and bever-
age, followed by a wor-
ship service at 12:15 p.m.
For more information, call
541-575-5840.
WEDNESDAY,
MARCH 23
Jam session
• 6 p.m., Country Preferred
Design our LOGO
The Friends of Kam Wah Chung & Co. Museum are seeking an emblem logo design that
is distinctive, appropriate, practical, graphic and simple in form.
Please refer to our website for design elements…www.friendsofkamwahchung.com
This is an open and competitive process for all qualified freelance graphic designers and
reputable design firms/agencies. Proposals received after April 1, 2022 will not be consid-
ered and will be returned unopened.
The proposal must contain the signature of a duly authorized officer or agent of the com-
pany submitting the proposal. If the execution of work to be performed by your company
requires the hiring of sub-contractors you must clearly state this in your proposal. Sub-con-
tractors must be identified and the work they will perform must be defined. In your proposal
please provide the name, address, and EIN of the subcontractor. The FoKWC will not refuse
a proposal based upon the use of sub-contractors; however we retain the right to refuse the
sub-contractors you have selected. The proposal should include the following information:
Proof of qualifications (resume, client recommendations, etc.)
Case studies/examples of work
2-3 logo design outlines/proofs/examples
Written explanation of design proofs and interpretation of the FoKWC vision
Proposal due date: 4:00pm-March 31, 2022
Decision date: April 14, 2022
Project completion date: June 1, 2022
S285779-1
Realtors, 121 E. Main St, John
Day
The Grant County Jammers
will host a jam session every
Wednesday starting at 6 p.m.
All instruments welcome.
The group plays mostly tradi-
tional old-time music, includ-
ing bluegrass, country-west-
ern, folk, gospel and pop tunes
of the 1920-40s. The offi ce will
open at 5 for tuneup and setup.
For more information, call Ron
Phillips at 541-575-1927.
FRIDAY,
MARCH 25
‘62 Days planning meeting
• 7 p.m., Sel’s Brewery,
113 Washington St., Canyon
City
Regular weekly meeting of
the Whiskey Gulch Gang to
plan this year’s ‘62 Days fes-
tivities. Anyone who wants
to help is welcome. For more
information, call Colby Farrel
at 541-620-0874.
Do you have a commu-
nity event in Grant County
you’d like to publicize?
Email information to edi-
tor@bmeagle.com. The
deadline is noon Friday for
publication the following
Wednesday.
Committee Volunteers Needed
Grant County is now Recruiting Volunteers
to Serve on Active Boards and Committees
Applications are Due by WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2022
Obtain an application to volunteer in person at 201 S. Humbolt, Canyon City;
on the website at grantcountyoregon.net, search volunteer application;
or contact (541-575-0059) GCCourtAdmin@grantcounty-or.gov
Committees are formal public bodies required to comply with Oregon Public
Meetings Law ORS 192.610.
College Advisory Board
Seven members plus three ex-officio members serve a three year term and meet month-
ly to promote local educational opportunities and identify educational needs within the
community.
Extension & 4-H Service District Advisory Council
Eleven members serve three year terms and meet semi-annually to provide guidance
and assistance to local OSU Extension staff in planning, developing, and evaluating bal-
anced educational programs directed to high priority needs of county residents. Member-
ship is limited to one re-appointment.
Extension & 4H Service District Budget Committee
Members include two advisory members and a member-at-large serving three year
terms. Annual meetings include the County Court and are held to receive, deliberate,
revise and approve the annual budget as provided by the District Budget Officer. Any
proposed programs are discussed and considered.
Planning Commission
Nine members serve a four year term and two alternates serve a two year term, meeting
as needed to review land use and zoning applications and discuss city and county growth
issues and siting new facilities. Members must be residents of various geographic areas
within the county and no more than two voting members shall be engaged in the same
kind of business, occupation, trade or profession with agriculture designations of live-
stock / forage crop production and horticulture / specialty crop production. Commission-
ers serving in this capacity must file an Annual Verified Statement of Economic Interest
with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission. Members must re-apply to the County
Court before their term ends if they wish to be re-appointed. The commission is a formal
public body required to comply with Oregon Public Meetings Law ORS 192.610.
Southeast Area Commission on Transportation
The alliance provides a forum for local government agencies and the private sector to
discuss, understand and coordinate long range transportation issues affecting the south
east Oregon region including Grant, Harney and Malheur counties. The alliance acts as
the Area Commission on Transportation. It reviews the process for determining trans-
portation infrastructure and capital investments in the south east region, recommends
priorities, and advises Oregon Transportation Commission on state and regional policies
affecting the region’s transportation system. Five members, plus one alternate, serve
three year terms as Grant County representatives. Daytime meetings are held monthly,
or as needed, at locations rotating among the three counties.
Wolf Depredation Advisory Committee
OAR 603-019-0015. Members include one County Commissioner, two members who
own or manage livestock and two members who support wolf conservation or coexis-
tence with wolves. These members agree upon two business representatives to serve as
additional members. The committee oversees the procedure established by Grant County
for its Wolf Depredation Compensation Program. The current vacancy is for a business
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representative.