NEWS
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
A3
Open house highlights projects Man gets 25 years in child rape case
By JUSTIN DAVIS
Blue Mountain Eagle
JOHN DAY — The city of John Day hosted
an open house at the Grant County Fairgrounds on
April 26 to highlight and take questions about cur-
rent and future projects set to be undertaken by the
city.
Upcoming city projects highlighted at the open
house included the proposed pool facility, Kam
Wah Chung’s expansion and redesign, the Pit Stop
and various business developments, as well as
plans for upcoming summer events.
The event also allowed the public to meet
new Community Development Director Corum
Ketchum, who organized the open house and
will continue to answer the public’s questions
about ongoing and future city projects.
Ketchum says the idea for the open house came
about during discussions between himself and the
city manager. “Doing this kind of community out-
reach and storytelling is right in my wheelhouse.”
The structure of the event was designed to be
less of a presentation and more of an informal con-
versation between community members and city
staff , city councilors and project partners about
what’s going on. “We didn’t want it to feel like a
structured and rigid, (like) we are the experts and
here is what is happening,” Ketchum said.
At least two dozen people turned out for the
event, which Ketchum said was better than he
expected considering the open house was his
fi rst event in the community.
“I marked one month on the job last week, so
I really had no idea what turnout was going to be
like,” he said. “My experience with rural events
is it is really hard to get people to come out in
large numbers, but we easily doubled my turnout
expectations.”
There is no shortage of critics within the com-
munity when it comes to projects John Day is
undertaking. Ketchum said he is aware of that and
hopes transparency will ease the minds of con-
cerned citizens.
“On the highest levels the city has been wise
about sourcing where we are getting the money
from so that we aren’t running a huge defi cit on
these things. Yes, these projects are expensive, and
as a city we have a $30 million budget,” he said.
“A lot of that money comes from matching
grants and state and federal programs. We can
use our small amount of tax revenue we have
here and multiply that out. We as a small commu-
nity could never really cover the extent to which
we need services, so we look to the federal gov-
ernment, who takes our tax dollars, pools them
and redistributes them to communities. So really
these projects are about us getting our share of
the opportunity that goes around the country.”
Ketchum also noted that some fraction
of the grant money the city has brought in
was paid by residents of John Day and Grant
County. “Our tax dollars are already going into
these programs. We can sleep on them and (let)
our money go to the feds and have them give it
to who they will, or we can be proactive and ask
for what we deserve.”
Ketchum says he encourages people to reach
out to him if they have any questions about com-
munity development projects going on in John
Day. He can be contacted at 541-620-0003 or
ketchumj@grantcounty-or.gov.
By BENNETT HALL
Blue Mountain Eagle
CANYON CITY — A John
Day man convicted of sexually
abusing a child has been sen-
tenced to serve 25 years behind
bars.
Philip Joseph Rodriguez,
41, was found guilty in Grant
County Circuit Court on Jan.
13 of crimes including fi rst-de-
gree rape and fi rst-degree sexual
abuse, both Measure 11 off enses.
The jury found him not guilty
of fi rst-degree sodomy, and an
additional charge of fi rst-degree
unlawful sexual penetration was
thrown out early in the nine-day
trial.
The crimes were com-
mitted between January and
April of 2019, and the victim
in the case was a girl younger
than 12 who was known to
Rodriguez.
On Tuesday, April 26, Rodri-
guez was back in court for a sen-
tencing hearing.
Under Measure 11, both the
rape and sodomy convictions
carry presumptive mandatory
minimum sentences of eight
years and four months in prison.
In this case, however, court
documents show Judge Lung
Shu Hung chose to impose a
Bennett Hall
Blue Mountain Eagle, File
Philip Joseph Rodriguez,
center, confers with mem-
bers of his defense team in
Grant County Circuit Court on
Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022.
harsher penalty, sentencing
Rodriguez to 25 years in prison
on the rape charge with no pos-
sibility of early release under a
statute known as Jessica’s Law,
which applies to certain crimes
against children.
The sentence allows credit
for time served by Rodriguez
while awaiting trial, but it also
Citing health issues, Haberly leaves council
By JUSTIN DAVIS
Blue Mountain Eagle
JOHN DAY — John Day City Council
member and local business owner Gregg
Haberly has resigned from the council,
with the council voting to accept his resig-
nation during its April 26 meeting.
Haberly, 58, cites stress-related health
issues that he could no longer ignore as the
reason for his resignation.
“I had to get some stress out of my life,
and resigning from the council was the eas-
iest way to accomplish that,” he said.
“I’m very passionate about our town. I
was born and raised here. I do back what
we’ve done in the city for the most part.
Whether it is you, me, or who — you never
100% agree with things. I do agree with
what the city is doing and the projects com-
ing up,” Haberly added.
“There are people in this community
that have been here and stirred (the pot)
their whole lives, and they got involved
and my blood pressure shot through the
roof because they don’t put back into the
community, they take from it.”
Haberly says the people stirring the
pot have probably cost the city a signifi -
cant amount of money due to project set-
backs related to misinformation they relay
to the public. It’s important that the city
make periodic investments in infrastruc-
ture and public facilities, said Haberly, who
has served on the City Council since 2012.
“We need that or you get stagnant and
dry up, like some of these other communi-
ties. It’s like your car — it will break down
if you don’t put money into it to keep it run-
ning. The town is just like that.”
Haberly added, “Some people get
involved in the middle of it and don’t
understand what the big picture is. They
don’t understand why we might purchase
something ... and not do anything with it
right now. Those things may not be avail-
THURSDAY, MAY 5
Prairie City School Kinder-
garten Roundup
• 3 p.m., Mrs. Sharp’s
room, Prairie City School, 740
Overholt St.
Parents can sign their child
up for kindergarten. Children
must turn 5 before Sept. 1 to
be eligible. Bring a copy of
your child’s birth certifi cate
and immunization record.
FRIDAY, MAY 6
’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.
SATURDAY, MAY 7
Jaclyn Clarry Transplant
Fundraiser
• 5-8 p.m., John Day Elks
Lodge, 140 NE Dayton St.
A benefi t dinner of pulled
pork or chicken with beans
and coleslaw, plus a silent
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
auction, live dessert auction
and raffl e. Proceeds go toward
medical expenses for Jaclyn
Clarry of John Day, a mother
of four awaiting a donor for
a kidney transplant. To help
with the event or donate auc-
tion items, call Bonnie Cearns
at 541-571-3284 or Patty Ross
at 541-620-4841.
SUNDAY, MAY 8
Sunday Slam
• 1 p.m., The Retreat,
Links and Spa at Silvies Val-
ley Ranch, 10000 Rendezvous
Lane, Seneca
The Retreat, Links and Spa
at Silvies Valley Ranch kicks
off its Sunday golf specials for
Grant and Harney County res-
The John Day
Chapter of
Rocky
Mountain Elk
Foundation
Thank you. Your generous contributions
of time, talent, currency and
merchandise have truly helped make
this evening’s banquet a success!
NEWPORT
CHAPTER
Best
Western
Inn
GRANT
COUNTY
AUTO
Malheur Lumber
BEST WESTERN INN
Subway
of John
JOHN Day
DAY VIDEO
OXBOW TRADE COMPANY
Tidewater
VOIGT CHEVRON
Contractors
SQUEEZE INN
Tracie Unterweg-
MOBILE GLASS
ner OF OREGON
BLUE MTN. EAGLE
Gale Wall
1ST CHOICE AUTO BODY
Timber’s
Bistro
NYDAM’S
ACE HARDWARE
1st
Choice
DOUG’S
MOTOR Auto
REPAIR
Body
BLUE MTN. CHAPTER MDF
Russell’s
Custom
JOHN DAY TRUE
VALUE
Meats
ELSA SPENCE
Blue
Mountain
HUFFMAN’S
MARKET
Eagle
TIDEWATER CONSTRUCTION
Ace GOOD
Hardware
DEALS
able down the road when we get to where
we need those things.”
Haberly has said he supports the con-
struction of a new pool and hopes every-
one votes for the bond on May 17, saying
it isn’t that much of a tax increase and that
he is probably in the upper 10% of taxpay-
ers in John Day.
“I don’t want people to think I’m wor-
ried about what’s going on; (my resigna-
tion) is strictly health-related. I’ve put it off
for a few months and it is to the point now
where I can’t put it off . I need to get some
stress out of my life. I have a lot of peo-
ple that depend on me, and I can’t take any
chances,” he said.
The City Council is accepting applica-
tions from anybody interested in replacing
Haberly on the council. Applications can
be picked up at City Hall, 450 E. Main St.,
and need to be submitted before May 24.
The council will select Haberly’s replace-
ment at its May 24 meeting.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
idents with a Mother’s Day
treat: bring a mom and you
both play for free. Designed
for local twosomes, Sunday
Slams run every week from
May through October, except
June 5 and 19. The cost of
$50 per person includes a
round of golf, cart, range balls
and a hot dog lunch. Other
weekly specials include cou-
ples dates (any two people
play for $50), Fourth of July
(if you and your partner wear
red, white and blue, you both
play for $50) and Labor Day
Weekend (wear your biggest,
brightest belt buckle and you
and your partner play for $50).
Check-in starts at 11:30 a.m.,
with the fi rst tee time at 1 p.m.
TOM CHRISTENSEN
CHRISTENSEN
TOM
CONSTRUCTION
Call 800-745-8437 to sign up.
Do you have a community
event in Grant County you’d
like to publicize? Email infor-
mation to editor@bmeagle.
com. The deadline is noon
Friday for publication the fol-
lowing Wednesday.
requires him to submit to post-
prison supervision for the rest of
his life. Any violation of the con-
ditions of his release can result in
additional prison time, according
to the sentencing judgment fi led
by the court.
Lesser sentences were
imposed for the other charges in
the case, with those prison terms
to be served concurrently. Rodri-
guez will remain in the Grant
County Jail until he is turned
over to the Oregon Depart-
ment of Corrections to serve the
remainder of his sentence.
Prosecutors Tobias Tingleaf
of the Oregon Department of
Justice and Riccola Voigt of the
Grant County District Attor-
ney’s Offi ce represented the
state.
Rodriguez was represented
by Kathleen Erin Dunn of
Strawberry Mountain Law.
TIMBERS County
BISTRO
Grant
JOHN DAY Auto
RIVER VET CLINIC
MOSIER’S Wall
Carolyn
SUBWAY Sutton
OF JOHN DAY
Scott
&
THE
OUTPOST
Longview Ranch
GALE WALL
John
Day
TRACKER Value
SAFES
True
STYLISH 10
NAILS
Knights
Welding
DAYVILLE CAFE
KJDY Radio
TRACIE UNTERWEGNER
Radio
Shack
LEN’S DRUG
Snaffle
Bit &
ANDY’S
PLUMBING
Dinner
House
SPORTS
BLUE MTN.
CHIROPRACTIC
Tim
Unterwegner
KATU
DESIGNS &
Jim Dovenburg
JOHN DAY Cr.
GOLF Ranch
CLUB
Widow’s
1188 Restaurant
We have made every
& to Brewery
effort
recognize all
our donors,
supporters,
SNAFFLE
BIT made
DINNER HOUSE
We
have
every effort
to recognize
members and
RADIO
SHACK
all our
donors,
supporters,
members
volunteers. If you feel
and MALHEUR
volunteers
you
LUMBER in this program.
someone has If
been
omitted,
please
notify
feel
that
someone
has been omitted, a
CLOUD
9 HAIR
SALON
committee member.
please
CAROLYN notify
WALL a chapter volunteer
On behalf of the Rocky Mountain Elk
Foundation, thank you for making this evening
an overwhelming success!
This Mother’s Day, give Mom
something she can enjoy every year
OPEN
Sunday, Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday
9 to 5:30
Closed Saturdays
Better Blooms & Gardens
65153 Hwy 26, John Day
541-820-3329
(541) 410-0557 • (541) 575-0192
CCB# 106077
REMODELS • NEW CONSTRUCTION • POLE BUILDINGS
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Use computers, internet, phones, and printers
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tools, and more
WorkSource Canyon City
(541) 696-8909
Visit us to learn more!
www.worksourceoregon.org
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