NEWS
MyEagleNews.com
County projects could get $2M boost
By STEVEN MITCHELL
Blue Mountain Eagle
WASHINGTON — The
county could get more than $2
million in federal funding for
infrastructure and improvement
projects.
Grant County’s local proj-
ects were among a list of more
than 100 included in a Sen-
ate appropriations bill for the
next fiscal year, according to
a Friday, July 29, press release
from Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff
Merkley.
The federal dollars would
support water distribution sys-
tem improvements in Prairie
City, a remodel of Community
Counseling Solutions, and a
renovation project at the coun-
ty’s emergency management
office. According to the press
release, the Senate appropria-
tions bill needs to be included in
legislation in the House of Rep-
resentatives later this year.
Prairie City water system
Prairie City Mayor Jim
Hamsher said the town would
receive just over $600,000 to
replace its water pipes. He also
said the city would replace its
old water meters with cellu-
lar meters, allowing the Prairie
City Public Works Department
to monitor the town’s water sys-
tem in real time. The upgraded
system, he said, would alert
Public Works immediately to
leaks and busted pipes.
He said Prairie City would
benefit from the funding and
he was grateful for Wyden and
Merkley’s support.
“Recent droughts and mul-
tiple forest fires have shown
the importance of conserving
water,” Hamsher said. “The
best way to conserve would
be to eliminate wasting water
by replacing the old pipes and
meters.”
Health Department
remodel
The Grant County Health
Department building, which
houses Community Counseling
Solutions, is slated to receive
$1.25 million for remodeling.
Grant County Health
Administrator Kimberly Lind-
say said the remodel is “desper-
ately needed” and would open
up more spaces for counseling,
primary care and developmen-
tal disability services. Overall,
she said, the remodel would
allow for a better integration of
services and more efficient use
of space.
Emergency Management
Office renovation
The Grant County Emer-
gency Management Office
is slated to receive nearly
$300,000 to help renovate the
former county Road Depart-
ment shop on Humbolt Street in
Canyon City.
The project, which began in
February, involves building out
a storage facility with enough
space for emergency manage-
ment supplies, said Eric Bush,
Grant County’s emergency
manager.
Some of those supplies
include personal protective
equipment that the county
acquired to respond to COVID-
19. The supplies at one point
were spread over three loca-
tions, with some requiring a cli-
mate-controlled environment.
Bush said county crews
have put in four shipping con-
tainers at the site on Humbolt
Street, installed overhead and
underground power lines and
are working on building out
the infrastructure. Now, he said,
they will be working on remod-
eling the county shop build-
ing to accommodate the Emer-
gency Management Office,
which is currently run out of
the L building on Main Street in
John Day.
Bush said the idea behind
moving the Emergency Man-
agement Office to the Hum-
bolt Street site is to have depart-
ments with similar functions at
the same location and that ulti-
mately the plan is to bring the
Grant County Sheriff’s Office
Search and Rescue Team to the
site.
Earlier this year the county
commissioners voted to place
the Emergency Management
Office under the authority of
the sheriff instead of the County
Court.
Bush said emergency man-
agement and search and res-
cue operations would function
more efficiently from the same
location. Additionally, he said,
the idea is to use the space and
the assets the county has and
consolidate the properties the
county has among its various
departments.
Instead of constructing a
million-dollar building, Bush
said, the idea is to build up the
infrastructure at a property the
county already owns.
“We’ve got some great
space; we’ve got stuff already,”
he said. “We’re trying to get
ourselves a better infrastruc-
ture that is going to last a long
time.”
Wednesday, August 10, 2022
A3
County still weighing
law enforcement bond
By STEVEN MITCHELL
Blue Mountain Eagle
CANYON CITY — As
the filing deadline to put a law
enforcement bond measure
on the ballot in the November
general election looms, Grant
County commissioners appear
to be looking at other funding
alternatives.
Last month, County Judge
Scott Myers said he spoke to
the county’s legal counsel about
drawing up a bond levy to sub-
mit to the County Clerk’s Office
for the Nov. 8 ballot before the
Aug. 19 deadline.
Myers said he planned to
meet with Grant County Sher-
iff Todd McKinley to discuss
what his office needs regarding
law enforcement coverage but
that meeting has not happened
yet, he told the newspaper Fri-
day, Aug. 4. However, Myers
said, the need for the bond may
be lesser or greater than it is right
now by the time it goes out to the
voters.
In June, the U.S. House
of Representatives passed an
appropriations bill for the next
fiscal year that would increase
the county’s federal payment in
lieu of taxes funding to upwards
of $900,000. And at the Wednes-
day, Aug. 3, meeting of the Grant
County Court, Commissioner
Jim Hamsher said the county
would receive some additional
federal COVID-19 relief funds
at the end of September.
Given those two factors,
Myers said, the county’s finan-
cial situation may look different
Steven Mitchell/Blue Mountain
Eagle, File
Grant County Sheriff Todd
McKinley
in November than it does now.
Still, Myers said the county
could draw up a resolution and
go through the process — which
would require reading the draft
resolution in two sessions of
county court. Then, he said the
county could call special meet-
ings should they decide to move
forward on the bond levy.
In June, the Grant County
Budget Committee voted to
allocate roughly $700,000 in
COVID-19 relief funding to the
Grant County Sheriff’s Office to
bring on two additional patrol
deputies and a part-time cleri-
cal employee. But that one-time
funding will expire after the
2024-25 fiscal year.
Since the John Day Police
Department was shut down
in October, enforcing the law
within the city limits has fallen
primarily to the Grant County
Sheriff’s Office, which has just
four patrol deputies covering
the entire county, with help from
the Oregon State Police. Sher-
iff Todd McKinley has repeat-
edly told both the John Day City
Council and the County Court
that he needs additional deputies
to provide adequate coverage.
The John Day City Coun-
cil offered to pay the county
$300,000 a year to hire three
deputies to provide law enforce-
ment services in the city lim-
its. But that proposal also called
on the county to give the city
$300,000 a year from its road
fund to pay for street improve-
ments to serve new housing
developments in John Day, on
the theory that housing starts in
the city would broaden the tax
base for the entire county.
While the County Court
never formally deliberated on
the city’s proposal, court mem-
bers have made it clear that the
idea of linking county road fund
money to police services is a
nonstarter.
Grant County’s draft budget
included a $300,000 contribu-
tion from John Day, but the city
and county still have not come
to an agreement on law enforce-
ment funding.
County Commissioner Sam
Palmer, who met informally
with McKinley and elected city
officials, said the talks ended
after City Manager Nick Green
shouted him down during a John
Day City Council meeting in
March. One way or the other,
McKinley said, the Sheriff’s
Office needs more staff.
While Myers and Palmer are
for putting a bond levy out to the
public, Hamsher is not.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
THURSDAY, AUG. 11
Yoga in the Park
• 6 p.m., Canyon City Park,
Highway 395 North at Park
Street
Instructors Ashley Stevick
and Amanda Moss of Namaspa
Yoga Community lead this free
yoga class for people of all
skill levels.
FRIDAY, AUG. 12
Jo Rae Perkins visit
• 3-6 p.m., Grant County
Fairgrounds, 411 NW Bridge
St., John Day
Jo Rae Perkins, the Repub-
lican nominee running for U.S.
Senate, will spend three hours
at the Grant County Fair.
SATURDAY, AUG. 13
Grant County Farmers
Market
• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., South
Washington Street, Canyon
City
Locally-grown
produce
and other items for sale in an
open-air setting every Satur-
day from mid-June through
mid-October.
Grant Union Class of ‘82
reunion
• Noon, Clyde Holliday
State Park, Highway 26 east of
Mt. Vernon, and 7 p.m., John
Day Golf Club, 27631 Golf
Club Road, John Day
The Grant Union High
School Class of 1982 will hold
two gatherings for its 40th
reunion. The first begins at
noon at Clyde Holliday State
Park. Bring a picnic lunch;
water and sodas will be pro-
$$$
vided. The second will be a
barbecue starting at 7 p.m. at
the John Day Golf Club. The
cost is $10 per person. For
more information, call Holly
Edgar at 503-701-8325.
THURSDAY, AUG. 18
Yoga in the Park
• 6 p.m., Canyon City Park,
Highway 395 North at Park
Street
Instructors Ashley Stevick
and Amanda Moss of Namaspa
Yoga Community lead this free
yoga class for people of all
skill levels.
SATURDAY, AUG. 20
Grant County Farmers
Market
• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., South
Washington Street, Canyon City
Locally-grown
produce
and other items for sale in an
open-air setting every Satur-
day from mid-June through
mid-October.
Quilt of Valor giveaway
• 11 a.m., Clyde Holliday
State Park, east of Mt. Vernon
on Highway 26
The Grant County Piece-
makers Quilt Guild will host
a cookout and quilt giveaway
to honor Grant County veter-
ans. Guild members will begin
serving hamburgers and hot-
dogs with chips at 11 a.m. At
1 p.m., veterans will receive
handmade quilts during the
Quilt of Valor ceremony in
gratitude for their service.
The cost for lunch is $8 for
non-veterans, while veterans
eat for free. Tickets will be
sold for a chance to win a quilt
or a gift basket worth more
than $400. All proceeds go to
the guild to help make more
quilts.
Family Movie Night
• Dusk, Grant Union Junior/
Senior High School, 911 S.
Canyon Blvd., John Day
A free series of fami-
ly-friendly movies screened
outdoors on the football field at
Grant Union. Tonight’s selec-
tion: “Clifford the Big Red
Dog.”
THURSDAY, AUG. 25
Yoga in the Park
• 6 p.m., Canyon City Park,
Highway 395 North at Park
Street
Instructors Ashley Stevick
and Amanda Moss of Namaspa
Yoga Community lead this free
yoga class for people of all
skill levels.
SUNDAY, AUG. 28
Silvies Sunday Slam
• 11:30 a.m., The Retreat
and Links at Silvies Valley
Ranch, 11 miles south of Sen-
eca on Forest Road 3930
Couples date: Any two
people play for $50 each
(husband/wife,
boyfriend
girlfriend,
father/daugh-
ter, mother/son, etc.). Sun-
day Slams, open to all Grant
and Harney County residents,
include golf, cart, range balls
and a hotdog lunch. Check-in
at the gatehouse starts at
11:30 a.m., with the first tee
time at 1 p.m. Call 800-SIL-
VIES to sign up.
Hello, John Day Valley! John Day
Taxi, Richie and my Australian Yorkie
are at your service, celebrating our
9th year; Covid hurt, but we are still
the only 24/7 transport out of the
Valley that I know of – from the air-
port at midnight or pick up you and
your groceries, usually in 10 minutes.
DELIVERY: I pickup and deliver all kinds of stuff: Alcohol to shut-ins, lost dogs to
home, caged animals to the vet, even drugs from Lens but not from the pot shop
yet.
FARES: Due to gas prices, now charging $2 a mile, $10 minimum; actually, the ride
is free but I have to charge for getting my 84 year old bones in the saddle.
FYI: Only picking up regulars outside of John Day now, too many callers not there
when I arrive; by the way, you are responsible for the fare if I go out to get you
and you’re not there.
MAGONE: I took some kids to the lake pro-bono; I also took a 90 year old lady out
there from Prairie who just wanted to sit and look at the lake.
NEW: Installed a bike rack, now able to transport you and your bike – and me and
my wonderful ebike if I run out of ‘gas’. I’ve had a few pickups by riders who just
didn’t feel like taking on the Mitchell Hill or Dixie.
ODD: Sandy and I drove to Seneca to pick up a lady too terrified of our mountains to
drive her car to Baker.
SCAMS are increasing everywhere, have to watch those; I was involved in two with
my little taxi; one in Chester’s parking lot I beat, thanks to my back-up beeper
you can hear a mile away, the other one my insurance company decided it was
cheaper to settle than investigate; they do that, you know.
TIP: I got a speeding ticket 10 o’clock one night in front of Timbers; I was increasing
my speed from 25 to 35; you have to wait until you’re past the speed limit change
sign to get up to speed. Driving before the trooper was born, I didn’t know that.
VFW: John Day Post 3597 suspended! Special Meeting, Wednesday, August 17th, @ 6
p.m. Elks Lodge. Free ride to any veteran who doesn’t want to see us lose our VFW.
God bless you, love you John Day • Richie • 541-620-4255
THURSDAY, SEPT. 1
Yoga in the Park
• 6 p.m., Canyon City Park,
Highway 395 North at Park
Street
Instructors Ashley Stevick
and Amanda Moss of Namaspa
Yoga Community lead this free
yoga class for people of all skill
levels.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 4
Silvies Sunday Slam
• 11:30 a.m., The Retreat and
Links at Silvies Valley Ranch, 11
miles south of Seneca on Forest
Road 3930
Labor Day weekend: Wear
your biggest, brightest belt
buckle, and you and your part-
ner play for $50 apiece. Sun-
day Slams, open to all Grant
and Harney County residents,
include golf, cart, range balls
and a hotdog lunch. Check-in
at the gatehouse starts at
11:30 a.m., with the first tee
time at 1 p.m. Call 800-SIL-
VIES to sign up.
Highway 395 North at Park
Street
Instructors Ashley Stevick and
Amanda Moss of Namaspa Yoga
Community lead this free yoga
class for people of all skill levels.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 15
Yoga in the Park
• 6 p.m., Canyon City Park,
Highway 395 North at Park
Street
Instructors Ashley Stevick
and Amanda Moss of Namaspa
Yoga Community lead this free
yoga class for people of all
skill levels.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 29
THURSDAY, SEPT. 22
Yoga in the Park
• 6 p.m., Canyon City Park,
Highway 395 North at Park
Street
Instructors Ashley Ste-
vick and Amanda Moss of
Namaspa Yoga Community
lead this free yoga class for
people of all skill levels.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 25
THURSDAY, SEPT. 8
Yoga in the Park
• 6 p.m., Canyon City Park,
Ranch, 11 miles south of Sen-
eca on Forest Road 3930
The last Sunday Slam of
the year is a couples date:
Any two people play for $50
each (husband/wife, boyfriend
girlfriend,
father/daugh-
ter, mother/son, etc.). Sun-
day Slams, open to all Grant
and Harney County residents,
include golf, cart, range balls
and a hotdog lunch. Check-in
at the gatehouse starts at
11:30 a.m., with the first tee
time at 1 p.m. Call 800-SIL-
VIES to sign up.
Silvies Sunday Slam
• 11:30 a.m., The Retreat
and Links at Silvies Valley
Yoga in the Park
• 6 p.m., Canyon City Park,
Highway 395 North at Park
Street
Instructors Ashley Ste-
vick and Amanda Moss of
Namaspa Yoga Community
lead this free yoga class for
people of all skill levels.
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