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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 23, 2015)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, September 23, 2015 Public use restrictions eased on Umatilla National Forest PENDLETON—As of last Friday, Phase A public use restrictions pertaining to chainsaw use, smoking, and off-road travel will be lifted on the Umatilla National Forest. Seasonal campfire restrictions will remain in place. This change allows firewood cutting to resume all day. Seasonal campfire re- strictions will remain in place until Oct. 31; however these campfire restrictions do not apply to designated wilderness areas and speci- fied exempted developed recreation sites (see Forest websites for exempted sites or areas). “The intent is to al- low campfire use, while promoting safe campfire techniques that, in the long run, will protect lives, prop- erty, and our natural land- scapes,” said Brian Goff, Umatilla Fire Management Officer. Seasonal campfire re- strictions include: -Campfires allowed only in fire pits surrounded by dirt, rock, or commercial rings and in areas not con- ducive to rapid fire spread, clear of flammable material within a radius of at least five feet from the edge of the pit and free of overhang- ing material. Use existing pits wherever possible. -Campfires must be attended at all times and completely extinguished prior to leaving. The use of charcoal briquettes is permitted within the clear- ing requirements outlined above. -Persons with camp- fires are required to have an axe, shovel and one gallon of water in their possession (except in specified devel- oped recreation sites listed in the Forest Order). -Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled gas and wood burn- ing stoves equipped with a chimney that is at least five feet in length with a spark- arresting screen consisting of ¼-inch mesh hardware cloth are allowed. As a reminder, there are also site-specific year- round public use regula- tions still in effect; see www.fs.usda.gov/umatilla for further information or call the Heppner Ranger District at 541-676-9187. Partnership works for youth Jessica Bleth and Onna DeLoach work on the Umatilla National Forest as part of a five-week work partnership between the forest’s Heppner Ranger District, Community Action Program of East Central Oregon (CAPECO) and Oregon Youth Conservation Corp. Other youth who participated were Andrew Ames, Saul Erickson and Aaron Smythe. Priorities of the crew included appropriate dress, safety and proper tool usage, showing up to work on time, team- work, pride in quality work and worksite organization. The crew learned work skills, enjoyed scenic beauty and was able to perform fulfilling and meaningful work that will assist the Forest Service and patrons for years to come. –Contributed photo Free youth pheasant hunt set for Irrigon DA’s Report Registration is now open for ODFW’s free pheasant hunts for youth (ages 17 and under) hap- pening around the state in September. A free pheasant hunt for youth will take place at the Irrigon Wildlife Area on Sept. 26-27. The Oregon Depart- ment of Fish & Wildlife and partners stock pheasants at these special hunts that give youth a head start on regular pheasant seasons, which don’t begin until October. Quail and dove may also be hunted. Volunteers often bring their trained hunt- ing dogs to hunt with par- ticipants. Some events also begin with a shotgun skills clinic, so participants can practice clay target shooting before hunting. The hunt is only open to youth who have passed hunter education. An adult 21 years of age or older must accompany the youth to supervise but may not hunt. Morrow County Dis- trict Attorney Justin Nelson has released the following report: -Darwin David Smith, 28, was convicted of As- sault IV – Constituting Domestic Violence, a Class A Misdemeanor, and sen- tenced to 180 days jail time. However, execution of 175 days jail time was sus- pended and the defendant sentenced to 24 months bench probation, to include 40 hours of community service, no contact with the victim and five days jail time, to run consecutive to the following counts. Smith was additionally convicted of two counts of Criminal Mischief II, a Class A Mis- demeanor, and sentenced on each count to 180 days jail time. However, execution of 175 days jail time was suspended for both counts and the defendant sentenced to 24 months bench proba- tion, to include 40 hours of community service, no contact with the victim and A free pheasant hunt for youth will take place at the Irrigon Wildlife Area on Sept. 26-27. -Photo courtesy of ODFW “If your child made it through hunter education but is still new to the sport, this is a great way to get them started,” says James Reed, ODFW hunter edu- cation coordinator. “These events happen before regu- lar pheasant seasons open and are a great opportunity for kids to get out hunting.” ODFW stresses safe- ty during the hunts. Both hunter and supervisor must wear a hunter orange hat, eye protection and a hunter orange vest—equipment provided by ODFW at the clinics to anyone who doesn’t have it. Hunters also need to check in and out of the hunt. The hunts are free, though youth hunters need a valid hunting license ($14.50) and Harvest In- formation Program valida- tion (free) to hunt. Youth hunters age 14-17 also need an upland game bird vali- dation ($8.50). The can be purchased online. Licenses and tags will not be sold at the events. While most areas have a hunt both Saturday and Sunday, youth hunters may only sign up for one hunt. They are welcome to hunt stand-by on the other day. -SEVEN five days jail time, to run consecutive to other counts. Additional counts were dis- posed without conviction. Fines, fees and assessments totaled $1,690. -Darwin David Smith was additionally convicted of Failure to Appear II, a Class A Misdemeanor, and sentenced to 180 days jail time. However, execution of jail time was suspended and the defendant sentenced to 24 months bench proba- tion, to include 20 hours of community service. Fines, fees and assessments to- taled $200. -Russell Gene Whit- beck, 55, was convicted of Contempt of Court. Sen- tence of 30 days jail time was suspended and the defendant sentenced to 12 months bench probation, to include 30 hours com- munity service, no contact with certain listed individu- als, and the defendant was trespassed from an Irrigon Property. Fines, fees and assessments totaled $200. -Yanike Binene, 25, was convicted of Giving False Information to a Po- lice Officer, a Class A Mis- demeanor, and sentenced to 180 days jail time. How- ever, execution of jail time was suspended and the defendant sentenced to 24 months bench probation, to include 20 hours of com- munity service. Additional counts were disposed with- out conviction. Fines, fees and assessments totaled $350. -Yanike Binene addi- tionally was convicted of Resisting Arrest, a Class A Misdemeanor, and sen- tenced to 180 days jail time. However, execution of jail time was suspended and the defendant sentenced to 24 months bench probation, to include 20 hours of com- munity service. Additional counts were disposed with- out conviction. Fines, fees and assessments totaled $350. that the owner of the ve- hicle was working with a construction company on a job nearby. -MCSO received report from a woman on Hwy. 207, Heppner that her hus- band was out doing chores when a subject, whom they knew, in a dark green Blaz- er stopped and dumped garbage in their driveway. MCSO made contact with the subject; he said was unaware that he had left trash out there and said he would pick it up. -MCSO received report from an officer that two subjects walked into the Irrigon Sheriff’s Office re- garding a trespass incident. -MCSO received report from an Irrigon subject that a male was stalking his family. MCSO responded and determined there were no court orders in place and nothing criminal at the time. They were advised to call the sheriff’s office if anything else occurred. -MCSO received re- port of a maroon vehicle parked in front of 40-Taps in Pendleton with an Af- rican American male in it. The caller said he saw a post on Facebook of an African American male subject trying to pick up juvenile girls in a maroon vehicle. An officer was un- able to locate the subject. -MCSO received report from a Boardman woman that when she came home, her door had been kicked in. She said that nothing was stolen as far as she could tell and the subject was no longer there. -MCSO received report from a woman in Irrigon that an intoxicated male subject had come over 30 minutes earlier and was yelling, but no weapons were involved. She said she thought he had gone back in his trailer. -MCSO received re- port that Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jeffery Robert Balster, 61, on a MCSD warrant. He was lodged at Umatilla County Jail with $763.50 bail in full. -Heppner Ambulance received report of a 50-year- old woman with an allergic reaction. She was trans- ported to Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Heppner. -Irrigon Ambulance, Irrigon Fire Department received request for an ambulance for a 34-year- old male who may have gotten food poisoning. He was transported to Good Shepherd Hospital. -Irrigon Fire Depart- ment received report of a fire on Crooked Rd., Irri- gon, with a deputy report- ing seeing smoke. MCSO and Irrigon Fire responded and the fire was put out. Sheriff’s Report August 9: -Morrow County Sheriff received report that a suspicious person was trying to get into the caller’s pickup, but then took off running. MCSO and Boardman Po- lice Department responded but were unable to locate the suspect. -MCSO received report through a language line that the caller advised of a bullet hole in their house after hearing a gunshot. MCSO and BPD respond- ed. MCSO, BPD arrested Efren Hurtado, Jr., 25, for Unlawful Use of a Firearm and two counts of Reckless Endangerment. He was lodged at Umatilla County Jail with $19,500 bail. -MCSO received re- port of a dog with a chain around its neck, trying to get loose. Caller advised it was hungry and thirsty, but couldn’t get anywhere close to water. MCSO responded and made contact with the caller and the person caring for the dog and reported all was well. -MCSO, Boardman Ambulance, Boardman Fire Department received report from a subject on I-84 Boardman that his 68-year-old brother-in-law was having some mental troubles and possibly has a gun with him. The caller said his gun was missing from his dresser. The caller said that when the wife of the brother-in-law woke up, he was gone. She said he called, said he was on I-84 and just yelled at her. She was worried he was going to commit suicide. MCSO, Boardman Ambulance and Life Flight responded. He was transported to Kadlec Medical Center. -MCSO received re- quest for a welfare check on a subject. The caller said she had not heard from him since July 31 and she usually hears from him. MCSO responded and made contact with some people who had seen him a few days ago. -MCSO, Boardman Fire Department, Irrigon Ambulance, Irrigon Fire Department received report CELEBRATION of Life A memorial in celebration of the life of Allen Burkenbine will be held on Saturday, October 3, at 11 am at All Saints Episcopal Church. Allen passed away on June 7th in Arizona. The family invites friends to come and share memories and a potluck lunch to be served after. of a shed on fire in Irrigon, with structures threatened. Irrigon Fire Department, EMS, MCSO and Board- man Fire Department re- sponded. The fire was put out. -MCSO received a re- quest from a subject who said he was in a silver VW at the entrance of Marine Park. He said he wanted to see his kids and want- ed a deputy to stand in with him so no problems arise. MCSO made contact with the caller and advised him he would have to go through proper court chan- nels, but MCSO could not assist him. -MCSO received report from an Irrigon subject con- cerning the manager of the mobile home park. She said that the manager of the park said he wanted to raise the rent on her brother-in-law and call the pound on the dog. MCSO made contact and advised her what they could do. -Boardman Ambulance received report of a female in her 20s, barely con- scious and barely breathing. Boardman Police Depart- ment and Boardman Am- bulance responded. The subject was transported to Good Shepherd Hospital in Hermiston. -Boardman Ambu- lance received report of a 23-year-old female who had been vomiting all day and couldn’t keep any- thing down. Boardman Ambulance responded and transported her to Good Shepherd Hospital. -Boardman Ambu- lance received report of a 74-year-old male with low blood pressure. He was transported to Good Shepherd. -Irrigon Ambulance re- ceived report of a 30-year- old female with an earache, bleeding from the right ear and right eye, but con- scious. Irrigon Ambulance transported her to Good Shepherd Hospital. August 10: -Morrow County Sheriff ’s Office received report of the sick room door tripped at Ir- rigon Elementary School. MCSO made contact with custodians and the building was cleared. -MCSO received report from a woman in Irrigon that a guy in a blue car was watching her house. MCSO responded and determined Morrow/Grant County OHV Park Special Youth Hunt General Second Season, Spike Only November 7 th – November 15 th , 2015 Applications are available at the morrow county public works office, 365 West Highway 74, P.O. Box 428, Lexington, Oregon 97839. Applicants must be a morrow or grant county resident. A valid hunting license, current hunter’s education certificate or be participating in the mentored youth Hunter program are required. Applicants shall be 12 to 17 years of age. All applications must be returned by Friday, October 2, 2015 @ 3:00 pm, To the Morrow County Public Works office in Lexington, Oregon. Applications will be selected by a draw and reviewed at morrow county court. For more information please contact the public works office at 541- 989-9500. -Continued on PAGE EIGHT