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