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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 4, 2018)
FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 4, 2018 Commission approves staff increases Sheriff’s Department and finance to get new positions By David Sykes The Morrow County Commission decided at its March 28 meeting to approve adding new staff to the sheriff’s department and the finance office. If approved by the budget committee the sheriff will receive a new patrol person and a new investigator. The finance office is approved for a new full-time staff accountant. At the same meeting the commission turned down a request from planning to increase their staff by one half position. According to Finance Director Kate Knop, the new accountant will be a full-time position responsi- ble for assistance in general ledger maintenance, grants and contracts compliance as well as budgeting and other duties. The position will cost the county an addi- tional $87,433 per year in- cluding salary and benefits. The department currently has three full-time em- ployees with a total annual payroll and benefit budget of $314,259. Knop pointed out that the finance department had not grown “in more than 20 years”, and that the new position will be of benefit to county citizens by providing “additional support in safeguarding assets, providing reliable information and complying with all applicable con- straints.” The commission voted unanimously to move the recommendation to the county budget committee which starts deliberations soon on the 2018-19 county fiscal year budget. In other action the com- mission voted to recom- mend two new positions, a patrol deputy and an inves- tigator, to the budget com- mittee for approval. Both Sheriff Ken Matlack and Undersheriff John Bowles were at the meeting to ex- plain the current police cov- erage in the county, and the need for new employees. The sheriff had asked for two patrol deputies and an investigator. Matlack said with the current department staffing there are “holes” in the po- lice coverage in the county, and that more people were needed to provide 24-hour police coverage throughout the county. Bowles said with vacations, sick leave, court time and investiga- tions, there were not enough deputies on staff to provide 24-hour coverage across the county. It was pointed out at this time there is no regular patrol on county roads in the south end of the county (outside of the city of Heppner, which contracts with the county for police coverage) and deputies only respond to these areas when called. The sheriff’s department currently has 35 full-time and three part- time employees. No cost figures for the additional or current staff were provided at the meeting, however those figures are available in the county budget. The commissioners at first voted in favor of two new patrol deputies with the understanding it would then be possible to have 24- hour coverage in the county. However, after approving the two new patrol depu- ties, a separate discussion was held on hiring a new investigator. At this time, it was revealed there was a misunderstanding between the sheriff and the commis- sioners, and that hiring just the two deputies without also hiring a new investi- Sheriff’s Report The Morrow County Sheriff’s Office has released the following information: February 5: Mor- deputy. -MCSO received a re- School, Spring St, Ione row County Sheriff’s Of- fice received a report at port on NW Jones St, Hep- regarding tampering with Sage Brush Apartments on pner regarding children not a witness. -MCSO received a re- Boardman Ave NW, Board- attending school. port of suicidal thoughts -MCSO received a re- man that there are subjects from an individual at Mead- fighting in apartment six, port on SE Utah Ave, Irri- ow Brook Rd, Lexington. ongoing issue. Complaint gon regarding children not MCSO made contact with attending school. was unfounded. individual. -MCSO received a re- -MCSO received a 911 -MCSO received a ju- hang-up call at Bella Vista port on Ione Gooseberry venile complaint at Irrigon Estates on Paul Smith Rd, Rd, Ione that two dogs Elementary School on SE Boardman. Called back, running around, would like Wyoming Ave, Irrigon. female said everything was owners advised to keep -MCSO received a re- fine and didn’t need police. their dogs in. port at Green Acres on -MCSO received a re- Received additional call, Paterson Ferry Rd, Irrigon female said it was her hus- quest for extra patrol on SE band calling and he was Utah Ave, Irrigon. Someone that her vehicle was stolen intoxicated. Luis Medel recently broke into her ve- sometime last night and she Rodriguez was arrested by hicles during the night and heard it got into a motor vehicle accident. BPD for Assault IV, lodged took her stereo system. -MCSO received a re- at UCJ, bail $10,000. February 6: Morrow port at NE Elder St/NE -MCSO received a re- County Sheriff ’s Office Aiken St, Heppner that port at Irrigon Justice Court received a report on I 84 two dogs are loose running that someone stole UPS box E, Boardman that a dark around. Unable to locate. out in front of ISA. Advised colored Honda is swerving -MCSO received a re- there is a bunch of gravel in and out of the road. Re- port on SE Eighth St, Ir- around where it was taken. ferred to other agency. rigon that subject is hitting -MCSO received a dog -MCSO received a re- complaint at SE Wyoming port on I 84 W, Pendleton, and RP wants subject out of Ave/S First St, Irrigon. that westbound around the the house. Jason James Ab- Warning. 241they hit an animal, car bot was arrested by MCSO -MCSO received a re- airbags deployed, no injury. for Violation of a No Con- tact Order. Lodged at UCJ, port on E Oregon Ln, Ir- Referred to other agency. rigon that dogs are coming -MCSO received a re- no bail. -MCSO received a re- on to their property, today port of a motor vehicle ac- port on SW Second St, Ir- tipped over their garbage. cident at AC Houghton on rigon that she just had two RP has pictures of the dogs. NE Main Ave, Irrigon. 43 red vehicles racing from -MCSO received a re- year old female had a head Wyoming to Nevada. Un- port on I 84 E, Boardman and neck injury. able to locate. that on both lanes under the -MCSO received a ju- -MCSO received a over pass there is a large venile complaint at Irrigon report at Mountain Glen amount of rocks. Elementary School, SE Apartments 9-16 on NE -MCSO received a re- Wyoming Ave, Irrigon. Pioneer Dr, Heppner that port on SE Eighth St, Ir- -MCSO received a ju- subject is at her residence. rigon of a dispute and RP venile complaint at Ione Skyler Lee Kendrick was ar- would like to speak to a rested by MCSO on UCSO P&P detainer. Lodged at UCJ with no bail. -MCSO received a re- port on SE Utah Ave, Ir- rigon that a blue Mercury flew down his street to- wards Tenth. Advised he lives off of Thirteenth on the dead end. Unable to locate. -MCSO received a driving complaint on Toms Camp Rd, Boardman. Pab- lo Madrigal Garcia was warned for illegal use of truck brakes. -MCSO received a re- port on SE Utah Ave, Irri- gon that a blue Ford Taurus was traveling at a high rate of speed on Utah. -MCSO received a re- port on NE Second St, NOW HIRING DRIVERS Irrigon that bull dogs at a house near this location got out and attacked his dogs. Advised that his dog was bleeding and has some puncture wounds. -MCSO received a report at Love’s Travel Stop and Country Store on Tower Rd, Boardman that he bumped into another vehicle. -MCSO received a re- port that RP lost his license plate for his truck some- where off the interstate, Tower Rd or Threemile Rd. -MCSO received a re- port at Irrigon Shell station, E Hwy 730, Irrigon that they would like subject trespassed from the loca- tion. Kayla Connell was trespassed from Irrigon Shell by MCSO. February 7: Morrow County Sheriff ’s Office received a report at Love’s Truck Stop and Country Store on Tower Rd, Board- man that a person went through the drive-through, believes they are intoxi- cated and driving. Unable to locate. -MCSO received a re- port on E May St, Hep- pner that RP found subject intoxicated and driving her scooter in the middle of the road. Advised he dropped her off at this house. -MCSO received a re- port that Thor A Blanchard was arrested by Deschutes Co SO on IJC warrant. Subject cited and released to appear. -MCSO received a re- port at Irrigon Justice Court that RP believes someone shot out his window while he was driving. -MCSO received a re- port on SE Utah Ave, Irri- gon that white Dodge Dart just spun its tires at the stop sign on Seventh and then sped down Utah, two male occupants. -MCSO received a re- port about a dog complaint on Summit Ln, Boardman. Deputy spoke to owner about dog being at large. -MCSO received a re- port on SE Thomas Ave, Irrigon that the residence on Thomas has been vacant for a while and he noticed one gator would not be enough people to provide 24-hour coverage. The commis- sion at that time rescinded its original motion on the two deputies, and instead voted 2-1 to hire one deputy and one investigator. The additional staff will still leave some periods when the county has no cover- age, but not as much the commission was told. The sheriff said the investiga- tor was needed because at this time deputies are being pulled off patrol in order to do follow up work on cur- rent cases and arrests. The investigator will take over these duties and allow more time for patrol. In other action the com- mission denied a request from the planning depart- ment to expand a half-time position in that office from half time to full time, and also denied a request from the district attorney’s office to hire an investigator there. In other compensation action a three-percent cost of living increase (COLA) for county elected offi- cials was approved for the coming fiscal year. County commissioners currently make $39,564 per year, as- sessor, $80,631, treasurer, justice of the peace and clerk, $70,529, and sheriff, $101,081. An increase to $75,000 per year for the justice of the peace, but no COLA, was approved for the coming 2018 -19 fiscal year. The county compensa- tion committee had earlier recommended a salary in- crease to $51,000 for the county commissioners, but that recommendation was not followed, and the com- missioners only received a three-percent cost of living increase for the coming fis- cal year. of the doors was kicked in. -MCSO received a re- port on SE Gilmore St, Heppner that a brow and white collie mix is at her residence. -MCSO received a report on SE Hager St, Heppner that a black and white collie just attacked her chickens. -MCSO received a re- port on Wilson Ln, Board- man that subject is at his residence and just assaulted him. -MCSO received a re- port at Irrigon Motors on SW California Ave, Irrigon that his gray 1986 Ford F250 pickup was taken from storage within the last month or so. -MCSO received a re- port on Paterson Ferry Rd, Irrigon that her foster child is out of control. RP ad- vises he is attempting to get into the other foster child’s room. -MCSO received a re- port at Irrigon Shell station, E Hwy 730, Irrigon that Joseph William Johnson was arrested by MCSO on UCSO warrants. Lodged at UCJ, no bail. -MCSO received a re- port on Washington Ln, Ir- rigon that he found a bike in the bushes by his residence and wanted to report it. February 8: Morrow County Sheriff ’s Office received a report on Colum- bia Ave NW, Boardman that step son is breaking things in his house. -MCSO received a re- port on W Idaho Ave, Ir- rigon that his 7-month old blue nose pit is missing. Dog is very friendly. -MCSO received a re- port on E East St, Lex- ington that the horses that are pastured there have no water. The trough has not been filled since Sunday. Deputy made contact with the owners and they advised they will fill the trough tomorrow. -MCSO received a re- port at Washington Ln/W Eighth St, Irrigon that there are cows out near this loca- tion. Complete, cows were put back in their pasture. -MCSO received a re- port on SE Utah Ave, Ir- rigon that a charcoal gray Nissan Exterra has been traveling at a high rate of speed on Utah towards Ida- ho for the past few nights around this time. Unable to locate. -MCSO received a re- port on SE Utah Ave, Ir- rigon that red Ford Focus flew through heading to- wards Tenth. February 9: Morrow County Sheriff ’s Office received a report at Board- man Fire Hall on Wilson Rd SW, Boardman that subject is walking by the fire station and there are a lot of people following him. Unable to locate. -MCSO received a re- quest for agency assist at I 84 E, Boardman. OSP has subject failing to yield. Subject yielded at the 162. -MCSO received a re- port at NE Washington Ave/NE First St, Irrigon that there is a male cutting down trees with a chain saw in the area. -MCSO received a re- port at Miller Rd/Kunze Ln, Boardman that there are cows out on the very east end of Kunze. -MCSO received a re- port at Castle Rock Apart- ments on Tatone St, Board- man that son is threatening to harm RP and her daugh- ter. Subject is 21 years old, he threatened to kill them. Jose Javier Ruiz Gomez was arrested by Boardman PD on charges of harass- ment and menacing, lodged at UCJ with bail of $22,500. -MCSO received a re- port at Irrigon Shell Sta- tion on E Hwy 730, Irrigon that a male came into the store and stole a bunch of product. Took $10 worth of candy, put it in his pants and up his sleeve. -MCSO received a re- port at Elks Club on N Main St, Heppner that subject just assaulted his son. -MCSO received a re- port at SW Nevada Ave/ NW Third St, Irrigon that female in a black Alantra hit a mail box. -Continued on PAGE EIGHT
