Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 94
It has been a rocky 90 days in Gilliam County. The Gilliam County Court's decision to transfer juvenile and probate court on December 6th, its discussions of changing to a board of commissioners, and efforts to get a legislative fix on the probate issue in Salem created division and anger in the county. There was a resounding demand to bring such issues to the voters. There were accusations that the methods employed were underhanded. Much of this anger revolved around timing....
The Gilliam County Court approved funding for two capital investment grants during its regular session on March 6 in Condon. The court also worked to find funding solutions for a third applicant. Taking recommendations from The Competitive Grant Review Committee, which convened on February 15, 2024, the court looked to fund the fifth cycle of the Capital Investment Grant Applications. The court’s strategic goals for capital investment grants are narrow and apply to c...
The current political changes unfolding in the United States are monumental. In many ways, the two parties are swapping long-standing platforms and altering their historic identities. Both parties are also embracing candidates and agendas that they once disdained or mocked in the run-up to the 2024 Presidential Election. Donald Trump’s takeover of the Republican Party is nearly complete. Although Trump was once a Democrat, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is highly l...
Judge Elizabeth Farrar Campbell will face her second recall and Commissioner Pat Shannon his first, after petitions were filed with the Gilliam County Clerk, Ellen Wagenaar on February 22. A committee called We the People of Gilliam County – Farrar, and We the People Gilliam County – Shannon, have filed the petitions. The chief sponsor for the recall petition against Judge Farrar Campbell is Denny Newell of Arlington (Blalock). The chief petitioner to recall Commissioner Pat S...
Condon CAN! That is the rallying cry being used to talk about the coming years and decades in Condon. Initiated by the City of Condon, the effort looks to develop a long-term vision for the town. The City of Condon partnered with Rural Development Initiatives, a regional rural development organization that works hand-in-hand with communities to strengthen rural people, places, and economies in the Pacific Northwest. Rural Development Initiatives (RDI) has helped towns like...
February 19 marked the birthday of one of Wheeler County's most famous residents, the legendary track coach and co-founder of Nike, Bill Bowerman. William Jay Bowerman was born in Portland on February 19, 1911 to Jay Bowerman and Elizabeth Hoover Bowerman. Bill's father was Oregon's thirteenth governor and his mother was a descendent of early pioneers that helped to establish Wheeler County. When he was just two years old, Bill's parents divorced and Bill moved to Fossil with...
The Oregon Frontier Chamber of Commerce (OFCC) is thrilled to extend an invitation to residents of Gilliam, Wheeler, and Sherman County for their annual meeting on Thursday, February 22, 2024. The event will take place at the recently renovated Spray General Store, with festivities kicking off at 5:30 PM. The choice of the Spray General Store as the venue for this year's annual meeting holds special significance. The store has been a beneficiary of the tri-county chamber's...
A bill that had the potential to change how county courts function in six rural counties was killed during the Senate Judiciary Committee at the Oregon State Capitol on Monday. Senate Bill 1576 included an amendment that would have given county courts the option to give up its judicial function by relinquishing probate cases to circuit courts. In doing so, SB 1576-9 would have also given county courts in Gilliam, Wheeler, Sherman, Harney, Malheur, and Grant counties the...
The Condon Local will open for Valentines Day and will offer flowers, balloons, and gifts for one day only this week. Owners Jeremy and Sarah Kirby have been reorganizing the store and are not ready to reopen, but they are eager to see people in the community and to open for Valentines Day. The couple has been working to change the layout of the store and have made some big changes, including moving the Powell's Books section to the front of the store. They aren't ready to...
A special election will be held for the next mayor and city council for the City of Mitchell on May 21, 2024. The deadline for filing is fast approaching, and submissions will need to be made no later than March 12, 2024. Last year, a mass resignation of city council members and the town's mayor and clerk brought the town government to a stand-still. Just one councilor remained in office and the city was unable to issue water bills or do business. Several community members...
It’s time to hit the pause button on restructuring the Gilliam County Court. This statement applies to all of us, not just the county judge, commissioners, and candidates in this year’s election. Yes, the Gilliam County Court has been moving quickly in recent months. Yes, they voted to transfer juvenile and probate court in rapid order and with little input. And yes, they voiced their approval for restructuring the county court into a board of commissioners. But these cha...
The Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on Monday, February 12 to discuss potential changes for six rural county courts in Oregon. Senate Bill 1576-4 would give county courts the option to relinquish probate jurisdiction and to transfer probate matters to a circuit court. The impact could be significant for frontier and rural counties that have retained the position of county judge who rule over probate cases – and for counties that are seeking to change g...
The Wheeler County Court will return a program designed at helping families in crisis to the state of Oregon after realizing it had a budget shortfall of $18,000. The Wheeler County Court realized that it would be unable to facilitate the Paid Leave Oregon Act. The Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA) and Paid Leave Oregon Act were merged last year. Under the revised Paid Leave Oregon Act, a worker or self-employed person could be provided up to twelve weeks of time off a year due t...
The Gilliam County Court has given $5,000 to help residents in distress after sub-zero temperatures in January caused pipes to break and heating bills to skyrocket. Kari Keown, who volunteers with the Arlington Church of the Nazarene, told the county court that people in mobile homes were hit particularly hard during the cold snap. Those affected the most seemed to be the people that reside in the mobile home park by the Arlington School. Keown told the court that people in...
Of the controversial ballot measures that Oregon voters have passed in recent years, perhaps few will be as influential as Measure 113. Unlike Measure 110 that decriminalized drugs and Measure 114 that put restrictions on firearms, Measure 113 was not extremely controversial. But while Measure 110 and 114 look to be struck down or replaced, Measure 113 is likely here to stay. It's impact on Oregon politics are significant. Approved in 2022, Ballot Measure 113 aimed to prevent...
Junior Morgan Cole-Hand has been recognized by the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) as the Athlete of the Week from January 22 – January 28. Cole-Hand was recognized for her achievements in girls basketball. The junior from Spray has had a stand-out year and has propelled the Lady Rattlers (13-7 Overall, 6-4 League) to fourth place in the Big Sky Conference. The Wheeler County Rattlers are a combined team of the three Wheeler County schools in Spray, Mitchell, a...
An impressive turnout of people filled the downstairs of the Condon Elks Lodge on Saturday to commemorate the great Scottish bard, Robert Burns. Estimates of the crowd put about 100 people inside the Elks, with many of them being families and kids. Cameron Stinchfield and his wife Lara were in attendance, with their two children, as was Andrew Stinchfield with his three bairns. Also in attendance were Mike Durfey and his daughter Tula, along with grandma Rene Durfey. Also, a...
A special meeting of the Gilliam County Court was held on January 24 with the focus being on expansion of internet services in the county. The court has strived to bring fiber-optic connectivity to all residents, an ambitious goal that is expected to cost $30 million. The court has worked to map existing fiber-optic lines and to survey the entire county in a feasibility study that was completed in 2023 by LS Networks, a consultant group that specializes in broadband...
Everything changed for Teresa Brier fifteen years ago. Brier grew up in Sherman County and her parents ran the Moro Café, grew up in Sherman County. Later, she struggled with substance abuse and ended up in prison. It was there that she turned her life around. While she was incarcerated, Teresa was enrolled in a canine training program. "They bring puppies in at about six to eight weeks and we would train them for search and rescue," Teresa says. "We would go through and...
Jalet Farrell, owner of the Spoke'n Hostel in Mitchell has won the prestigious Governor's Hospitality Award from Travel Oregon. The news came as a surprise to Farrell, who did not know that she was nominated until she received a congratulatory call. "I started laughing and crying at the same time," said Jalet upon receiving the news. This is the second time that the Spoke'n Hostel has won the award, the first being in 2016 shortly after Jalet and her husband Pat started their...
James Andrews remembers the first time that he came to Fossil. It was nine years ago when he moved to town as an AmeriCorps member with the ETHOS music program. Andrews got a ride from his dad and was dropped off in Fossil – sight unseen. "I was game for it – I'm used to culture shock," Andrews says. As his dad pulled away, James looked over at his neighbor's house and saw a young boy who was throwing knives at a fence. "I did wonder for a second what I had gotten myself into,...
For many years the community of Condon has been known to show its true Scottish colors by celebrating on the birth date of Scotland's national poet Robert Burns. The Condon Elks Lodge will continue the tradition by hosting a Robert Burns Celebration Saturday, Jan. 27, at the Lodge, 117 S. Main Street in Condon. Doors will open at 5 p.m. Perhaps less extravagant than some in the past years, the event Saturday will feature a traditional 'Burns Supper' of Scotch Eggs, Cullen...
The Gilliam Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is set to receive $300,000 from the federal government for ecosystem restoration projects along Thirtymile Creek. The funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided a federal grant through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The grant, known as the Good Neighbor Authority, allows federal land management agencies to create agreements with non-federal partners for projects on public lands. The funding...
The Big Sky League is entering the final stretch, with league play ending on February 10. Due to school cancellations from poor weather last week, several games were postponed and rescheduled. The Wheeler Co. Rattlers had games against Klickitat and Horizon Christian cancelled last week due to school closures and dangerous driving conditions. The Rattlers were due to host Horizon Christian in Mitchell on January 19. Dangerous conditions on I-84 prompted ODOT to close the...
The City of Arlington's Public Works Department was working around the clock earlier this week to restore water to residents. With overnight temperatures at -2 degrees Fahrenheit over the weekend, the water system buckled to the elements. Dozens of residents reported brown water and at times, very little or no water at all. On Tuesday morning, the city said it was restoring water to town and that it would take time to refill water tanks. Arlington Mayor Jeff Bufton posted on...
