Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 94
Dear Editor, It is disheartening to witness a recurring trend in our political landscape: individuals seeking elected positions with no intention of fulfilling their terms. This unethical practice not only undermines the trust of the electorate but also deprives voters of their rightful voice in governance. Whether it's judges, sheriffs, county commissioners, or other officials, the decision to run for office knowing that one will not complete their term is a betrayal of public trust. Elected positions are not stepping...
Letter to the Editor: I have been reading and listening to the comments made by the Elected County Court members and other folks about a total County shutdown if the recall is successful in removing some of the officials. Basically, the lights will have to be turned off and everyone will need to go home due to not having an operational budget in place! This is totally avoidable, I call on the Elected County Officials to step up and do the job duties of your station and move forward with implementing an emergency budget or...
To the Editor: I am working on my family history and two of the best years of my life were spent at 636th Radar Station in Condon, Oregon in the years 1968-1970. Back when your great paper was the “Condon Globe Times.” Many articles from then fill my scrapbook. I am feeling nostalgivc and wanted to write and let you know how much I loved your little town and my time at Condon High School. It was with such sadness that I had to leave before my Senior year when the base closed. I don’t know how many of my friends are still...
Thinking about the past week. Last week began in Salem participating in two Zoom interviews with applicants for a new Gilliam County position. Monday afternoon at AOC for the Health and Human Services Summit #5. Rushing home Tuesday morning and a telephone meeting while on the road with Trever Berry from CCS discussing best use for BHRN funding in Gilliam County. MCEDD meeting at 1:00 in the Gronquist Building and discussed adding the County to the MCEDD Strategic Plan becoming part of their economic development district....
Dear Editor: I believe I feel the same way many of your readers do. It is time to stop polishing the “what’s wrong” and get on with, “beginning to fix.” I suggest the following, at least, to get solution-thinking started. If something like this is already in the works. I apologize, and plead, my ongoing concern for a place I care about deeply. The existing County Court has the ability to begin that process. 1. They can appoint a volunteer Commission ( or any title they choose) of citizens to begin the process of Rebuildin...
Dear Gilliam County, I am writing to encourage the citizens of Gilliam County to ask some critical questions of your incumbent elected officials, including those who are going to be on your ballot for the May primary election. I have been the Finance Director at Gilliam County since July 10, 2023. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA), and I am a Certified Management Accountant (CMA). I have over 20 years of experience in Accounting/Finance and spent the last 8 years try...
To the Editor The Elizabethan Era was when many historic plays and tragedies we all studied in school were written. Gilliam County is now nearing the end of our own tragedy (play) with our own Queen Elizabeth Farrar Campbell. Her court Jester has been Commissioner Pat Shannon, playing the lead role. First year Lady in Waiting Leah Watkins, with only a little over a year's experience, has played an excellent supporting role. Commissioner Leah Watkins appears to be changing her role, however, from Lady in Waiting to Aspiring...
To the Editor and Gilliam County Voters, Yesterday, I filed paperwork with the Gilliam County Clerk’s Office requesting the voters allow me to continue serving them as Gilliam County Judge through the remainder of my term, which ends in January. Today, I am asking for your help in defeating this divisive and reckless waste of taxpayer resources by voting “no” on the recall election. One of the Chief Petitioners, Ms. Parm, has stated this effort is driven by her belief the people of Gilliam County should be able to “voic...
To the Editor, Currently recall petitioners have gathered enough signatures to submit to the County Clerk. A special recall election could potentially remove 2 of the 3 court members. The following are facts voters should consider as they cast their ballots, the effects of which could be devastating and long lasting for our county. If the recall is successful it will result in an emergency shut down of all county services, including furloughing all county employees. Elected Officials may choose to open their respective...
To the Editor, My name is Jim Hassing and I am running for Gilliam County Judge. I have lived in Gilliam County most of my life. Spent three years in U.S. Army, six-time Exalted Ruler of the Condon Elks Lodge. I am going on ten years as Mayor of Condon. Right now with the way the county tax percentage distribution schedule is setup, there is a large difference between the North and South. Which is the Health, School, and Fire District. I feel the county can make up the difference so they are both equal between the north and...
There has been a question asked, Why not RECALL Leah Watkins? Our answer, She's only been in her job for 1 year and we were hoping she might become an effective Commissioner. And the reason why we're still recalling The County Judge Farrar and Commissioner Shannon is they’ve been working on Radical changes to our County Court structure with little to no input from the public. They would still have the remainder of 2024 in the office to do more irreversible and costly damage to our County. There have been seventeen employee t...
Dear Editor, I have known Cris Patnode both personally and professionally since 2012. As a fellow Justice of the Peace, we have served in each other’s courts and together in leadership for Oregon Justice of the Peace Association. Judge Patnode is highly respected by local court judges statewide for her knowledge and dedication to her profession. Integrity and transparency are essential qualities that we should all demand from our government officials. Judge Patnode illustrates what ethics in government should look like. She h...
Commissioner Pat Shannon is now on Facebook and going to the homes of Gilliam County residents telling them he supports our voters’ right to have a vote on structural change to County Court and our County government. This, after he spent days lobbying the Eastern Oregon County Caucus members to support our County Court's illegal Order 2023-01. This illegal Order gave our County Judge the means to circumvent her duties as spelled out by law in Article VII Section 8 lines C and D of the Oregon Constitution. There is a legal a...
Who is Frontier Justice PAC? A group of people that includes past Gilliam County Court members, past District Attorney’s, past employees and concerned citizens that know there are proper procedures to change the county government structure. The current County Court chose not to use any of these op-tions. Instead, they tried to circumvent these steps by changing the words in a law. Our goal is to give the people a voice in changing their government! On December 6th, 2023, the County Court passed Order #2023-01 which e...
A short explanation of what's really been going on in Gilliam County. We, as a group, do not feel that what has been going on with our County Court is fair and just. We have asked the Court on several occasions to speak to the people before they make their motions to remove probate and our Judge position as we know it. We have written to them, gone to some their homes, and shown them other opinions. It’s been Public Comment material in many of their meetings. There are opinions from several attorneys that clarify how they h...
In the beginning, there was an interest in adjusting Gilliam County policy to meet Gilliam County needs, now, and into the future. People are elected, and think they see a need for change. This sounds simple to me. But then I am a farmer, I am used to changing. Every five or six years, I am given a new farm bill I need to factor. I used to mold board plow, now I direct seed. I used to steer my tractor, now I use a computer. You adjust to the needs of tomorrow or tomorrow leaves you in the dust. Change allows you to exceed...
As a Gilliam County resident for almost my whole life what unprecedented and pressing times that are occurring in our County Court Government. In my opinion some major and long lasting extremely poor decisions that the Court has made have failed to represent the voice of the voters of Gilliam County. Unfortunately the focus, division that is currently happening did not need to hap-pen. On December 6th of 2023 the County Court voted to transfer Juvenile and Probate statutory authority to the County Circuit Courts. Why didn’t t...
As many Gilliam County Citizens are aware, the Frontier Justice PAC distributed a flyer last week about the County Court’s recent actions. The one statement I agree with on the flyer is the last one. All of the Gilliam County Court Meeting information is available on the Gilliam County website- Agendas, Meeting Packets including briefings and supporting documents, and Links to County Court Meeting videos. Everyone should do their own research into these matters instead of taking the information on the flyer as factual. R...
On behalf of the Condon Booster Club, I have a few huge thank yous to extend. First, THANK YOU to the community of Condon and beyond for all the support over the last several months. For people who don’t know, simply put, the Booster Club is a small group of volunteers (mostly parents of school age children) who organize and implement fundraisers every year in order to support athletics in the Condon School District in creative ways. So far this school year, the booster club has contributed to the purchase of banners and g...
It’s been brought to my attention that maybe some have no idea that there are two 6 bedroom homes in Condon that are set up for transient work forces. We have been housing workers for nearly 5 years. The average cost per person with just 5 people is 480$ a month. These rent for $2,400 for 5 persons to $3,000 for 6 persons a month with ALL utilities, fully furnished, linens, cookware and paper products. Garbage and wifi also. We were happy to host Jessica Lynch and family the first month they were here in a smaller unit u...
To the Editor and Gilliam County residents, Rural counties across America are fortunate to be relatively peaceful places in a country increasingly divided by opposing viewpoints and even violence. But what is it that sets us apart? I believe it comes from a deeper tolerance of our differences and personal accountability to each other. In rural areas there are fewer of us to get the job done and make things work. Small counties and towns survive because we are communities of volunteers who pull together regardless of our...
While driving to Salem this afternoon to follow up on the Legislative Short Session results and start conversations for the 2025 Legislative Long Session, I couldn’t help but think about the events that have taken place regarding the County Court during the past several months and the conversations and actions that have happened since last week’s County Court meeting. There seems to be a continuing accusation that I have voted on and been part of approving an illegal Order. I felt a strong urge to respond by stating to the...
‘This isn't the land of or the county of Nirvana we live in. It is democracy at its best and worst. That is how democracy is designed and how it works. You have expressed both verbally and in print a desire for county tranquility. While largely ignoring the Court's (cabal) complete guilt in their desire to destroy the Court as it has existed for years by attempting to remove the Judge (6 yr. judicial) from its structure and install a Board of Commissioners (coup). When their illegal order was seen for what it was, they a...
When I joined the Gilliam County Court in 2023, one of our first tasks was to review the 2021-2026 Strategic Plan. The plan was updated to have an emphasis on Housing, Broadband, and Childcare. We have worked diligently to make strides in these areas in many ways including hiring a broadband consultant to guide us through the grant process, established an endowment fund to support childcare as part of the Waste Management Host Fee Ordinance, and provided funding for several housing projects through the Competitive Grant...
Letter to the Editor: I am a candidate for Gilliam County Judge. I bring 37 years public service and administrative experience, and 21 years judicial experience having adjudicated approximately 60,000 cases. I have been elected four times previously, so elections are nothing new to me. I consider an election the ultimate job interview before you the people, and if elected I will be working for and accountable to you. Like you, I care deeply for Gilliam County, its communities, and its people. We all want the best for Gilliam...
