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The community of Arlington was devastated this month when news of Tiffany A. Booth, a long time Arlington resident, had gone missing in Nevada. Tiffany was an Arlington High School class of 2003 Alumni. Reports indicate that Tiffany spoke daily with her mother, Judy but there had been no verbal communication between them since September 27. Tiffany and her mom then began communicating through text messages until October 8th when all communication stopped. Early reports said...
Wheeler County was one of only four counties in the United States to be totally free of COVID-19. But on Sunday, Oregon Health Authority reported the first case in Oregon's least populated county. A longtime holdout, many were hoping that the county would avoid the disease entirely as the world anxiously awaits a vaccine. But it was only a matter of time until the pandemic, which has infected 37.3 million and killed 1.07 million people around the world, made its way into Orego...
Members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force with assistance from the Wheeler County Sheriff's Office located a suspect in Fossil on Wednesday afternoon who was wanted for murder. US Marshals setup a stakeout at the high school to surveil the suspect, who was wanted in connection with a recent shooting in the Portland area. According to Sheriff Mike, the suspect was taken into custody without incident and there is no danger to the public. Fossil Charter School...
A Gilliam Co. Sheriff's Deputy fought with a suspect for approximately 10 minutes on I-84 after a high-speed chase Wednesday night. The suspect, Erick Douglas Switzer, was driving in excess of 100 miles an hour and attempted to crash his car into the deputy's. After a 14 mile chase that crossed into Sherman County, Mr. Switzer crashed his car. The suspect then refused to comply with the Deputy's commands. As law enforcement backup was en route, the suspect rushed the deputy an...
CONDON, OR - Andrew Kell, 30, entered guilty pleas last Wednesday, August 5, in Gilliam County Circuit Court to Assault in the Third Degree, a Class C Felony and Attempted Assault in the Second Degree, a Class C Felony. Kell was sentenced by Judge John A. Wolf to 65 months in prison with two years Post-Prison Supervision. As a result of these new crimes, his probation for a prior burglary conviction in Hood River County was also revoked. In that case he received a 55-month...
Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, John Day Fossil Beds National Monumentis increasing facilities access. The National Park Service (NPS) is working service wide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis. Starting on Friday July 17, 2020 the Thomas...
Wheeler County is the least populated county in Oregon and it is also one of the least ethnically diverse counties in the state. Approximately 90% of Wheeler County is white. That did not stop organizers of Friday's Black Lives Matter rally in Fossil. Attendees said that even in the smallest of towns and counties, people have an obligation to stand up to racism. Moved by national protests and a global push for equality, nearly 40 people came out to participate in the rally....
Several dozen Sherman County residents gathered under cloudy skies Monday evening for a candlelight vigil at the county courthouse in Moro, to bring awareness to racial injustice and police brutality, organizers said. Co-organizer and local schoolteacher Talese Slay of Wasco emphasized that the vigil was not targeted at local law enforcement. "We want our deputies to be safe, and we appreciate all that they do. From protecting our school, our children, our staff, to coming to...
Ownership of the Wasco Market changes hands this week, marking the end of an era for retiring owner Gary Hayden and his wife Debbie Hayden. Hayden has been owner and operator of the town's only market since 1986, but the store's history goes back much further - at least 110 years, he said, making it arguably the longest-running brick-and-mortar business in the town of Wasco. Hayden believes the early owners of the market were the Richelderfer and VanGilder families. Sitting at...
Completing the search for a new Superintendent/Principal, the Arlington School District Board of Directors is pleased to announce Brandon R. Hammond as the District's next Superintendent/Principal effective July 1, 2020. Kevin Hunking will continue to serve as Superintendent/Principal until the end of the school year. The School Board and Hammond are working on the terms of a tentative agreement which will be approved officially at a board meeting. "Even though complicated by...
Painted Hills Natural Beef, the pride of Wheeler County and a well-known business throughout the Pacific Northwest, is eying an expansion in Gilliam County. On Wednesday February 24th, an impressive group of people joined an online call to hear of the company's aspirations. On the call was: Kathleen Cathey, Regional Representative for Senator Ron Wyden's Office Nate Stice, Governor Brown's representative with Regional Solutions Ryan DeGrofft with Business Oregon Dawsin...
The Gilliam County Court adopted the proposed Rural Renewable Energy Development (RRED) zone in its session on January 6th. The special enterprise zone will establish incentives for renewable energy projects in Gilliam County worth up to $250 million. The RRED zone designation is good for 10 years. A push to create the RRED zone came from Avangrid Renewables, a subsidiary of Iberdrola – one of the largest renewable energy companies in the world. Headquartered in Spain, the c...
The windows at the Waldron Schoolhouse were vandalized earlier this month. Toney Ryno and a group of local residents jumped into action and raised funds to make repairs. The historic Waldron Schoolhouse near Mitchell, built in 1874 for pioneer children, was vandalized this spring. The windows were broken, subjecting the school's interior to birds, yellow jackets and dust. Toney Ryno of Mitchell learned of the damage and leapt into action. Toney's family (Paul) moved to the...
he Wheeler County Sheriff's Office is once again seeking the public's help as another bull has been found dead under mysterious circumstances. The bull was discovered in a remote area, south of the John Day River on April 30th. Ten cattle have been found mutilated in Central Oregon in recent months. Wheeler Co. Sheriff's Deputy Jeremiah Holmes said that the bull had been "mutilated" and that foul-play is suspected in the crime. Deputy Holmes would not give additional details a...
The first person to die from COVID-19 in Gilliam County has been reported by Gilliam County Court Judge Elizabeth Farrar. In a PSA to media, a statement read "It is with great sadness that we report the death of a beloved Gilliam County resident to COVID-19. We extend our deepest sympathy to the family members, friends and all others affected by this tragic loss." Gilliam County was one of just a handful of counties in the state of Oregon that had avoided a fatality from the...
